Day 21

Today is just about working it. Not in the call girl sense, but in the confidence sense just to clarify. I decided to wear the skirt that I've grown to love during the challenge and the dress that I think was a shirt in another life. The picture does not do justice to how good I felt in this ensemble. It is more of an average of how I felt in these clothes and how I felt in these shoes. Because I was at church, they fit the outfit better, and it was only for the morning, I wore these dress shoes instead of the pink ones. Know that my feet were DYING because these shoes are not broken in. At least they are cute, right?

 

 shirt: thrifted dress, skirt: made by me, shoes: target

I've enjoyed participating in this challenge. It felt good having a purpose to get dressed everyday beyond chasing the Boy around. While I think I did pretty good overall pushing outside of my comfort zone, I think I was a limited by the ridiculous weather around here. This could be a fun challenge to revisit in cooler months where pants, layers, and cardigans can roam free.

Day 20

Today is about Sunday shoes. And here's the thing: most of my dress shoes are giving my feet blisters these days. Sorry, that is gross info to share, but so true. There are only one pair that don't pain me, and I bet you can guess they are my pink Urban Outfitter flats. Instead of just throwing them on and making it look like I gave no effort to this prompt, I got serious and cleaned up my shoes. I imagined I was scrubbing them up for my Sunday best (because in all honesty, Husband was embarrassed with how dirty I let them get) and got out the Oxyclean out. They look as good as new. And they are my Sunday shoes today.

 

shirt: thrfted, skirt: thrifted, shoes: urban outfitters

P.S. Forgive the lower quality photo today. My camera needs some positive thoughts as it is in the shop this weekend. I'm hoping Tempe Camera can work their magical powers on it so that I don't have to buy a new one.

Day 19

Can I just apologize for the frumpsville picture from yesterday? Thanks. It was just one of those days. Today's prompt is about putting something on my head. I decided a headband was best, especially since all my hats are beanies and the high was 107 today. And since I babysat this morning and was spit up on, I changed my clothes and went with comfort. Wearing this outfit is like reliving the (sometimes-not-so) glory years of high school, except I'm wearing a skirt. I never wore a skirt in high school unless I had to, had to wear it. Anyway, I realize that I wore this skirt yesterday, but like Amy said on Day 2, "Two days in a row? At least it wasn't underwear."

 

headband: target, shirt: high school soccer team, undershirt: downeast basics, skirt: thrifted, shoes: thrifted converse

P.S. I'd show you a closer look of the headband, but the quality of my hair today has been questionable. Basically it is an elastic teal headband - same color as my skirt.

Day 18

Today is about statement jewelry. As I said before, I don't have much jewelry and most of it I misplaced in the move. I did however know the location of a chunky bangle bracelet that was loud and proud. A friend gave it to me at my bridal shower years ago. It is orange with big polka dots. I'm pretty sure that combo makes a statement.

 

shirt: target, undershirt: downeast basics, skirt: thrifted, shoes: urban outfitters, bracelet: gift

Day 17

Today is about take an article of clothing from repair pile to wear pile. This skirt has been needing help from the time I purchased it over a year ago. I've worn it, but the blasted rick-rack on the bottom just stuck out to me like sore thumb.

 

It was because of the rick-rack that I overlooked it for my outfit on Day 14. My outfit today is so much more like a Kristine outfit than Day 14's outfit could ever dream about. But I digress. Last night I bought a seam ripper and this morning I started ripping. It took FOR-EEE-VER to pick. Once I got the pink rick-rack off, I realized it doubled as the hem. Well, my sewing machine is sitting in my parents' basement and the fabric is holding the hemmed shape, so I'm the leaving unfinished hem for another day. I made the repair I had set out to do and I'm satisfied with that.

shirt: h&m, skirt: thrifted, shoes: urban outfitters

P.S. I may or may not need a pair of TOMS to stand in for my pink shoes. I'm a little embarrassed by how much I've been wearing them lately.

