Zig Zags and Plaid

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“I don’t really think that goes together,” my husband bravely said when I tried on my new popback score of The Draped Plaid Top (sold out but similar here and similar plus size here) with my zig zag skirt from 2013.

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I was slightly disturbed by this because I had purchased the shirt with the sole intention of it going with this Waverly A-line Skirt (sold out, similar here).

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“Well, I like it. A lot,” voiced my daughter from her spot on the couch.

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“Thank you!” I exclaimed. “I like it, too!”

She studied it some more, “In fact, I don’t think that top would look good with anything else.”

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I turned around and looked at it in the mirror.

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“I don’t know.” I pondered. “I bet it would look amazing with a brown floral skirt.”

“Oh yeah!” My daughter agreed. “But you don’t own a brown floral skirt. I was just thinking of things that you all ready have.”

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I almost completely agree with her. I could still wear this top with a black, denim or cream skirt but it would not have that “special” factor one looks for in an outfit.

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I love this shirt and skirt together so much. I lived in my pajamas while my kids were on winter break and it was so nice to be able to dress up again.

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Since I have been dieting since January 1st, I have to feel good during the day or I will fail. I will eat until I feel bad about myself. Then I will feel bad about myself and eat. It is an endless cycle. Putting on something that gives me more confidence is kind of like a food barrier.

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Speaking of food, I wore this outfit out to lunch with my husband and the waitress was so complimentary about it. She yelled out the door at me, “Keep rockin’ your style! I love it!” Which is the sweetest thing to say ever. I will admit it put a bounce to my step as I skipped back to the car.

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I am trying really hard to wear what I all ready own this year. I have so many outfit ideas swimming around in this head of mine that I cannot wait to try. I love this skirt. I have previously worn it here and here. I like that the plaid top breathes new life into it.

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And I have a crutch. These boots. They were $50 almost four years ago at the flea market. The best $50 I ever spent. But since they go with everything, I tend to be lazy and pair them with an outfit without any thought to the other boots in my closet. And I have lots of other boots that I do not utilize enough.

But these are my favorite.

Plus they’re always out in plain sight so I don’t have to tear apart my closet looking for them.

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Do you have an outfit crutch? Are you trying to break the habit or are you okay with it? I think I am a little of both.

P.S. I shared this on The Pleated Poppy and Reasons To Dress.

In The Sweltering Heat

What have you been wearing during this heat wave in the United States this week? Me, I have opted for long sleeves and jeans. I think I am in denial. I have also been breaking out my boots. I think it is because I am too cheap to go get a pedicure. This is what I have pulled together last week:

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I adore this dress. It was a purchase I made in the spring. I originally blogged about it here. I wanted to pair it this time with my hair up and a turquoise necklace. The dress had been sold out for months, but they just reissued it. It is Free People’s First Kiss Maxi. The turquoise necklace is from Simply Livly on Etsy.

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This was another purchase at the beginning of the year. My At Sea Mini Dress by Tracy Reese via Anthropologie. This is one of my favorites that I turn to again and again. The necklace is from Anthropologie. I believe it is sold out. But I am giving two necklaces away for my giveaway starting September 10th!

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Gosh, how boring am I with my hair lately? I just have wanted it off of my neck. This little hair style does the trick. I consider this outfit my “free” outfit, as it was purchased entirely with gift cards and birthday money. The chambray top is Anthropologie’s Day Drifter Tee. Heather of The Peacock Fairy found hers for a fraction of the cost at TJ Maxx. The skirt is Anthropologie’s Waverly Skirt. The necklace is the same as above. The belt is Calvin Klein via Nordstrom Rack.

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I purchased this Nora Peplum Top from Anthropologie and have worn it two times this week. It is my favorite throw on with jeans. The jeans were a sale purchase from Anthropologie. They are Mothers Brand (my new favorite) and they were $40 marked down from $198.
Again, the necklace is the same as above. Can you tell I like it? And the boots are vintage from the flea market.

So, have you been in denial like me? Sweating in the heat? Or have you opted for a more sensible choice? Please tell!

P.S. I shared this on The Pleated Poppy!

A Crochet State Of Mind

I cannot get enough of crochet lately. I love it all. Did you know I have even crocheted a blanket? Actually, I have crocheted one complete blanket and three quarters of another one. I keep meaning to finish it. Kind of like this thought.

Okay, crochet. Love it! Bring it on:

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All right, here I am talking about crochet and my first outfit has no crochet in it. I make sense like that. The shoes I am wearing are my very favorite shoes in the world. They have this lovely lace on them. It looks like crochet. I bought them during Anthropologie’s additional 20% off sale. They are Deirdre Lace Wedges. I am not a shoe girl, but I can feel the lust with these. I am wearing them in all three outfits.

My mom gave me a gift card for my birthday. I snagged this skirt and used her gift card for it. Then it went on sale and I got a price adjustment. I still had money left over from the gift card. Yay! The skirt is called Waverly A-line. I am wearing a size 2 in it. Yes, a 2. I have no idea how to feel about this.

Excuse my excess of make up in this pic. The kids were gone and my husband and I went on a date night. I do not know why I feel like I need more make up at night. I never like it.

I paired the skirt with a Free People lace top I bought at the beginning of the year from Nordstrom Rack. The necklace is a layering necklace from Anthropologie. I layered a pink tulle skirt from Free People (from this post) via Nordstrom Rack underneath the skirt. The skirt all ready has tulle underneath it. I felt it needed more tulle. No explanation needed. I felt very feminine in this outfit.

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I bought this Anthropologie Edme & Esyllte Field Corduroy Skirt over a year ago on eBay. It is my very favorite skirt. Unfortunately, I think it is a little big now. I wear this skirt every other week. There are so many things that go with it. This top was from Nordstrom Rack. It is a brand called Daniel Rainn. I had never heard of it. But I like the top. The detail might be more lace than crochet, but I felt it was close enough for this category.

The necklace is a layering necklace from Anthropologie. It is my favorite.

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I bought this crochet dress from eBay almost a year ago. It is originally from Anthropologie. I wondered why it looked different. Then I remembered I usually wear a belt with it. Doh! Oh well. I paired it with my flag necklace from Anthropologie.

Have you jumped on the crochet bandwagon? Can you crochet? I crochet in a straight single pattern. My mother-in-law tried to teach me how to do the double knot once. It blew my poor little mind.

Need more crochet?:

I am wearing my multi-color rainbow crochet vest here.

I am also wearing a crochet dress in this post.

And another favorite dress that I have worn and purchased in May, but have not blogged about yet, is the Mix in the Crochet dress by Free People. I own it in the rose color in medium. And I LOVE it.