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YOU DON’T NEED A NEW OUTFIT, YOU NEED TO RESTYLE SOMETHING IN YOUR CLOSET | WINTER OUTFIT: HOW TO STYLE A SWEATER DRESS
YOU DON’T NEED A NEW OUTFIT, YOU NEED TO RESTYLE SOMETHING IN YOUR CLOSET
Each Tuesday I like to share a “new” outfit with you guys along with a shopping or styling tip/trick. As a blogger you can easily get caught up in buying new clothes every week but if you know about The Rule of 5 or anything I stand for you know I don’t buy clothes for the sake of showing you guys. At my core this is who I am, I live pretty minimalist, I don’t support anyone being that wasteful with their money or the materials that it takes to create the clothes you may only wear once. I believe we all have goals in life like purchasing property, saving for retirement, putting your children through school and that’s just to name a few. We should prioritize our end game goals over a new dress every week because it makes us happy in that moment.
Don’t get me wrong, I update my wardrobe each season with new purchases however, I don’t buy clothing for the sake of showing you something new every day. That’s not real life, at least not my real life. Sharing ways to make old pieces new with restyling is far more my speed.
With that being said, it’s the end of Winter at least in the South. Most retailers are transitiong from Winter to Spring and there’s nothing new out right now that I would spend money on. However, I own and run a blog solely about fashion and style so I had to come up with something. Instead of buying something new I went back to my roots walked into my closet and looked for pieces to restyle.
While I’ve shared this coat and these boots more times than I can count, I’ve only shared this dress maybe once. That was back in the Fall with no layering just mini UGG boots and a plaid hat, very casual and Target run-esque. That’s when I decided to restyle this sweater dress for you guys a little more sassed up with these hiker booties I purchased a year ago along with my favorite wool coat I thrifted last year as well.
It would have been super easy to hop on my laptop and make a new purchase I wouldn’t have to think about styling but it took less time and $0 to walk into my closet and pull this look together for you guys.
The excitement of a new purchase is a quick fix and nice adrenaline rush but making something older new again with restyling can be just as exciting. Not to mention, your bank account, goals and future self will be proud of you too!
The next time you “have nothing to wear” and want to order something new I CHALLENGE YOU to walk into your closet instead, find a piece you love, go to pinterest and search styling ideas for that item, then let that creativity help you pick out a new outfit from your closet!
If you’d like to see more styling ideas featuring this dress it was a feature item in last weeks Rule of 5 post. Check it out HERE
SIMILAR COAT | SIMILAR DRESS ( I have and LOVE this dress, see it HERE| SIMILAR BOOTIES
OUTFIT DETAILS
DRESS: This was a clearance purchase I made in July. Originally, I saw this dress the season prior but I wasn’t sold on the $75 price tag. When I saw this dress at Nordstrom Rack on the clearance rack for $20 in my size I didn’t even think about, it was an immediate purchase.
COAT: Another cost friendly score, I found this vintage wool coat at the thrift store for $20 ish. It’s without a doubt the best thrifted purchase I’ve ever made!
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5 WAYS TO STYLE A SWEATER DRESS: THE RULE OF 5
WHO ELSE HAS BOUGHT A NEW TOP BECAUSE YOU “LOVED IT SO MUCH” THEN MONTHS LATER IT STILL HASN’T BEEN WORN?
We’ve all been there! There has been a time in our life we’ve walked in our closet looking for something to wear only to be reminded of the items we purchased but still haven’t worn, tags still attached and all.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet of one offs that we only have one other item to wear with it, if even that.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet full of clothes yet still have NOTHING to wear. WHY are we like this?!
In 2013, after losing 20lbs, purging 90% of my closet and only having a clothing budget of $150 a month I was in desperate need of a high functioning wardrobe. That is when, why and how I created my #1 shopping rule, The Rule of 5.
I knew in order to still buy quality pieces I loved I was going to have to get creative (and disciplined) and that’s exactly what I did. Every single purchase I made for the following year was well thought out and 100% intentional. I had no room for impulse purchases, the function of my wardrobe couldn’t afford it.
