Summer Safari

Yesterday I mentioned that I picked up a sweet (and brand spankin' new!) men's GAP button-up in olive green.

I didn't put together the outfit in time for What I Wore's reader challenge post — but here's my attempt at a Safari-Chic:

Can't wait to get a nicer camera!

• Green, two-pocket Safari-style men's shirt (GAP via Goodwill - new - $5)
• Cream-colored cotton tank (Old Navy - $6)
• Off-white linen pants (Banana Republic via eBay - new - $12)
• Twigs necklace (gift from my girl Megan)
• The budget buster: Diba shoes ($58)... also seen here

The necklace:

I thought this necklace would be perfect for this outfit. It feels very African-inspired. While I call it a twig or pretzel stick necklace, it's actually some kind of very tough fiberglass-like material. 

Speaking of What I Wore's Safari challenge, I am so excited to be introduced to Seven Dollar Pants, a blog led by a dynamic Toronto duo. Christine (below) was the fave outfit of the What I Wore challenge. She called this outfit her "Zookeeper" look. I can tell these gals are going to be very inspiring! They're thrifty, creative and stylish: three of my favorite things.

-- Katy 

Winter Clothes Wearing Comes to an End

Wearing my black shorts and tights one last time. (And yes, we do have astro turf on our back porch - yikes!)

Kiss your cold weather clothes goodbye until October!

Considering its nearly April and I live in Georgia, I figure I won't have many more opportunities to don sweaters, tights, lined pants or heavy jackets.

The birthday celebration for Maria and Kyle at Tap this weekend was a perfect opportunity wear my "winter shorts" one last time.

• Cowl neck sweater - Gap (gift from parentals)
• Cuffed shorts - H&M ($25)
• Black platform pumps with patent tips - Nine West via Ross ($25)
• Patterned tights - Intimissimi (10 euros) (tights also seen here)

Taking Notes from Maegan (but in need of styling feedback) — Goodies from the Weekend Part 3

I took a page from the notes of Miz Love Maegan for this outfit (you must check out her blog if you want style inspiration...). 

Similar to Maegan's post here, this "dress" is actually a belted, longer dress. Except for in my case, it's a nightgown. When I saw the gown on the end of a rack at Last Chance (Decatur), I honestly thought it was a dress; then I realized it was next to a bunch of pajamas. Whoops. I didn't let that deter me from my mission of finding interesting items to add to my wardrobe.

 

Lace-trimmed night gown belted as a dress.

My attempt at cooler weather styling didn't work... I wish I had a knit that made sense for this "dress"

Posing mishap (i.e., trying to look cool made me look like I have no arms — not the look I was going for)

I realize this is a little bit more of a fashion risk but thought it would be fun to play. I can better visualize how to wear this when it's warm... I'm struggling a little with what jacket or knit to wear on my shoulders for a colder weather look. Is there a shoe that would be a better fit? Suggestions? The husband and the mom are not fans of the dress in general... what do you guys think? You can be honest since I paid less than $5...

Dress: $5 night gown from Last Chance (Decatur), belted (no tag)

Shoes: Carlos Santana via Ross ($25-ish)

Jacket: Lapis via Ross ($10-ish)

Necklace: gifted by Mb

Monochrome Legs (Goodies from the Weekend Part 2)

I posted on Saturday that the weekend was full of blog-worthy material.

I also posted this teaser snapshot of one of the many things I snagged over the weekend:

Here's the dress!

Trying on in the store. Ignore the boots and the hat (and the hair... and the face).

Monochrome tights and shoes inspired by What I Wore's Jessica (seen here and here).

The brooch I already had, but I picked up the dress during my visit to Last Chance Decatur (FYI - you can print coupons from their site). I knew right away that I wanted to accessorize it with my new-ish burgundy tights and the same-color platform sandals.

The dress has big buttons down the back (fun!) and is unfortunately too short to wear to work. I'm excited about it for an eventual night out or date night though.

Dress: Liz Claiborne (circa early 90's — it has shoulder pads) $8 at Last Chance (Decatur)

Shoes: gifted

Brooch: $2 or $3 at Goodwill

Tights: $10 at Macy's

Great Weekend for Blog Content

This weekend has been a great weekend for A Life Fulfilled: Atlanta. 

Today alone = two thrift/secondhand shops + lunch on BuHi (translation for non-Atlantans: Buford Highway is the Atlanta mecca for international food, mostly Asian, South and Central American). 

Here are a few teaser pics from the weekend (full posts to come):

Saturday Style

Sweater and jeans weather is my favorite weather of the year. During the Georgia summer, as everyone else is losing themselves in poolside days, sundresses and halter tops, I yearn for the fall. When others are enjoying spring's cool and misty mornings, I think privately about how spring's humidity doesn't compare to the fall's crispness. 

