mixing prints: outfit 12

Outfit 12!

Only 3 outfits away from completing my 15 items to 15 outfits challenge.

While some of these items will get a nice long break after this, there are a few things I look forward to continuing to remix and mix and match - such as this floral skirt!

Top: J. Crew, Shoes: Zulily, Necklace: Francesca's

I think finding a floral skirt like this one can be a great wardrobe staple.

I've been so excited to experiment with mixing patterns (check out Ruche's Mixing Prints feature!) and this skirt has a lot of potential in that arena.

Borrowed from Ruche

Such a great set of principles for the pattern-mixing beginner! This feature is a spot-on guide to seeing mixing and matching in action. 

This outfit definitely follows principle #2. 

This tight orange gingham pattern almost acts as the neutral, while the pretty blue floral print in the skirt is what really pops. But they somehow compliment each other, despite having nothing in common (other than being complementary colors and therefore destined to be together forever.)

floral denim: outfit 5

Yesterday's outfit featured the comeback of my favorite new pair of pants. 

I love finding a piece of clothing that I'm tempted to reach for every single morning while I'm getting ready. While I obviously try and resist wearing the same outfit every single day, with this challenge I was excited to wear these pants again so soon...

Top: LOFT, Pants: Old Navy (similar), Shoes: Zulily, Necklace: Francesca's

What a strange burst of cold weather we had yesterday!
I came to work and it was windy and chilly, and I was suddenly glad I hadn't done much with my hair.
I was also glad I had grabbed that cardigan!

Today was the complete opposite - clear and hot and sunshiney all day long.
I suppose that's fitting, since today is supposedly the first official day of summer!

Right after we took these pictures, my husband and I joined two other couples for two hours of beach volleyball. It was so cool out, and the sky was gorgeous. I've never been good at volleyball so I was nervous, but we had so much fun, and I can't wait to keep playing throughout the summer! (I also can't wait to get accustomed to playing - I'm so sore today, every time I had to get up from my desk I felt like my body was reawakening from rigor mortis).
I'm not sure why I love summer so much, but there's something so exciting in the air when the weather starts getting hot and you start to hear the happy calls and splashes from the nearby swimming pool, and restaurants start advertising ice cream and fruity smoothie drinks...and you drive home in the darkness and fireflies light the way, and people spend the evenings barbecuing and drinking sweet tea and playing beach volleyball.
I'm pretty happy about what the next few months will look like! Happy summertime, ya'll.

creative layering: outfit 4

Dress: Ruche, Shoes: Zulily

The fourth outfit in my mix-and-match challenge (taking 15 items to create 15 outfits!) utilizes my patterned skirt with a solid dress tucked into it.

This may be my favorite outfit so far.
There are many reasons why I love dresses, but the most recent reason is because they're so versatile. While they're simple and an outfit in and of themselves, they can also be tucked into a skirt to act like a blouse, or worn beneath another blouse to act like a skirt.
I love this dress because of the beautiful sheer details, and also because it's probably my favorite color to wear. I recently noticed that I have an abundance of this bright coral color, and other variances like peach and pink, in my wardrobe. I'm always drawn to it.

While this photoshoot was taken rather humorously in a mall parking lot with a couple of friends right before we went to see a movie, I always enjoy finding bright patches of grass and flowers all over a city. Sometimes it's easy to overlook, but landscaping is such a huge part of the upkeep of a property. It makes a huge difference. I remember in college, always being in awe of the pristine lawn and the giant basins of flowers, and the fountains. It's a lot of work (and we often witnessed the upkeep as we walked to class) but the effect is easy to see and appreciate, if we take the time to do so. 

invest in a vest: outfit 3

Introducing outfit 3 from my 15to15 challenge!

So far I haven't needed to re-wear any items, other than the shoes. I've started with all the separate outfits, and in a few days I'll start creatively re-wearing items from the first few days!

