Fall/Winter 2014 Inspiration

       The highlights of my summer wardrobe consisted of some key monochromatic looks. There’s just something about black and white that’s been really attractive to me this year. That compulsion has only grown as we enter the new season. This fall/winter I’m really into black and white with graphic prints and pops of oxblood, mustard, emerald, nude, blush and navy. This revelation occurred from, of all places, a forever 21 look book. I was just really into the sleek downtown look of one of their collections and that inspiration has propelled my style inspiration this season. Of course everything I wear this season won’t fit the inspiration but a lot of it probably will. Anyway here’s a mood board for my fall/winter 2014 style inspiration.

 


*All images found via Pinterest

Valentine’s Day

Skirt: A|Wear via ASOS Top: H&M Tights & Boots: Target
           I’ve never been a Valentine’s Day hater, although I’m pretty much always single on Valentine’s day, I love the giving of cheesy valentines to friends and of course chocolate. I genearlly just acknowledge the day maybe wear red or pink and then wait for single girls Valentines day aka February 15th when all v-day chocolate is 50% off. This year though I’m in a relationship and actually have a valentine so I had to actually make plans, buy things, and figure out what to wear. It was all a bit weird, but good. After thinking about possible v-day outfits I remembered this galaxy print pencil skirt that i’ve had since the end of last summer and never really worn. I love the skirt and the pink and purple go with the whole valentine’s day theme so that was sort of the base of the outfit. After deciding on the skirt I wanted a cute top to go with it and after going through a few options I decided to go with this pink chunky knit sweater. I’m not completely sure if I like the outfit as much as I thought I would, it may have looked better in my head, but it’s still pretty good and I was glad I got to finally wear my skirt. Anyway I had a lovely Valentine’s Day and hope you did too.

Birthday Outfit #1

 Top: H&M  Skirt: ASOS Tights & Shoes: Target

            First of all I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, a good black Friday (if you’re into that), and a Happy Hanukkah. Anyway my birthday was the 16th and due to a work meeting early in the morning the day after (boo hiss), my birthday kind of got extended into a birthday week. I figured since I’ve had a severe lack of posts lately that I’d extend all the outfits I wore on various birthday outings into a couple posts. But fret not dear readers! I do have other non-b-day related outfits to share as well. Anyway here’s the first outfit I wore out to dinner the day before my birthday. I wore this skirt last year on my birthday and having worn it a few times since, I think this is the best i’ve styled it so far. Even though it’s black on black the different textures save it from being boring. That said I don’t nearly ware this skirt enough and am dedicated to putting it in heavier rotation in my wardrobe.  I got the coat free from a clothing swap years ago and it’s my favorite dressed up coat. Although I have yet to watch a single episode of Scandal (it’s on my Netflix to do list) I am aware that thanks to Ms. Olivia Pope statement coats are having a serious moment right now. I think my coat kind of fits in that category, It makes my outfit look so put together and professional I kinda love it.

All Black Everythig

Top: H&M Skirt & Necklace : ASOS Shoes: Target Bracelet: Nasty Gal
           I wore this last month to go to a club for my friend’s birthday. Looking back I should have injected more color into the outfit as it was Gay Pride weekend here in Minneapolis and we were at a Gay bar, but I’ve really been into black lately. I also should have worn a short sleeved shirt, It was kinda cold outside so I made a last minute long sleeve shirt decision that I immediately regretted when I went to the second floor of the club and it was sweltering. Your live and you learn I guess. Anyway I wore those heels all night, which is kind of an accomplishment as I’m not much of a heel girl. Those booties  have a very thick heel and are kind of like wearing a wedge so they’re pretty comfortable, my feet did start to hurt towards the end of the night but not too badly. Anyway I’m gonna try and wear more heels, I have a really cute pair I want to wear I just have to figure out where. Anyway the club was packed and we definitely had some interesting run ins. I didn’t dance as much as I wanted to but I did have a really good time.

Thirft Haul

I haven’t done a thrift haul it what seems like forever. But, I’m trying to get back into the blogging regularly pattern and I have a bunch of thrift finds from the last couple months that have been patiently waiting for me to blog them, so here goes nothin’. I’m also linking up with Apron Thrift Girl, Sir Thrift-a-Lot, Remnant and A Living Space. Be sure to check out all of their thrift finds as well.

