Sophisticated Stripes

I have been introduced to #StyleMeFeb on Instagram thanks to my pal, @SteffWatts. She tagged this photo of me from yesterday since my dress met the day 5 challenge: A Darling Dress.

 

Basically it's both a photo challenge and a style challenge all wrapped up into one. Everyday has a set theme and from there you build your outfit. Here's the challenge for the February 2014.

 

Let me go ahead and put this out there now: I am not committing to daily participation, but I will try my best to complete as many as possible!



 

Here is my take on the challenge for Day 6: Sophisticated Stripes

 

Orange Merona cardigan: $4.75

Sheer striped shirt: $4.75

Black pants: $2.12

Heels: $5.75

Earrings: $1

Watch: gifted

Ring: already owned

 

Outfit total: $18.37

 

Have any of you ever participated in an Instagram challenge before? How did you do? Tell me all about it in the comments below!

Do You Believe In Magic?

Welcome, class! Today's post is all about the Art of Illusion: How to use what you've got to look as slim and fabulous as possible.
Let's begin.

Take this outfit for instance. Not a terrible outfit. In fact, I have worn it just like this on an occasion or two.

 

But there's so much more we can do with it. Let's try adding a belt. See how this instantly draws the waist in creating a more flattering silhouette?

 

 

But we can take it a step further. Let's remove the belt and throw on a cardigan instead. This is still a very flattering look thanks to the cardigan being open.

 

Seriously, there's more opportunity to look our best! After all, we aren't amateurs. So why don't we keep the cardigan and add that belt back?

 

 

 

Voilà! Slimming and fabulous all at once!

 

 

Don't be afraid to experiment. Fashion is all about taking chances -but really it's about finding out what works best for you and your body type, in my opinion. As a plus size gal, I have struggled with body image my whole life. But there came a point where I had enough! About a year ago I decided to embrace my curves and stop hiding them under oversized, ill-fitting clothes. And to tell you the truth, I have never been happier with myself.

 

So I hope this post helps someone, anyone. Rather it be with loving your curves, or just learning that it's alright to through a pink cardigan over a brown-red-tan-cream-gold-gray colored dress.

 

 

Anne Taylor Loft cardigan: $5.25

Multi-Colored dress: $6.75

Belt: free (with pants I bought a long time ago)

Earrings: $1

Boots: already owned

 

Outfit total: $13

Music and Lyrics

For some strange reason the song 'Afternoon Delight' is stuck in my head. But instead of the cheesy, yet oh so lovely lyrics by The Starland Vocal Band, I have changed them to my own:

♪ ♪ Gonna find my bargains, gonna hold them tight

gonna grab some thrift store delight ♪ ♪

I'm not really sure why. And it really has nothing to do with this particular post.
On another note, for those of you who have pets... Do your pets ever give you the stink eye when they are laying on you but you need to move because you are uncomfortable yet your moving clearly is a bother to them and their comfort level? Yeah. That just happened to me as I am writing this post.
Anywho.

Here are the great items I found on my recent Goodwill trip Friday evening.
 I hope you enjoy!

 {Fairly new black satin peep toe pumps: $5.75}

 {Small Express purse: $4.25}

{Yellow bead necklace: $2.25}

 {Silver earrings: 75¢}

 {Watch- in need of a new battery: $6.25}

{Owl ring; $2.25}

 {Cute polka dot button up: $4.25}

{Various shirts for myself and others: $1 each}

Snow Bunny

Well that title is definitely deceiving...

 

I live in South Carolina where it doesn't snow that often. The wind has to blow just right and if you do not stand in the right place for exactly 43 minutes, then everything is ruined and "No snow for you!". Whenever we have a mention that there's a slim chance of a possibility of snow, the whole state goes crazy! Everything shuts down. Schools are out and offices close early. The milk, bread and eggs shelves at the grocery store are wiped clean. Pure insanity I tell ya.

It was supposed to start snowing around 11am here. And I knew that the company I work for would be kind and let us off early today. So I figured I would dress how I was feeling about the impending snow:

 

Sassy.

 

Lace sleeve/back black top: $8

Gray Exhilaration skirt: $4.25

Black tights: $6

Earrings: $1

Boots: previously owned

 

Today's outfit total: $19.25

 

 

Ps. It is now 6:50pm and it has yet to start snowing here.

:(

 



Afternoon Delight

Do you ever have a day where you are feeling kind of blah? I know you do. Everyone does. Well today was that kind of day for me. So on my lunch break I decided to stop at Goodwill for a little retail therapy. My M.O. was to find some frames or framed art that I could use for a hallway makeover. And this is what happened.

