3 Months of Clothes!!

I love those magazine articles that show you how to take "X" number of pieces and turn them into a month's worth of outfits.  I think it is such a cool concept, until I look at the price of the pieces, or notice that several styles would be unflattering or look just plain weird.

Again, the first thing I did was pull out all possible work clothes.  Then, I did some "modeling".  (Finally, a 4'10" model!)  After that I cropped the pictures to be the same size, and started working on a schedule.  One that would give me variety each week, and keep my wardrobe feeling fresh and interesting.  As fresh and interesting you can get in a relatively conservative work environment.

I've already taken you through the breakdown of week one, so you can see that you don't have to buy all of your clothes at Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, or even Macy's to look nice.  In fact, I didn't list the brand names (maybe I should?), but a lot of my pieces found at Goodwill actually ARE name brands.

Scroll down to see my full 3 months of outfits.  I tried to make it so that I could easily repeat the whole three months and get through 6 months of fall and winter!!

Click here for my latest 3 months of clothes!

The Work Clothes "Schedule"

To put together my work outfit "schedule", as it could be called, I looked at the type of look and tried to vary it.  This includes managing the pants, shoes, colors, and style (scarf, button down, cardigan) so that I wasn't feeling like I looked like a carbon copy everyday.

I love to get creative with my clothes and jewelry, to an extent, but I know what is and isn't going to fly in a more conservative office environment.  When you start a new job, you need to take into account how your co-workers and boss, are dressing.  I don't think you should assimilate your wardrobe entirely, but you do need to keep in mind what "the norm" tends to be.

While you're figuring that out, you may want to start on the side of caution.

For my first day outfit (below), I picked a very neutral look.  The black cowl neck, short sleeve, sweater is flattering, but basic ($7, TJ Maxx).  Matched with some black and white patterned dress pants, that I hemmed to work with flats ($4, Goodwill).  A shot of color is brought in with the dark red flat shoes, which are also comfortable while I figure out how much walking I may be doing ($30, 6pm.com).

For day two, I have another basic office look.  White button down shirt ($4, Goodwill).  Dark gray dress pants ($4, Goodwill).  Black patent pumps ($13, Target).  Plus a shot of color with my green scarf ($5, Wisteria.com).  The black shoes are fine for short walks, but if I find they are unbearable, I have a plan to hem the pants and find some shorter black heels.

Day three is another basic with a twist.  Side tie, collared, top in orange/red ($10, Express).  Matching tank top ($6, The Limited).  Both of these I have had for about 8 years!  Black pants (TJ Maxx, $10).  Leopard print kitten heels ($15, TJ Maxx).  The fun part is definitely the shoes : )

Day four includes a color change up. Peach tank top ($3, Target).  White cardigan ($12, Kohls).  Khaki pants ($4, Goodwill).  Natural, kitten heel shoes ($22, DSW.com).

We made it to the end of the week!  Taupe boat neck, 3/4 length sleeve shirt ($6, Old Navy).  Abstract flower print scarf ($7, Fashion Bug).  Bluish dress pants ($4, Goodwill).  Natural, kitten heel shoe ($22, DSW.com).

As I mentioned previously, all of my jewelry that I will eventually put with these outfits is from lia sophia.  They have styles from classic, to casual, to contemporary.  I like to pick out my jewelry to suit my mood the day I am wearing my outfit.

Also, in case you haven't read my blog before, you may be able to ascertain that I am a bargain shopper.  I LOVE the challenge of Goodwill.  It is like a treasure hunt, and is a great place for button down shirts, dress pants, and blazers.  I also rarely get out of the clearance sections of any other store I go in.  Plus, I tend to find the best shoe deals online at 6 pm.com with free shipping and returns.  Yes, this type of shopping is an exercise in patience, but the payoff is worth it!

Wardrobe Planning

The problem with Pinterest is that it makes you covet what you don't have (and often can't afford).  That's why I try really hard to glean from the outfits I see, and us them as more of an inspiration to look at my closet differently.  I can be a lot more creative in my casual looks, but I am hoping to be back to working full-time very soon.  This creates a whole new wardrobe challenge.

The environment I will be going into is not extremely dressy, so I don't have to wear button-down shirts or suits each day (whew!).  However, I know how easily it is to slip into the "I don't have anything to wear" frustration.  I also know I have a TON of clothes acquired at crazy low prices, and I want to make the most out of my wardrobe.  I don't want to feel like I'm wearing the same look all the time, and I want to make the transition back to work as easy as possible.

