transitional style

If there's anything I like, it's clothing items that can work multiple ways. I love seeing people remix outfits  (Delightfully Tacky does a great job sharing them) and I've been thinking a lot about trying the 30 x 30 project-- where you pick 30 clothing items for a month.

But even 30 is a lot. I'm currently reading 7 by Jen Hatmaker, and I'm in a part of the book where she talks about her month of wearing just 7 items of clothing for a month, which she does, sharing her thoughts with amazing hilarity and candor.

Now I'm thinking a lot about what in my closet can be worn over and over. Take this sheer top for instance. This week, while it's 80 degrees in Seattle, it's perfect paired with shorts. In September, it'll layer well with jeans. The shorts? Not as versatile, but they were on sale and the husband really likes them.

I'm entering a contest hosted by Wallis to share transitional style-- two outfits from one item. You can vote for me, pretty please, here!

Happy Tuesday!

xo, erika

wear: 

top: c/o wallis
shorts: target
shoes: shoemint

a jumpsuit story

 

jumpsuit: anthropologie // belt: target // shoes c/o BC Footwear

I've been wanting a jumpsuit for awhile but haven't really ever voiced it because it's kind of one of those polarizing things. You love them or you hate them and I've loved them ever since I saw Emily what's-her-face rock the most amazing white one on The Bachelorette. It was glamorous, elegant and I knew that it was something I wanted to try to wear some day.

Turns out finding a pantsuit is not the easiest thing-- they don't really carry them everywhere but when I was at Anthropologie for a petites event with Joy from Oh Joy! I saw one hanging on the sales rack.

And I tried it on. And I did the whole instagram should-I-buy-it post. And the sales people said I should buy it. I waffled but then after texting my mom, she said I should buy it and it was on sale...

Then when I went to check out, turns out the price was reduced even more. Then the cashier generously gave me my birthday 15 percent off... so the final tag went from $168 to $89 to $49 to $30-something... and then I dug in my purse to find the gift card I had that just happened to have $7 let on it...

So you do the math. I couldn't say no. ;)

To be honest, I'm still getting used to it. I forced myself to wear it to work and thought that everyone in downtown Seattle was staring at me and my star onesie... but I really try to encourage people to step outside their comfort zone and have fun with their style, so this was me taking my own advice.

Do you ever take risks with what you wear?

xo, erika

linking up to the pleated poppy, the style elixir

still giddy

 

dress: Primark // sunglasses: Nordstrom Rack // shoes: BC Footwear - similar // clutch: collaboration

shirt: Urban Outfitters // shorts: Gap // flip flops: Rainbows

I am so glad that I still get giddy over sunshine pouring through my windows at work, the excuse to wear a sundress with bright yellow shoes and sneaking out for happy hour early.

And I'm grateful that I still get giddy over my husband of nearly four (!!) years. 

There's a little challenge going around-- a blog every day in May activity-- and today's prompt is advice. I am not really an expert in a lot of things but when I think over the last few years, the ups and downs of my life and who I share it with, I want to share this advice for marriage:

No one is perfect for you and you will never be perfect for someone else. No one will be or should be your all, your one answer to life because people fail each other and hurt each other. End of story. But someone can be the one you want to serve and cherish and go to get burgers and beer with because you want to see them happy. Someone can be the one you fight for, even when you don't feel like it. Someone can be the one you still get giddy over.

 

We ate at a hipster-Seattle bar. Can you tell?  

Also, like the clutch? It's my collaboration piece with Yellow Heart Art and it's offered as a pre-sale for $5 less for just a few more days! Snag yours here!

xo, erika

put a bow on it

 top, shoes: nordstrom rack // sweater: target // skirt: h&m // bangle: thrifted // wristlet: collaboration!

 Leonora is an amazing graphic artist and a friend of mine. And we have been throwing out doing something together for quite awhile, but it wasn't until she shared an adorable bow print she designed, that things started moving.

It took awhile. This project has been in the works for months, with both of us dying to share it but trying to work out the details before we could breathe word. Turns out both of us are really right-brained people, so the whole details aspect -- i.e. the math part-- is a bit tough.

But math is worth it when you're creating something you love, and both Leonora and I love what we created and are so excited to share it with you.

