Peaks of the Week

How is it Labor Day Weekend? Memorial Day feels like a heartbeat ago, and of course it still 100% feels like summer, with 90° temps and so much humidity it feels like you are waking into a sauna when you step outside. But the Pumpkin Spice Lattes are being thrust upon us all the same. Thank goodness you can order them iced, if that's your thing.

This weekend I'll be spending time with family, relaxing and enjoying the summer.

❖ Insta Repeat. Because everyone is taking the same damn photos.

❖ I found fresh figs in Trader Joe's and bought them because I was so intrigued by them. Now I just need to try out some of these recipes.

❖ Treat everyone like you'd want them to treat you on your worst days, because there is a good chance it's theirs.

❖ The $10 white tees vs the $320 white tees.

❖ I'm going to side with the feminists on this one.

❖ The author of Smitten Kitchen argues against cooking at home.

❖ In love with these mules! (But this pair is similar and half the price.)

❖ Kallie shares her tips to stop our overspending habits in their tracks.

❖ Jessica's polka dot skirt is making me feel like I need to wear mine again immediately!

❖ A blogger shares what happened when she was reported to the Advertising Standards Authority.

 ❖Anyone else planning on immediately binging Jack Ryan, because Jim?

August Closet Additions

I did some secondhand shopping this month, through ThredUp, mostly because I had a credit, and I'd say it was burning a hole in my pocket, but I really think it was burning a hole in theirs - they kept emailing me about it day after day, reminding me to spend it - so I did!

I also took home a small TJMaxx haul, I had a gift card but forgot that I'd already spent most of it, so I ended up spending a bit more than I had planned.

Joie Tunic Dress, $31 via ThredUP (had store credit, spent $5)
Scala Panama Hat c/o Tenth Street Hats
J.Crew Leather Loop Belt, $17
Joie Leopard Print Blouse, $33 via ThredUP (had store credit)
Joie Knot Blouse, $7 via Swap.com
Joie Floral Cami Top, $21 via ThredUP (had store credit)
Joie Knightly Maxi Dress, $66 via Poshmark
Green Envelope Striped Ruffle Sleeve Tee, $15 via TJMaxx
Large Hoop Earrings, $10 thrifted
Max Studio Printed Kimono, $20 via TJMaxx
Vineyard Vines Dress, $60 via TJMaxx
Souldos Tall Wedges, $49 via Amazon Warehouse Deals

Sunny Days

I could not have chosen a worse time of day to be in the middle of a field, but that is just how things worked out. I know the saying "there is no bad lighting, only bad photographers" and I feel like I fall somewhere in the middle of that. Perhaps there was a better way to deal with the light during the shoot, however I used my new favorite trick in Lightroom to correct things - radial filters. This allowed me to control the exposure and white balance on me separately from the exposure and white balance on the background, and I must say, it worked like a charm.

      

The Rundown
White Eyelet Midi Dress Madewell similar 
White Slides Ferragamo via Coco's similar
Vintage Japanese Bamboo Bag via eBay similar vintage
Square Scarf Loft
Versailles Earrings  Julie Vos similar
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

Nail Color "Couture Curator" Essie

Linking up with Shopping My Closet Style Me Wednesday
and
Style on the Daily

First Mate

This navy shirt dress has been my go-to work wear piece for warmer days since I got it nearly a year ago, and yet this is the first time it's been on the blog! The scallops called my name, and the conservative cut makes it easy to just throw on and go.

I heard that yesterday was national dog day, though to be fair, I don't think it has much significance as there are at least half a dozen other national days that involve our furry best friends, and apparently November is senior pet awareness month, which Chloe would certainly qualify for, as she's 18. Though I didn't include Chloe in this shoot for any reason other than that she'd just gotten back from the groomer, and I imagine like most women, she'd prefer to be photographed on a good hair day.

