Fashion Frugality

Winning Wednesday: Great Fashion Giveaways!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:12:00 +0000

1. Hope's Cafe is giving away your top of choice from Langston's. I think I would pick this plaid tunic-length button up - it would pair great with jeans and boots for an easy look. Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 27, 2012

2. Hope's Cafe is also giving away a $50 gift card to Yala Designs. I would love to get the Tessa tunic in any color - that is totally something I would wear and could wear year round. Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 22, 2012

3. Purse Pixie is giving away a J. Crew newsstand tote! GORGEOUS! Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 26, 2012

4. Transatlantic Blonde is giving away a pair of Hold Your Haunches leggings in your choice of style. Head on over to her blog and check out how great they look on her! I'm not normally a leggings girl due to my curves but these sound and look awesome! Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 28, 2012

5. My Style Diaries is giving away a super cool statement necklace from Jennifer Elizabeth. I'm thinking it would look pretty great paired with a simple black tee. Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 20, 2012

6. Fashion Is My Drug is giving away any piece of jewelry of your choice from Shop Belina! I'm personally a huge fan of their new Emily Spike Bracelet - how cool is that? Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 16, 2012 (Hurry!)

7. Blonde Bedhead is giving away a pair of shoes (your choice!) from Blowfish! Have you checked out their new spring line? I am love, love, loving the Tush wedge sandal (in every color)! Click here to enter the giveaway!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 19, 2012

8. Orchid Grey is giving away a pair of shades from Bonlook! I think we all know how much I love some sexy spex! I'm currently loving their rose gold pair. Pretty! Click here to enter to win!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 20, 2012

9. Favourite Vintage Finds is giving away a beautiful spoon bracelet from Silver Spoon Creations. You have to check out this etsy shop - it's the newest shop added to my favorites! Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 28, 2012

10. Jaebum Fangirl is giving away a fun mermaid design sweatshirt from Pina Styles. I love the designs this company creates! Be sure to check out their entire shop! Click here to enter the giveaway!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 16, 2012 (Hurry!)

Do you have a fashion/beauty giveaway you'd like featured on one of my Winning Wednesday posts? Drop me a line at fashionfrugality@gmail.com to let me know about it! I'd love to include you!

Valentine's Day: Red and Pink, of course!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:12:00 +0000

Happy Valentine's Day, my sweetie pies! This just so happens to be one of my favorite holidays... ok, who am I kidding... I think I have expressed my love for every holiday to you guys. I will say, however, that Valentine's Day is especially near and dear to me because my boyfriend and I began officially dating on Valentine's Day ten years ago. Yep, he asked me to be his lady on Valentine's Day. Sweet and sappy - just how I like it. :)

Floral Skirt: INC, Thrifted (Value World), $3.10

Red Blouse: Sears (vintage), Thrifted (Value World), $0.80

Pink Blazer: Dialogue, Thrifted (Value World), $3.80

Socks: Old as dirt

Pin: Made by me!

Boots: Fashionbug.com, $15

Glasses: SEE Eyewear

Truthfully, I was already planning on wearing red and/or pink today to celebrate the holiday of love. It just so happens that Everybody, Everywear coincided this month with the holiday and the theme was red and pink. I've never worn the two together but have been admiring the combination from afar as quite a few fashionable ladies have been rocking the look lately. Always into trying something new (at least when fashion is concerned!), I gave it a go.

I would certainly say that my combination is a bit more reserved than most. I love the pairing of a vibrant light pink with a prominent red but felt like that may have been a little too wild to wear to work, even for me. Nah, I kept my red bright but added a pink that was close in color to the red and topped it (or, bottomed it, I guess) with a floral skirt that captured both colors.

I can't resist a great tie neck blouse. True story. It is closing in on my gingham obsession but not is not quite at that level yet. (And, yes, that is a cat toy on the ground. Just keeping it real for all of you.)

I made my pin the night before. It was something I have been thinking about doing for a while now but just haven't put into action. Finally decided to get off my duff and just do it... so I did. And I love it. And I have ideas swirling around for more. Here is to making it happen in 2012!

And now a little sap for the road... I was wearing these socks the Valentine's night that my boyfriend and I became a couple. Yeah, they're pretty old and they are pretty worn (you're not seeing the giant hole on the bottom of my left foot...) but they have a soft spot in my sock drawer and heart. :)

Now, go on, get out of here and go hug the person, animal or thing you love. Valentine's Day may be a "made up holiday" but I'll take any reason to tell those I love that I love them - how about you?

Black Banana

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:58:00 +0000

Perhaps the title of this post isn't the most appetizing but it is the first thing I thought of when starting this post. Black and yellow apparently equal gross bananas in my mind - not bees... but from every squishy banana comes banana bread so I think there is a rainbow in there somewhere.

Top: GAP, $7 (on clearance)
Black Jeans: Lee, Goodwill of Canton, $4.99
Scarf: Won in giveaway
Boots: G by Guess, Marshall's, FREE (after gift card - but $22 on clearance)
Earrings: Claire's, very old!
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

I bought this super soft tee on a whim while shopping at the GAP right before Christmas. It was marked down and an additional 40% off. I couldn't resist it with that vibrant color and fantastic price. I'm not usually much of a t-shirt girl... you may have noticed that I wear them next to never. They're just not something that I've ever worn often and it is mainly due to the fact that I don't think they're very flattering on me. I end up feeling frumpy when I wear one and frumpy is not something I really think any of us strive for, right?