We're selling these wristlets as a presale for the next two weeks for $5 less, at $30 with $3 shipping. After the two weeks is up, they'll be listed for $35. They'll be mailed out May 30 and we have a super limited quantity, so no pressure, but you should probably get them while they're hot. And we think they're hot. :)

You can check them out in the Yellow Heart Art store envy shop!

xo, erika

p.s. you should see Leo rocking her bow clutch over on her blog, too :)

linking up to pleated poppy, style elixir, real girl glam

the shift dress

 polka dot shift dress: c/o kintage // belt: off another dress // shoes: nordstrom rack

I think for a long time everything in fashion was super, overly fitted.

Or maybe that was just me-- because I was in high school and wearing the tightest Gap tee I could find was just what teenage girls did.

I love that now there's an ease to clothes-- clothes are looser, more natural, more curve skimming rather than curve hugging.

In particular, I'm seeing shift dresses everywhere, the straight, looser-fitting dress. The look is definitely classic, a little bit 60s, and so effortless.


And if you feel like you need a little shape, you can always belt it around the waist. Perfection.

Oh by the way, yes my nude shoes do perfectly match my very pale legs. And yes, it's only 65 degrees out, but I'm rocking the bare legs because I'm from Seattle, and that's what we do.

xo, erika

feeling tough

 walking Nordstrom advertisement: jacket, pants, shoes: Nordstrom // top: (ancient) American Eagle

They say you should dress to impress. Or dress how you feel. Or how you want to feel. Something like that.

I bought a leather jacket this summer at Nordstrom's annual sale and although it's not black or studded, there's something about it that makes me feel tough, like I can take on anything.

Lately I've been needing the leather jacket a lot. To be honest it's a lot of late nights and early mornings as busyness at the day job and the night job (that's the handmade shop people -- don't be thinking dirty) ramp up.

But with the jacket, I'm telling myself that I am tough.

I think the leopard shoes give me a little more edge, too. And I need that edge.

xo, erika

rainy day shine

raincoat: eddie bauer outlet // sweater, skirt: thrifted // tights: nordstrom rack // boots: macys 

bracelet: threads

Sometimes November in Seattle is terrible-- dark, rainy and cold and it doesn't ever feel like the sun will come out.

And sometimes life can seem that way-- dark and stormy-- with no sign of light.

And there are some people who work tirelessly to bring light to those dark areas of life.

Ashley of The Shine Project began as teaching in inner-city schools in Arizona and felt desperate to do more, to empower the students who so badly wanted to break the cycle of the life around them.

Recently Ashley launched Threads, a cause-drived business that changes the futures of these students by employing them to make bracelets and earn living wages toward college degrees. A lot of these students are first-generation college students who have huge dreams and these bracelets are a way to fuel those dreams.

It seems small, but I know that impact that Ashley is making. I've had the honor of meeting her and hearing the passion she has for these students.

If you are thinking of buying a bracelet for someone this Christmas-- or maybe want something pretty for yourself, consider buying from Threads. I love my new bracelet.

(steps off my soapbox.)

happy monday :)

xo, erika

p.s. don't forget to link up your thankful post here tomorrow! 

closet challenge: the unworn dress

There are things in my closet that I never wear. Usually there's no good reason to shun a particular sweater or dress, but still, they stay ignored. When Jen of the Arizona Russums posted that she was embarking on a closet challenge to wear all her clothes, I was intrigued. Lately I'm trying to edit what I buy and where I buy it and making the most of what's on my closet hangers feels like a good place to start.

So this week I tackled a dress I haven't worn in years. Years. In fact I think the dress came from a store that went out of business.

My mom bought it for me-- at this point I'm not even sure what the occasion was -- and I wore it a few times to a couple of weddings in college. Then I stopped wearing it. The dress is really well-made and it still fits well but for whatever reason, it's always felt hard to style. It took a few tries, and several trips down to the full-length mirror, but I think I finally came up with something I liked.

cardigan: old navy // dress: no idea // belt: thrifted // tights: nordstrom rack // shoes: macys

Secretly this is a challenge I really enjoy--but I'm nerdy like that. :)

If you did participate this time around with Jen & I, you can link your post up below! I'd love to see it!

what i wore: closet challenge

shirt: thrifted // sweater: old navy // belt: my mom's // jeans: gap // shoes: wanted booties (last year)

This sweater, for whatever reason, is one of those things you have hanging in your closet. It's 3/4 sleeve, which is awkward, it's a loose-weave knit, which would you think meant summer wear but the green color screams fall and for whatever reason, I rarely, if ever, wear it.


But it's a perfectly good sweater and inspired by Jen's Closet Challenge, I decided it needed to get some use.

