Blue Collar Catwalk

austin bound!

2012-02-11T13:50:00.000-05:00

TxSCC 2011

I am so BEYOND excited that in less than a month I will be headed to Austin again this year for the Texas Style Council Conference. Even better, I will be partnering with Stella Says Go for the weekend-long event! I can't imagine a more fitting company to work with. Stella Says Go is an Austin-based shoe store that caters to modern women with an individual sense of style. The owners Natalie and Amy focus on fresh, unique, current fashion that is wearable and affordable. In fact, they try on every pair of shoes before buying them to make sure that they offer at least some degree of comfort! Stella Says Go just launched their online store, complete with an outlet, so be sure to check them out!

I feel extremely lucky to be speaking at the conference once again and doubly lucky to be partnering with such a great business. Stay tuned for lots more from the Texas Style Council Conference, Stella Says Go and Blue Collar Catwalk. Yay!

Who else is going to be there?!

(And a special thanks to Indi and Elissa for making this all possible!)

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Enter to WIN $25 store credit at The Rag and Bone on Etsy!

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delightful friday

2012-02-10T20:11:00.000-05:00

Hope you're all ready for a fantastically relaxing weekend. I know I am!

While you're relaxing, come over and visit me on the Delightful Dozen blog today!

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Enter to WIN $25 store credit at The Rag and Bone on Etsy!

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backlight

2012-02-10T08:46:00.000-05:00

I've been completely obsessed with cozy, souchy sweaters this year. I just can't stop buying them! And now that end of the season sales are in full swing and it's nowhere near the end of the season, it's almost out of control! Almost...

I had my eye on this one when I first saw it back in the beginning of the winter. I really liked it for $50, ut we all know, fifty bones is a little more than I'll part with for a big box store sweater. So, once again ... I waited. And a couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon it again. For $12.50. It's safe to say that while I liked it for $50, I loved it for $12.50. Booyah!

AE sweater, $12.50 (get the look) - Target mini skirt, $12ish (get the look) - White Mountain boots, $65 (get the look)

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Enter to WIN $25 store credit at The Rag and Bone on Etsy!
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giveaway: $25 store credit at The Rag and Bone

2012-02-08T18:13:00.000-05:00

You've all heard me talk about my favorite vintage haunt The Rag and Bone, right? Well, now it's your turn to join in on the fun!

Enter to win a $25 credit to The Rag and Bone etsy shop!

All you have to do is visit The Rag and Bone and leave a comment with your favorite piece from the shop. Check back every week for a new collection of carefully edited vintage goodies!

I'm feeling generous today, so if you're feeling motivated, earn up to 3 bonus entries:

Follow The Rag and Bone on Twitter

Like The Rag and Bone on Facebook

Follow Blue Collar Catwalk

(I know, I know ... but I'm getting close to a milestone & would love some new followers!)

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and good luck!

Contest ends Wednesday, February 15!

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hound dog

2012-02-08T08:21:00.000-05:00

Houndstooth is a glorious fabric. Turns out, when cut on the bias, it makes your bum look deliciously perky and round and camaflauges any unsightly VPL's. There's gotta be some kind of award for this!

These are two fairly recent purchases from the newly re-structured JCPenney. The story of this skirt is probably the exact reason why they've chosen to redo their pricing strategy. Not only would I never pay full price for it (which I'm sure was an absurd number to begin with), but I even refused to bite a few weeks ago when it originally hit the clearance rack. Clearance with no additional discount? What kind of a fool do you think I am? Apparently, the kind of fool who later scores that rear-enhancing-line-smoothing-fake-award-winning skirt for a mere $9. Yeah, that fool.

Arden B for JCPenney bomber, $20, reg. $119! (get the look) - Loft t-shirt, $6

JCPenney skirt, $9 (get the look) - BC booties, $68 (get them here)

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something new

2012-02-06T14:54:00.000-05:00

Woah, radio silence! I didn't expect that. It's just been a busy week. All good stuff, though!

For as long as I can remember, I've always loved to plan a new, exciting outfit for special days. Notice, I didn't say special events - those are few and far between. But special days - they can come along anytime! Last week, I had the opportunity to have coffee with a mentor of sorts. It involved a little travel and day spent out of the ordinary, so it just felt right to save a special outfit for such an exciting day. A few weeks ago, I was feeling a little blue. Which, of course, required a trip to the mall. Which, in turn, landed me in the middle of many glorious end-of-season sales. Which resulted in many fruits of what started as my typical mid-season funk. Behold...