I took one morning and dragged out all possible clothing options.  Then I paired as many as I could stand to change in and out of, and took pictures.  I don't have a full length mirror (crazy!), and I feel you get a better sense of the outfit on camera.  You know, with that 10 extra pounds added : )

I managed to come up with a schedule of 12 weeks of outfits.  Yes, some of them repeat towards the last part of the "schedule", but it really keeps everything feeling fresh.

Here's a taste of the first two weeks:

My goal is to have all of the pieces for the week pulled together and ready to go by the beginning of the week.  I may not wear them in the order, but they will be organized for a quick grab.

Also, you'll notice I didn't put any jewelry with the outfits yet.  I don't like to commit to jewelry until I get a feel for the day.  Some days I like big earrings, some days tons of stacked bracelets.  I already feel more prepared!

(I also do something similar with my boys' clothes.  Not pictures, but having outfits put together ahead of time for them to choose from without having to look for a match in the early morning.)

Casual Coral and Gray

Polyvore has this great casual combination, that I found on Pinterest.  I would never have thought to pair these colors together, and that is one of my favorite things about the women's fashion section.  I think the shoes are sooo cute, and they would have been a steal at $16 from Forever 21.  Alas, they have been sold out since I spotted this outfit.  Of course the jeans are $209, the scarf is $206, and the shirt is $100...and I won't even go into the mortgage payment that is the bag!

I think I can beat $431 for a fall outfit to run errands in : )

 

Here is my version.  Again, I would iron the shirt and scarf before actually donning them in public!

The scarf was $5 in my favorite scarf collection from Wisteria.com.  It's the Caribbean colors found here.  They were on sale $5 cheaper closer to Christmas, so I bought a couple of sets for gifts and scored free shipping.  Because that's how I roll : )

The shirt was a gift from my husband for Christmas.  It came from The Limited as a layering piece with a sweater.  He's not the bargain shopper I am, but he does try to buy what is at least on sale.  I'm going to guess $15.

The jeans were $5 at Goodwill.  I actually have two pair that I alternate between bought on the same day.  It was a real score, considering they had to be petite and pre-shrunk to fit

a 25 inch inseam in flats.

Speaking of flats (like that transition?), the shoes are a super comfortable find from 6 pm.com for $30.  They are a pewter color and go with so many items in my closet for casual or dressy looks.

That puts this outfit at $55.

Since the shoes are pewter with hematite accents, I picked out one of my favorite pair of lia sophia hematite earrings.  The Damask Earrings add a lot of va va voom to a casual look. 

I also added this large, sparkly Wishing Well Ring.  No photo can do it's beauty justice.

The One with the Scarf

This is how my mind works.  I saw the scarf in this picture, paired up with that beautiful cardigan and decided I needed to dig out a similar scarf in my wardrobe and put it to use.  However, I am going to be going back to work in an office environment soon, so I went for a dressier version.

Here is the link on Polyvore, which shows you the individual pieces and then links you to where you can buy them...how cool is that?!?  Of course, I rarely can afford the pieces featured, and if I can they are sold out online.  Then I have to try and find them in the store, and with two toddlers,

I don't make it out that often without them.

This outfit (minus the purse and watch) is $358.

I love the colors in the scarf above, and I should, it is $148 from Kate Spade!  The most expensive piece of the outfit.  I also love the color of the cardigan, especially for fall.  I *may* be able to get away with it if I have a colorful scarf up by my olive-skinned face. 

The scarf in my ensemble is from Fashion Bug.  There was a two-for-one deal and my mom actually bought it for me, so it was a gift.  You can see where I get my bargain hunting from.  She bought me both scarves, with something she was getting because she had to have $25 to use a coupon for an additional $5 (I belive it was).  So the scarf was probably around $6 or $7.

I picked a cardigan out of my closet that is much more along the colors that flatter me.  I know, it makes sense that what I actually have in my closet should flatter me!  This cardigan was a purchase from an Ann Taylor Loft store clearance rack for $10.  I love outlet mall shopping.  Probably because I don't get to do it often.  However, just because I'm at an outlet mall, doesn't mean I get all crazy.  I still have my price standards, and often what they think is a good deal is still way above my budget!

The tank top is from (say it with me, now) Target for $7.

The dress pants were $4 from Goodwill.  They appear gray in this picture, but they are actually grayish blue with some texture, so there is more interest than basic gray pants.  Also, they are wrinkled.  This is because I squeeze my Pinsperation blog into a lot of other aspects of my life and don't have the time or energy to iron for the pictures.  I save that for the day I'm wearing them.