Day 16

Today is about menswear. I had another outfit in mind that involved suspenders, but the thrift store didn't have any that I liked. Enter plan B: this shirt belongs to Husband, therefore this is menswear.

shirt: husband's closet, undershirt: urban outfitters, shorts: target, shoes: thrifted converse

Day 15

Today was all about doing something new with my hair. I think the intention was to have a hair style to enhance my outfit, but today was a t-shirt and jeans kind of day. You won't see what I wore today or see what my hair looks like from the front (the hair looks fine, but I look exhausted) because that is not what today is about. The focus is the fact that I French braided a section of my hair and it doesn't look terrible. That is something new.

Day 14

Today is all about copying. I did not look up an outfit to copy last night. I woke up late-ish and had some lesson prep to do before church, so I couldn't really look up outfit inspirations then either. When I got dressed I looked in my closet and thought what would Kristine or Elaine wear? This is what I came up with:

shirt: h&m, cardigan: thrifted, skirt: thrifted, shoes: urban outfitters

I've been following both of their blogs for a while now and love what those two ladies wear, and figured my outfit was like something I had seen them wear before. After church I looked up past outfits on both blogs and found that mine was a hybrid between two of Kristine's ensembles.

source

source

P.S. You don't know how much I would have loved to copy a "church pajamas" outfit today. Guess I'm going to keep an eye out for maxi dresses/skirts while thrifting this month to copy that one.

Day 13

Today I'm neutral with a pop of color. With my crazy day, I went for comfort, so my favorite go-to shoes are my pop of color. If you've paid attention, I've worn them the majority of this challenge so far. That's true to life. I bought them for our wedding, but didn't wear them because they gave me blisters. After getting married, I gave them another shot and lined the heel with moleskin. Now they are my favorite shoes. I wish I had more in every color, but Urban Outfitters isn't selling them anymore. Boo.

Excuse the disheveled look. I had a photo shoot outside in the heat, with a mini burst of dust storm, and a mostly uncooperative 2 year old. All things considered, I think I look great.

shirt: h&m, undershirt: shade, skirt: downeast basics, shoes: urban outfitters

Day 12

Another great, simple prompt for another busy day: wear jeans. Done. With a little remix as well.

dress: thrifted (more remix), jeans: thrifted, shoes: urban outfitters

Day 11

Today's prompt was simply wear a skirt. I really appreciate the simplicity of it. My day has been crazy. This morning I had a newborn photo shot, noontime lunch with Husband's dad and the Boy, quick evening family shoot, and photo prep and set up for a wedding tomorrow. The easy comfort of this outfit was very helpful while running around. This photo was taken when I came home at 10pm in the only room with semi-decent light. Do I look as tired as I feel?

shirt: downeast basics, skirt: urban outfitters, shoes: reef flip flops, but took them off

Day 10

The prompt today was about wearing a normally unworn piece of clothing. My first choice was a skirt that I hadn't worn in a year. Well, the zipper broke on it as I was putting it on and then I was stuck in it until Husband managed to help me out. Guess it was getting back at me for looking it over so much. I went back into our closet and found this shirt that I usually avoid because it's color is often overwhelming. I paired it with yesterday's skirt, partly because it cut down the overwhelming color and partly because other than yesterday, I hadn't worn it in a year. Also, I wore it again because I could. So there. The shoes I don't wear often either. So, it turns out, this is an outfit of orphans.

shirt: target, undershirt: downeast basics, skirt: homemade, shoes: khols

Day 9

Today's prompt is all about one color. Not much to say about this one, other than I have had a love/hate relationship with this skirt. This morning I hated it, but by the evening I was loving it. Hopefully my love will last. Go pink!

shirt: urban outfitters, skirt: i made it!, shoes: urban outfitters

Day 8

My name is Yancy. My pants are fancy. (to the tune of this)


This August heat is really cramping my style. In an effort to ignore the weather and pretend it were cooler, I wore long pants today for the casual part of the fancy and casual prompt. The jury is still out on whether or not that was a good move. I wore silver flats, and I guess the dress, for the fancy part.

dress: thrifted, sash: aeropostale (came with pants), jeans: thrifted, shoes: target

Maybe I should have done jazz hands in this picture to make it extra fancy. There's always next time.