I did the unthinkable and bought this without even trying it on. I'm used to doing that at thrift stores (where they often don't have dressing rooms) but I normally don't do that at actual stores. It is usually a matter of not knowing my size at a normal store. Vintage clothing? I can eye it. A used skirt in a thrift store? I can estimate. But brand new clothing at a store within a mall? I usually fail every time. I'll walk into the dressing room with what I think my size is and it's either too big or too small. Taking something home that I never wear AND not trying it on? Dangerous territory!

Lucky for me, it worked out. This is fitted yet loose - soft and light yet warm. Now the only thing I regret is not snatching up more than just one color! Darn.

My boots? Yeah, they have tiny skulls on them. I'm obviously not the edgiest girl on the planet but I couldn't resist these. Hey, there's a little edge is everyone, right?

P.S. Yes, it is still winter here despite the lack of snow. It was actually freezing while we took these pictures. Don't worry, Mom, I wore my coat...

Coat: George, Walmart, $7 (clearance - years ago)

Winning Wednesday: Great Fashion Giveaways!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:14:00 +0000

1. Color Issue is giving away an Ona camera bag. I've got my heart set on the camel colored bag - I would love to carry around my new camera in that! Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 10, 2012

2. Blonde Bedhead is giving away a $150 Beso gift card to spend on your Beso shopping list! here is my Shoe Love collection... I would absolutely buy the Steve Madden Intyce cognac boots if I would this gift card. I have lusted over those boots for over a year now! Click here to enter the giveaway!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 9, 2012

3. DC GOP Girl is giving away a gorgeous hand-painted poppy print scarf from Takuyo. Have I ever told you how much I love poppies? Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 11, 2012

4. Fashionable Collections is giving away a $100 Shopbop gift card! I think this sounds like the perfect Valentine's Day gift to yourself! :) Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 14, 2012

5. Everyday Makeup Blog is giving away a $50 AMC movie theatre gift card AND an entire collection of NYC Smooch Proof Lipstains to one lucky winner and one Liquid Lipshine to five runners up! Pucker up for Valentine's Day! :) Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 9, 2012

6. Shannon <3's is giving away a super cool scarf (your choice from four) from Snoozer Loser. I love the Antique Scissors scarf - which would you pick? Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 12, 2012

7. In Honor Of Design is laying the love out for readers with a giveaway for a gorgeous THEIT camera bag! Swoon! This would make a great companion to my new camera! Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 13, 2012

8. Kitties + Couture is giving away a Stylemint tee of your choice to one lucky winner! My favorite right now is the Charlton. Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 14, 2012

9. The Budget Babe is giving away a Julep Maven intro box to one lucky winner! I'm not normally a big nail polish girl but I am slowly learning a new appreciation for it. Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 14, 2012

10. O My Heart is giving away a $100 Shopbop gift card! Do you have your eye on anything there right now? I'm totally lusting over this statement necklace from Juliet & Company. Click here to enter the giveaway!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: February 15, 2012

Do you have a fashion/beauty giveaway you'd like featured on one of my Winning Wednesday posts? Drop me a line at fashionfrugality@gmail.com to let me know about it! I'd love to include you!

Get Smart

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:27:00 +0000

Guys, last week the unthinkable happened: My car died. (Don't worry, I'm getting to the part where this is related to style... I know, this is a style blog.) Thankfully, this occurred when I stopped by my parent's house to pick up some packages. Not so awesome: Finding out the following day that my transmission was kaput. Getting myself into a new car payment was the last thing I wanted to do but putting a lot of money into an older car that was bound to have other issues come up later on sounded even worse to me.

As a result, you've seen very little to no posts from me as I didn't really think you'd like to see my "walking to work and back" fashions. I don't remember the last time I wore pants for one full week other than last week out of necessity. I would like to never walk down that road again. I'm a skirts and dresses girl through and through and last week proved it to me. Additionally, wind blown hair? Not very awesome.

All that being said, I am a firm believer that out of something bad there can come something good. The good part of all this: I finally had the chance to get the car I have dreamed of owning for over ten years. Long story short: In high school, I was lucky enough to go on two trips to Paris with my photography class. While over seas, I came across the cutest little car ever - if I remember correctly, it was brand new over there at the time... probably around 2000 or 2001. I dreamed of owning this little car but knew we had nothing like it in the states. Fast forward to 2008: Now my little car is being sold in Michigan! I even signed up for the early release email announcement/pass even though I knew I wouldn't be buying one... I had bought my little black car in 2003 and it was definitely in fine condition. I had no reason to get rid of it.

Well, my dream finally came true this past Saturday! Let's let the pictures do the talking, shall we? :)

A dream come true!

Jeans: Gloria Vanderbilt, Thrifted, $6.99
Gingham Button Up: Blair, Thrifted, OLD
Puffy Vest: Land's End Canvas, FREE w/ gift card from giveaway
Rainboots: Hunter via Shopbop, FREE w/ gift card from giveaway
Bracelets: Clay bracelets made by me!
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

This is the first time I am showing these off on here! Not sure what has taken me so long - I wear them every weekend! I am SO thankful for the giveaway I won from The Looks for Less that allowed me to buy these! :)

You had to know that I was going to pick black and white, right? :)

In conclusion: I'm as happy as could be right now! I have my dream car - which also happens to be super affordable, fantastic on gas and good on oil changes (only necessary every 10,000 miles if you're interested) and I have the rain boots I dreamed of owning for ages (thanks to a gift card I won)!