The shoes were an online DSW clearance selection for $22.  They are a natural colored low heel.  My search for a natural colored high heel continues because I'm so darn picky on color and price.  It has been going on for a couple years now.  I buy online from stores that are easy to return to in person so I'm not paying shipping.  On top of that I scour for deals where I don't have to pay shipping in the first place!

My work appropriate version of this outfit is only $50!

The earrings I paired with it are from lia sophia.  They are basic hoops, with just enough sparkle to make them dressy.  I didn't get a close up of the bracelet, but it is no longer available for sale, so I won't torture you with it's gorgeousness : )

Wanderlust Earrings

That Ring!

I must admit that I was positively giddy when I saw this outfit on Pinterest.  It already features one of my favorite lia sophia rings!  Click here to see the look details on Polyvore, or click on the picture below for a bigger view.  It is $425 without the jewelry and purse. 

In my version, I switched out the ruffled tank for a ruffled button up shirt with a tie belt.

Let's start with the beautifully soft scarf.  Mine was only $5 with a set from Wisteria.  The one featured on the Polyvore outfit is $150.  I think I just threw up a little bit thinking of spending $150 on a scarf, no matter how super cute it is.

The button up was a $4 find at Goodwill.  I almost left it because the previous owner was definitely a smoker, but it fit perfectly and the black was like new (not faded at all), so I took a chance and the smoke smell came out in the first washing.

The tank top was $7 on sale at Target.  If you have followed my past posts, you are probably sick of hearing about these tanks, but I promise, they are fantastic!

The jeans were another Goodwill bargain at $5.  Already soft and shrunken : ) 

The shoes were $30 on sale from 6pm.com.  My favorite site for clearance shoes.  They are actually Hush Puppies!  Cozy.

$51 vs. $425...I just don't understand who is buying the $150 scarves y'all?!?

The jewelry, of course, is from lia sophia.  Be sure to click on the links to the web site because my pictures just can't do these pieces justice.

Blooming Ring (they changed the name in our most recent Style Guide)

Sugar Dusted Earrings

Bel Aire Necklace

Jean Jacket and White Capri Pants

I love this casual look of a jean jacket with white capris.  I also am a fan of stripes!

Here is the original look from Polyvore.

$225, not included the purse or jewelry.  What a steal ; )

Here is my version.  I don't always feel the need to feature a matching purse with each outfit, because I often carry the bag that happens to already have all of my stuff in it. 

I can appreciate black and white, but I am usually drawn to more colorful clothes.  I can't wear a full mustard color top, but I did find a good balance in this tank top from Old Navy.  The mustard and off white stripes paired with the jean top don't make me look too sickly with my olive skin.  Oh, and it was $3 on clearance : )

The jean jacket was what I consider a splurge.  $26 at Forever 21.  It was also featured in my first Pinsperation.  Forever 21 is one of those stores that can take me an eternity to pick through, and I may find one or two things that fit my style, but they are usually worth the inexpensive price!

The capris were from the clearance rack at target a couple of years ago, and only $8.

The shoes were also an $8 find from Delia's online.  They are the perfect flip flop because the straps are three different metallic colors and you can wear them with gold, silver, copper, or bronze jewelry.  Love that!

 The clothes and shoes for my Pinsperation were only $45, and pieces that are flexible with so many other outfits!

I love this necklace from lia sophia, but unfortunately it is no longer available for purchase : (

For some other options that are available, check out:

Zurich Necklace, Improv Necklace, Outback Necklace

My picture doesn't do the Abloom Ring justice.  It seems the focus was off.

When dressed casually and pulling my hair back, I love these larger (but still light!)

 Samba Earrings.

Red and Mint

Here's a prime example of how Pinterest made me re-think color.  I would never have thought to put red with mint, light teal (or is that turquoise?)...ever.  This look, found on Polyvore, is $472 without the jewelry and makeup shown.

My look is decidedly less casual, and more geared towards work.

We'll start from the top.  The red cardigan was found next to my dark teal cardigan find on the 70% off rack from Target (show with this outfit).  It was only $5!

The light gray tank top is another one of my favorite basics. 

Again, it was from Target on sale for $7. 

The mint/light teal scarf was part of my Wisteria collection, featured in this post.  Another $5 find!

The gray slacks were from Goodwill from $4.  In case you were wondering, most of the pieces I find at Goodwill (worth taking home) are those that don't fade, shrink, or look beat up too quickly.  Mostly that is slacks, worn in jeans (score because they are already shrunken!), blazers,

some sweaters, and blouses.

