Building a Work Wardrobe

So that time in my life is fast approaching. Going from a strict dress code to the relative freedom of business casual/business wear. That also means my wardrobe needed a slight boost in terms of work appropriate wear. Yes, I have lots of fun dresses and skirts, but to be honest, not quite in line with my new field of work. 

That is where my local thrift stores come in. Since money is a bit tight at the moment, I couldn't go out and buy a brand new wardrobe, as much fun as that would have been. So I spent the last month supplementing my old wardrobe into something new. Did you know that the Goodwill stores have days where certain color tags are $1.29? Crazy! I would say about 90% off what I picked up was new with tags, which is awesome.

Blazers & Jackets:

Old Navy/JCrew/Anthropologie/Esprit/H&M/BCBG

Skirts:

Anthropologie/Banana Republic/H&M/Anthropologie

Pants:

Left Side: Lauren by Ralph Lauren/Ann Taylor/Rachel Roy Signature

Right Side: Banana Republic/Ann Taylor/Random 

Dresses:

Shabby Apple (Won through Jess c/o Shabby Apple)/H&M (camera added a white dot)

Cardigans & Toppers:

Top Row: Anthropologie/Anthropologie/Gap/White House Black Market

Bottom Row: Jacob/Gap/JCrew/Ann Taylor Loft

Blouses & Shirts:

Top Row: Ann Taylor Loft/Ann Taylor/Banana Republic/Ann Taylor/Chaus

Middle Row: Jacob/Mexx/JCrew/Anthropologie

Bottom Row: Express/INC/Ann Taylor

I tried to stick to things that would mix and match well, hence the mostly black, purple, green, and blue shades. I was hoping to pick up a blue or green pencil skirt while searching but no luck yet. The JCrew double serge in Warm Jade would really float my boat. Oh and neck bow-tied blouses? Love them.

In total, I think I spent under $100 for 19 new items. I know some people aren't keen on the idea of thrifting, but when things come with tags on them still, hard to pass up silk shirts and wool pants for under $5. I also think the mix of what I had before and what I added works well together.

Outfit of the Day: Snow Birds

This outfit was inspired by Sweet Laundry Loves here. She does a great job creating outfits and I love that you can see re-mixing in her outfits.

Plus she is a fellow Canadian, that gets bonus points from me.

 Bird print dress - H&M, Olive cardigan - Gap

 Skinny peach glitter belt - Gap

 Green leggings - random mall store, OTK socks - Target, Cuff - Hayden Harnett "Ramone" in Ruby

 Boots - Faryl Robin "Bounder"

Hurray for Friday! Any plans this weekend? As long as the snow continues to melt, we are going to throw a Chinese New Year party. I think we are going to have fondu, a noodle dish, and some tangerines or clementines. Not the most traditional menu, but all the house guests are young and away from their families, so time to start a new tradition, or at least a fun dinner.

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Outfit of the Day: Snow Flowers

Well, it turns out the combination of a federal holiday and snow and ice on the roads means the city shuts down and Tim doesn't have to go into work today. Extra long weekend yes please! Though being stuck up a hill isn't too exciting.

Of course, getting dressed for a snow day in a floral skirt makes total sense. Can you can see the serious snow bunny side of me?

 Tim's snow baby.

 Coat - BB Dakota "Bostwick" Coat. Here on sale for $80 in 4 colors/patterns. The coat isn't lined, so it's not for very cold temperatures. But I wore it out to walk in the snow with a sweater underneath and I was plenty warm. 

 Boots - Kelsi Dagger Mashita (also known as Anthropologie's Taiga Oxford Boots). See them on JG here.

Floral Skirt - H&M, Striped Knit Blazer and black over pink lack shirt - Forever21.

Outfit of the Day: Rust, Brown, and Periwinkle

My plans for today: Clean the house for in-laws coming to visit tomorrow from Taiwan, random immigration paperwork, laundry, dinner out with husband (yay! Indian perhaps?).

 H&M rust flutter-sleeve dress (see on Bonjour It's Jinah here), Anthropologie Ha'Penny cardigan in periwinkle (see on the Delightful Find and Carol) Gap polka dot tights, Anthropologie Sweater Cuffed Booties by Schuler & Sons (see on Dea, and a smidgen on Katie)

 Hello there, I am not sure why my nose is in the air.

Gratuitous bootie shot!

Oh yeah, I am going to Oregon soon for a weekend, any recommendations for family friendly things to do in Portland (on a weekday), and around Eugene for a day trip? Thanks!

Review: H&M black (pansy!) lace shorts + Outfit of the day

What I wore today:

Chromatic Canvas dress- Anthropologie

Old Navy linen-blend cardigan

H&M lace scarf

Target boots (only shoes that don't hurt my ankles at the moment)

Review: H&M black floral lace shorts:

 I really really like these shorts. They are not low-rise, nor too short, with a belt of the same fabric. They have pockets, and are a nice thick fabric.

Er yes, backside view, but it is important with shorts!

 Oh yes, those are pansies in the lace. Actually, has anyone else noticed the plethora of pansies at H&M?

I would recommend stick with your true bottom size (erring on the larger of sizes). I am between a 6-8 in bottoms, and these are an 8.

Outfit of the Day: Pattern mixing +1

Cue the video game fanfare, I patterned-mixed today, and it was more noticeable, but I totally felt normal. I feel like I have gained a level in the "how to get dressed" game. I wore this to a work function/inspirational visit from our company's ceo, it was pretty darn cool. Lots of excitement and happiness in the air.

 Old Navy check blouse, H&M floral skirt, Target boots, Joya & Vane locket, random belt.

Filigre, checks, and florals.

 This is the "ughhh what the heck photo, but I can laugh at myself today".