Yesterday was a very misty day. It lightly sprinkled throughout the morning and afternoon, never culminating into a full "rain" but definitely attempting it. 

Through having to park far away from work in the morning and having to walk back to my car that afternoon, by the time I got home and took a few outfit photos my hair was definitely a little worse for wear. 

Exhibit A:

Other than a rather fabulous fur vest, I don't think I've ever worn a casual vest in my teen or adult life. 

I've seen a couple vest outfits that I've really liked, from Melina at The Caffeinated Closet (outfit 1 and 2, I love!) She does the denim vest trend very well. 

Then there's the slightly dressier version, over at M Loves M. 

As you can see, I finally made the plunge and purchased a great white denim-y vest. 

I'm still completely unsure about wearing it sleeveless, even though this is the first time I've worn it and I just went for it. I tend to like vests a lot more when they're layered over a 3-quarter/long sleeve top or dress. 

I think my only real reason is that I tend to avoid sleeveless altogether. (Is it a female condition to think our arms are fat and unseemly?)

Top/Skirt: LOFT, Vest: Kohl's (shop!), Necklace: Francesca's, Shoes: Zulily

Today I have been jotting down my To Do list, which expires Sunday night. I must get everything done by then. I even included dinner dates and mediocre daily activities at work so that I can feel really accomplished when I cross off multiple things every day. Sometimes you need to give yourself a boost of confidence - make the success of your day a sure thing.
"Get dressed? Check! Go to work? Check! Drink coffee? Check! I am on a roll!"

It's Wednesday and I get to leave work a little bit early, so the weekend is looming and I'm ready to conquer my To Do list. How about you?

the mint dress: outfit 2

There's nothing more basic and delightful than a favorite dress and a soft cardigan.
This is yesterday's outfit, number 2 in the 15to15 challenge!

I love the length of this dress. It's one of the first longer dresses I ever purchased, and it has remained a favorite of mine. This week has been cloudy and muggy, and having this dress be a part of this challenge was a great choice!
I also happened to wear this dress on a snowy day in Paris.
I almost always wear an extra layer on top of what's necessary during the summer, because my office is always pretty cool. So while I probably wouldn't wear this cardigan with this dress during the hot summer weekend days, it's perfect for work!

Dress: Ruche, Shoes: Zulily

Today I took two huge bags of clothes down to our local consignment shop.
I had never consigned before, but I took a bunch of jewelry and lightly worn clothes there a few months ago and had a lot of luck! So I decided to do another thorough sweep of my clothes this month, and made the trip. It feels so great to clear out my closet of clothes I love but just don't wear anymore.
There's always that classic rule of "if you haven't worn it in a year, toss it!"
While I definitely don't follow that on a regular basis, I really did a clean sweep this last time and feel great about saying goodbye to the clutter. I don't know why I have such a hard time parting with things, because as soon as I do I feel lighter. Never once have I jumped into a panic saying, "I can't believe I got rid of those pants! They would go so great with these shoes."
In fact, most of the time I find myself having trouble remembering what could possibly have filled those two huge bags of clothes.
Out with the old, in with the new. A constant recycling of clothes and furniture and decor, it's the way life goes! The bottom line? Don't weigh yourself down by assigning value to things that isn't there. While some things may have sentimental value (I have had my fair share of prized possessions that may seem completely trivial to others), at the end of the day they're just things.

15 items, 15 outfits

I actually meant to post this yesterday, but things got a little busy and I had to postpone!

I am embarking upon a new kind of outfit challenge, taking a leaf from my "5to5" outfit post from two months ago. 

I am taking 15 basic items from my wardrobe, and attempting to remix them into 15 unique outfits. Yesterday was day 1, so this challenge will last for every last day of June!

Introducing the 15:

15 items for 15 outfits.

As you can see, these items include not only the basic clothing but also the accessories and the shoes!

I spent time planning and figuring out the best way to maximize these items, and am excited to show you what I come up with. 

Until outfit 1,

Caitlin