The shoes were a find at 6pm.com for $30.  They are the same as the gold shoes from my previous post.  Sooo comfortable, and part of the Anne Klein iFlex collection.  The nice thing about sites like 6pm.com (which I find has better clearance than Zappos in my opinion) is the free shipping and return.  I know it can be hard to wait, and that need for instant gratification is why many women can't shop online, but it is totally worth it!

The purse was also an online shopping deal from the clearance section on The Limited's site.  I have had it for years, and it was only $15!  The hematite finish matches the hematite finish on the shoes, so I brought some of the same metal into the jewelry.

Before we get into the bling, my version of the outfit was $66, from shoes to purse!

For this outfit, I'm combining hematite, silver, and a mint colored bracelet to tie it all together.

Interlink, Honey Lust, Multiplicity

Posh Earrings

Coral and Gray with Turquoise Accents

This look is cozy and a perfect example of how you can still be comfortable and put-together.

Find it here on Polyvore.  It is $366 minus the Starbucks and the jewelry. 

The jeans and t-shirt are actually great bargains!

Here's my version.  I substituted the natural flats and purse for gold because that's what I have!

The coral cardigan is from the clearance section of a Banana Republic Factory store.  I found it for only $6 about two years ago, and I wear it all the time!  One of the things I haven't touched on yet is how picky I am about fabric.  I can't stands things that make me itch at all, so I have just learned over time that I need to stick with cotton.  So, not only do I have the challenge of buying things that are great deals, but my cardigans and sweaters are all 100% cotton or cotton with some spandex.

The gray tank top is by Mossimo at target on sale for $7.  I also layer with sleeveless tops more than anything because I don't like sleeves bunching up.  Picky, picky!

The jeans are a Goodwill find for $5.  I just rolled them up a couple times to make them capris for this look.

The purse was a Kohl's clearance find.  It was $18 and is an easy bag to grab whenever I'm wearing gold jewelry because it will always match!

The shoes were on sale for $30 at 6pm.com.  They are also gold and super comfortable, but still dressy!

$66 for my look, means $300 to spend on other things...like a car payment : )

Of course, I have the jewelry on hand in my lia sophia collection.  Love the turquoise with gold and how it pops against the coral sweater.

Windstorm Necklace

Persia Earrings

Bracelet is no longer available for sale, but check out the

Swiss Dots Bracelet as another option.

Basics with Green

I'm a firm believer that you can add punch to black and white with any color and take a look from basic to fun.  Who hates that?  So, I gravitate towards these styles for days that I don't feel too creative in the wardrobe department. This look from Pinterest via Polyvore is $540 without the $175 stud earrings.

This look is by Jen (me!) for far less.

With this outfit, I have heels instead of flats making it a bit more dressy.  I have to wear the heels with these trouser jeans...or hem a good 3 inches. 

The black cardigan is another TJ Maxx find.  It was only $15 and has lasted years without fading (hard to do with black!) or shrinking.  You just never know how long a piece will really hold up,

which is why I look for deals.   I would be sick to pay $30 for a cardigan that looks old after one season.

The tank top is my $7, on sale, Mossimo at Target staple.

The trouser jeans were another Goodwill find for $5. 

The black patent heels, also found in this post, were a Target clearance find for $13.

The scarf is one of my more exciting bargains.  Sometimes you find deals on clothes in the most unexpected places.  Like stores that normally are known for furniture and accessories.  This scarf is part of a set from Wisteria.  I saw them featured a couple years ago in Better Homes and Gardens magazine.  They are 5 for $29, which is already a great start, but I got them on sale for $25 with free shipping just before Christmas time.  There are three different color themes to pick from and they make great gifts.  So this scarf was $5! 

Finally, the purse has been my "fall purse" for a couple of years.  It is from TJ Maxx and I originally bought it because it has a lot of big, yet easy to access, compartments.  This made it possible to ditch the diaper bag look I had been sporting.  It was $25 and something I get complimented on all the time.  I can't lie, getting compliments makes my day!

My version is $65 from shoes to purse.

Here's the jewelry I would pair with this outfit.

The top bracelet is part of the Multiplicity set.  There is every type of metal color in this set, and they are stretchy and strong.  As a bonus use, I put them in my hair as a prettier version of the black ponytail tie.

The middle bracelet is one of my favorites for fall with the hematite and silver mix.  Unfortunately, it is no longer for sale.

The bottom bracelet is Interlink, and I love the little bit of edginess it adds.

As far as earrings, I pulled a couple.  The Pristine studs are great for any outfit, especially if I was going more casual with flats and regular jeans.  They look like the real deal and are only $32!

