Shop Your Closet Challenge: red and pink

Thanks for the feedback- for those who commented on Saturdays post. This is what I have decided to do... On Saturdays we will be doing a "Shop Your Closet" challenge. I will announce the challenge each Saturday, then the next week you can link up if you participated and see what I did for my outfit. You can link up a blog post, Flickr photo, Facebook photo, etc. Or if you don't participate in any of those things, just leave a comment about how it went for you. A challenge is what I wanted to do in the first place, but's kind of scary to start something like this... I could be all alone every week. But oh well, it will still help me to be creative.

I will still do What I Wore Wednesdays and occasionally post things I find interesting about clothes and style, because that is one of the best ways I know how to be creative everyday and that is what this blog is about (and that is one long run on sentence!).

I will still do jewelry and knock-off tutorials as often as I can.

I want to start the challenge this week so I am going to announce it today, although from here on out it will be on Saturdays. If you have a suggestion for a challenge, please leave it in the comments.

This week the challenge will be to wear pink and red together.

I don't want to look like Valentine's Day, and want to be summery. Obviously, the point is to try to wear an outfit that you have never worn before, using pieces from your closet.

Here are some links for inspiration:

Jessica at What I Wore pink and red in a color blocking way with white to break it up HERE.

You can see Jessica again HERE with a dress and a coat in these hues.

I found THIS POST with tips on mixing red and pink, oh and THIS ONE too.

Anyone going to try it out?

Blooming Sash Belts- the Fall Collection

Introducing the Fall 2011 Blooming Sash Belts Collection

These gorgeous, rich colors will make a great addition to your fall wardrobe or autumn wedding.

Raspberry

Silver Gray

Teal

Royal Purple

Gold

Mustard Yellow

Now available at Yellow Blackbird!

Shop Your Closet: Change of Plans?

Well, Shop Your Closet has been going for about 6 weeks now and I have only had 2 people link up. I didn't expect it to be wildly popular, but there were a few of you who said you liked the idea so I thought a few more would join in. What if it were more like a style challenge? Meaning that every Saturday I would post an idea for an outfit (like a theme, color scheme, or type of clothing) and you had to build an outfit by shopping your closet sometime during the week and link up by the next Saturday? Any takers for that idea? I would like to do thumbnail links instead of just text ones, but I don't want to pay for that until I know people will join in.

Or, are most of you here for my craft projects and don't care about the style posts?

Please let me know! Thanks!

Shop MY closet

I am cleaning out my closet to make room for my new school clothes! Some pieces show signs of wear and went straight to the donation pile. But, after seeing Paige's closet shop and successfully trading with her I decided to show you what I've got that's gently used, but in good shape.

Like Paige said, it's like the thrift store you'll never get to go to! I have priced my items lower than the average thrift store. I am also open to trading.

GO HERE to the Shop MY Closet page (link under blog header) to see all of the selection. I will continue to add more items (including size 9-10 shoes and purses) so check back!

Here are a few items, but go to the page to see them all and read all the details.

Anthropologie Knock-Off Kit has New Colors

Hi! I am just popping in again to let you know that the Anthropologie Knock-off Bracelet Kits have new colors available. Bright blue, orange, lime green, and white are now available in addition to the brown, light blue, lavender, pink, and mustard yellow.

Click here for the origional tutorial.

Click here to purchase a kit to make one bracelet.

Click here to purchase a kit to make two bracelets.

Click here to purchase one ready made bracelet.

Click here to purchase two ready made bracelets.

Colorful Birds Nest Charms

I would like to introduce you to the newest item available from Yellow Blackbird....

Colorful Birds Nest Charms

These brightly colored charms are a new twist on the regular wire birds nest. The vivid colors make for a an unexpected accessory for your wardrobe. The charms are about 3/4" in diameter, although each is handmade and may vary slightly. They are attached to a silver jump ring and ready to add to your favorite necklace chain (not included).

The colors available are as shown in the photo above from right to left:
Red
Golden
Pink
Burgundy
Silver
Bright blue
Turquoise
Dark blue
Dark purple
Black

I really love how they turned out. The bright colors are just so fun and unique.

They are only $5 each.

Click here to see them in the shop!

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!