Fall has officially arrived here. It's time for jeans, sweaters, dresses, patterned tights, wool coats, boots and lightweight scarves. This is the weather I crave — and the clothes feel closest to my personality.

• Military-style sweater: Lauren Mitchell via Ross ($20-ish)
• Billabong tee from Ross (maybe $10?)
• XOXO skinnies ($25)
• Fresh-from-Ross Jessica Simpson buckled leather flats ($25)

I've never owned any J. Simps before... I must admit that I'm digging them. Killer comfortable, durable materials and a rugged chic look. I may have to explore her heels...

Happy Weekend!

(Nearly) A Week in Review

When I wake up, I think I'll be able to pick out in outfit in under a minute. With all the staples that any gal probably has (black skirt, brown skirt, black sweater, black dress, solid and print button-ups, blazers, etc.), it shouldn't be that hard... right?

Turns out that the one-minute estimate is on the way skimpy side. Each morning, I end up spending about 10 minutes second-guessing a boring outfit choice only to grab something funkier from the depths of my wardrobe. Then I triple-guess myself, wondering if the slightly edgier outfit will be too much for my semi-conservative office. Then I land somewhere in the middle. 

I'm working to find the balance between fun/unique and business casual. Where are Stacy and Clinton when I need them?

Monday: OLD black Wal-Mart tank ($10), random black/white shrug sweater from Ross ($12), random Macy's black pencil skirt ($14) with white seams, gifted crimson Nine West shoes

Tuesday: GAP Outlet teal v-neck sweater ($17), GAP Outlet black and teal cap-sleeve blouse ($17) Ann Taylor LOFT lined wool pants via The Nearly New store ($7), gifted Kenneth Cole kitten heel Mary Janes

Wednesday: BCBG dress ($15 from Ross), Target tights ($5?), Lapis black swing coat ($12), Fitzwell heels ($15 plus S&H from www.6pm.com)

The Tuesday dress by its lonesome

Friday: vintage plaid lined cape ($4 plus $10 for alterations), Banana Republic Outlet white button-up ($17), Banana chinos ($6 at The Nearly New), Nine West brown kitten heels ($30)

(Forgot to take photos Thursday — sorry! And it looks like all but one outfit fell under $50)

What do you wear to work?

First Day of Work (and a <$50 outfit post)

I had trouble falling asleep last night. And this morning TOTALLY felt like the first day of school. 

"What should I wear?" 

"Will these shoes give off a good first impression?" 

"Pants or skirt for the first day?" 

"I wonder how they feel about open toes..."

For my first day at the new (business casual) job, I finally settled on a new-ish black dress, low-heeled Mary Janes and black tights with a barely-visible argyle pattern. I intended to put on my shapes chain necklace but forgot (whoops). Maybe I was too distracted by how the torrential rain was going to ruin my rarely flat-ironed hair? (FYI: I am aware that this photo is terrible — I ran out of time for re-dos.)

I'm already itching to wear something a little more funky (but still totally appropriate and within dress code). Part of this feeling comes from seeing my new colleague Peggy's workplace attire for the second time. When I visited the office two weeks ago, she had on a totally approp bohemian-style dress with creams, teals and browns and fabulous costume jewelry. Today she had on a tiered black dress, black kitten heels with roses on the toes (they were much cuter/less kitsch then they sound) and a cluster of metal, lucite and faux gemstone costume jewelry. Business casual can be fun and professional, right?

Dress: Evan Picone via Ross ($17.99 on clearance)

Tights: Anne Klein ($7.99 for a pack of two - Ross)

Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction (gifted from sister because they were too small for her)

Total: $25.98 (would have been $39.98 if I hadn't forgotten the necklace...)

Now that I have a reason to get dressed every morning, I hope to be back to posting outfits semi-regularly.

Note to self: get a better camera. Either the user or the camera sucks with indoor photos. Question to self: why so shiny? ALL THE TIME?

Wedding Attire

We went to a BEAUTIFUL wedding in Greenville, South Carolina this weekend. Our friends Marnie and Tom really went all out with the wedding location (a mountain chapel with great views), the reception (a hollowed-out old factory building with paper lanterns swinging from the rafters) and the details (coloring books for the kids and silly hats and mustaches for the kids — or adults — to play with).

I was a little perplexed about what to wear for this wedding. The ceremony was at 4:30pm and the reception at about 6. The weather was a very tolerable low 80's — and the wedding featured a sit-down dinner. I decided to take a little bit of a risk and wear a shorter magenta number ($42 at Deja Vu boutique in Panama City, FL), the elastic/patent belt I picked up in DC ($18) and some new-ish patent leather gladiator heels ($25 - Nine West via Ross). My legs felt a little more bare than usual, but it was fun to dress up in something a little more glamorous than my typical little black dress. My little clutch is from the Junior League's Nearly New store ($4). I'm still kicking myself for forgetting to put on some little shiny black earrings. Argh!

