The First Day of Christmas Sweaters 2016

I’m getting a late start on my Christmas sweaters because we just moved. It took a while to dig out all of my winter clothing, and it was really hard to get motivated in November when it still felt like summer here in the south. However, December is here, and I am officially another year older. A new house and a birthday call for a new sweater, right? 


Teddy bears skiing? Um, yes, please! I could not pass this sweet sweater up when I saw it in the toasty, warm months of summer. 


Here’s the back:


I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t done my nails in weeks. You guys all know how serious that is! However, these pictures are really making me regret not having matching teddy bear nails. Well, there’s always next year! What will I wear tomorrow? Not even I know that! 

Thrifted Thursday: Pink Peplum Dress 7 Ways

 


It’s the inaugural post of Thrifted Thursday! This is where I will be showing off my second-hand treasures. My first find is my Easter dress, a hot pink Lilly Pulitzer. This showstopper was in mint condition. I wasn’t sure about the peplum, but I am personally always sold on gingham. Maybe it’s the country girl in me? Anyway, this dress was such an amazing find that a posh-looking mom followed me around Goodwill, hoping that I would set it down. Seriously, she was like those vultures at the Lilly for Target sale!

Anyway, I only wore it for an hour and a half at the Easter service on Sunday, so I decided to wear it again to Bible Study on Monday. I wore it differently each time, which gave me an idea to post how to wear the dress 7 different ways. I don’t think I will be doing this every Thursday because I still haven’t fully cleaned up the bedroom from the aftermath of styling so many outfits. Also, I don’t have a nice camera, so my pictures don’t really look that great. And it’s really hard to smile and “smize” for an hour. It’s even harder when you are an awkward picture-taker and not Tyra Banks. 😉 Anyway, on to the outfits!

I decided that I would make a week’s worth of outfits for my lifestyle using this dress. It is very bright, but I’ve added a considerable amount of color to my wardrobe lately. It’s way too hot to wear all black where I live. Also, sorry for the lighting. The sun peeked in-and-out, so sometimes the lamp lighting was all we had (and that’s why my skin is orange).


Day 1: Easter Sunday calls for being a classy lady, so I topped the dress with a small white cardigan. I pulled out my pearl jewelry and an envelope clutch (a gift from my favorite and only sister) to match my bow-bedecked, gold peep-toe shoes. (Fun fact: I wore these shoes to my wedding.)

Day 2: A Monday meeting calls for professionalism, but a writer also needs to look fun and creative. I paired my sweet pink dress with a well-cut blazer. Suede pointy-toe black pumps and a black foldover clutch match my black suede tassel earrings.

Day 3: A night of board games on Tuesday calls for something comfortable and casual. The cut-outs on the back of this sweatshirt give it visual interest. Wearing tennis shoes with a dress isn’t something everyone likes, but I think it’s a fun look. Note that I matched my purse because my matchy-matchy is my middle name. Actually, it’s not, but my middle name will never be printed on this blog. Who are you, my mother?

Day 4: Wednesday is the Lord’s half day, which means you can be a bit more casual at church. Ha! Mixing this vibrant green sweater with a hot pink dress is not for the faint of heart. The sweater is a bit longer than the peplum on the dress, so I belted the sweater in place. I’m wearing a vintage enamel pin to show that I am a proper church lady. Ballet flats help keep the outfit casual. (Second fun fact: my husband gave these shoes to me before he proposed to try to confuse me. They were supposed to take the place of some other pink shoes I had when I was little, which is a story for another day.)

Day 5: Okay, so we don’t go to the fair every Thursday night, but let’s pretend. I love to go to the fair! The fair is still country even if you live in a big city like we do. If you’re about to pet bunnies and watch pigs race, then you better get in touch with your inner cowgirl by wearing a denim shirt. A big necklace, cowboy hat, and cowboy boots are also required. If you don’t have a cowboy hat, you must tease your hair. Big hair makes you closer to God. (Third fun fact: during grad school, a friend confided to me that she had a dream of walking into a thrift store and finding a great pair of cowboy boots for a great price. A little while later, this dream came true… for me.)

Day 6: Friday night is date night. I stepped the dress up a notch by belting a sequined wrap over it. A beaded choker and earrings, a beaded clutch, and stiletto sandals elevate your dress from last night’s fair to tonight’s opera. Okay, I’ve never been to the opera. Usually, we go to a really nice restaurant and then go back home because I ate so much I can’t walk anymore.

Day 7: Saturday afternoon I don the dress for a baby shower. Everyone will be dressed up nicely, so I wear the gingham peplum dress. I keep it casual with a jean jacket. Everything else is silvery or clear: beaded hoops, large crystal necklace, small crystal bracelet, candy purse, and jelly flats. I may or may not be obsessed with accessories you can see through.

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing one thrifted dress styled 7 different ways. I feel funny about posting so many pictures of myself. I’m going to go hide in my bedroom now. Oh, wait! I can’t because of all of this!

This is the ugly truth that style bloggers never write about on their blogs (not that I consider myself a style blogger). I better go clean it! Happy Thursday!

Oh, and don’t forget to tell me about your thrifting finds in the comments!