My Closet Should Not Be Scary

Why I'm Gone

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 01:35:00 +0000

So yeah. I've been gone daddy, gone from this blog for MONTHS. And the reason is... long-winded. Bottom-line, I do not have the time to support this blog, my professional blog, and my hobby-blog. So I thought I'd go out with a bang! And what's more bangin' than awesome costumes? NOTHING, THAT'S WHAT. Here are the costumes I wore this spring to Costume Con in Arizona:

The Steampunk Saloon Girl I've worn before. Notice the teeny-tiny gun?

My latest Green Bay Packer costume. I call it Packer Punk. It's a mash-up of Steampunk, Nerfpunk, and the AWESOMENESS of Green Bay.

My Cindy Lou Who costume for the Masquarade...

My buddies dressed as the 11 Dr. Whos. I was the 12th Dr.... Cindy Lou. We got the biggest laugh of the Con, and Judge's Choice :)

I turned my Day Of Wrong courtesan costume to a Wrong 18th Century French. As one does...

I turned a gifted bodice (thank you Suzette!!!) into a sort-of Titannic gown. Close enough! And me bestie, Laura, did my hair.

Thank you to everyone who has read this blog. Please come over and friend me on FB at Erin Elizabeth! I want to stay in touch with you guys :)

Warts And All

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:58:00 +0000

Okay, I don't actually have warts. But I do have a big, adolescent-esque zit on my nose. And yet? Here's what I wore on the warmest day of the week:

Notice the shoes. Those shoes are a boy-repellent. I actually had a date ask me if I was wearing slippers. Um no:

Those are definitely shoes. Worn with the only pair of short pants/capris/cropped pants that fit me right now. As - another wart - I've gained 9 pounds, and they do not want to leave my ass. Sigh. You know what I say to that zit and flab?

What. Ever. I gotta be me!

Warty:
Lace top, thrifted Target
Brown cropped cardigan, random teeny-bopper store
Brown tank, NY & Co. from a thousand years ago
Cropped pants, um. I don't remember!!!
Fuzzy leopard print shoes, Target.

And look! I even took a close-up picture:

But not of my zit. THAT is scary.

A Large Untruth

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 23:10:00 +0000

This outfit is a lie, the sun is a lie and my happy face in this photo is the biggest lie of all...

Don't I look all cheerful and healthy and put together? And doesn't that lovely sunlight make you think it's warm and lovely where I live? LIES. Because this is how I've really felt this week:

This is how I really feel. I have a massive head cold AGAIN, and I have NO TIME TO BE SICK. I have work to work on, costumes to sew on, and chores to chore on. At least I look okay, right? And I looked nice for the full 4 hours I wore this, before stripping down to my jammies and hopping back in bed.

Outfit of Untruths:

Navy blue cardigan and tank top, Ann Taylor via a gift from my StepMom

White jeans, Tommy Bahama

Tan shoes, Stuart Weisman (sp?) via Optiz Outlet.

Silver cuff, one of those pop-up accessory shopping events

And just for you? A "stuff shot", ala Sheila :)

Still Truckin'

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:19:00 +0000

On Tuesday, I wore a skirt, a closet orphan (to quote a Sally McGraw term), and a different pair of boots than what I wore on Monday. What I didn't do? Take a dang picture. However, I wore that gear on TV. Roll video!

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/Coupons.com-Most-Frugal-Cities-feb-28-2012

And no, that was not a shameless plug to get you to watch my Cheap Chick segments... ;)

What I Wore On TV:
Red cowl-neck sweater, Express
Black ribbed cardigan, The Gap (on clearance)
Corset belt (aka, the closet orphan), Target
Charcoal grey pin-striped skirt, Issac Mizrahi for Target (god I miss his stuff)
Black sheer tights, Marshalls
Black boots, Circa Joan & David from Macy's (?). That's their last wearing until I take them to George's Shoes for cobbling.

Yesterday, on Wednesday, I wore my third pair of boots, but no skirt. We had a Snow My God day, and I needed to dress weather-appropriate.

Yesterday's closet orphan is that cream sweater/coat. It's soooooooo warm, often TOO warm. However, it was perfect for sitting in the freezing studio at my other job (yes, all my jobs involve studios, it's true).

The scarf, boots and jeggings are far from being orphans. In fact, I wear them a wee bit too much, if you ask me...

The other orphan is the navy T-shirt. It's flattering and a good layering piece and yet... I almost never wear it. Bad me! Time to put that baby on heavy rotation!

