Look(s) of the Day(s)

Howdy!  If you did not know, I have been writing "Look of the Day," posts for INsite Magazine's Blog.  If you did know, then now, you REALLY know.

Who doesn't love a good street-style?

Comfy & Cute

Khambrea Johnkins was spotted while shopping in Forever 21. She looked very stylish, yet not over-done. When choosing her ensemble, her goal was to look cute but not forfeit comfort. Who said you can’t have the best of both worlds?!

A simple, black long-sleeve shirt paired with leggings offers a clean, sleek look, and every girl knows that this outfit would feel as good as a pair of pajamas! Throw on a pair of stylish black sandals and you are prepared to shop till you drop.

Add the vest for some personality, the glasses for trendiness, the bracelet & bag for some sparkle and what you’ve got is one alluring outfit!

Top:  Old Navy

Jean Vest:  Guess

Tights:  Forever 21

Sandals:  Traffic

Glasses:  Urban Outfitters (“This is what made my look!” Khambrea said.)

When Khambrea’s not shopping, she’s studying nursing at the University of Florida, but watch out. She is contemplating a transfer to pursue fashion, and we think she should go for it. Big thanks to her for the inspiration! You can look cute and still be comfortable.

Adorable from Arizona

Laura Dean, originally from Tucson, Az., has lived in Gainesville for the past two years and is currently working for Keith Watson Productions as a wedding design specialist. When she’s not at work, she loves spending time downtown seeing shows at the Hipp and hanging out with friends. Not only does Laura like visiting the Hipp, she also looks pretty hip! She was spotted at The Top in an outfit composed of varying elements that achieved perfection.

Laura stays true to a lot of classic looks and pieces but enjoys mixing things in that are a little out of the box, which gives her outfits that pop of intrigue. She is open-minded when it comes to shopping. “I think everyone has that one item in their wardrobe that they found somewhere they would usually never shop,” she says. She is also a fan of thrift stores and of Joe’s Jeans, “I seriously can’t live without them.” 

Brown Leather boots with purple stitching:  Kenzie

Tights:  Express

Mini-Dress:  Target (under $20!)

Denim Jacket:  “Super ancient, I’ve had it since I was 16.”

Feather Necklace:  Francesca’s

Leather “Rose” Crossover Bag:  Gianni Bini

Laura looks adorable in her mix between classic and eye-catching in leather, denim and feathers.

Don't be a silly sally and forget to enter my giveaway!  Who doesn't want free stuff?????

 

Also, puh-leez vote for my blog to win the Refinery 29 Style Blogger Contest!!!  The winner gets an internship with them!!!!  All you have to do is click the heart located in the top, right corner of this blog. 

Shoe Lust

Ever walk outside and feel the dirt between your toes?  Ew, Gross! 
Ever put your bare foot in a puddle or, worse, gum?!  Double Ew, Gross!
Well, don't worry, my friends, have Jiffy feet no more!!!  There's an invention for this:  SHOES!!!!!!  Long, long ago, God created shoes.  Yes, shoes come from Heaven! 



Being the true shopaholic I am, not only did I recently break my own clothes closet (for the down-low, click here), I recently completely filled my shoe closet.  For kicks (pun intended), I decided to play a little game (it was a slow day) called "Count the Shoes."  Guess how many?!  Did you guess?!  What did you say?!  ...............78.........I have 78 pairs of shoes.  Can I get an intervention?  Just kidding, can I get an Amen?!  I really didn't think it was that out of control, honest!  Since arriving at this harsh reality, I am no longer allowed to purchase shoes.  Sad, I know!  :"(  So, if you want to be my friend, and you should, follow me on Twitter, and send pictures of your lovely shoe purchases to me.  I will live vicariously through you, and it will make me happy.  Come on, you should do it! 



As I mourn my shopping freedom, I reflect back on the good times, and I will now share with you some of my loves, and the great deals I got on them!  Hang on to your hats, or your shoes, whatever!

These babies were free to me, because I had a birthday, and my lovely friend gave a TJMaxx gift card to me.  What a great girl! 

Plato's Closet:  super sale $4  Can you beat that?  Well, can ya, punk?

Super Sale continued!  $8

Forever 21: $22  What a splurge! ;) 

Traffic:  Sale $15 Jeffrey Campbell impersonators

Lighthouse Christian Store:  Thrifted $4 what a steal!

Ross:  Steve Madden's $30 When I bought these, they were still being sold at Macy's for $118 WIN!


Francesca's on sale $25


Now, for some inspiration

I don't have kids, so I put these Miu Miu's in a frame, ugh, they are so beautiful, I die! 