The dressier earrings are really cute to pair with a scarf, especially if I'm not wearing a necklace because they add a bit of drama to the more casual basics of the outfit.  These are the Crystal Clear Earrings and will add va va voom to your look.

Dark Coral and Teal

Sometimes Pinterest doesn't give me a full outfit Pinsperation.  Sometimes, it is just a color combination that I wouldn't have thought of on my own, or been too afraid to try.  The color pallet below just made me happy.  I have learned to embrace color, and wear color fairly recently.  It just puts me in a good mood, and there isn't much wrong with that.

Here's the link to the Polyvore set.  The top is $200 and the white pants are $155. 

I can't make this stuff up, folks.

 Below is my Pinsperation Combination.  Say that 20 times fast.

The color shows up a little darker on film than in person, but I think you can get the idea.  It is a coral tank with darker teal cardigan, and white pants.  Let's dive in!

The tank top and cardigan are both from Target.  The cardigan was a 70% off clearance item for $5 and some change.  You can't go wrong with cardigan's in fun colors, they will brighten up anything from your little black dress to a white tank and jeans.  The tank is another one of those great Mossimo layering tanks that I got on sale.  This one is from the end of a season last year so it was only $3.50.

The white pants were another Goodwill steal.  Go in there alone and with time to spend.  I know this is hard if you are a busy mom, especially one who works full-time or is single, but it is worth it to have the time and patience to look through every aisle.  These pants were only $4.  White pants with toddler boys?  I wouldn't want to spend more than that!

The shoes were even a bigger bargain.  They were free!!  I have a friend that got them as a sample and passed them onto me because I was the sample size.  Love that!  Come to think of it, let your friends know you would love to take a peek at any clothes they are donating to see if you can give them a second life...and offer the same.  Or set up an actual clothing swap!

Finally, the purse was the second half of the two for one sale at Shoedazzle.com that I mentioned in my first post.  I sign up for sooo many deal sites, but really only ever buy from them rarely when there truly is an amazing special.  This was one of them because my purse rocks, and was only $20.

That is right, this outfit, minus the jewelry was $32.50.  High five!

No outfit is complete without the jewelry, so here is what

I've pulled together from my lia sophia samples of past and present. 

Savannah Necklace

(This is one of my pricier pieces, luckily hostesses can get it for $40!)

Sugar Dusted Earrings

One of my favorite rings of seasons past, no longer available for purchase : (

Yellow Skirt

I have olive skin, and yellow is not my friend.  Not on my top half anyway.  Unless looking jaundiced is a new trend?  Didn't think so.  I do love the sunny look of yellow though and didn't have any in my wardrobe.  I found this look on Polyvore through Pinterest...a common theme in my life.  Here is the link to the look on Polyvore.

We're just going to ignore the $550 jacket, $270 shoes, and $1,395 purse for my purposes.  Those are not what caught my eye anyway.  I liked the yellow skirt, and black and white shirt together.  This combo is a paltry $1,500 for the two pieces.

Here's my version.  I'm not sure what happened in my editing process, but this picture looks fuzzy.  Those are solid stripes.

As I put together outfits, you will notice that I have a few places that I really like to keep an eye on the inventory.  For this outfit, I pulled my $9 shirt from TJ Maxx.  I just knew that you can't go wrong with a nice black and white striped top.  It adds spunk to many an outfit!

The yellow skirt is from a Banana Republic Factory Store, bought on clearance for $22.  That felt steep (not for Banana Republic, but for my personal clothing budget), but I am only 4'10" and I had to factor in that it fit me perfectly without having to do any alterations/hemming. 

This is kind of a big deal for me.

The purse is a find years ago at TJ Maxx.  It was on clearance for $15, and was just too unique to let go.  I had no idea that day glow colors and color blocking would be coming back around.  What I liked were the clean lines, fun color (it's hot pink inside!) and that it seemed like it could hold up to a beating.

The shoes were from another bargain shopper's haven, Target.  These patent pumps were only $13 on clearance!  I have to be honest, they are not shoes I could stand in for hours or dance in at a wedding, but they work for church and any work where I can sit for periods behind a desk.

This entire outfit, shoes to purse, was $59.  Of course the pieces all go a long way with other outfits as well, and you are sure to see them again in another Pinsperation.

As I mentioned before, all of the jewelry is from lia sophia, as I've been a lia sophia Advisor for 5 years.  The bracelet and earrings I picked for this outfit are not in the current collection, but they are some of my favorite for graphic prints.  Some current pieces that would be fun with this combo are the Twist & Shout Earrings and Fierce Bracelet.