What is new with you? I double dare you to tell me something great that happened to you this week! :)

Frugal Additions - January 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:55:00 +0000

About one week ago, my best friend and I decided to make some time for a little shopping therapy. Granted, some may find delight in shopping the beautiful rack at Nordstrom but we like to get our kicks in at our favorite thrift store, Value World. We swear by this place as the mecca of all metro Detroit thrift stores. I seem to always be able to find at least one goodie each time I stop by AND their prices are the best, by far. I can't tell you how many times I have walked out of there paying just $0.80 for a shirt or $0.40 for a skirt - and that's not even on the days I walk in with a 50% off coupon!

Anyway, let's get down to the good stuff, shall we? MY FINDS! I always love to read Kara's posts (at Unusual Form) about her new thrift finds so I thought I would share mine this week too! Here's a few sneak peek type photos of the pieces I ended up buying. Don't worry, they'll be making their full debut on the blog in due time. :)

New York & Co houndstooth button up - $1.80
New York & Co tunic length blue button up - $1.40
Land's End burgandy ribbed cardigan - $1.60Natori II burgandy/gold palazzo pants - $1.30
J. Peterman Co tan button up jacket - $1.80
Styleworks blazer with floral cuff - $5.40
Franco Sarto suede boots - $4.20
Sofft black leather ankle boots - $6.20

All of this equals out to a grand total of $23.70. I don't think that is too shabby for a little shopping therapy with one's best friend... do you?

Speaking of money and shopping, I'll be back later this week to discuss my shopping, changes for the new year and more. Stay tuned!

EBEW: Black and White

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:21:00 +0000

A cool and easy black and white mix today. Quick separates, quick photos, long day. Sometimes that is just how it rolls, right? I'm sure you understand.

I convinced my boyfriend to snap a few quick photos of my outfit today... nevermind our super dim glow lighting. Ah, apartment life. :)

Dress: Leslie Fay, Thrifted, $1.80
Blouse: Old Navy, $7 (clearance)
Booties: Sofft, Thrifted, $6.20
Bracelets: Forever21, Old
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

This is probably the first and the last time I will wear this dress. I never tried it on when I bought it as I was at one of those thrift stores that doesn't have dressing rooms. Yeah, one of those. Anyway, I clearly misjudged it because it's rather large on my frame. The bottom is ok but I was swimming in the top without this blouse over it. It's too bad because I do love me a good vintage Leslie Fay dress. :)

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm dressing in black and white all week. I was inspired by today's Everybody, Everywear but it's also, hands down, my favorite color combination. It is so easy and always looks good!

Hopefully you'll stay tuned to see how I rock out with my black and white out the rest of the week... or, um, something like that. :-)

A Return to Black and White

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:07:00 +0000

Hi, guys! Long time no blog, right? Just slightly. :)

After being gone for so long, it was a little scary to jump back into this head on... It was kind of like the first day of school after the end of a long summer. What will I wear? Because isn't that always the first thing you think of at the beginning of the school year? I know I'm not the only one. Inspired by tomorrow's Everybody, Everywear and my already long standing love for black and white, I decided to keep it relatively simple with a week worth of black and white looks. Black and white mixes are always my fallback look. They're easy to put together, easy to wear, easy to accessorize and always look good. How can you not like that? French women come to mind when I think of black and white. Somehow French women could wear the same white tee and black jeans everyday and look absolutely effortless. I think there is, at least, a small part of every woman who craves to have that french effortless look down pat.

That being said, here are a few photo snippets of what I wore today. Granted, it's a bit more black and cream than white, but you get the idea. While I was away from the blog, I gained a new camera, a Nikon, so I'm still mastering the art of using it... I haven't had time to pair it with my tripod and new remote, so no full body photos for at least today. Maybe tomorrow as well. And maybe the rest of the week... I've been keeping up a pretty awesome gym routine after work that I'm not willing to end. I often forget how good I feel after working out (and doing so consistently) - I'm not letting myself forget this time. :)

Blazer: Saks Fifth Avenue A.S.A.P., Thrifted, $3.00
Dress: Apt 9, Hand Me Over *, FREE!
Socks: Nine West, Big Lots, $5 (for pack of 3 pairs)
Boots: Franco Fortini, eBay, OLD
Earrings: Phul Effect, Won in giveaway!
Necklace: Phul Effect, Won in giveaway!
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

My favorite way to wear my hair right now.

* Wondering what a Hand Me Over is? It's my new name for pieces of clothing that people have given me that were not in the form of a gift. For example, one of my favorite coworkers gave this dress (and more) to me because her daughter didn't wear it anymore. Would I like it? Well, yes, of course I would! There is always room in my humble abode for stray black and white pieces. :)

Where in the world is Fashion Frugality?

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:49:00 +0000

Do you recognize this girl? She used to blog here regularly up until a month ago...

Why, hello! How are all of you? I know it seems like I have disappeared... last month was a toughie: Not only did my computer unexpectedly die but, more devastating than that, so did my cat, Leo. You spotted a tiny glimpse of him in my Halloween post. He was my first pet, my first cat and, quite often, the best furry animal I owned when I was little. We adopted him and his brother when I was right around ten years old (maybe younger... hard to remember) so we spent many years together. He was super snuggly and always there when I needed to cry in his fur, to be honest.