From my shoe closet: 





Ahh, the wonderful Anne Taintor, a girl after my own heart!  And remember,

Happy Shoe Shopping!!!  Buy some for me!!!

And now, for the moment we have all been waiting for!!!!  The WINNER of the Elegant Elephant Ring

hdnorman2002 !!!!!! 

To find out how she won, click here.  Stay tuned, because I will be hosting another giveaway again soon!!!!!   

Get out your Scissors Girls, it's a DIY!

Do you have a plain little black dress (or any dress) that bores you?  Ew, Yuck!! (that one's for Meghan!)
Are you sick of it?
Are you ready to send that baby to Goodwill?

If you answered "YES!" to any of the previous questions, then hold on my friends, help is on the way!!

All you need is your boring dress, a marker, some scissors, a round object, and a good attitude!!!

Once you have gathered your items, turn your dress in side out, fold it in half, like so, and put your round object on it, like so:

Note:  In case it hasn't hit you yet, there will be two holes in your dress, so don't freak out.

Double Note:  I was the guinea pig for this experiment, so you my dear sweetiepies, will want to move your round object up towards the top of your dress a lil bit more than I did.   

And remember, if you are using cotton and like me didn't learn your lesson from this DIY, cotton is going to sag.  I know, it's a cruel, cruel world.  So, I would recommend you use a smaller round object than I used. 

Round Object:  Talk about multipurpose!

Pick up your marker.  Take off the cap.  Draw around the half of the object that is on the dress.  Do not draw on the table, or whatever is under your dress (this is bad).  


Remove the round object.  Pick up your handy-dandy scissors, cut on your markered line.  Wave your magic wand, and BAM!  There you have it!  

Note:  If you are a fancy bird, you may hem around the edges of your cut-outs.  If you are like me, and are in a hurry with nothing to wear (ya right, have you seen this mess?), who cares, be lazy, say you're going for that deconstructed look!!!  People are like lemmings, they will believe you.  Plus, if someone gets close enough to inspect your creation, MACE THEM!!!  That is your personal space!!!

My Mannequin Friend liked it so much, she begged me to wear it.  I apologize for the ill-lighting but hey nobody's perfect, not even me!  Shocking, I know!  

Doesn't she look stunning.  

Dress:  I already bought it, wore it to death, hated it, was going to get rid of it, so I am counting this new creation as $0.  If you have a problem with that, you need to lighten up.

Belt:  Handed-down from my sister-in-law.  It was too big for me and my Mannequin but no sweat, just wear it like that and bam, it works. $0

Necklace:  Someone gave this to my old Boss who didn't want it and gave it to me.  I will take anything.  If you have anything you don't want, let me know!  $0

Watch Magic:  The watch was a gift from my dad, he's a real sweetiepoo $0.

Lacy Thing:  For more info consult this link $2.50

Here's another view for all the fans of the lace thing.

Any Mannequin's look is not complete without knees socks, for more info clicky-clicky 

Knee Socks:  $0

Now, I know what you're thinking, this dress still looks boring, but wait

The front of your dress may say Meh, but the side says, YEH!!  I had to remove my Mannequin's arm for this shot, she cried.  I hope you all appreciate it, I did it for you!!!  After all, it's not my fault she only has two arm settings: on and off.

If you feel like your sides need a lil more than a belt to separate them from the world, oh I've got a solution for you!

Or you can wear a something else under it, whatever, I don't care.  

Lace Leotard:  Forever 21 $12

 Here's a closer view for those like me with bad vision.

Total Cost of Look 1 leotard-less $2.50

Total Cost of Look 2 leorard-more $14.50

And there we have it ladies, take your dresses from meh to YEH!!!!

If you think I talk too much and can only handle hearing from me in 140 characters or less, follow me on Twitter!  "Cheep Cheep!" Or should I say, "Cheap Cheap!"

 

Hallelujah, a DIY!

Do you have a plain ole' shirt?  I know, ew yuck!

Well, I had one too, until I grabbed some scissors and cut loose (get it, hahahaha). 

Gifted from my boyfren, he's so nice! $0

 

Step 1:  Cut the desired portion out of your shirt, because too much fabric is yuck.  Keep in mind that if your shirt is cotton like the one pictured above, it is going to sag, so be prepared or you might end up playing "how low can you go."

 

If you are a hussy like my Mannequin, you can wear this as a dress, just saying. ;)

 

Step 2: Work with what you've got.  This shirt was from Forever 21, so I cut out the "Forever" part and made a dandy little bracelet $0

 Does your tag not say anything cool?  Okay!  Just tie a piece of the leftover fabric into a bow, and bam, you have a bracelet too! $0

Be bored no more, friends, cut up your clothes!!!