Some Early Spring Shopping

 

sara new shirts #zara
sara new shirts #zara

Zara Draped Front Blouse | Zara Side Split Top | H&M Shaping Jeans | H&M Distressed Jeans
Frye Engineer Boots | Hat (similar) | Beanie (similar)

There is something about when Christmas winds down and you enter the colder winter days (except this year, it has been way warmer. At least as far as winter temperatures go) that makes me want to revamp my wardrobe. It is usually around this time of year I always go through my closet to take an inventory. Kind of like a pre spring cleaning. I check out what I have worn, what I haven’t, conditions of items,  and generally do a small purge. I have purged really well over the last year and a half, but I know there is still stuff that I can get rid of. I only get access to half of the closet so my side is really crammed since it holds all seasonal clothes, shoes, and accessories. I bought some nice new wooden hangers from Ikea and I am having a hell of a time transferring everything over to them. It’s so crammed and they are so much thicker than plastic hangers that it isn’t working very well, which is another reason for a purge again.

So while I am purging I am also wrapping my head around what I want to get for spring and summer. This process includes looking to see if anything needs replacing, re-evaluating my choices from earlier seasons, and just a general idea of what should go and what I would like to add. I realized that one of my favourite oversized linen t-shirts has a hole. It’s like one of those mysteriously large holes that just seem to appear in your shirt for no reason. I  am disappointed that I have to replace it but the hole is about the size of a quarter so mending it will be really obvious.

On Boxing Day I did some online shopping. I don’t think you could have paid me enough money to go into a mall on Boxing Day. I worked in retail for many, many years and Boxing Day was hell on earth. It was that day every year without fail that you swore you were going to quit your job at least 25 times throughout the long, shitty shift. It was also a day that was a mandatory work day. No one could book it off so everyone was just as screwed as everyone else. No favouritism was ever shown that day. So I stayed home and shopped online this year and ended up buying a couple of pieces from Zara’s big sale. I ordered a draped front blouse and a black long sleeve shirt with side slits. I wasn’t sure about the side slits at first but it works when I wear my high-waisted jeans. Not so much peeking out that it makes me self-conscious. The draped blouse I also really like, but it needs to have a camisole worn under it or I need to sew a small stitch to keep the drape from gaping open when standing/sitting in certain positions. You get a full bra flash if I am not careful. I ended up paying $39 for the blouse and $13 for the black shirt with free shipping so it was a pretty good deal. Zara also packs their items really nicely so when it arrives you almost feel like you are opening a gift. That was a nice surprise.

These are the first two pieces that I am planning on adding to my spring wardrobe. Have you starting thinking about buying for spring/summer yet to are you just transitioning into winter? 

There is nothing wrong with showing a little skin at age 36 via distressed denim and peek-a-boo tops and this goes along with my new mantra #iwillwearwhatilike.

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What to Pack for Paris Plus Size Edition

Paris France Plus Size Packing List #packinglight #packinglist #travellight #traveltips #plussize

Black Camisole • ASOS Curve | White T-shirt • L.L. Bean | Yellow Shirt • H&M+
White Blouse • H&M+ | Dolman Top • H&M+ | Pullover • Lord & Taylor
Oversized Sweater • armarioenruinas via Etsy | Cuyana Cape • Cuyana
Denim • H&M | Black Pants • H&M+ | Wide Leg Pants • Navabi | Dress • H&M+
Leather Jacket • Modcloth | Hat • J.Crew | Scarf • Nordstrom | Necklace • Panacea
Watch • Michael Kors | Sunglasses • Nordstrom | Flats • Jeffrey Campbell
Slip-ons • Vans | Booties • Sole Society | Purse • French Connection | Clutch • Abiko  Continue Reading

One Jumpsuit 4 Ways

One Jumpsuit 4 Ways #1x4

Boho – 1. Jumpsuit • H&M | 2. Kimono Top • Romwe | 3. Sunglasses • Valentino
4. Purse • Nordstrom | 5. Necklace • Juliet & Company | 6. Espadrilles • Castaner
7. Nail Polish • OPI |
Weekend – 1. Jumpsuit • H&M | 2. Nailpolish • OPI | 3. Blazer • Topshop | 4. Purse • Aldo
5. Necklace • DVF | 6. Watch • Nixon | 7. Flats • Topshop | 8. Sunglasses • Marc Jacobs
Rock – 1. Jumpsuit • H&M | 2. Jacket • H&M | 3. Necklace • Vanessa Mooney
4. Lipstick • M•A•C |  5. Purse • Sole Society | 6. Sunglasses • Nasty Gal
7. Watch • Marc Jacobs | 8. Sneakers • Converse | 9. Nailpolish • OPI
Party – 1. Jumpsuit • H&M | 2. Lipstick •  Stila | 3. Heels • Jessica Simpson | 4. Clutch • Nordstrom
5. Necklace • Topshop | 6. Nailpolish • OPI | 7. Bracelets • Ralph Lauren  Continue Reading

Holiday Outfit Inspiration

I have a confession to make. I have a thing for sequins. I’m not even too sure why, but it is not as bad as it was in college. That time might have been comparable to looking like I was going to Vegas for the weekend (even mid-week). I do have an unexplainable attraction to sparkly things. Kind of like a crow I guess. When I heavily purged my closet to try to get in to the capsule mindset, I got rid of a lot of it. I think I am now down to 2-3 pieces which are more appropriate for holiday party wear than everyday wear. Back in college I would have rolled out of bed and wore a sequin blazer to class, years later I have mellowed somewhat (although the urge is still there). Now that we have moved in to the holiday season at full force I thought it might be a good idea to put together some budget friendly holiday looks.

Holiday Outfit Ideas 2015 Continue Reading

Travel Inspired Gift Ideas

Do you ever find that you tend to buy themed gifts for people? Like, for every holiday that you buy them a gift it always is in the same theme as everything else you buy them?

With my oldest, her gifts for the last couple of years seem to have a focus on Harry Potter, and Doctor Who.

For many, many years I bought Tom KISS inspired gifts because he was a collector.

For me, I tend to say travel-inspired items when asked what I have on my list, like books, maps, pictures etc.

In this post, I am going to show you a list of items that would be loved by any (well, almost any) traveller in various price points.

Travel Inspired Gift Ideas for the traveller in your life. #travel Continue Reading

One Chambray Shirt 4 Ways

1 Chambray Shirt Styled 4 different ways. How to make the most out of your wardrobe. Versatile fashion and options.
Boho Look – 1. Chambray Top  | 2. Scarf | 3. Sunglasses | 4. Hobo Bag
5. Stack Bracelets | 6. Flares | 7. Wedge Sandal | 8. Nailpolish
Casual Look – 1. Chambray Top | 2. Sweater | 3. Distressed Denim | 4. Watch
5. Scarf | 6. Purse | 7. Flats | 8. Hat | 9. Nailpolish
Rock Look – 1. Chambray Top | 2. Leather Jacket | 3. Sunglasses | 4. Nailpolish OPI
5. Watch | 6. Purse | 7. Converse | 8. Nars Lipstick | 9. Black Pants
Party Look – 1. Chambray Top | 2. Sequin Skirt | 3. Glitter Tank | 4. Lipstick
5. Necklace | 6. Clutch | 7. Nailpolish | 8. Watch | 9. Heels | 10. Earrings
* Since this post is older, quite a few of the above items that are sold out now. I have replaced sold out items with similar pieces in the same price range.

Continue Reading