What I Wore in DC

I missed my regular outfit post this week because I was in Washington D.C. Actually, I have been gone for ten days but I scheduled some posts so you wouldn't miss me too much.

Dressing for vacations is hard for me. I want to be comfortable and cool which to me means not too many accessories, good walking shoes, and not many layers. Any tips?

I didn't take specific outfit pictures, I just hoped I would get some decent ones. Turned out that wasn't a good plan. Below are the best pictures I have of each outfit. Some are too far away, others have husband in them, and one isn't even a full body shot. :)

At Mount Vernon I wore a light Target shirt, Maurices cargo shorts, and my Toms.

At the library of Congress I wore this Ross tank and DownEast black tee with my pink shorts that I have blogged about a lot lately (and are shown below).

To visit the monuments I wore an Old Navy blouse, Target cardigan, Shade shorts, and Target sandals. It poured rain about a half an hour later. We were soaked to the bone. I have never been that wet in my clothes!

At Gettysburg I wore a button up red shirt (from some cheap mall store in another state), Old Navy skinnies, Old Navy jacket, Charlotte Russe belt, Target shoes. We got rained on here too.

This photo is at Union Station. I normally wouldn't wear these shoes with this outfit but I needed comfort by this day. These are the thrifted Calvin Klein shorts I mentioned above. I am also wearing Old Navy tank, Kohls cardigan, and Desiel shoes (I cannot spell that).

At the Spy Museum I wore a light blue blouse from Wet Seal, Maurices shorts, and my Toms.

I was with my cute sister-in-law the whole time and should have posted her outfits instead. I felt kind of silly the whole time. But looking back at the photos I guess I didn't do too bad. Why do I let what other people wear determine how I feel about my own outfit? Silly me.

Craft Room: Scrappy Bird Garland

I made another garland to go with the CREATE one I made earlier.

It's super easy. Find some scraps of paper and cut shapes out them.

I cut these birds with a Silhouette machine.

Sew the shapes together.

Hang and admire.

I love what it added to the window! It was the perfect addition to my room, especially since I love birds so much!

Shop Your Closet: Maxi Gold

I didn't grab the photo this week but you can click here to see the outfit that inspired me.

"Aubree," says you. "Really? Don't you think for yourself? Copying Kendi again? Have you no shame?"

I couldn't help myself. I really needed some inspiration for another way to style this dress. I love how Kendi wore the black and gold with hers.

I don't have a belt that has gold on it so I tried the brown on one and it worked splendidly. It really broke up my rut of only wearing white and coral with this dress.

Shirt: who knows? Dress: Target, Belt: swapped with Paige, Shoes: Hand-me-down from Coldwater Creek, Bracelet: F21


You likey?

What inspires you when you get dressed? Link up below, if you dare! : )

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Video: Adding Sleeves to a Sleeveless Look

This video has tips on things you can do to make sleeveless outfits modest without compromising the fashion. Check it out:

Last time I tried to post one of these videos it didn't work. Click here to see the video if it's not above.

I giggled when she talked about the cap tees with the surged edge being a "Utah thing." I wear one of those tees almost every day. Although, I really don't wear just it as an undershirt because the sleeves are still too short for my liking.

I do the cardigan thing almost too much.

I really liked the idea of wearing a 3/4 length sleeved shirt to make it look like you've done it on purpose and it's part of the look. I may have to add a white and black one to my fall shopping list.

I have a few blazers and already have a goal to wear them more this fall.

I am not a fan of the scarf look. I would be too worried that it would slip off- although it does look better than a t-shirt for a formal look.

I really disagree when people say that it's too hard to find modest clothes, especially with the huge cardigan and maxi trends right now. It's not hard at all to be modest and fashionable at the same time! One of the teenagers at church wore a cardi/maxi combo to church for the first time a few weeks ago and looked beautiful! I think it's much more attractive and pretty when these girls are dressing really modestly like that rather than a short skirt and/or low cut shirt!

Any thoughts on other ways to make clothing more modest? I like the slip extenders for dresses too, although I imagine it would be tough to get one just the right length and have it work for multiple dresses. Ashley rocked one a while ago if you want to take a look at one of these.

For more reading on this topic (especially summer modesty)- there was a feature over at Clothed Much a couple of weeks ago you should check out.