A Plethora of Military Jackets

I'm prone to long for things other style bloggers are wearing. Even if I'd look like a warthog in a leisure suit wearing the same thing. So far I have not succumbed to the J. Crew knock-off bubble necklace craze, but they're starting to show up in thrift stores and I can feel myself weakening. Stay strong, Self, because that necklace will wear you.

So I was on the olive colored military jacket craze, so on it that I got a little crazy when I couldn't find one to thrift. Anywhere. Boo. It seemed like every other blogger on the secondhand blogging planet could obtain one as easily as purchasing a cheeseburger.

Then in one single weekend, I paid under $2 for a military jacket at our local Salvation Army, and $3.75 for another one at a local Goodwill. Sooooooooo happy. Yes, I am such a cheap date.

The Deets: No Boundaries Stretch Juniors jacket (Goodwill); Boat neck striped top (J. Crew Factory Outlet last year, about down to .50 per wear); Pleated linen skirt (Talbot's clearance, I just plain love the wrinkles.)

Goodwill Career Wear Challenge: Lynne

What can I say? Easy-peasy dress $5.00 from a local Goodwill.

Dressing for work doesn't get any easier - or much less expensive - than this.

 The Deets: Maggy L dress (Goodwill); Liz Claiborne Faux Snakeskin Flex Pumps (old);

Pendent (Jewel Box, old); Ankle bracelet (rebellious streak, free)

What's your go-to easy outfit for the job?

The Other Closet Orphans No. 2

Remember last week when I was rattling on about shopping my own closet? Well, it was too much fun, and almost free if you don't take into account I'd already paid for these mostly unworn garments once. Most of these better dresses came from Steinmart's 80% off the final clearance racks, so they were purchased at better thrift store prices (like $10-$12 each) to start with. I'm so miserly cheap thrifty.

The Deets: Maggy L dress (Steinmart, old); Lia Sophia convertible pendant (neighbor's party, old); Aerosole pumps (like high-heeled sneakers for the office, Steinmart, old. They're so strange, they garner lots of compliments.)

This is my oooh-la-la dress. I wore it once on the blog with faux pearls and one of my Grandma Jackets (the one from Anthropologie).

The Absent-Minded Professor remarked that I looked like Barbara Bush in the outfit.

The Teen's Fight to Cure Sickle Cell Anemia

This isn't my usual budget career style post. This is about my 16-year daughter's choice to undergo an unrelated bone marrow transplant in an effort to cure her severe Sickle Cell Anemia.

I took this head shot for her drama class actor portfolio.

The bracelet is handmade by the talented Jean at dross into gold.

For those of you who may not know what Sickle Cell Anemia is, it's an inherited blood disorder that creates abnormal red blood cells that aren't healthy, round, and viable for months, but instead are sticky, sickle-shaped, and short-lived. They ravage the body when they get stuck in the capillaries, and obstruct the flow of oxygen, in severe cases causing excruciating pain and organ damage.

A Good Fish

"No good fish goes anywhere without a porpoise." ~ Lewis Carroll

I wore a fish on purpose yesterday. I found this killer fish tie (where else but the Goodwill), and thought it would make a super cool obi belt, so I mailed it to Megan Mae to make an obi belt for me.

The Deets: P cardi knitted in Shetland Isles UK (Salvation Army $2.75!); 

Peruvian Connection denim dress (thrifted); obi fish tie (made by MMD); 

Liz & Co Mary Janes (jcp clearance $20); vintage brooches (family heirlooms)

I felt really good in this outfit. I enjoyed the bit of pattern mixing, the stretchy dress, the super soft sweater (freezing office), and the shiny bling clustered on the sweater.