This outfit not only made me feel like a million bucks, but it was so, so comfortable. Since I put in a good 12-hour day, comfort was crucial. If you don't own a pair of thick, ponte knit pants, you should get on that. Like, stat. These babies boast a high waist, soft (yet thick and sturdy) knit and create a leg line as close to a tall drink of water as this shorty's ever going to get! Macy's carries a huge selection of styles, but not all of them were on sale. In fact, I really wanted a pair of flares, but refused to pay the non-sale price of $70 for them. So, I grabbed this once wide leg version off the clearance rack, and worked a little tailoring magic to get the exact look I wanted from the get go.
For nearly half the price!

Pays to have standards, ladies. And a sewing machine.

Target jacket (old), $7.50 (get the look) - Macy's Alfani sweater, $17 (get it here) - Macy's INC pants, $40 (get the look)
Jeffrey Campbell shoes, free with credit from Gilt Group (get the look)

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sunday's best

2012-02-02T19:38:00.000-05:00

Sunday's are the best! Especially the Sunday's when there's nothing planned, and you can focus on preparing for the week. Especially when that week is going to be SUPER busy! Since John worked this past Sunday, I had the day to do everything I needed to. And since I didn't have a computer at the time, I was forced into alternative types of productivity. Like grocery shopping and watching movies!

I told you it would be a week of tunics/dresses over flares. This combination really came together into something I love! The colorway, the casual drapiness and the all-around cozy feel (dressed up just a bit with clog booties) just feels oh-so right. I will definitely be wearing this again. Next time, I'll lose the jacket to show off the wide, off-the-shoulder neckline. Winter be damned!

Sears bomber, $25 (get the look) - Target flares, $20 (get them here)
BC booties, $68 (get them here) - Thrifted dress, $2.50 (get the look)

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helicopter

2012-02-01T19:33:00.000-05:00

Aaaaand I'm back! Well, briefly. It's been a long day, and I'm heading out the door for derby practice. I'm getting a backlog of outfits, so a good ole' daily wear post was in order.

This dress is another that will be headed out to the Delightful Dozen, so I wanted to style it one last time. This week will be filled with lots of tunics/dresses over flares. I'm just gravitating towards looks like this lately. It's comfy! And if it were actually cold outside (hello, 60 degrees in January!), it would certainly be keeping me warm.

And lest you think I'm insane ... or an extra in Superman ... I am pointing at a helicopter or two that were circling campus last week.

Tucker for Target dress, $27 (the real deal! - that most likely will not do the static cling ALL THE LIVE LONG DAY!)
Target flares, $20 (get them here) - BC booties, $68 (get them here)

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meatball problems

2012-01-28T13:09:00.001-05:00

Tragedy struck Thursday night when my laptop screen died. Pitch black. Dead. After a minor panic attack and lots of whining and general over-dramatization (first world problems, I know), I decided to pony up the $200 to replace the LCD. Ugh. For those of you keeping score, this is screen number 3. On a 2 year old computer. Double ugh. Needless to say, I'll be scoping out a new laptop someday soon. While my computer is getting fixed, posting will be a little light, but I'll use this time to stock up on some yummy content for when we're reunited. Until then, have a great weekend!!!

WINNER!

2012-01-27T15:35:00.000-05:00

Happy weekend for Ness Pas! You won the Stella & Dot earrings from Stella and Dot Independent Stylist Rebekah Coleman-Brahler! Drop me an email stat, so I can HOOK YOU UP!

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flyaway

2012-01-25T18:26:00.001-05:00

Ever get that pestering sensation that you've got a stray hair? Man, I hate that. I also hate the wind. It is hands down, without a doubt my least favorite element. But it does make for some funny pictures.

Enough with the hate, though - time for a little love. I love this combination. No matter what my current style preferences may be, I will always love the classic combination of red, chambray and leopard.

And matching lippy, of course!

Lauren RL shirt, $30 (get the look) - Macy's cardigan, $10 (get the look)

vintage pants, $15 (get the look) - Nine West loafers, $60 (get them here)

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secret identity

2012-01-24T23:36:00.000-05:00

Ugh. There has been practically zero sunshine around here lately. Seems fitting, I suppose - given the somber spirit in (not so) Happy Valley this week. But it sure does make for some icky pictures.

