Transitioning to Spring

I'm not going to lie, this relentless winter has had me down for a while. I've been whiny, tired, cold, and most annoyingly, wandering in a creative drought; feeling uninspired and unmotivated. Sadly for my blog, this has meant infrequent posts. I just haven't been feeling it, and I would rather not post than post below my own standards, ya know? Well, luckily, the past two or three weeks we've witnessed a glimmer of spring here as the temperatures have hoovered above freezing enough to begin a thaw in the metro Detroit area {insert happy dance here}. With the withering snow and ice piles, the first day of spring under our belts, and a renewed sense of optimism, I am excited to return to blogging refreshed and rejuvenated.

Today I'm sharing some of my most loved pieces while in hibernation, and the various ways I have styled them throughout this past season. They are all pieces that can be used as the weather reluctantly transitions back to warmer temps as well. I did a similar blog to this last winter when I was embarking on a closet remix challenge (here), so I wanted to do a follow-up this year to help out anyone else who is in a bit of a closet inspiration rut. While I am not currently swearing off shopping, I do try to maximize how I style my closet and have become much choosier in adding new pieces.

red bow bag (budget option here)

This red bow bag has been a staple in my closet for over a year now. When you think of spring fashion and style, you may not immediately think red, I don't either. I think mint, blush, lavender, and other pastel hues. However, nautically inspired clothing has been a pretty consistent warm weather trend and one of the ways I love to add a punch to my maritime inspired ensembles is with some pink or red accessories; cue this bag - the perfect contrasting pop to crisp white and navy outfits. Plus, it will add to a patriotic pallet around Memorial Day and the 4th. 

cargo vest (old, options here and here)

One of the most used and versatile pieces in my closet is my trusty cargo vest. Its olive green color is the perfect neutral that goes with many brights, other neutrals, and pastels, making it a great year-round staple. I am looking forward to styling it with floral and lace dresses, to add a little edge to my feminine spring attire.

 mint flats

As a self-professed shoeaholic, I often go through cycles of my favorite shoes "of the moment." Having over 100 pairs makes it hard to give each their deserved attention without them taking shifts for my affection. Currently on repeat are these mint flats from last year that Target so wonderfully brought back again for this spring. I love the pop of color these give an outfit and love pairing them with feminine scarves on an otherwise neutral ensemble.

light pink gingham shirt (old, nearly identical versions here and here)

This little number is definitely my MVP for springtime layering. The pretty pastel pairs perfectly with so many other colors and patterns, while providing an additional thin layer for warmth on those "between seasons" kinda days. Plus gingham is right on trend this season. I can't stop wearing it!

patterned pants (all old, love these or splurge on these)

Confession, I am a tiny bit obsessed with patterned denim. I have these two floral pairs and two polka dot pairs, and am always on the look out for versatile pants with a touch of something special. I love the subtle, or sometimes not so subtle, print mix they add to an outfit. One of my favorite ways to transition denim is by rolling the hem and slipping on a pair of flats. I am especially loving this pair of floral pixie pants, and am thinking of jumping on the drapey pants bandwagon with these. 

khaki mini skirt (striped one here) and leopard shoes (pumps, flats, love these)

I didn't realize until I started compiling photos that I almost exclusively pair this skirt with a leopard shoe. Crazy coincidence or the perfect pairing? I'll let you decide. Either way, I am obviously obsessed with this skirt, I have it in like 6 colors and between them, I wear one at least once a week (sometimes more!). They are comfy, have pockets (winner, winner) and are a good length for work or a casual lunch with friends. I like that this khaki one provides a simple neutral base and will be pairing it with pastels and fun prints as the weather warms. As for leopard shoes...I just keep adding to my collection each season - heels, booties, flats, sneakers, the list goes on and on. They go with almost everything in my closet and are a quintessential pattern for mixing. I have been eyeing this chic pair for spring. 

As you can see from the collages above, a lot of the featured pieces show up in outfits for other featured pieces, because I really do try to work and re-work my closet to get the most bang for my buck. Transitioning my winter pieces to spring also saves me money by not having to buy a new wardrobe every season, ain't nobody got time for that. 

What winter pieces are you keeping around for spring?

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!

Throwback Thursday: Sing the Blues

Only one more day until Friday and, per usual, I am beyond psyched! As I have waxed poetic about on here before, I am a girl who lives for the weekends and with the avalanche of freezing precipitation this week, I am a little more anxious than usual to hole up in my apartment for a few days. Until then however its work, school, and probably more snow, yippee ;-) Given the relentless winter, I am once again excited to share a throw back post to when the grass was not just green, but actually visible. Here is another layered outfit from this past fall, and shows another one of the many ways I have styled another piece from Mint Sugar Boutique, their Iced Tassel Necklace (see this post for coupon code for 15% off your entire order!). This outfit is also pretty monochromatic in nature, which is a change of pace from my normal kaleidoscope of colors present in my outfits. One of the easiest way to mix patterns successfully is to do it within a single color family, or between naturals and a color. Here I have mixed patterns within the blue family as well as with a neutral, ie. leopard. How do you mix prints?

chambray: old navy | pumps: target | jeans: old navy | vest : old navy | sweater : jcrew factory | purse: target

sunglasses: forever 21 | necklace: mint sugar boutique | bracelet c/o hawthorne collection

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!

