beaded chain necklace

custom orders available, or choose one of the options already listed

$12.00, Beaded Chain Necklace

Vintage Blue and White Bowling Bag

Vintage Bowling Bag, $17.00

I had a very lucky thrifting weekend this past weekend--not only did I find this, I came upon two vintage suitcases which I love too much to list. As far as little travel bags and totes go, I don't really have much use for them so I thought I'd put this one up for grabs in my etsy shop. I'm hoping to find two more vintage suitcases though--I like the idea of having 4 piled up, a sort of "nightstand" and also storage for things I don't need to get to very often. I love thrifting--you never know what you'll find!

Ruffle and Knots necklace

Ruffle and Knots Necklace, $14.50
Custom orders available!

Fashion Do's and Don'ts: Friend Friday

This week we're talking about Do's and Don'ts!


1. What do you think are some of the top fashion don’ts?Clothes that are ill-fitting (whether too tight or too baggy), socks with sandles, not dressing your age


2. What previous fashion don’t do you now wear with pride? skinny jeans. I thought they were ridiculous on everyone when I first saw them, but I loved them when I tried them on myself.

3. Do you think there is a universal fashion do? Figure-flattering clothes. Some colors look good on most people--Navy, Maroon, Cream. I think just about everyone looks good in a cardigan, blouse, and knee-length skirt.

4. What items lately, either recently in style or coming in now, do you think should never make it off the retail shelves? Rompers are for children, not 20somethings. Sorry y'all.

5. In your opinion, is there any blogger, fashion icon, celebrity who some how manages to pull off some fashion don’ts and still look good? no one comes to mind particularly, but I know there are tons of gorgeous celebs and such that can look good in a burlap sack!

beaded chain necklace

$12.00, beaded chain necklace

custom orders available!

Links a la mode

Looking Forward to Looking Back for Fall

Edited by: Ann of Holier than Now

Every season begins with looking back: the designers revisit trends of yore, and we fling open our oversized Tupperware bins and dig through the back of our closets to see just what it was we wore this time last year. Despite the thrill of new trends, most of us probably feel that the first Fall shopping we should do is in our own closet (View from 5 ft. 2 and Your Saving Style inspire on this front). Next step: after considering your bank account, and perhaps the pros and cons of fast fashion (see: Consumerism Killed My Soul), a visit to your local thrift store or flea market for vintage finds might replace that mall excursion you were imagining. With a wealth of inspiration from the blogosphere, there’s never been a better time to invest in – or just be inspired by – style from the past.

Join us at IFB’s Evolving Influence Fashion Blogger Conference @ NYFW

Links à la Mode: August 26th

• A La Modest- Note-worthy Fashion in Indie Films + Shows.
• Beyond Fabric- Incorporating Traditional Local Items in Your Style
• Cloud of Secrets- Dior and decadent 18th Century Deshabille
• Consumerism Killed My Soul- The Pros and Cons of Fast Fashion
• Eco-Fashionista- Don’t Accept Diamonds from Strangers: The Provenance of Diamonds
• (Fred and) Ginger (in Prague)- Classic Books as Inspiration for Fall
• Holier than Now- 5 Catalogs to (Secretly) Shop for Fall
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: Beef Up Your Blogging Biceps at Evolving Influence
• Love From Lou Lou- Vintage 70′s Images to Inspire Your Interpretation of Fall’s 70′s Trend
• Kramey Martin- What Would Nancy Drew Wear?
• Lovely & Lavish- Collegiate Cool: College-inspired Looks
• Pull Your Socks Up- Why Do You Wear Vintage?
• Retro Chick- 60′s Chic Hits This Season’s Runways
• Seven Style Notes- Vintage Family Photos for Style Inspiration
• The Column of Samantha Tyler- The Flamboyant Comeback of the Hat
• The Haute Hoosier- Personal Style Icon: How to Get Zelda’s Fitzgerald’s Look
• The New Professional – Foundations: Underpinnings for a Smooth Work Look
• The Taxonomy of My Wardrobe- A Look Back at the Style Icons Behind Fall’s Aviator Jacket
• View from 5 ft. 2- Use What You Have to Interpret Fall’s Trends
• What 2 Wear Where- Paris: Les Arts Décoratifs History of Contemporary Fashion
• Your Saving Style- Revamp: From a Dress to (An Awesome High-Waisted) Skirt