Wednesday's Winter Wear:
Cream sweater/coat, gift from my bestie Cindy
Grey fringed scarf, gift from my SIL
Navy T-shirt, Target clearance rack
Jeggings, Target
Black OTK boots, Payless

Ouch

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:47:00 +0000

No full face tonight. I'm in a wee bit of pain, I'm exhausted, and I'm not feeling it. Can you guess what I did after work?

Today's outfit is very, very specific. I recently decided (like, on Sunday afternoon) to wear a different pair of boots every day until I've worn them all. And also, wear all my skirts. And also, also, wear those items that don't get much play in my daily outfits.

The moto jacket is awesome and gorgeous, and yet I don't wear it that often. Because... I don't know. And I haven't worn my olive green button wool skirt all winter. Sigh. Closet Fail!

Still can't tell what I did after work? Here's a clue:

You got it - I donated blood. And my vein did NOT want to cooperate, meaning I am bruised and achy. And tired. And my tummy is acting up (unrelated to the donation). Somebody call the Waaaaaahmbulance. I need a ride.

Purposeful Outfit #1:
Light grey moto jacket, gift from my StepMom
Black turtleneck tunic, Target
Olive green skirt, uber-sale at Banana Republic
Black leggings, Old Navy
Black vintage boots, my Gramma Mac's.
Gold hoops, Target
Kick-ass cape-coat in the background, faux-Target

My New Favorite Sport

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:28:00 +0000

And no, it's not shopping. My latest obsession*? Lacrosse, baby! This may be the GREATEST SPORT YOU AREN'T WATCHING. I went to my first MN Swarm Lacrosse game last night, and it combined dancing at a club, cheering (one of my favorite activities), aerobics, and grown men smacking each other upside the head with sticks.

I LOVED IT. If you have a lacrosse team in your home town, I strongly recommend attending a game. And if you're checking out a cool new sport, you should dress appropriately. Here's what I wore:

Stripes! To go with the bee theme of the Swarm's uniform. And boots! Because the arena is cold, peeps.

Although I like my outfit, it had a slight problem:

Wearing stripes around one's bum and hips make them look larger, no? Ah well, I was comfy:

And comfort at a sporting event is key. So is wearing a bad ass ring:

I'll give two points to the reader who knows what movie that ring is from!

The Swarm Outfit:
Faux-leather moto jacket, faux-Target aka the Salvation Army in downtown Mpls
Striped t-shirt, Express
Skinny jeans, Calvin Klein by way of a Macy's sale
Black three-buckle flat boots, Macy's sale
Ring, movie swag from my old video job

*Also! Name the movie that phrase, latest obsession, is from! You'll win 200 points! For... nothing!

Still Dressed

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Barely. Hah! PUN. BARE. Eh, whatever, it's the best I've got tonight. I am beyond tired, stressed and overworked - thus, I lack any and all witty banter. But I don't lack a cool shirt! Let me show you:

I KNOW. That embroidery is off the HOOK. Best of all, it's not just pretty on the front and the sleeves. It's also embroidered on the back. Behold!

It's pretty both coming AND going! Love it!

BUT (there's always a but). It's one of those pieces of clothing where the item itself is stunningly beautiful. However, the item does not make ME look stunningly beautiful, regardless of how gorgeous it may be. In fact, it kind of makes me look pregnant. And hippy. A hippy pregnant lady.

Also, it's a bit... much. I feel like the tunic is wearing me, and not the other way around. But I've toned it down the best I can with basic black leggings and big-ass boots. So, all in all, I still feel pretty, oh so pretty!

Red Indian tunic (actually FROM India), gift from a dear friend (thus I will never be parted from it!)
Leggings, Express bought on sale
Black over the knee boots, Payless
Curly-ass hair, courtesy of my parents' genes.

Happy Birthday to MEEEE!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:11:00 +0000

You say it's your birthday? It's my birthday, too, yeah! Seriously, it is. I turn 39 years old today - woot! Last year of my thirties! Party on, Wayne and Garth.

My sister-in-law has declared 39 to be a more better year that 38. Why? Because 38 is so unnecessary and lacking in meaning, but 39 has PURPOSE. I'm on board with that, as random as it sounds. Why not, I ask you?

As I am spending my entire birthday in my jammies, I thought I'd show you pretty piccies of what I want to be wearing. But would have to purchase first, lest I being stealing clothes...

Merona dress, $24.99. I once owned this Target dress in black in a size Medium. I've lost 10 lbs since then, and amped up the color in my wardrobe - so now I want this in that teal green in a size Small.

Mossimo Dress, $29.99. This Target dress is so freaking CUTE. And it's BROWN, so I can wear it with BROWN BOOTS. Yes, the All Caps are necessary - I almost never find cute tunics in a brown color-way. This may be my birthday gift to my self. :)

Merona Dress, on sale for $13.98. In the clearance section on Target's website! I CAN NOT OWN ENOUGH BLACK DRESSES. It's a sickness, peeps.