I read Jen's post about her challenge to wear everything in her closet last week. (As she lives in Arizona, it's a little bit more feasible, while there are some things I legitimately can't wear right now.)


But her whole point was that many of us have items in our closet that we bought, only to rarely wear. Like I posted Monday, I'm trying to be more conscious about what I buy and that means being more conscious about what is in my closet.

And speaking of Monday's post-- the biggest challenge is issued to me. By posting it, I'm holding myself accountable to my decision to try to be better about what I buy and why I buy it. It doesn't mean that you won't ever see an item from Target on here again... it just means, that I don't want to be buying things just because it's cheap.

I'll get off my soapbox now. But it's kind of freeing to say what you think and I'm grateful for the opportunity to do so.

So back to where I started... are there things in your closet that you never wear? Why not? There's something else staring at me right now-- a dress I haven't worn in years but I don't want to throw it out. I decided it's getting some action next week.

xo, erika

linking up to the pleated poppy

what i wore: pastels please

When I saw that pastels were "in" for spring, I wasn't too excited.

I like brighter, bolder jewel tone-like colors.

Pastels make me think washed-out, faded-- like a floral bedspread from 1987.

But what do I know? So I bit my tongue, dug in my closet, and paired the most pastel thing I could find.

 lace tank: Nordstrom // cardigan: Nordstrom // jeans: Gap  bracelets: handmade by me, thrifted

And it turns out (gasp) I liked it!


But not enough to dig out my old bedspread.

xo, erika

what i wore: my mom's blazer

 blazer: vintage  // tank: Nordstrom (similar)  //  jeans: Gap (similar) //  shoes: Wanted 

In the late 1970s, Debbie wore a black velvet blazer to a New Years party. Underneath, she styled a white blouse with a pink bow tie. The blazer was one of her favorites, so much so that even when she no longer wore it, she couldn't bear to get rid of it.

Fast forward twenty-something years when I discovered the black blazer, among a few other gems, hanging in a garment bag and Debbie, my mom, let me keep the blazer.

I wear this blazer all the time and what I love more than the fit and the style is that it has history. It's more than an article of clothing, but a piece that connects me with my mom when she was my age.

Do you have any pieces of clothing that have a story behind them?

xo, erika

linking up here to pleated poppy & letter 4 blog

what i wore - thrifted dress

This was once a polyester dress with a white collar. A little below the knee and a little too big. I wish I had a before photo, but you'll just have to be content with the after:

dress//thrifted   cardigan//TJ Maxx   necklace//urban outfitters   belt//thrifted  tights//?   boots//Macy's

hello again.

 top: banana republic outlet   belt: mama's from the 80s  skirt: Gap   tights: ??  boots: Macys

Plaid and mustard yellow.

It's not out-there crazy but a little more out-there than I may have done a year ago. I really like this look actually and really like plaid in general-- especially on my husband. (he may or may not have gotten some plaid shirts for Christmas) :)

I took a bit of a break from blogging the past week or so.

It was good for me.

As much as I honestly, truly, really-really love to blog, love to write, love to search for inspiration for my next post, the holidays had me running around and blogging just didn't quite fit in. It was like me attempting to jam a puzzle piece into the wrong spot.

People were in town, there were parties, gifts to be made, gifts to be wrapped and then family to see and celebrations to be had.

But I'm back now. So hi. :)

I have decided, however, to be a little more lax in my blogging this month (the husband is silently cheering while reading this) just because I think I should. I hope you all forgive me.

But in the meantime, yes, my Christmas was wonderful because I read... a lot... and slept and ate even more. I am still full actually.

And I am so thankful for wonderful family and friends, a warm home, beautiful memories that I made, and so much more. 

How was your holiday?

xo, erika

what i wore to the nutcracker

The husband surprised me with tickets to the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker for Christmas.

He picked me up from work and we went to dinner first at a little French-Cajun restaurant. On our way to the restaurant we passed a small park near the ballet that has a colored light display, a perfect place for a quick photo op.

Dinner was perfect, the ballet was wonderful and the best part was spending time together with the husband (and maybe having an excuse to dress up a bit.)

I wore the Boogie Woogie from Shabby Apple that was my bridesmaid dress for my cousin's wedding. I love when you can rewear something like that.

me: dress- shabby apple    cardi-   old navy   tights- ?   shoes: macys  

husband:   coat- JCPenney    khakis- Gap    shoes- sperry topsiders

Have you ever gone to the Nutcracker? I hadn't been in years but it totally exceeded my expectations!

xo, erika