What are you Wearing?
I am in no shape, way, or form an authority in fashion, nor do I claim to know all the trends of the seasons. I am simply a girl who believes that clothing and creativity go hand in hand. That being said, at times, I find myself staring into my closet and muttering, "What should I wear?". I'm pretty sure it is safe to say we have all been there, women and men, young and old. At some point, we have all asked ourselves some variation of that question, especially for an important event. Perhaps you have a job interview or a presentation to give in a work meeting. How about a date, a party, or simply just to go do groceries?
Although I agree that you don't have to pull out all the stops just to step out to pump gas or buy eggs and milk, I do believe in being put together and presentable when leaving home. I remember my mom always telling me when I was little, "Never leave the house looking like you don't care about yourself because you never know who you'll run into. If you look like you don't care about yourself, others won't care about you either". Those are wise words from a wise woman who always dresses classy and brightens up any room she enters. Having said that, at a very early age, I paid attention to what I wore, mixing and matching different pieces, patterns, solids, pumps, sneakers, and the like. My goal? To maximize my closet by creating different outfits for various occasions. It's not like I had a nightlife or galas to go to; I was just your average kid living in an average house with a vivid imagination and sense of style.
Fortunately, my creativity for my personal fashion has stuck with me, and I am not prejudiced against second-hand clothing, hand-me-downs, clearance racks, or thrifted fashion. Being the baby and the only girl in my family, you'd think I know nothing about second-hand or used clothes, but I am not your typical "daddy's girl." Shopping in thrift stores and clearance racks and buying quality second-hand items is a skill that has helped me double my closet and save money! How? By buying high-quality staple pieces, I can outfit myself for different occasions. Let me give you an example.
Some weeks ago, I went to my local Goodwill and found a beautiful black and white speckled blouse bodysuit from Strut and Bolt. Now, I wasn't familiar with the brand, but the original tags were still attached to it, and it retailed for $50, but I paid $7.99. Talk about a steal! Later, I did a little more research on the blouse and found the Strut and Bolt website, but apparently, you need to create an account with them before you can shop on their website. I don't know about you, but that sounds bougie to me. Anyway, what caught my eye about this blouse is the color: black and white with a simple speckle design that won't make it difficult to pair to create multiple outfits. I LOVE color and patterns and am an "advocate" of sorts on adding life and vibrancy to your wardrobe, but I've learned that even the seemingly boring black-and-white combo complements any color and many patterns. Let me show you what I mean.
For my skirt ladies, these are just two of many examples to mix and match this top. And it doesn't have to be this exact top. Do a little shopping in your own closet because I am positive you have either a black or white top that can matched with any solid color or print skirts you have. And don't be afraid of adding color! I have hot pink, orange, yellow, green, red, pattern, print, and the list can go on, but my point is versatility! When we shop smart, we end up saving money. That's the real girl math!
Now, for my corporate babes, I have quite a few suits in my closet, but for the sake of time, I'll share how I wore this top with one of my suits. I call it the DeVille look.
Not the best lighting, I know, but I am working with what I have at the moment. You get the idea, though, right? Literally any suit color or pair of solid slacks (or patterned), and you are golden! Plus, the bodysuit feature! Ladies, the bodysuit is the way to go, especially when in a formal setting. You don't have to worry about constantly tucking in your blouse and looking unkempt. This top I thrifted has seamless bottoms, which made it an even bigger score for me because that meant no panty-line. Praise the Lord!
And finally, for all my lovely ladies who like to keep it casual but with style:
Again, the lighting stinks here, but the idea is clear! Pair with a simple belt and a pair of white sneakers, and the grocery shopping look has never been cuter!!! An impromptu date night came up? No worries! Just slap on a pair of pumps or stylish boots (any color, might I add), and you're ready to go!
These are just a few ideas of how differently I style this same top, I didn't even get into the shoes and accessories, and believe me, I have them! The solid green skirt and the black and white speckled skirt I purchased from Amazon; I love them! They are also pieces that can be glammed up with pumps or boots or down with a t-shirt and sneakers, and did I mention they have pockets?! I am including the links here in case you want to check them out and see the different color and pattern options available. The two I have are still in stock, so I encourage you to get them! Solid Green skirt with Pockets and Black & White speckled skirt.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from purchases using the affiliate links included in this post at no extra cost to you.
I will have a Thrifted vs. Styled video on my Instagram, so be sure to click on my profile link here so you may see the full get-up of these outfits. Getting these outfits together has really put me in fashion mode now, so I am cooking up some ideas for next week's post. If you have any suggestions or questions, I would LOVE to hear from you! So, please leave me a comment below, follow me, or you may DM me on Instagram as well with any of your ideas, and I promise I will do my best to make it happen for you!
As always, thank you for reading my blog and for allowing me to be a part of your day! Your support is forever appreciated 🫶🏻
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