Getting the call that Friday morning from my sister was one of the worst moments of my life. She was in hysterics. My mom had to get on the phone to tell me that Leo could barely move his legs and didn't seem like himself. (Leo lived at my parents house because he had lived there for so long when I moved out, I didn't want to disrupt his life with a move.) All I remember is somehow getting dressed while bawling and making the drive to my parent's house. I spent a good hour snuggling him before we took him to the vet. I knew it wasn't going to end well... my poor kitty just wasn't right.

My parents ultimately left the choice up to me. The vet told me it was most likely a blood clot or cancer that could not have been caught until it was too late - basically until it was at this point. All I wanted her to do was fix him at any cost but she said there was nothing that could be done. especially at the age he was. Honestly, I guess I lived in a dream land because I never thought I would be at the point where I would have to make the sort of choice I had to make... I guess I liked to think that when Leo's time was up, he would silently go in his sleep. I'm sure we all wish that, right? Anyway, I told the vet I needed more time so my parents, sister and I spent probably about another hour (that felt like 2 minutes) snuggling Leo and crying together... I prayed to God that he would just go on his own but it didn't happen so I ultimately made the choice to help him pass. The idea that he might be in any sort of pain is the only thing that lead me to this decision. I can't tell you how much I wanted to walk back out that vet door with him in my arms to take him home and let him go on his own... but the idea that he could be in pain... I just couldn't do it.

So, that's where I've been. I know a lot of people who don't have pets, don't care for pets or cats or what have you may not understand how hard this hit me. I spent the first two weeks literally crying on a daily basis and am just now beginning to heal. I've lost pets in the past, yes, but they were never pets that solely belonged to me where I had to make the decision on what to do. I grappled with a lot of guilt after the whole thing. I felt like I did something wrong... that I should have taken him home... that I could have done something more. There is still a small part of me that feels that way and probably always will, but the bigger part of that feeling is gone. He's not in pain. That is the more important part that I can focus on along with all the wonderful memories we had together. I firmly believe that pets are parts of your family (so long as you treat them as such) and I am feeling that empty feeling that goes along with that.

As a result, I've been away from the blog for a while. The cloud of sadness and negativity that has trailed me this month was not something that I wanted to share or wish upon anyone. I'm feeling more upbeat so I am hoping to get back to things, albeit slowly but surely. I hope you'll follow along. <3

(This turned out a lot longer and wordy than I had planned... I know this is a style blog, but real life is real life. Thank you for reading!)

Let's Shop: Ann Taylor

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 01:23:00 +0000

Love Ann Taylor? Me too. They have great pieces that can go from work to a night out without missing a beat - seriously, check out this look! In addition, and very important to me, they always have some sort of fantastic coupon circulating so you can save some extra money. (Speaking of, be sure to check out the website right now in order to sign up for their mailing list and get a 40% off friends and family coupon!) Work appropriate, fun appropriate and coupon friendly? That's a great combination in my book.

So maybe you're wondering what is new with Ann Taylor... Well, they're opening up some new concept stores and we're all invited! Are you a Michigan lady? Come check out their first Michigan concept store in Lansing!

The new look the stores are going for is a more residential and inviting look. Think hardwood floors, chandeliers, tufted furniture and fixtures inspired by the ultimate closet. Sounds pretty, right?

I can't wait to check it out and I hope if you are local you can make it too! If not, come back soon and I'll be sure to give you a taste of the new look in a future post!

Winning Wednesday: Great Fashion Giveaways

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:17:00 +0000

Everybody, Everywhere: Colored Tights

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:02:00 +0000

Fashion blogger confession: I only own three pairs of colored tights. And I use "colored" as a loose term - I own this purple pair, a light grey pair and olive green sweater tights. They're very neutral with the exception of the purple. Colorful tights seem like a huge standard in the fashion blogging world. Prior to becoming a reader, I had never seen many "unusual" tights out and about. I thought I was pretty cool buying this purple pair 2+ years ago, but apparently I am still a freshman at colorful tight wearing. :)

Jacket: Arden B, Won in giveaway!
Tshirt: Old Navy, $7 (on sale)
Skirt: Worthington, JCPenney, OLD
Tights: Kohl's, OLD
Shoes: Steve Madden, Marshalls, OLD
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

After doing a bit of a closet cleanout/unpacking my winter items over last weekend, I have been making every attempt at wearing things I don't wear very often from my closet. To say that my closet is filled to the brim would be an understatement. I need to pare down more but I'm having a hard time letting things go. To rectify that, I am wearing pieces I don't wear very often to discover why and hopefully give some of them up.

This jacket is one of those items. I always get so many compliments on it when I wear it but I have a really hard time styling it. I think the color is what prevents me from wearing it often... it's hard to pair things with a metallic lilac color. Any ideas for me?

I was a little worried this might be purple overload when I put it together this morning but when I got told I looked "like a rockstar" at work that worry flew out the door. My work girls are good to me. :)

Check out the rest of the folks who styled up their colorful tights today! After checking just a few of them out so far, I am realizing I would love to add some rust, hunter green and mustard colored tights to my collection!