I bet you don’t like throwing your money away, do you?
We all deserve to hit our financial goals (and best wardrobes) and a great starting point is to become more intentional with what we spend our money on.
I want you to be great in everything you do so I wrote a 24 page book to fully share The Rule of 5 with you. There’s even worksheets for you to brainstorm your goal wardrobe!
Just enter your email below for your FREE Rule of 5 guide to get started on your best wardrobe yet!
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WHEN IN DOUBT, THRIFT IT! | FALL STREET STYLE OUTFIT: MILITARY CAMO PANTS
WHEN IN DOUBT, THRIFT IT!
I have wanted a pair of oversized camo pants for years, literally years. I found a pair at Urban Outfitters maybe last Winter but was not in the mood to spend $70 for them. Over the Summer I was at a curated vintage/thrift store meaning, everything is used but with a higher price tag. At this thrift store I saw authentic military camo pants, I think they were around $30. I still didn’t purchase them.
Fast forward to Black Friday and Urban Outfitters had 20% off so I went in found a pair I loved and made the purchase. I didn’t go back to the thrift store because it is rather inconvenient, I was cool spending the extra money for convenience. While shopping in store that’s when I realized the camo pants UO sells is literally used (authentic) military pants. Once I realized this I took myself back to UO and returned my $60 pair of used pants.
I was pretty confident I’ve seen military pants at the legit everything is $5 thrift store so I made the drive to the real thrift store. Because God is Good *all the time* they had the full set pants and jacket in my size for $10 ish. These pants have been a go-to this season. I love pairing them with a black turtleneck or cream sweater and white sneakers or mini Ugg boots.
What I have learned/started to do is when I’m unsure of an item, specifically a trendy item, a great starting point is the thrift store. Most items are around $5, big ticket items are rarely over $25. It’s a great way to play with a trend to see if it’s for you before dropping $$. It’s also really great for the environment so you can feel good about that too!
Recent thrifted items I’ve bought and loved include …
- these pants
- oversized men’s white button down
- London Fog trench coat
- full length wool coat aka Celeste
OUTFIT DETAILS
BODYSUIT | PANTS | SIMILAR BOOTIES | HANDBAG
BODYSUIT: this was a gifted item from YUMMIE and let me say, it’s a good one! Yummie is a shapewear line so the waist is shapewear-ish, it holds you in and smooths you out like a shaper. It is a full butt bodysuit, and does run snug. The struggle to get this over my shoulders is always real.
CAMO MILITARY PANTS: I sized up for an oversized look, however, keep in mind each pair is a different size and length. Each pant is sized in men’s sizing meaning 29 x 29, that’s the waist x length. Each pair has a different length based on the previous owners height. I don’t know the actual size of these pants but I do know UO would size these as a Large. Normally I wear a Medium.
BOOTIES: The pair I’m wearing are old aka sold out. The pair I linked would be better for me to wear. While mine are walkable, the pair I linked has a lug sole so the heel is actually shorter and the rubber makes them more walkable and comfortable. I don’t need another pair so I linked them for you instead of buying them.
BODYSUIT | PANTS | SIMILAR BOOTIES | HANDBAG
5 MUST HAVE COATS FOR WINTER
BOMBER JACKET
SIMILAR JACKET HERE
This specific coat I’m wearing is two years old from Member’s Only. It was a gifted item when I worked with them on a video for Instagram. Probably one of my most worn gifted item from a brand.
FULL LENGTH TEDDY/FUR COAT
COAT |SIMILAR COAT | FUR STYLE I SPOKE ABOUT IN VIDEO
TRENCH COAT
UPDATED VERSION SHOWN IN VIDEO
I forgot to take a photo of the trench coat I shared in video, sorry!!
FULL LENGTH WOOL COAT
This coat is my absolute favorite thrifted item, it’s a vintage wool coat from the 80’s, maybe 90’s. I’ve gone to the thrift store numerous times this season in hopes to find another gem but haven’t had any luck.
OVERSIZED FUR (FAUX) COAT
