The weekly recap

Continuing on with the weekly recap.....

Monday marked week 2 of #stylemeapril: Pretty in Pastels; Jungle, Tribal, Tropics; Pump up the volume; Borrowed or Thrifted; Matchy Matchy.

My closet is clearly lacking in pastels.  I was working from home so I kept it casual. I was not a fan though not doing hair or make-up may have played into my dislike of this look. I changed mid-day.

This, on the other hand, I loved. Like LOVED, LOVED.  The print is fun and the dress has POCKETS! Need I say more?

I have to admit I wasn't super crazy about this look. The necklace and the shoes seemed too matched for me. Plus, I was rushing. I would have preferred this with a jacket. It just felt like something was missing.

I have nothing thrifted and not a lot borrowed, but I really liked this look. This was a combination I'd had in my head for a few weeks and I really like how it paired together. If I were to change anything, I'd add a statement necklace. 

Can we talk about how amazing the Old Navy Pixie Pants are? They are AMAZING!!

So that was my week in nutshell. Hope you had a great week! 

Weekly Recaps

I've been a little MIA again. Sorry! My 5AM gym calls during the week leave me pretty tired at night leaving little room for fun stuff like blogging.  While I've been away, I have been mulling over what defines my personal style and trying to find a balance between what defines me and what is trendy. I am inspired by all the fashion on IG, but there is a fine line between inspiration and imitation. Logging all my looks on Instagram is great but it's hard for me to see the big picture when I'm looking at images so tiny.

 

Forgive the poor quality picture... sometimes a poorly lit selfie as I'm heading out the door is the most  I can manage. Monday's look was one that was good in theory, but one I ultimately hated. All black is just not me. We can just cross "Chic in Black" off my list of possible signature looks.  

 

Tuesday's look marked the beginning of #sylemeapril "Skirting around Town".

 

Wednesday's look is "Neutral with a Pop of Color". I really loved this look. And I had to wear my pink heels because on Wednesdays we wear pink.  

 

Thursday's look was "Oh Hello Sailor".  Skinnies are fun but wide leg pants are just perfection.

 

Friday's prompt was "Day to Night". Again with the poorly lit picture which means you cannot see the detail in the sweater. I liked this combination. It was comfortable but looked pulled together.  

 

Do you struggle to define your style? What helps you?

Thanks for stopping by.

Angie

 

2013- a fashion review

I began documenting this new and more stylish Angie via Instagram about a year ago.  Looking back, some of the first Instagram posts are a bit cringe worthy.  We have to crawl before we can walk, right? Cringe worthy posts aside, I have made some huge fashion strides trying a number of trends along the way. I was a boot-cut pant wearing girl who has embraced skinnies, cropped pants with bold prints, pattern mixing and statement necklaces. Along the way, I discovered a new love of blazers. I finally understand what Stacy and Clinton of What Not to Wear have been preaching for a decade (anyone else still miss the show?)- blazers are finishing pieces that really complete your look.

Print mixing and cropped pants

Loving on some blazers

Looking forward to a more fashionable 2014.

XOXO

Angie

January recap part 2

And here's the big question. ..how did I do with my self imposed shopping ban? I made one purchase that one an out and  purchase- Sam & Libby metallic heels purchased for $12 from $40 at Target.

 

I also made a few other purchases that I feel were justified: new gym clothes on super sale from Old Navy (total purchase $40);

two pair of pants from The Limited (I used returned a few items and purchased using Limited Cash); an anchor top from Old Navy $12 and striped skirt $15. I had a coupon for $15 because I'm a loyal Old Navy customer-ha! Plus $15 off the purchase of $50 so the top was basically free and the skirt was completely free.

 

 

 

 

Did I shop: the truthful answer would have to be yes. But I'm okay with the purchases I made. I really did need new gym clothes. I mean, the last time I seriously purchased gym clothes was before my oldest was born and she starts school in the fall. It was long past time to toss those old clothes. The few purchases I made were paid for using returns and discounts. And what did I take away from the challenge? I have a lot of wonderful pieces that I am working hard to use instead of focusing on the newest item in the stores. I am looking forward to continuing remixing my current pieces and only purchase when I have an actual need.

January recap Part 1-#2014closetremixchallenge

It's the end of January which means the end of month one of the #2014closetremixchallenge.

 

How did I do? What did I learn?  Let's skip how I did for just a minute and focus on what I learned.  I  managed a month full of work looks remixing only a handful of items. That's right, twenty full outfits without repeats. And mostly I'm embarrassed thinking about all the items hanging in my closet still waiting to be worn.

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Rather than talk about the looks that worked, I'd like to discuss the ones that didn't.

Week One: 

I didn't like the tights with this skirt. I grabbed cheapy tights from Target and found the fit to be too uncomfortable to last the day.

 

Week Two: 

The fit on these pants aren't working for me here. Hence the #fitandfab2014 I'm also doing on IG (Isn't IG wonderful?)

Week 3:

Can we talk jewelry overload? this would be IG gone wrong. It just wasn't me.

 

 

I stripped off half the jewelry and it felt much more me.

Week 4:

Monday's look. I had a blah day and it totally showed in my look. 

But my very favorite look is this. All the stars aligned and this perfect look emerged.

 

Check back next time to see how I did during the challenge and why I'll be continuing into February.

 

XOXO

Angie

  

My #2014closetremixchallenge

Hello 2014. Welcome to the New Year. The holidays were crazy, stressful, amazing and even more. And I hit the after holiday sales like nobody's business. And now it's time to rein in the crazed shopping. 

Everyone shops for a reason...

Some shop simply to clothe their body (I've never seen it but I've been told it's true).  Others for the thrill of the latest hot item. I'd like to think I fall somewhere in the middle but maybe it is more like shopping is my cardio. I shop and shop and I have a lot to show for it. But as it's a new year and time for reinvention, I am hoping to finally appreciate what fabulous things I own and to quiet the inner "I want" voice. I am approaching with a two fold method. Organize and no shop via the #2014closetremixchallenge.

  Step one: Organize!

Can we talk about the bling?

I might, might have a small love affair with shoes.

And now that I can see everything, it's time to for step two: shop my closet. 

I have been rediscovering old favorites. Like these pink heels.

And finding new favorites like these

 diva pants from Old Navy that I've always struggled to style.

Follow me on Instagram @thisgirlonabudget to see how I am doing. 

XOXO

Angie

Dyi skirts

For months I drooled over the super cute and stylish j.crew skirt and was even more excited  when Target came out with a similar styled skirt.  But it was an utter fail (here). But thanks to the wonderful world of IG inspiration I can make my own. And so I did. And though my over critical self sees room for improvement, I made something wearable but more importantly- I completed a project.  Go me!

XOXO

Angie