Day 7

"I'm not playing. I'm accessorizing."


Today's prompt is about layering accessories. When it comes to accessories, I don't have many. Since we moved, I seem to have less because I've misplaced a few. This is fine for most days, but not good for this challenge. Somehow I scrounged up two necklaces that looked okay together and made it possible to participate today.

shirt: target, undershirt: downeast basics, shorts: areopostale, shoes: urban outfitters

heart necklace: borrowed from mom, other necklace: gift from foreign land

While searching for stuff, the Boy even decided that he wanted to accessorize. In a manly way, of course.


*I've been blessed to have Husband around to take the photos this weekend. It is so much nicer than using the timer.*

Day 6

"Not based on or conforming to what is generally done or believed" - google.com


Today's prompt is about being unconventional. When I first read the prompt yesterday, I wanted to wear a shirt as a skirt. This was fine in theory, but I could not execute it. Husband only has 2 long sleeve button up shirts, and neither one wanted to cooperate. After a moment of defeat, one of Husband's short sleeve shirts called out to me and I figured a woman wearing a man's shirt in a dressy and feminine manner could be considered unconventional. Is this use entirely original and creative? No, but I am sure whoever created this shirt did not intend for me to wear it as I have. As a bonus, Husband's shirt is very breezy which is very nice in this ridiculous August heat.

shirt: prana (gifted to husband), skirt: fossil (gifted to me), belt: marshall's - came with pants, shoes: reef

Now that I have today's challenge out of the way, I am going to focus on tomorrow's beast. For most I assume it will be easy, but for me it presents a bit of an extra challenge.

Day 5

If you like it then you better put a belt on it. Oh oh oh.


Today's prompt is about using a belt. I haven't worn a belt in years, so it was time to make use of one of my 3 belts living in my dresser. To execute the outfit I saw in my head, I had to alter the belt a bit and add new holes. A big thanks to Husband's Leatherman and a meat thermometer that made the alteration possible.

dress: thrifted (remix piece), skirt: rue 21, belt: thrifted and altered

Unfortunately, I don't own any shoes that worked with this look. Any suggestions? Maybe some cowboy boots?

Day 4

Another day, another prompt.


Today is all about the color blocking. I can dig it. My colors of choice were light blue, black, teal, and pink.

shirt: urban outfitters, undershirt: downeast basics, skirt: thrifted, shoes: urban outfitters

Day 3

My dad played photographer for me today, but posing was almost harder with someone behind the camera. I've got 18 more days to master the art of fashion blogging, so hopefully my photos will blow you away by the end of this challenge.


I love today's prompt! Mixing patterns is a bit of a passion of mine. You could even say that it is something I have been dabbling in since I was little.

shirt: hand-me-down, pants: hand-me-down

Unfortunately, when I looked in my closet today I realized how much my shirts are lacking in the pattern department. Six striped shirts and the one I decided to wear. All six of those striped shirts let me down today with how much they didn't inspire me. But it's fine, they will have to make it up to me another day. Besides, my outfit today is pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. And very comfortable.

shirt: forever 21, undershirt: downeast basics, skirt: downeast basics, shoes: old navy

Here is a closer look at the patterns involved.

I dedicate this ensemble to Jessica. May my participation in this challenge make you proud.

P.S. Don't you wish it were socially acceptable for adults to pose like children? I totally should have sat on the back of the Boy's tricycle with my arms in the air for my outfit post today.

Day 2

This masquerading as a fashion blogger is tough stuff. Posing for the pictures is especially hard. Did I mention that I've been taking pictures myself by setting a timer and putting the camera on a ladder? Running back and forth in between pictures in the heat is exhausting. The sacrifices I make for fashion.


Today's prompt was tucking, so I tucked my shirt in. Not my favorite thing, but it sure beats a sharp stick in the eye.

shirt: downeast basics, skirt: downeast basics, shoes: urban outfitters

I'm really excited for tomorrow's prompt. Stay tuned!