       

The Rundown
Navy Scalloped Shirt Dress Banana Republic similar
Red Bow Pumps Ferragamo via eBay
Micro Perry Satchel Rebecca Minkoff c/o Shopbop
Joanna Hat Brixton via Nordstrom
 Pearl Stud Earrings similar
Gold Knot Necklace Thrifted similar
Pearl Anchor Bracelet Made by Me similar
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

Nail Color "Zip Me Up" Essie

Dog Chloe

Pearl Leash Fabuleash

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Spring
and
By Lauren M's Mix it Monday

Anything But Ordinary

Thanks to Tenth Street Hats for sponsoring this post!

My love affair with hats started back in 2010. One day I had the realization that anyone could be a hat person, and that was the kind of person I wanted to be. I started out with inexpensive paper straw hats, but soon realized they were not made to last. They were malleable and easily misshapen, and an incident with bird poo lead to the demise of my then favorite panama hat.

It's often when a favorite piece reaches the end of it's life that I see it as an opportunity to upgrade, to seek better materials, craftsmanship, and careful attention to detail, so I know my addition will serve me well for many years. And so, I started investing in my hat collection.

When Tenth Street Hats reached out to me, I knew their brand would be a perfect fit. They have been family owned and operated since 1921, and their hats are handmade with one of a kind hat making machines. They source the best materials and expert craftsmen to create their hats, so that their wearers can fashion outfits which are anything but ordinary.

This Panama hat reminded me of my first one, only it's woven from natural palm leaf straw, comes in five sizes to insure a proper fit (one size fits most never fit me) and has a couple of features I simply love - the first being a crush-proof crown, and the second is a teflon coating to make the hat water resistant, and hopefully bird poo resistant too, as I want to have this hat for a very long time.

       The Rundown

Silk Floral Cami Joie via ThredUP
White Denim Shorts Gap
Sandals "Glorious" Franco Sarto via DSW similar
Round Rattan Bag Etsy
Scala Panama Straw Hat "Taos" c/o Tenth Street Hats
Loop Earrings Mejuri
Evil Eye Necklace c/o Belcho
 Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry

Nail Color "Zip Me Up" Essie

Linking up with Thursday Fashion Files

and

Elegance & Mommyhood's Thursday Moda

Why I Love Shopping Secondhand

I know I mentioned last week how sometimes my best thrift shopping intentions can backfire on me and I buy things I never wear. However, those missteps will never cause me to hang up my $10 vintage straw sunhat, here is why:

I enjoy the hunt. I'd be lying if I told you I didn't enjoy the challenge of trying of thrift a certain piece, be it a specific style, like these white culottes, a favorite brand, like Joie, or a decade old dress I never stopped wanting but didn't buy do to the price tag. Scouring the racks at my favorite secondhand stores can feel like a treasure hunt. I never know what I might find, even if often I leave empty handed.

I can afford more designer brands. I never knew how much I would love Ferragamo shoes until I found a pair at a consignment store. I would never have dared to try on a pair in a department store, as I knew I couldn't buy them. However once I knew that first pair fit me like Cinderella, I could start seeking out more slightly loved Ferragamos. My best score would have to be the slides I'm wearing here, a steal at only $9.

I try out styles and trends I'm not ready to invest in. I never would have imagined that crop tops and culotte pants would be a silhouette I'd love wearing, and while I found nearly an exact dupe to the pants I'm wearing to link to, I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to spend $166 on them. I certainly wouldn't, which is why I took to eBay and bought this vintage pair for a mere $10. If I wore them once and decided they weren't for me, there wouldn't be any hard feelings about donating them. Same with this lace crop top - the retail was $188 and I got it for $6.50.

I love shopping in all it's forms, I wont lie, I'm probably not going to give up shopping retail anytime soon, but knowing there is a whole world of amazing secondhand pieces out there always manages to give me a thrill.