 

On my way to the housewares section, I had to walk through the shoes. Ok, I didn't really have to walk through the shoes. I could have went straight down the middle of the store. Something you should know about The Foxy Thrifter is that I don't do anything on the straight and narrow.

But, I digress.

 

So these booties caught my eye.

Brand is Blowfish and the style is Vance. Original retail price: $89.00.
 

They are brand-spanking-new! Never worn. Completely clean and stain free. I am not a tall gal so I am usually wary of anything over a certain heel height. Plus, being a shawty, I try to stay away from anything too bulky south of my waistline. I tried these on to see how they fit (great!). To test out the feel of them (also great!), I wore them to the back of the store where I was intending on going to in the beginning: the housewares section.

Which is where I found this.

 

 I sat down on a couch to switch back into my boots from the booties, looked up and saw it directly in front of me. There was a lady standing beside it. So what did I do? I snatched it.* Luckily she didn't seem too upset by my sudden grabbing in her general area. I have been wanting a large frame or framed art for my Master Bathroom and I knew this was perfect.
I did a little research on the artist and it turns out she is local. Even better!

*Snatching things has apparently become my signature thrifting move.

 

What I paid
Shoes: $5.75
Framed art: $14.75

It Feels Like A Monday To Me

If you are like me, then you were fortunate to have yesterday off in observance of MLK Day. And if you are like me, then today feels like a big, 'ol Monday.

 

I chose today's Outfit of the Day in honor of that feeling. Blue.

 

Casual navy blue blazer: $1

Oatmeal colored tee: 15¢ (was purchased by the pound so this is a guesstimate)

Black dress pants: $2.12

Tan Mossimo flats: $5.50

Necklace: gifted

 

Today's outfit total: $8.77

Guess Who Didn't Wash Their Hair Today

Today's Outfit of the Day is brought to you by my new button down shirt and NY Yankees hat I found yesterday!

 

Here's a tip when going out thrifting: Be sure to wear something that is comfortable. This way you're not constricted and can easily slip things on over your clothes to see how they fit. 

 

 

Happy Thrifting!

 



Yeah I'm Bragging!

Ladies and gentlemen, thrifters galore! Prepare yourself for a ton of pictures from my recent Goodwill Clearance Center haul!

 

*Something to keep in mind while shopping- not just at a thrift store but anywhere: Do not be afraid to try something because of what the size says. The items below range from size SMALL to XXL. Don't let a label scare you. And don't think that because it says a small and you normally wear a large that you wont be able to wear it. You will. Trust me.

 

{Old Navy Sweater: I loved the color and the softness of the material.}

 





{Casual button down: Can't wait to pair this with some skinny jeans.}

 

 {Sleeveless top from Cato: Planning on pairing it with a belt to help bring in the waistline.}

 



{Patterned lightweight blazer: Will be fun to layer a bright colored top underneath}

 

{Kenneth Cole top: Perhaps to layer with above blazer?}

 

 {Old Navy dress: More like an in between for a dress/long shirt to pair with leggings}

 

{Merona Tee: Because you can never have too many of these bad boys.}

 

 {Merona cardigan: Because like the Tee, you can never have too many of these either.}

 

{Argyle sweater: For those days I'm feeling "preppy"}

 

{Fun patterned sheer top: Something for work?}

 

{Hand knitted hat: Because it's cute and just may end up being dyed another color.}

 

{Purses and wallet: Well, I am a lady and these are some of the things I like buying.}

 

 {Dirty mirror: I have a vision for my hallway that includes mirrors and frames.}

 

 {NY Yankees hat: I <3 NY. And I <3 having the option of wearing a hat when I don't want to wash my hair.}

 

{Metal & twine star: This guy will be painted and displayed somewhere in the house.}

 



Mixologist

I believe there are two types of people in the world.

 

• Type 1: The kind that goes to an Indian restaurant and orders chicken wings.
• Type 2: The kind that goes to an Indian restaurant and asks the server to surprise them with anything on the menu.

I am a type 2.

I am not afraid of colors. I am not afraid of patterns. And I am most certainly not afraid to mix the two in any combination imaginable!

 

Exhibit A
 

Exhibit B


 

I picked up this brand new (with original tags on it) Merona dress for $24.99  $3.12!

The Ann Taylor Loft cardigan was another steal at $2.62!

(Both from my local Goodwill.)

I already owned the boots and accessories. But trust me, they were all bought at discounted prices as well. This lady doesn't pay full price for anything!

 

 

What kinds of deals have you found lately? Share them with me in the comments below!