lace necklace

Handmade lace and chain necklace, from repurposed lace.
$12, Idreamincursive

I love making something eco-friendly AND pretty. I've been wearing this style of necklace from my etsy shop a lot to work lately--I guess I'm in a girly mood!

bead and chain necklace

Bead and Chain Necklace, $12 from IDREAMINCURSIVE

I've made a few of these to give to friends and family as gifts, so I thought I would add this to my etsy shop so that people can custom-order them, choosing whatever colors they like for the beads. I like to mix a shell bead, black bead, then another color, but people can choose whatever they like. In the past I've mainly gravitated towards blues and pinks, but I think something in lemony sunshine colors could be fun too.

Are these people for real?? Friend Friday

This week's friend friday is about being authentic--how many bloggers are "for real"?


When it comes to outfit posts on your own blog, be honest are they what you actually wore that day?
I don't do outfit posts very often, but when I do, I post what I actually wore that day.


For a fashion blogger, working in a corporate environment can be tricky. How do you mesh your day job with your personal style choices?
Its not too strict of a dress code--I'm just not allowed to wear jeans to work--so it hasn't been too difficult. Plus, I think its good to have challenges to work around!

When you get dressed in the morning, do you think what should I wear to work or what should I wear for the blog?
Definitely I think "what should I wear to work"! Real life comes first!

Do professionals you interact with ever make comments about your clothing choices?
Definitely! I get complements from time to time from coworkers. Sometimes they think my jewelry (especially statement necklaces) are a little out there, but for the most part I get positive reviews.


Some bloggers openly admit to wearing outfits only for the blog post. What's your opinion on that?
I think its sort of fake....I like fashion blogs because they're essentially "street style"--if you're wearing it just to snap a few pictures in, then its not the real thing.

September Additions!

"is it 5:00 yet?" office questionnaire

Food
What is your must-have office snack? I usually don't snack during the day, though I probably should. I sometimes bring my breakfast to work with me, and I usually eat whatever fruit is in season (peaches, apples, pears, whatever!) for breakfast or maybe a granola bar.

How many cups of coffee do you drink every morning? None, I'm not a coffee-everyday type person. Sometimes I'll have a coke zero in the afternoon, if Bryan decides we need to go for a snack.

Caf or decaf? Lately its been decaf, whenever I do go for coffee.

What’s your favorite lunch spot when eating out? I walk home to work everyday, since its only a 5 minute walk!

Style
What’s your favorite outfit to wear to the office? a knee-length skirt, cotton shirt, and flats. That's pretty much what I wear everyday, and what I'm wearing today. I bring a sweater or my jean jacket with me too, since it sometimes gets cold in the office.


Do you keep a sweater at work at all times? I bring a different one with me everyday, depending on my outfit.


Whose style do you most admire at work and why? There's a secretary that works down the hall from me who always wears the most vibrant color combination's. I like her style, its adventurous, especially at a seminary office.

What are the worst office fashion faux-pas? Everyone is modest around here, so that isn't an issue, but I often see girls around the office wear things that are too Old for them--grandma dresses--or wear crocs with a skirt or dress. Crocs are bad enough already, but to the office??

Miscellany
Do you go with reusable or paper/plastic for your lunch sack? I walk home for lunch, so no need. Whenever I bring Bryan his lunch, I'll use a leftover walmart plastic bag. If we don't have any of those, I use my reusable Barnes and Noble bag.

Do you listen to music at work? If so, what? I don't, but I should now that I have an ipod shuffle (yay technology!). If i were listening to music, it would probably be the Jars of Clay or Anathallo.