Getting Fit & Fab in Active by Old Navy

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 02:30:00 +0000

So, I'd like to talk about fashion today but not the usual type of fashion you're used to seeing here. Let's have a little chat about active wear AKA gym wear.

First off, you should know that I am no gym rat. Sometimes I take my workouts really seriously and go on a regular basis. More often than not, lately, I have had a hard time motivating myself to get there - but we'll talk about that more later.

Now, I'm not typically the type that cares very much about what I am wearing to the gym. An ancient pair of stretchy pants and an old tshirt and I am pretty much good to go. Spending a lot of money or time thinking about what I am going to wear to the gym just isn't my thing. I just want to throw it on after work, wipe any makeup off, throw my hair up and head out. Work out, sweat out the day's aggressions and go home. The gym is not my runway. I think you will find that evident...

However, when I had the chance to check out some new active wear, I jumped at the chance. Like I said before, the gym has not exactly been my favorite place lately. And when I say that, I mean I've probably been there once or twice over the past three months. It just hasn't been in my list of things to do but, unfortunately, I am paying the price and need to add it back into that list. When I don't go to the gym on a somewhat regular basis, I become crabby, sluggish and all around blah. Plus, I've been feeling a little bit on the meatball side which is never desirable when you go to put on your jeans, am I right? :)

So, maybe you're wondering where I went for this new active wear, right? I think you might be surprised!

Yes, seriously, Old Navy! I love the place when it comes to everyday fashions but gym wear... I know, I know! I had the same thought! However, never one to say no to a trip to Old Navy, I headed over to one of my favorite local stores with my best friend, Alicia, to check out their selection of activewear courtesy of Crowdtap as I am part of their Old Navy Style Council.

The minute we got there, we were excited to check this stuff out. I had done a little window shopping online prior to coming to the store so that I would have an idea of what they had to offer and what I wanted to try on. I knew for sure that I wanted a pair of the compression pants, not capris, as capris would be too chilly to wear to the gym during the winter. I also knew that I wanted a sleeved top, not a tank as that isn't something I normally wear to the gym without something else over top of it.

We each grabbed a few different pieces and headed off to the dressing rooms. (Oops.... how did that non active wear get into my room!? Hee Hee...) That magenta top was one of the first pieces I grabbed from their Active line - I really liked the color and the detail near the shoulders.

After trying a couple different pieces on, I ended up deciding on the two you see above. Although I liked the color of the prior jacket, I felt I could get more use out of a black one. I also liked that this jacket zipped down all the way, making it easy to quickly take off while working out if need be. Additionally, the black jacket fit me nicely, which made me kind of excited to wear it! Who would have thought - like your outfit and you might want to wear it! Why have I never applied this to the gym before!?

The pants I selected were also extremely comfortable, breathable yet snug enough to keep my body in check while working out. One of my favorite things they included in the design was this little zipper pocket located in the back of the waistband that you can stash your car key or some cash in. So thoughtful!

Delighted with our picks, we headed to the register. We ended up buying the same jacket and the same pants. Great minds often think alike, do they not? :)

And off we went with our new active wear! I was pretty excited to try it out... it actually gave me the push I needed to get back to the gym that week. I guess a new outfit can work wonders in all types of situations...

Jacket: Old Navy Active Performance Jacket, c/o Crowdtap
Pants: Women's Active Compression Pants, c/o Crowdtap
Tshirt: Pacific (old)
Sneakers: Reebok Easy Tone

After using these pieces at the gym for the past two weeks, I can honestly say that they are so much better than my old gym wear. They kept me cooler and drier and I honestly feel much more pumped about going to the gym. It didn't take a lot, but I feel a lot more put together when I head out than I did before.

I'm ready to PUMP you up!
I was a bit apprehensive to think that good workout wear could come from Old Navy, but now I'm a believer! The frosting on this cake is that the prices fit my budget, which is something I require. For example, the jacket I am wearing above is currently on sale for $35, while the same jacket in a different color is just $19! That is great! Plus, as an avid Old Navy shopper, I know they often have coupons that can be combined with their outstanding sales.

So, now let's chat: Where do you buy your workout gear from? What is important to you in your gym wear? Do you wear old sweats to the gym or what? Why? I want to know!

My Old Navy Active jacket and pants were paid for with a coupon I received from Crowdtap. As a member of the Old Navy Style Council, I was able to redeem this coupon for one pair of pants and top of my own choosing. In addition, they provided one additional coupon for a friend. I was not required to give a positive review.

Sweatshirt Fancy

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 18:03:00 +0000

Hoodie: Moda International, Thrifted, $2.50
Earrings: Forever21, $3.80
On Thursday, I made a promise to myself that jeans and a sweatshirt would be happening on Friday. I had a ton of stuff to do on Friday at work due to one of our systems being down so I wanted to keep it comfortable. I hate when I have a lot of work to concentrate on and I feel uncomfortable in what I am wearing. Who wants to constantly adjust their outfit all day? On a busy Friday? Not me.

If you know me... you'll know I own a grand total of, well, maybe three sweatshirts. They're typically just not my thing. While I think they look adorable and laid back on many, I end up feeling sloppy and out of my element. They're just no my flavor, as I like to say. Regardless, sometimes they are just called for no matter what, am I right?

That being said - who says you can't add a little fancy to a hooded sweatshirt? :)

A Fall Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:32:00 +0000

Shimmy on over to Unusual Form today to check out my guest post! This is what I "wore" to her wedding!