Ootd: I am a tree!

Colour palette that is. I really like brown and green together, or just about any colour combination that nature pairs together. Oh, and taking photos in the late afternoon? A bit more tricky, my favourite picture-taking corner was filled with sunlight (yay!) and shadows from the tree (boo!). I still prefer taking pictures outside though by a a mile. Fluorescent lighting is an evil thing.

 Kindred Spirit Sweaterdress - Anthropologie, Mackage leather jacket - Winners, Hayden Harnett boots, H&M scarf, Joya & Vane locket.

 Have you felt a Mackage jacket before? If not, do, it is like freaking butter...leathery butter, nom nom nom.

Happy Friday, can you guess what I am having for dinner? ._.;;;

Ootd: Oh it is a beef noodle sort of day

I really actually want to have Taiwanese 3-cup chicken, but eating alone in a restaurant today is not really what I feel like...maybe...I will see when I actually head out to get beef noodle soup supplies. How do you feel about eating alone? I don't mind for breakfast and lunch, but dinner is sometimes awkward feeling. Last time I went out for dinner alone, they sat me at the bar with a paper which wasn't so bad, but still.

 Check out that sky! Would you believe me if I told you it snowed on Thursday? Somehow I totally missed that part of the weather that day...

 Jacket/Belt - Forever21, Skirt - Club Monaco, Shirt - Anthropologie (like 3 or 4 years ago, one of the first pieces I picked up), Scarf - H&M, Boots - Target

Happy Sunday! Anyone making anything special for dinner? Roasts? Turkeys? Squabs? :)

H&M Spring Review

So this time I checked out my local H&M to do a few little reviews of items that caught my eye. Please excuse the date stamp, I forgot to take it off in some of the pictures.

Reviews:

 First up! Beige beaded collar short sleeve sweater. Priced at $39.95 CAD. I found the sweater to be very soft. Pictured is a size medium.

 The beading looked to be pretty secure, but there is a lot of it. Lightweight though, so does not pull down on the chest.

 Not too short in the torso, I can see this looking fantastic with skirts and pants.

 Open back maxi dress. This was priced at $79.95 CAD (seriously H&M? $80?) But truth be told, if it had fit me right, I would be have likely caved. I am wearing a size 6, but it was really tight in the chest. Uncomfortably so. No size 8 to compare to as well. It is also super long. I am 5 foot 6, and there were a good 2-3 inches on the ground. The plus? Pockets, lovely material, and the pattern was neat and unexpected. I think they are buildings?

 Here is a shot of the back. Do you see where it dips down? That part did not fit flat against my lower back, and I felt oddly exposed, like someone could look at my backside. I really did like this dress, it just did not work well.

 The widely blogged about pocket skirt. In khaki and navy. This is a  medium. The small fit fine, but I sized up for length. On sale right now for $10 (normally $19.95 CAD).

 This ruffle eyelet dress is from the Conscious Collection. I only found a size 8, and it was a bit shapeless on the bottom half. Size 6 would have been better. Priced at $49.95 CAD, this was really nice, and well made, including a lining. I tried belting it to get more shape, but lost too much length.

Also, these two scarfs:

 Floral peach and grey scarf. $14.95 CAD. Very large and soft.

 Ivory lace scarf. $6.95 CAD. Fairly narrow scarf, but will look great with lightweight spring jackets.

Ootd: Inspired (or copycat?) outfit

I was totally inspired (or played copycat-ish) of this outfit by Jinah over at bonjour it's jinah! I absolutely love all of her outfits, and we have a similar body shape, so I find it easy to get inspiration from her. When she posted the rust H&M dress, I loved the colour of it, but figured it would be long gone by the time I ever made it to an H&M. When I popped down to Seattle last month, there was one hanging in the SouthCenter store on sale for $15. Yay!

While Jinah has some awesome green fox tights (oh yes, tights with little orange foxes on them!), I went for my green sweater, call me a creature of habit.

H&M rust dress, Random belt, Jcrew Scattered Locket necklace, Gap heather olive cardigan, Old Navy tights, Seychelle's At Last boots.

 Imaginary Internet hugs to the person who can tell me what colour my camera is!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope everyone has had a great day so far, single or taken!  I spent today having lunch with my friend Rachael, were we both enjoyed having this:

LA Grill bacon/mushroom/cheddar burger

While I was wearing this after being reminded by Rachel Berry in Glee to wear it again:

Bird Dress -H&M, Ha'Penny Cardigan -Anthropologie, random tights, Maru Sash -Anthropologie, Hayden Harnett Madeleine boots

All in the details:

Reader Submissions coming up next! Need to start dinner first, chili night I think...

Ootd: one part turtle, one part bird?

Since I am heading off for vacation soon, I had a few last minute errands to run and take care of.  There was a nice pause in the rain while I was out, and it has just started to come back in steady drizzle.  Score one point for great timing!

I will be visit my mother for about a week, so it might be pretty quiet on the blog front, but if I take any great pictures I will try my best to do updates.  Likely no outfit pictures though, I am not sure how easy they will be to while away.  We are going to Disneyland though so hopefully I can get some great shots there.

One part turtle = turtleneck!  This is one of my work shirts, but it was a perfect fit for this outfit

One part bird = well either the skirt, or the vest, depending on how you look at it.

I started the day with my shirt tucked in, and took some pictures before I headed out, and when I got home, I untucked.  I think I like the look better with the shirt untucked.  Any opinions?  Would love to hear them!

 Tucked above, untucked below

 H&M bird print skirt, Joe Fresh turtleneck, grey Hue sweater tights, Urban Outfitters ruffle vest, Jcrew scattered locket necklace, Pegabo suede over-the-knee boots

Detail shot (was actually a camera setting booboo, but it worked)