What’s your desk décor like? Pictures of Bryan and me on each side of my computer--one from our wedding, one from graduation. My polka-dot water-bottle. note-pads for various to-do lists. Secret stash of poetry books and my journal tucked away. various necessary office supplies--folders, inbox, tape, stapler, envelopes, pen-cup, etc. Also, a little leafy plant left-over from the last secretary.




What is your work or office-style like?
Let me know if you fill out this survey so I can check out your answers!

Links!

Working the new season with fabulous new discoveries.

Edited by: Florrie Clarke of Intrinsically Florrie

I've been overwhelmed by the quality of the submissions and I hope you'll enjoy reading these as much as I have. This week the issue of workwear is tackled whether as a fashion blogger you're heading to Fashion Week or you're not sure how to translate your everyday style to the office. The latter is a dilemma I'm often confronted with when dressing for work. Through the links I have also gleefully discovered some wonderful designers to dreamily sigh over the work of; these garments would most definitely fit into my wardrobe perfectly, be it in the smart section or the purely frivolous one.

• A La ModestReintroducing the morality within green ethical fashion
• Bachman's Sparrow What better way to greet the new season than a beautiful, one-of-a-kind statement necklace?
• Beyond FabricEnhancing your image: posture and body image.
• Boheme NoirTen ways to style the classic Chanel jacket young & fabulous.
• Fabulous Finds Girl Ann Wiberg creates future vintage by recycling materials with Trash-Couture.
• Fashezine Inspired by the sensuality of Joan, the determination of Peggy, and Betty Draper's elegance, a girl goes mad for Mad Men.
• Fashion Limbo Brand Love or I Want What She's Wearing - How brands fail to get me and what/who truly inspire me
• Grit and Glamour Staying true to you when dressing for dress code.
• Hello beauty! Review and makeup lesson video with the NARS Fall 2010 Collection with NARS National Makeup Stylist Janice Daoud
• Intrinsically Florrie Exploring the historic city of Bath in style.
• Manda Bear Fall Outwear Finds, Beauty Goodies and other Treasures.
• Mis Papelicos A first Ebay buy and what to look for when shopping online.
• Oranges and Apples A vintage wedding dress on a budget, plus some ideas for styling it.
• Poetic and Chic In which I spot the most beautiful pair of Louboutins and get inspired.
• Pull your socks up! What do you do with an inherited, precious and much-coveted family heirloom?
• Retro Chick Retro Style for Autumn: Lena Hoschek Autumn Winter 2010
• Seven Deadly Cyns Death by Cosmetics- the dangers of harmful ingredients in our beauty products and what you should look out for.
  
• The Coveted What to Wear to NYFW
• The New Professional How high is too high for heels in the office?
• Wit & Whimsy Designer on the Rise: Whitney Pozgay

SPONSOR: New @ Shopbop: Cosabella - Dannijo - Houlihan Cargos - T-Bags - BE & D

Vintage Doctor Bag

a few days ago I found this out thrifting and picked it up for my etsy shop--my husband thinks its a bowling bag, but I found something similar online called a "Doctor Bag"---personally, I think it'd be great as a carry-on bag or weekend getaway bag. Either way, it was a pretty happy vintage find and is available for sale at my etsy shop Here!

I Dream In Cursive on Etsy

Today I opened my etsy shop! I sell fabric necklaces made from repurposed fabric (Eco-Friendly!) and dangle earrings. Check it out here:

I DREAM IN CURSIVE

DIY Anthropologie Inspired Necklace

Anthropologies:

 $38.00 Akela Necklace

Mine:

This was pretty easy to make. I made mine a lot shorter and less ruffly--though I'm debating on upping the ruffle-ness of the necklace.

so what do you think? More ruffles? Fine how it is?

Hello Again!

Hi, I'm back!

I'd thought about giving up on this, but I missed it too much. Expect some posts this week, and thank you for following!!