Congratulations, Kara! :)

Winning Wednesday: Great Fashion Giveaways!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 01:26:00 +0000

Post Halloween Layers

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:55:00 +0000

I think it goes without saying that today called for some serious loose layers. After all the junk I ate yesterday, I was in no mood to wear anything even remotely form fitting.

Blazer: Katie Mfg, Swapped, Free
Top: GAP, Thrifted, $3.80
Pants: Worthington, JCPenney, OLD
Boots: St. John's Bay, Thrifted, $4.60
Bracelet: Target, OLD
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

OK, so it wasn't the most flattering outfit ever but it worked considering it was ridiculously comfortable and I put it together within five minutes this morning. Remind me to never wait till the morning to get my outfit ready. It does not make for a very relaxing morning, to say the least.

I forgot to put this bracelet back on after taking a photo of it but this is the only jewelry I wore with my outfit today. Loose bangles are my favorite thing to wear.

This is my latest scarf find. I love the color, I love the size, and I love the lace. I can't find a tag on it and the stitching gives it the appearance that it is handmade... which has given me a few ideas to make similar models in different colors.

All in all, not exactly the most fashionable look but sometimes comfort wins over chic, am I right?

Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:05:00 +0000

I swear I planned on photographing my Halloween costume for you today... but then I came home from work and took a four hour nap. Yep. Four hours. True story. I blame it on the junk I feasted on today at work - strawberry pretzel "salad" (if you've ever had this, you know salad really isn't a good word for it, ha ha), chips & salsa, and lemon meringue cheesecake. That last one? Literally the best thing on earth.

That being said... I didn't really think you would all be interested in seeing my bed head hair and rumpled outfit. Imagine me in a red skirt, orange turtleneck, orange kneesocks and red mary janes. Yes, I dressed as Velma from Scooby Doo. I'm constantly told I could be her (maybe it's the glasses?) so I decided to run with it this year. Plus, it was easy! I dyed my thrifted turtleneck and Target socks to match and already had the skirt and shoes.

I didn't want to leave you without a little Halloween fun though... here are some costumes from my past!

I wish I had a full body photo of my hippie costume - I wore a pair of my mom's old bellbottoms for that costume and continued to wear them after Halloween. I was a cool 8th grader, what can I say?

And my Dorothy costume? My grandma made it for me. I don't know if it is awesome or strange - but I wore the costume again two years ago. Yes, it still fit, though it was a bit tighter in some areas. I begged to be Dorothy due to the fact that I really just wanted some glittery red heels - which my mom made for me. I loved this costume, but I also love the movie.

The Rachel Zoe costume was put together quickly and was more or less an excuse to buy the maxi dress I wanted and wear a big 'ol blonde wig for the night. I had short hair at the time so it was really fun to have some longer locks for a while, even if it was in the form of a cheap Halloween wig.

What has been your favorite Halloween costume of all time?

Winning Wednesday: Great Fashion Giveaways!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:12:00 +0000

Substitute Your Look: Animal Print in Red

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:00:00 +0000

OK, so I have to say that I am normally not a huge fan of the color red, but this dress had me hooked the second I saw it. Perhaps it is the style? Perhaps it is the animal print? Whatever it is, I LOVE IT.

But.

$95? Not exactly fashion frugality there. It's not terrible, no, but not cheap either. I am not ready to commit for that price. How about you?

But this pattern! Oh, this pattern. It must be available to the rest of masses, right? Those of us who consider ourselves a little extra frugal?

Why, yes! Yes, it is! And it comes in the form of a scarf! I think that is a great trade off, as I'm not sure this is a print I would want to wear for next three years or more. I think a great way of adding in "trendy" pieces is to do so in the form of an accessory - which is what we have here.

What do you think? Fair substitution? Which would you rather wear?

October Is: Domestic Violence Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:47:00 +0000

{ I interrupt today's usual Winning Wednesday post to bring you this special message. }

Did you know that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month?

1 in 3 families are affected by domestic violence. Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors — physical, sexual, psychological, and economic coercion — used by one intimate partner against another (adult or adolescent) to gain, maintain, or regain power and control in the relationship. Batterers use of a range of tactics to frighten, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, often injure, and sometimes kill a current or former intimate partner.

If you are in danger, please call 911, your local hotline, or (in the U.S.) the National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233 or TTY (800) 787-3224.

Together with Miss Vinyl Ahoy and others, I vowed to wear the color purple today to spread the awareness in a small way. In fact, I wore my favorite vibrant purple shirt dress. Unfortunately, the crazy rain storm we had all day pretty much deleted any plans I had to take outfit photos. Never discouraged, I put together a purple inspired Kaboodle styleboard with some frugal ways to add some purple into your wardrobe.

