Yikes! Stripes!

I tried to mix prints again- but this time I stayed in the same family. The pics may be hard to tell, but the blazer is a small, aqua blue striped over a thicker, darker blue striped oxford. I loved this- next time- plaid!

Shirt: Target, sale $12, Blazer: Target, sale $12, Jeans: Ralph Lauren, sale $40, Necklace and Ring: Charlotte Russe, $8 and $4, Shoes: Latin Market: $6.99, Watch: Wal-mart, $10
Total: $95

Ahoy! A Little Gamine

There is just something about a classic striped shirt that pulls a Gamine look into any ensemble. I decided to add a mustard yellow instead of the traditional red for a nautical look. And please note I'm rockin' skinny jeans, I have fat thighs and have avoided them forever. When I tried on this one pair, it was the first time I was sold!

Jeans: American Eagle $20

Shoes: Target $13

Bag: Target $6

Shades: Target $13

Shirt: Mervyns $12

Necklace: Black Market Minerals $2.50

Ode to Blair

I know, I'm super original, and late in the game. Due to the amount of teenagers I associate with at my job, I try to stay away from teen drama of all kinds, including TV shows. Somehow Gossip Girl and I just didn't really really meet for a while. I don't watch it often, in fact, hardly at all. I do, however adore the stylist who created Blair Waldorf. She's so awful, but her looks are so perfect! My should-have-been-a-prep-school self can't get enough of her looks. I know I will never pull these babies off, I don't have the body or the wallet, but I try to incorporate elements. I know every other fashion blog was so all over this two years ago, but I'm still a fan 2 years later, and still inspired! Here are some of my favorites:

Red Shirtdress

Favorite color: Red
Favorite print: Polka Dots
Favorite Dress Style: Shirtdress
Was there anyway I wouldn't buy this dress?

Dress: Downeastoutfitters.com

Shoes: Famous Footwear

Headband: Target

Earrings: New York and Company

Ring: Charolotte Russe

Told by a teenager, "You look like you're in the 1950's." I think it was meant to be an insult, but I smiled big and said, "Thank You!" thinking, "That's what I was going for!'

Quirky Prep

OK, this IS a print mix! I have my two favorites together: The shirt is polka dot, and the sweater is obviously striped. You may have to zoom to see it. Oh, that will make my face huge, maybe you should just take my word for it. I have had a hard time getting into neons, this is my first flair of neons. Just my style, first, a cardigan, second, completely prepster.


Pants: Gap Outlet ($12 sale), Shoes: Exhilaration (Target, $13 sale), Camisole: Downeast Outfitters ($12), Top: Aeropostale ($10 sale), Sweater: Target ($6.24 sale)

Total: $53.24

Mixing Prints/Patterns

Early last fall Lucky, my favorite magazine, did an article on mixing prints. This is something that goes against my super preppy style, but I absolutely loved most the looks. These are a few of my favorites, all taken from the luckymag website:

I know, it's still so preppy right? I am making it my goal to mix some prints in the next two weeks- stay tuned for outfits and be ready to critique me!

Feeling Tribal

I found this dress for about $11 at Target and thought 'How unique!' It's a little short for works, but leggings seemed to fit with the tribal print. I added some olive green for a hint of color and interest.

Dress: Target, Leggings: Papaya, Shoes: Forever Young Shoes, Necklace: Tinkerbell Jewelry, Earrings: Icing

Outfit total: $45

Shopping Philosophy

It's simple really, I firmly adhere to and believe the following:

Paying full price is for suckers.

There is a thrill in finding something amazing, this season, now, the perfect addition to your wardrobe item for a couple dollars.

I pride myself on being one truly amazing bargain hunter. As I post outfits I will let you know what I actually paid for items, proudly.

Let's start with my best bargain ever:

The Look: Gothic Romance

Shirt: Target $6.24

Skirt: JCPenny Outlet $4.00

Tights: Kohls $5.00

Shoes: Old Navy $4.00

Looking like you spent over $200 when you really spent $19 total- Priceless

My Alter Egos

After an intro to style icons/alter egos, I am going to come right out and say that I gravitate towards 4 of these egos. They are in numerical order of which looks I gravitate to the most.
Almost all my looks follow:

1. Preppy




2. Classic



3. Girly/Feminine



4. Boho

Style Egos

Let's define style alter ego's. There is usually a "look" that accompanies outfits. When you get dressed, you will fall into one of the following categories. Some of these names vary according to which fashion magazine/book/designer/etc you are talking to, but the looks remain the same. According to most style icon books there are a group of styles in fashion people tend to gravitate to, here are my interpretations and an example or two of each:
1. Classic- pieces that never go out of style (Jennifer Aniston is the poster child)
2. Preppy- Part schoolgirl, part polished (Think Blair Waldorf)
3. Bohemian (Boho)- Hippie-esk (Sienna Miller)
4. All American- girl-next-door looks with a polished flair (Rachel Bilson)
5. Rocker- what would you wear to a concert, particularly if you were the one on stage (Blondie, Avril Lavine, etc.)
6. Femme Fatale/Bombshell- classic sexy pieces (think leopard) put together with some attitude (Marilyn Monroe
7. Quirky- Bright colors, interesting pieces, you actually want to look a little weird while still looking good (Betsey Johnson, Zooey Deschanel)
8. Gamine- European inspired polished with a school girl twist (Audrey Hepburn, Katie Holmes)
9. Romantic/Girly- Feminine pieces with ruffles, flowers, and other details for an ultimate girly look (Kerri Russel, Mandy Moore)
10. California Cool- T-shirts and jeans, shorts, sandals, and minimal hair and make up give a sporty, laid-back cool style (Kirsten Dundst, Lauren Conrad)
11. Artsy- Your clothes make a statement, abstract, loud colors, statement pieces, and interesting shapes contribute to this look (Vera Wang)
12. Retro/Vintage- A purposeful look into past decades of style. Vintage clothes are anything 20 years or older. Anything made to look old is qualified as retro (Gwen Stefani, Your Grandma)
12. Eclectic- A mix and match of styles, shapes, colors, and sizes. Anything and anything together goes for an Eclectic chick (Misha Barton, Lindsey Lohan)

My favorite style books that explain these further:

The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style

In Style: Instant Style

The Lucky Shopping Manual

In Style: Secrets of Style

All these books rock and explain style looks better than I ever could! To have your fashion vocab, you need to familiarize yourself with these styles, and the art of creating these styles.