I work for only a few short hours on Monday evenings, after which, I have to go directly to derby practice. Since I'm usually late to begin with (due to work), I've started some secret dressing to make the transition more important. While it's a little harder in the summer, it's a piece of cake in the winter. And let's be honest, I can't think of anything less appealing than changing in a cold, dank skate rink bathroom in the middle of winter! So, strategically slipping a sports bra and booty shorts under my work attire has been an all around lifesaver. The best part? - Every time I get to practice, I feel like Clark Kent slipping into the nearest phone booth as I take on my after hours identity.

Super nerd alert, huh?

Sears bomber, $25 (get the look) - BonTon sweater, $8 (get the look)

Lauren Ralph Lauren skirt, $25 (get the look) - Wanted boots, $30 (get the look)

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weekend warrior: in the kitchen

2012-01-23T15:10:00.000-05:00

Truthfully, I get very little joy out of the act of cooking. I'm okay for a little bit, but then, I just get bored and find myself stuck in the kitchen until the job is done. All that said, I do like having food ready for the rest of the week. Not only does it make it less stressful choosing what to eat for the remainder of the week (saving lots of time in the process), but I'm much more likely to make healthy choices. So, I spent a large part of Sunday afternoon in the kitchen. Now, I get to reap the benefits.

Since I still had soup on hand from last weekend (soup is one thing that I actually do enjoy cooking!), I focussed on cooking a few items that would offer more variety. I started by cleaning and cutting lots of lettuce and veggie for easy on-the-go salads. Then, I roasted some brussel sprouts and cauliflower - my faves! After that, I moved on to some actual cooking, starting with these stuffed peppers:

Ingredients: Red peppers stuffed with a mixture of Boca crumbles, black quinoa, egg, tomatoes, cheese and spices. Of course, I didn't use a recipe, so I was thrilled when they turned out so delicious!

With all those prepared veggie dishes, it was time for a little dessert, which meant a little more experimenting. I took a store bought pie crust and a few apples and turned them into these:

I don't know about you, but I like to keep my treats as pre-portioned as possible. That way, a bad day isn't as likely to get the best of my mid-section. This was so easy! I love pie. More specifically, I love pie crust! I unrolled the store bought dough (I used an all-natural brand called Immaculate) and used a small Tupperware container to cut out small circles (a cookie cutter would have been more appropriate). I placed the cirlces in a muffin tin, molding them to the inside of each hole. I threw some cubed apple in each, topped them with cinnamon and sugar (I used raisins to denote mine, which I replaced sugar with stevia) and finished each with a few strips of leftover crust. I cooked them according to the pie crust instructions and voila! Perfect mini pies - delish!

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lifesaver

2012-01-20T19:48:00.000-05:00

I've decided that this dress looks like a yummy roll of Lifesavers. Anyone?

Since there's not a whol lot of ways to style such a loud dress, I figured I'd throw it into the Delightful Dozen and see what the other girls can do with it. But before I send it off, I wanted to give it one more spin. This time, it was way colder, so I layered it over tights and a turtleneck. Love. It.

This dress is, in fact, a lifesaver. It's so comfortable and for something so body conscious, I feel amazing in it. Every girls needs a dress like that!

Old Navy dress, $6 (get the look here or here) - BC booties, $68 (get the look)

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cut in half

2012-01-18T19:17:00.000-05:00

How is it possible that today's temperature was literally half of what it was yesterday? Don't let that silly face fool you - it was freezing! And if you follow BCC on Facebook, you know that there may have been a tiny mishap while I was frolicking around. But I'll let you find that out on your own.

I played with proportions and oversized details today. While I had mixed feelings when I left the house, I had no choice, because I was running way late. But when I got to work, some told me that it was an exceptionally "spectacular" outfit, so I just went with it.

Lauren by Ralph Lauren shirt, $30 (get the look) - ASOS sweater, $20ish (get it here)

Thrifted skirt, $4 (get the look) - Wanted Akira boots, c/o (get them here)

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Enter to WIN a pair of Stella and Dot earrings!

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just me

2012-01-17T18:56:00.000-05:00

I waited just a tad too late to take these photos. Not enough light. Probably for the best, though, because this is all 100% natural me. After a short day, medium run and long shower. Wet hair. No make-up. Comfy as could be. It's just me.

TJMaxx sweater, $20 (get the look) - Thrifted Gap shirt, $4 (get the look)

Boots via Ross, $17 (get the look) - Target leggings, $13

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Enter to WIN a pair of Stella and Dot earrings!