October Is: Domestic Violence Awareness Month

1. Purple gloves: Merona Side Stitch Glove in purple, Target.com, $19.99
2. Desert Boot: Whisper Desert Bootie in purple, Wanted, $49.99 (on sale)
3. Pencil Skirt: Vintage skirt in purple, RenaissanceProfessor's Avant Garde, $15
4. Earrings: Flower Wheel Medallion Earrings in amethyst, 1928 Jewelry, $18
5. Striped Dress: Vintage Striped Cotton Dress in pretty violets, Juannabie, $10
6. Nail Polish: Sexy Divide, by Essie, $8
7. Sweatshirt: French Terry Pullover in Night Orchard, Old Navy, $15 (on sale)
8. Vintage Dress: Vintage Wiggle Dress in deep purple, Serendipity Mae Vintage Boutique, $14.75

Fashion Frugality Reviews: eShakti Blouse

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:34:00 +0000

When eShakti.com contacted me about doing a review of one of their pieces, I was more than happy to oblige. I had actually had my eye on their ruffled cascade front poet blouse so I knew the exact piece I wanted already! I received the blouse two months ago but I don't think I need to explain that a long sleeve blouse was just not weather appropriate for August. I am so happy that I was finally able to wear it!

Now, that being said, please keep an open mind. Today was quite possibly the most windy day I have ever encountered. Bring on the windblown photos! :)

Blouse: Ruffle Cascade Front Poet Blouse, c/o eShakti.com ($39.95)
Pants: Axcess (Liz Claiborne Co), Thrifted, OLD
Shoes: Tahari, Thrifted, OLD
Ring: Inherited from my grandma
Gold Earrings: Gift from my former employer
Glasses: SEE Eyewear
Purse: Gift from my boyfriend years ago (from Target!)

I know what you might be thinking: Katie, you're pale. Nude tops are not your thing. Guess what? Don't care. Life is too short to worry about such things! And I like this top too much! Lets do a quick rundown over some things I love about this top and eShakti.com:

First and very important: Did you know that everything eShakti.com sells is completely customizable? Enter in your specific size details and requests and your wish is their command - all only for an extra $7.50! They fully embody the idea that one size does NOT fit all and why should it? We are all different and all have different tastes.

The extra long cuffs and gorgeous fabric covered buttons (which are also down the front of the blouse) - I love little details like that.

The sleeve detail. I love this unique look!

Quite possibly my favorite part: The ruffle front - how adorable is this? Wait, it gets better: It is detachable! I love having multi-use items. I can wear this blouse with both the ruffles and without the ruffles for two totally different looks. (Note: Nevermind how messy it looks here. It actually ties around your neck, under the collar, quite nicely. The wind was blowing mine out of order.)

Topped with my favorite fall coat and the addition of one of my favorites rings, I was ready to go to work!

DISCLOSURE: Though eShakti sent me this blouse (free of charge) to review, my opinions on this blog post and all other posts are my own. I did not agree to give a positive review. I agreed to give an honest review.
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Unfortunately, the top I reviewed is currently out of stock! With that in mind, I put together a quick Kaboodle styleboard to show you some other ruffle favorites from eShakti.com.

Click above to learn more about each piece!

Winning Wednesday: Great Fashion Giveaways!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:26:00 +0000

Winning a giveaway is fantastic for two reasons: 1.) You have a new item to add to your wardrobe for free. What could be more frugal than that!? 2.) You are (most likely) introduced to a new company/store/brand/what-have-you. This is a great way to try something you either might not have bought on your own or try something you may have never heard about prior! I love that. This, my friends, is why every week I write a little post called Winning Wednesday.

1. Rock Paper Vintage and Kiboots are giving away a pair of boots (of your choice) to one lucky winner! I think I would go with this pair! Click here to enter! (Thanks to Colorblind for passing on the world about this giveaway!)
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 14, 2011

2. MIA Shoes is giving away a pair of their new Uptown Girl Pumps to one lucky winner! These heels aren't even available to buy yet! Trust me, you're going to want to enter this one - these pumps are killer! Click here to enter on their facebook page!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 17, 2011

3. Going West is teaming up with MIA Shoes to give away a pair of their amazing Nolen heeled loafers. These are THE shoes of the season, in my opinion. Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 17, 2011

4. Dwelling and Telling is giving away a gorgeous personalized date necklace from Stella Collection! I love the idea/story behind this piece! Click here to learn more about it and enter to win!

5. Banana Republic is giving you a chance to show off your styling skills! Play their Lucky Dozen Game - they give you BR pieces to choose from and you create a look based off the situation they give you - and enter to win a $500 Banana Republic gift card! Thirteen gift cards will be given away! Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: Enter everyday through October 29th!

6. Trop Rouge is giving away a different R&Em bag every day in October! How amazing is that!? Click here to learn how to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: Ongoing every day through October!

7. An Island Life is giving away a pair of Naturalizer shoes to one lucky winner - you get to pick your favorite pair! I'm loving their Aria black boots. Which pair do you like? Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 13, 2011

8. The Daily Julie is giving away a $50 gift certificate to Drugstore.com - thanks to Covergirl! Have you tried Covergirl's LashPerfection mascara? It is one of my favorites. Click here to check out Julie's thoughts and enter the giveaway!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: November 4, 2011

9. Statements In Fashion is back and she is offering up a great giveaway! Two readers are going to win a $25 gift card each to Forever21! Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 16, 2011

10. Philosophy is giving you a chance to win one of five of their Think Pink gift sets of products! Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 31, 2011

11. Memoirs Of A Little Thing Called Life is giving away an amazing natural gem necklace. It. Is. So. Pretty. (Please don't enter to win this because I really, really want it. Thankyousomuch. Ha ha.) Click here to enter to win (andsharecustodywithmeifyoudothankyouverymuch)!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 14, 2011

12. Blushing Noir wants to Halloween-ify your nails! Head on over to the site for the chance to win glow in the dark nailpolish and skull and crossbones Sally Hansen nail effect strips! Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 15, 2011