2014 Closet Remix Challenge

Hi, my name is Ray and I'm a shopaholic. Legit, I'm verging on Confessions of a Shopaholic bad. Nothing makes me happier than the thrill of a new purchase, I love the high I get when I find a great sale item and when playing the mental math game to make my money disappear into glossy shopping bags. Due to my obsessive compulsive tendencies, I can get a little out of control without realizing it and easily overspend, leaving my budget on life support. I even have mood swings depending on whether or not I am able to get the items I actually set out to get, usually after some serious stalking. Both planned and impulse shopping are dangerous for me, because I can always find more things I want (I'm like a bird attracted to anything shiny). I am easily seduced by coupons, sales, and clearance items, part of the thrill of the "game" is the challenge of seeing how far I can stretch my money. In a weird way shopping, for me, isn't always about the clothes or shoes or accessories, but the addiction/compulsion to get more for less. It has gotten a little out of hand, especially with the stress (which exacerbates my compulsions) of the holidays and the end of the semester, I was spending way too much on things I wasn't even sure I needed or even wanted, just because the price of something was amazing. I also feel guilty about not picking something up on super sale, even if I barely have the money to afford it, I feel bad. It's strange to think about. In addition to this compulsion are the mood swings associated with it. Feeling sad, mad, depressed, etc. are all common things I experience if I could not get something I actually want. 

image via

I have become a spending monster and this spending, especially through the holiday season where I mentally justify everything with the promise of money coming in the following year, has left my insides and my bank account empty. I don't need more stuff. I don't want more stuff. In fact, I tend to hate stuff. It means less space with more to clean. So, what's a shopaholic to do? With what do I replace the elated feeling shopping brings me? The answer, thanks to the wonderful @jen_murph on instagram, is the #2014closetremixchallenge. Joining instagram last year has been both a blessing and a curse to a shopaholic like myself. Within it I have found an amazing community of wonderfully kind, stylish, and creative fashionistas, whose friendships and inspiration have meant the world to me this past year. The flip side to meeting and following all of these amazing women, is that it gives me a serious case of the I wants. So many of the things I purchase is because I see them on instagram and immediately need to have them too (I used the hashtag #instagrammademedoit more than I would like to admit last year). I am only human, and as hard as I try, can't help but sometimes compare myself to other bloggers and IG'ers, and can even fall victim to feeling the need to keep up with the Jones' of the blogging and fashion world. But, I also get so much inspiration that I also buy pieces to recreate or give my own spin on outfits I love. The reasons to shop are endless,  right? ;-)

Well, this year I am going to rehab. Participating in the challenge means that on a monthly basis, I will commit to not shopping - no new clothing, shoes, or accessories, and only creating outfits out of the clothing I already have in my closet with the exception of exchanges, returns, and giftcards, or replacing damaged necessities (runs in tights, leaky snow boots, etc.). January is my first month, and so far, so good! I participated in a closet remix challenge last June and had a fun time mixing and matching pieces I had from my closet. The challenge really encourages you to bust out the items in your drawers with tags still on them, dust off things you have forgotten in the back of the closet, and pair unexpected pieces to create fun new outfits, giving a twist on your trusted favorites. This new mental game of mixing and matching the things I already own is new puzzle for my compulsions to grab onto. The satisfaction of making new outfits out of things I have already used in other great outfits provides enough of a high to keep me from shopping, at least for a month or two at a time. I am also going to be more selective with the pieces that I do add this year, sticking to more classic pieces (I don't even own a pair of plain nude heels) and fewer trendy items. 

I have written on here before about getting the most out of my clothing, and this challenge is definitely in line with that goal. I have put together some collages of my favorite pieces that I bought this fall and winter and the multiple ways that I have worn them as inspiration for myself during this challenge, and you too, if you choose to join me! 

Cable Knit Cardigan

Herringbone Vest

 Polka Dot Pencil Skirt

Leopard Loafers

Striped Sweater

Plaid Blanket Scarf

Taupe Ankle Boots

Crystal Sunburst Necklace

As you can probably tell by these collages, I definitely play favorites! All of these pieces highlighted are things I have purchased in the last 4 months and I have tried to get as much wear out of them without feeling like I wear the same thing everyday. Some of these items were bought because of instagram, such as the J.Crew Factory herringbone excursion vest and the Zara plaid blanket scarf. But others were filling a whole in my wardrobe, such as the taupe booties, which were my first pair of booties ever. My hope is that after rehab, every piece that I add to my wardrobe is used as frequently as I wear these favorites. This is also a pretty good representation of my style; comfy, colorful, creative, and all about the details. Being on a remix challenge only pushes my closet creativity further. I hope that this post inspired you to mix-up your closet this month too!

For those you of who are not on a challenge and would like outfit details, please visit their individual posts on my instagram account. Please shop the links below to add my favorites to your closet!

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!