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for sale

2012-01-16T12:53:00.001-05:00

In an effort to save as much money as I can for a possible upcoming trip down south, I'm selling off my closet. Let's not get too crazy here - it's not the whole closet. But it is some pretty popular pieces that I'm ready to send on to a new home. Do me a solid and check it out?

xoxo

worthington grey blazer - ana ruffle t-shirt

american living striped dress - missoni-like cardigan

vintage plaid blazer - cargo dress

worthington paper bag waist skirt - gap tie neck t-shirt

gap cropped cargos - vintage plaid wool skirt

ny & co ribbed sweater - watercolor flower dress (not shown)

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Enter to WIN a pair of Stella and Dot earrings!

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giveaway! stella and dot earrings!

2012-01-16T12:11:00.000-05:00

Ready for another giveaway?!

Today's giveaway comes courtesy of Stella and Dot Independent Stylist Rebekah Coleman-Brahler!

Leave a comment on this post for a chance to WIN these

Sidewinder Earrings from Stella and Dot!

Rebekah is a self-employed independant lady, so let's help her build her social media presence! Like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter and earn an EXTRA ENTRY for each. Be sure to leave a comment for each!

Not familiar with Stella & Dot? Check out their spring runway show! I can't get enough of all the delicate chain bracelets and those tasseled necklaces. And that tibal bib at the end? Hello!

Contest ends Friday, January 20 at midnight EST. Good luck!

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delightful day

2012-01-13T19:06:00.000-05:00

I'm so, so honored and excited to be named the most recent member of the Delightful Dozen! Eeep! Thank you so much, ladies - I promise to make you proud!

I can't wait to see who else will be joining us!

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blood orange

2012-01-12T20:26:00.000-05:00

No need to adjust your monitor. That giant ball of fire is just me. Isn't it pretty?

And never one to miss a moment to coordinate, my lipstick matches perfectly!

Loft sweater, giftcard (get the look) - Leopard blouse from department store, $7 (get the look)

Thrifted JCrew pants, $4 (get the look) - Jeffrey Campbell shoes, Gilt with credit (get the look)

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the rag and bone on loan

2012-01-10T15:20:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that the majority of my wardrobe is second-hand. I just love the endless possibilities of what you can find when you step into a thrift store or vintage shop. What I haven't salvaged from Goodwill has more than likely come from my favorite local vintage shop The Rag and Bone.

I've had the pleasure of working with owner Shelley on many projects over the last several years. Living in a small town makes it challenging to find like-mided souls, but I'm happy to call Shelley a friend and kindred spirit. Last year, we worked together on some style shoots for her Etsy collection at the time. This year, she's relaunched her Etsy shop, and it's better than ever!

Each week, a new collection goes into the shop. Each new collection consists of carefully edited pieces with a common theme. For example, this dress is on loan from the Black and White collection. And what perfect timing, since EBEW is also celebration black and white this month!

This dress was a piece of cake to style. I mean, look at it! It doesn't need anything, really. I just buttoned it up to the tippy top and tied with my own vintage obi belt. Paired with the best booties a girl could own and I was good to go! If you dig this look as much as I do, jet on over to The Rag and Bone's Etsy shop and scoop it up! Be sure to tell her Kyla sent you!

Vintage dress on loan from The Rag and Bone (get it here!) - BC booties, $68 (get them here)

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wanted shoes winner!

2012-01-09T13:01:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to...

Dana Tosici!

Drop me an email, so I can hook you up with your new kicks!

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professional details

2012-01-08T22:28:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago, I was invited to participate in the "Present Your Best You" Online Contest hosted by Monster.com in support of their new Facebook app, BeKnown. Monster.com recently launched BeKnown as a way to give young people the opportunity to network professionally within the world’s largest and most popular social network, set up a professional profile directly on Facebook that is completely separate from your personal Facebook page, and even conduct a job search of Monster's database of jobs without ever leaving BeKnown or Facebook.

As for my part, I was asked to give my own tips for dressing professionally, whether it be for an interview or building a career in a professional setting. Living in a college town, it is evident that personal style and professional style are completely disconnected when it comes to young graduates. Typical daytime dress consists of leggings, sweats and uggs, while a typical night out requires barely there minis, sky-high (barely walk-able) platforms and plunging necklines. When the semi-annual job fairs roll around, the professional dressing advice doled out by our academic institution leaves a bit to be desired. The standards consist of a black or navy suit, white or blue oxford, modest pumps in black or navy and minimal jewelry. While it's a good foundation, it lacks any sort of personality. And when you're one of a thousand qualified candidates for one position, personality is everything!