What would you wear to a 4:30 late Spring/early Fall wedding?

Ladies Who Lunch

Today, I was a lady that lunched. I met up with my ex-work husband, Gregory, at a little Mexican place in Norcross. (Read more about work spouses here.)It had been WAY too long since I'd seen Greg, and we had plenty to update one another on. Greg's still in a very happy relationship and just returned from a great birthday trip to Florida. I filled Greg in on our house progress, married life and my work updates.

And, of course, it seemed like a great occasion to snap a self-timed photo... so silly. More time = blow dried/flat ironed hair!

Can you tell its 90+ degrees in Atlanta?

Today:

• Old Navy little black dress (thrifted - $5)
• Pop Icon oversized button-up (thrifted this past weekend for $7)
• Mod elastic belt from DC trip ($18 from Mercedes Bien)
• Green faux alligator loafers (Bare Traps, from Ross - $10)... though I was tempted to wear my new boots again

Better shot of the loafers... so comfy and fun

You Know I Couldn't Resist

(Wearing my one-day-old boots to work today!!)

Today:

• Isaac Mizrahi dress ($20 at Target); I wore this as my wedding getaway dress
  
• New/thrifted boots ($25 at Last Chance in Decatur)
• Pendant necklace with multistrand black beads (Gifted by Mb when she was downsizing her costume jewelry collection)
• (Not pictured) Armani Exchange blazer shown here

DC vintage shopping + outfit post

Today's post is dedicated to my friend Mb, who I visited this past weekend... and happy birthday, my dear!

I had the greatest time in DC this past weekend! I stayed Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights with my friend Mb. She lives in Chinatown in DC proper, convenient to the metro and to all the cool parts of town. 

After sleeping off sushi, red wine and martinis from the night before (mmm Oya was delish), we ventured out to Adams Morgan to hit up the DC Vintage scene. I'd read in the DC Goodwill Fashion Blog that DC has quite a few awesome secondhand shops. With Mb and her friend Lauren in tow, I was destined to find good things and enjoy every minute of the journey.

I have to say that our 45 minutes or so at Mercedes Bien was one of the highlights of the weekend. I enjoyed trying on various pieces (ranging from a polka dot jumpsuit to a belted, mod print dress) and watching Mb and Lauren sift through cool threads. I showed the sales girl photos from my blog and she couldn't believe what great stuff I've found on my home turf. Then somehow, I got into a favorite blogs conversation with a customer (Ginger of Booshie Design) and was asked to write down my favorite style blogs for the sales girl and for Ginger. (Shout outs to the AsianCajuns, Sally Jane Vintage and Love... Maegan.) Talking with them was a lot of fun. Later, we got to meet Mercedes herself — talk about fabulous. She was an incredible, eclectic, interesting, stylish character. 

All photos taken at Mercedes Bien in Adams Morgan (DC)

The selection at Mercedes Bien is very well thought out and interesting. If I had big money to burn, I definitely would have bought vintage jewelry, dresses, sunglasses and shoes galore. Regardless, I was happy with my final purchase; I ended up snagging a mod-looking, black, elastic belt with a silver buckle ($18). Mb picked up a fantastic, vintage, green, belted skirt ($42).

Mb's new skirt is much like this one but dark green with a built-in belt... awesome 

(photo seen here on the Green Lashes and Fashion blog)

Our time at Mercedes Bien and Meeps also reminded me how great the Atlanta thrifting scene is. I'm pretty sure that many of the items I've found for $3 to $7 at my local Goodwills would retail for $50-plus at Mercedes Bien. (On that note, maybe I should see if I could become a remote buyer...)

Meeps was also a lot of fun (and slightly less expensive) but I found the items slightly less glamorous and more costume-y. If you're looking for vintage t-shirts, funky pants and more casual wear, definitely check out Meeps. 

I came home to Atlanta with one other "new" item in my suitcase — a pair of cranberry-colored, peep toe, platform pumps that were too small for my dear friend. Her slightly larger foot is my gain (LOVE these shoes - thanks lady!). So last night, when I saw a girl walking into the gym wearing a pencil skirt, I felt inspired. I realized my pencil skirt needed to be dusted off — and it would be a great match for my "new" slingback pumps and elastic belt.

Can you tell that I feel like a goofball?

So, today:

• Express pencil skirt with Leopard-print lining 
• Classic white t-shirt (thrifted - $3)
• Nine West pumps mentioned above (gifted from Mb)
• Mod stretch belt ($18 at Mercedes Bien)