13. Fashion Snag is giving away a $50 gift certificate to Seven Freedom 2 Express to one lucky winner! I would love to snag one of their bohemian coin necklaces if I won! Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 15, 2011

14. Urbanknit is giving away one of their gorgeous Splash Shawls! Perfect for autumn layering in style! Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 31, 2011

15. Collections is giving away a Dark Secrets of Wonderland bracelet from Shabby Apple. This bracelet would look great with a leather jacket, no? Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 22, 2011

16. 26 and Counting is giving away a pair of earrings from Poshlocket! I'm a fan of the gold pair myself. Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 13, 2011

17. Fashion Fractions is giving away a $50 gift card to LOFT! Check out how she styled pieces from their BCRF collection and enter to win!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 14, 2011

18. A Pretty Penny is giving away a design kit and Target gift card to customize a pair of Converse One Star sneakers! Head on over to her blog to check out how she redesigned her pair - they are so cute! Click here to do that and enter to win!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 14, 2011

19. What I Wore is giving away a LOFT $50 gift certificate, tshirt and bracelet from their Breast Cancer Research limited edition line. Five dollars from every bracelet sold will benefit the BCRF! Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 31, 2011

20. Fantasy Jewelry Box is giving away a $100 gift card on their blog! What FJB piece are you craving for fall? I'm picturing this set paired up with so many pieces from my wardrobe! Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 15, 2011

21. Sandy A La Mode is giving away a $20 credit to Jaclyn 1423. What would you use your credit on? I would buy the gold and green beaded necklace - I love those colors together! Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: October 17, 2011

22. Chellbellz is giving away a one year subscription to Vogue, a $25 Sephora gift card and a $25 H&M gift card to give thanks to her subscribers! I'd say that is a pretty great way to say thanks - what do you think? Click here to enter!
GIVEAWAY ENDS: November 1, 2011

Everybody, Everywear: DIY

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 02:17:00 +0000

Oh, hi! You've probably (maybe?) been wondering where I've been... well, between being sick last week and having a family member pass away, there was little room or desire for blogging. Honestly, you didn't want to see one little part of me. Everything was a big 'ol mess. My eyes were red, my nose was red, everything was disheveled.

That being said, I put forth at least a little bit more effort today. Yes, I do love me an Everybody, Everywhere day. This one was no different - DIY day! I initially had a more labor intensive DIY planned but I don't think I need to get into why it was not accomplished (see above). Instead, I took an easier approach...

Note: This is where you pretend like you can not see my kitty hairs and fuzz on my dress. Please also pretend that the pin on my necklace is sitting properly. Thank you. Forgive me, like I said, it has been a long week.

I'm not going to divulge my original DIY plan as I plan on still putting it into action at some point. So, when push came to shove last night at 10pm, I had to rack my brain for another quick idea. Luckily, I had just recently pinned this image of gorgeous necklaces made by Elva Fields to my pinterest account. Seriously, have you ever seen prettier jewelry? I LOVE these necklaces! Plus, I knew it was the perfect thing to put together quickly - great beaded necklace + my favorite pin? Done!

Dress: Karen Kane, Thrifted, OLD
Blue Tank: Poof!, TJMaxx, OLD
Necklace: No tag, Thrifted, $7
Pin (on necklace): Gift from Mom
Shoes: Naturalizer, Thrifted, OLD
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

I also really like that this outfit is a collection of old favorites. One of my favorite (and most comfortable, by far) black dresses, favorite pin (a gift from my mom from one of our favorite local stores) and favorite red shoes.

Did I mention my cat loves these shoes too? They've been graced with kitty claw and teeth marks but I'm not ready to let them go. I figure it isn't as noticable from far away... right?...

Want to see some more fashionable DIY? Click on over to Everybody, Everywear below!

My First Fishtail

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Kondek) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:51:00 +0000

Do you like the title of this post? It's not that I have plans to go out and buy multiple fish tail dresses/skirts but I have been on the hunt for the perfect one for a little while now.

I won a gift credit from Speedy Girl the other week on twitter and was immediately ready to put it use. The second I laid my eyes on it, I knew it had to be mine! Yes, I did have a gift code, but I would have gladly handed over my own funds for this dress. For starters, it cost just $25! More on that later. Secondly, it's gorgeous and even prettier (if at all possible) in person!

Dress: Princess and Her Knight dress, ShopSpeedyGirl.com, FREE
(after using the gift code I won via twitter)
Leggings: Mossimo Supply Co, Target, OLD
Shoes: Dana Buchman, Kohl's, Purchased last year
Belt: Taken from another dress
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

Truth be told, there is a bit of an Awkward and Awesome moment going on here. Awkward? These terrible indoor photos and the bruise on my leg. The Awesome? This dress, duh, and the fact that that bruise is about 25% as bad as it was before. I'll take it. (Small word of advice: Don't walk into the corner of your dishwasher door when unloading dishes. You and your leg will regret it.)

OK, so back to that $25 awesome dress, right? Well, in case you haven't checked out Speedy Girl yet, you should. They offer lovely clothing - two pieces every 24 hours, to be exact - at low, low prices. Two new pieces are up every 24 hours... so if you like something, JUMP on it and jump on it quick! I'm already kind of regretting not buying this olive tunic sweater the other day. Live and learn!