1. Decorative Owl Side Table. 

 I was never really that into the whole owl craze, but when I saw this table at Goodwill I had to have it. You just don’t see stuff like this everyday at the thrifts so when you do you pounce, and I did. The table was a little pricier then I would really have liked to spend, but I didn’t want to chance loosing it and it was so unique I figured I could deal with the price ($50.00). Plus I got paid the next day. I’ve never really had a great score at this Goodwill so this was a first, a very welcome first.


2. “Made in Italy” vase and Art Deco Salt and Pepper shakers. 

This vase was another find at Goodwill. It’s simple, cute, and was only 3 bucks so I had to get it. The Salt and Pepper shakers were found at Value Village. I’ve seen some of these in antique stores and thought they were cool but generally antique stores just make me hope i’ll one day find that item in a thrift store. So when I found these for 4 bucks I had to get them.

3. Ceramic cat set.

 I got these at the Salvation army for around 4 or 5 bucks (for all of them). They’re kinda creepy and kind of cool, my favorite combination, so I got them.

4. Patterned Shift Dress.

 I’m never sure if you guys want to see my thrifted clothes just on the hanger like this but I figured i’d give it a shot. I got this dress at Salvation Army, It’s originally from Old Navy and I though it was pretty cute.

5. Striped H&M Shift Dress.

I got this at Value Village. Value Village tends to be hit or miss, like most thrift stores, but when you hit at Value Village you really hit. I’m kind of obsessed with this dress, it’s a touch shorter than I’d like but it’s so cute  I had to get it. Plus it’s not that short.

6. Sequin T-shirt. 

 I found this shirt at Value Village too. It is also kind of short but I really like it so I’m determined to make it work, we’ll see how that goes.

7. Poodle on Wood. 

I found this at Savers and it was just “so bad it’s good” that I couldn’t help but get it, and it was only 3 bucks. Interestingly enough it was apparently given to someone as a birthday gift last year, or so says the inscription on the back, guess they weren’t into it but one man’s trash is another man’s come up, right?

8. 70’s Orange Coat.

I found this at Savers a few weeks back. I’m kind of obsessed with it and now that it’s getting slightly warmer I’m totally gonna wear it. This will definitely go into my Fall/Spring coat rotation. Also every time I see it I think of the thrift shop song, because you know “I’m in this big ass coat, I look incredible.”

9. Donut Mug. 

I found this mug at Value Village at their Martin Luther King Jr. holiday sale. By the time I got the store it had been pretty cleaned out but I saw a sort of funky looking box in the housewares aisle and inside was this guy. I thought it was a pretty cool mug and who doesn’t like donuts? especially ones with SPRINKLES, which were totally my favorite as a kid. Obviously it was destiny for the donut mug and I to meet. Also it makes me think of Homer Simpson every time I drink out of it, unexpected bonus? yups.

Anyway those are my recent thrift finds. I’ll try to bring you guys an outfit post later this week. I haven’t been wearing anything super interesting lately, thus the lack of posts, but with warm weather around the corner (hopefully) I’m starting to get my fashion mojo back. I’ll also try to get more of the Florida pictures up in a post. I don’t want to drown you with photos but editing them down has been taking awhile.

Also though I still don’t have a smart phone (yet?), I do have an iPod touch and that means I also have instagram. So if you’d like to see LOTS of pictures of my cats as well as thrift finds and other random stuff you can follow me @blackcatlies, or click here, or click on the instagram button on the bottom of the “Follow me” window to your right.

Current Obsession: H&M

H&M fall 2011

          

Though I like H&M in theory I’ve never really had the greatest luck there. I see a ton of bloggers in their clothes and they look great but whenever I get to the store they’re either out of the things I want in my size or I’m just not into what I have enough to buy it. Add on to that the fact that all their stores in my metro area are in malls, places I haven’t visited frequently since early high school, and H&M is more of a hit and miss for me. Recently though I came upon their website and it was a little different. Last year H&M started having online shopping in Europe and now it looks as if they’re allowing it for the US too. This is especially exciting since now I may have a better chance of finding things in my size and I can look and buy their clothes with out making a trip to the mall. Online shopping isn’t really up, at least in my “area”, but the site is set up for it and a buy button can’t be too far off. Anyway while on the site I was browsing they’re pecies and have fallen in love with quite a few of them, especially the dresses. My favorites are probably the red dress, deer sweater and orange wrap dress. I’m still very broke but if I get some money and am at the mall anytime soon I’ll definitely be trying those things on and possibly buying.