       

The Rundown
Lace Crop Top J.Crew Collection c/o Consignment Originals
White Culottes Thrifted similar
White Slides Ferragamo via Coco's similar
Micro Perry Satchel Rebecca Minkoff c/o Shopbop
Tear Earrings Etsy custom design via Bonanza Studio
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

Nail Color "Zip Me Up" Essie

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Spring
and
By Lauren M's Mix it Monday

Friday Five Under $50

Tired Tank Top, $42 at J.Crew Factory
Cheetah Block Heel Sandal in Suede, $32 at Gap Factory
Minaudire Bag, $48 at Zara
High Rise Military Culottes, $35 at Gap
 BP Marbled Earrings, $16 at Nordstrom

Milly Skirt

Last August there was a fill-a-bag sale at Coco's on the Green. It was only $10, and while I arrived pretty late in the sale, I was delighted to find this wrap skirt, and even more so when I saw the 'Milly' tag. I'm not sure why, but I've been on a quest to thrift a Milly dress for years. It was probably something that I saw Atlantic Pacific wearing, but it's been so long I don't even remember.

While this skirt was not the dress of my dreams (if I could even recall what that dress might be), for $10 I wasn't going to let it go. As it was fill a bag, I also added a J.Crew white peplum top, a coral cardigan, which had no tags, but was likely from Old Navy or something similar, and a J.Crew white cotton square scarf.

Over the last year, I never wore the sweater and donated it. I haven't worn the peplum top, and this is the very first time the Milly skirt is being worn. The square scarf I use as a lining for my bamboo bag and is apparently the only item I should have left with that day.

I love secondhand shopping, I really do. I've gotten some amazing pieces I never would have otherwise, however I often fall into the trap of buying something just because it's too good a deal to pass up on, and then all that happens is they sit in my closet and take up space.

      

The Rundown
Striped Ruffle Bodysuit J.Crew Factory
Wrap Skirt Milly via Coco's on the Green similar
Huarache Mules "Camila" Rebecca Minkoff
Round Rattan Bag Etsy
Earrings Vintage similar 
Gold Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Sunglasses "Cinque Terre" Kam Dhillon c/o Coastal

Nail Color "Zip Me Up" Essie

 

 

Linking up with Thursday Fashion Files

and

Elegance & Mommyhood's Thursday Moda
and

Linking up with Jeans and a Teacup's Flashback Friday (one year ago today)

Organic Results

I wore this outfit the other week to head up to Stamford, CT and pick out some local organic food at Mike's Organic Delivery. I know a little black dress with heels and a big hat isn't really what most people would reach for on a day of basically shopping and errands. I also stopped in J.Crew and left with this belt (it was on clearance!). Then I had a close call with the hat - it blew off my head, into the street and nearly was run over by a firetruck. Has anyone invented a way to keep hats on your head? If not, I guess I need to!

Since I wasn't in Mike's Organic Delivery radius, I had to visit their warehouse in person, which also led to addition of flowers to my cart, which are not listed anywhere on their website that I can find. I am not a fashion blogger if I don't carry flowers unnecessarily.

All you are seeing here are the flowers and the cute little Mike's Organic shopping bag, but I've got a super yummy pasta recipe featuring all the amazing veggies I picked out (save for the carrots) on Cooking in Cashmere today!

If you are a Connecticut resident in Fairfield County, you can sign up for a CSA or on demand deliveries from Mike's Organic. All the produce I selected was delicious and fresh - and of course local!

      

The Rundown
Off The Shoulder Dress Loft
Leather Loop Belt J.Crew
Vintage Japanese Bamboo Bag via eBay similar vintage
Palma Wide Fedora Lack of Color
 Circle Earrings c/o AUrate New York
Fatima Bracelet c/o Gorjana similar

Chevron Ring Etsy via Silver Canyon Jewelry

Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Nail Color "Fishnet Stockings" Essie

Linking up with Why I Do DeClaire
and
Shopping My Closet Style Me Wednesday
and
Style on the Daily