I understand the difficulty of combining all these worlds, because I've been there. While professional clothing can be expensive, the little details don't need to be. And we all know that it only takes a few small touches to make a big impression.

So, I took the basics and added a few ... footnotes. After all, details make the difference.

Disclosure: This post is my official entry as a participant in Monster.com’s “Present The Best You” Online contest. Please also note that I was provided with a participant gift that included a makeup kit and professional business card holder. All artwork is original, created by myself exclusively for this post.

dab of mustard

2012-01-05T20:21:00.000-05:00

A year or so ago, I stocked up on tons of colored tights. And then, I realized that I don't particularly care for colored tights. I'll take my leg-slimming black every day, thank you very much. Luckily, roller derby has me pulling these tights from the depths of my closet once again, and they're managing to work their way back into my daily outfits. Though this time, I'm using them a little differently.

While I've worn them in the past with shorter skirts/dresses like here, here and here (okay, so I still really like the maroon), I just can't get completely on board with the look. I can't help but feel that the look came off a little too young and girly for my current taste. But - paired with this season's midi length skirts like this wool plaid number (and again here), they're the perfect hint of color to add just a bit more interest (and warmth) to an outfit. The warmth was a big deal yesterday, because it was cold! These were the fastest outfit pictures in the history of outfit pictures. Anyway...

How do you feel about colored tights? Do you like a little or a lot?

Lauren Ralph Lauren pussybow blouse, $30 on sale (I LOVE this version) - thrifted skirt, $4 (get the look)

old NY & Co. belt (get the look) - Hue tights, cheap on clearance (my favorite brand of tights by far!)

BC booties, $68 (their fancy big brother that I'm OBSESSED with at the moment)

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4 years and counting

2012-01-04T16:20:00.000-05:00

September 2007 - yeah, that's me.

New Year's resolutions get a lot of flack. And rightfully so. How many of us have flaked on a new resolution in the first week of the year?

But it just takes one resolution to completely change your life. And for every new year's promise I've ever broken, well ... they've all been worth it for that one that I kept.

Four years ago today, I made the choice to change my life. I walked into Weight Watchers for the very first time and made a commitment to myself, my health and my future. My resolution was actually not to lose weight. It was to get healthy. And find control. If nothing else, I desperately needed to stop gaining weight.

I truly had no idea if it was going to work. Or if I was capable of making it work. But lo' and behold, I lost 30 pounds that year and have managed to keep it off since. It's still a choice I make everyday. And some days, I don't make the better choice, but in the end, I've learned to be in control of food, my body and overall well-being. (Like 80% of the time - but it turns out that's all it really takes!)

Beyond losing weight, the experiece of gaining a healthy lifestyle resonated through every aspect of my life. A year and a half after joining Weight Watchers, I quit my full-time job (one that I had grown to hate with every fiber of my being) and took a leap of faith in a different direction - something I never would have had the confidence to do pre-2008. After all, I had spent 6 years at that job. Oh, and I also started a little blog that year - which has brought such amazing experiences and incredible people into my life!

Over the last four years, I have had more victories, self-discoveries and moments of pure self-satisfaction that I could have dreamed possible. It all sounds so trite and candy-coated, but I can barely put into words what the experience has done for me. I could once barely run to the end of my street (seriously, I used to try and it always ended in a near-death experience), and I'm currently training for my second half-marathon. On New Year's Eve, I ran a 5K with a personal best time that I never imagined I could do. And I spend a fair amount of time comfortably rolling around in booty shorts and fishnets. Something that would have seemed completely foreign to me four years ago. Even though these have been all new experiences, they somehow make me feel more like myself than I ever have before!

This is not a post to brag about what I've done or to guilt you into losing weight or anything of that effect. My intent is to inspire and motivate you to grab you life my the horns and make it everything that you want. Our health is one of the most precious gifts we have - when it's under control, everything else is so much easier.

So, if this is the year you want to resolve to lose weight, work out more or adopt a healthier lifestyle ... what are you waiting for?! Make it happen! I say this on a weekly basis (after all, it is my job, now), but I'll say it again: If I can do it, anyone can do it. You will never ever regret it!

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