And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to wander over to eBay.com and do a bit of shopping there!

I Wore Clothes This Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:27:00 +0000

... just in case you were concerned. It snowed here, too, making it necessary that I clothe myself. Lest I freeze and all that.

Why did I bother getting dressed? To attend the Operation Glass Slipper sale with my bestie, Laura, and her daughter, the lovely G. All fancy dresses were a mere $5, and wedding dresses (which none of us needed, but are still fun to try on) were $50 or less. G and I nabbed a few dresses each, and Laura picked up a slinky pink number. Photos to come as we wear them.

Here's how I dressed to try on dresses:

As usual, the outfit is all about the boots - my faux-Fryes from Target:

The outfit also showcases one of my bazillion scarves. This one is from a silk vendor in California:

It's a mix of irridescent purple and green, so it matches roughly 85% of my wardrobe...

I even got a close-up of the jewels, folks:

Nope, I'm not a natural blonde. Shocking, for sure!

Shopping Wear:
Silk scarf, picked up by Laura during her summer trip to Cali
Grey ruffled and drapey cardigan, Moth via the CHAP Store for a mere $3.50
Blue tank, Express
Leggings, Old Navy
Grey boot socks, Target (LOVE THEM!)
Black harness boots, Target via my sister-in-law
Black and silver earrings, Target

What did you crazy kids do this weekend?

Trying To Be Fancy-Like

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:48:00 +0000

Dudes, work is a waking nightmare - too much work, too much change, too many people involved. The only way I could cope yesterday with teaching/managing/producing/etc. was to wear something mildly creative. Here you go:

Layers! Funky tights! (not that you can see them in these photos...) No black! Trust me, this is the height of creativity that I can muster right now.

I love this dress so much. It was a gift from my StepMama for my birthday, and cost a cool $25 on sale. Bless you, Dillards dress department!

The boots are a bad-ass JCPenney's find. Tres inexpensive, and comfy enough wear to teach a 3 hour class. On my feet. The whole time.

Joooooo-wreeeee! I decided on a close-up, since they never show in my full-length photos.

The Deets:
Teal tank top, Express
Watercolored dress, Dillards in Omaha
Chocolate blazer, Daytons from 1997! Still love it, though
Micro-fishnet tights, Target. And they don't make them anymore. And I got a hole in mine.
Chocolate boots, JCPenney's 2008 on SALE
Jewelry, Necklace is Lia Sophia and the earrings are Target

Now... back to the salt mines!!!

Sheila Says

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:33:00 +0000

Dudes! I have arrived as a fashion blogger! How do I know that? Because the lovely and well-dressed Sheila of Ephemera said so. How did she say so? She gave me a Major Award! THAT IS DEEPLY COOL, PEEPS. Thank you, Sheila, for sticking with my sporatic, not-so-daily daily style blog.

Sheila said one of the things she liked best about my Scary Closet are the costumes. Sheila, you are in luck, because I have more costumes to show you!

Last year (2011, hee-hee) in early December, I helped host our MN costuming guild's first Big Holiday Bash. It's called: A Steampunk Christmas Carol, Fezziwig's Party. And it was EPIC. As was the costuming:

Behold! My buddies (the Wench Posse) and I in our official portrait for 2011. Yup, we are a fun, historically incorrect bunch!

Here's what I wore:

Formal-wear Assassin* Ensemble:
Silver/black tiny top hat, gift from Laura, embelished by me
Black ruffled blouse, Victoria's Secret by way of eBay
Black satin corselet, made by me with GREAT DIFFICULTY
Grey/blue apron with ball-fringe trim, made by me, pattern by Victorian Times (?)
Grey/blue bustle with ball-fringe trim, bustled by Laura, sewn by me
Black lace-up boots, Durango by way of eBay
Black lacy tights, gift from Heather
Black leather arm-warmers, China by way of eBay

*My Steampunk "persona" is an assassin. I like having a persona, it helps me plan out my costumes. What makes this costume assassin-y? The thigh-holster and pistol you can't see in this photo.

My costuming bestie, Laura, also looked fabulous:

She wore her Steampunk Snow Queen costume, as befitting her position as our guild's President. I told her if she was the Snow Queen, then my costume was Black Ice. That's a MN joke for those of you in warmer climes...

Check out these other fabulous folk:

above: My Ren Fest buddy, Dave, and his gorgeous wife, Chris...

above: My friend, Carol, admires Traci's uber-cool metal Steampunk'd arm. BTW, Traci makes those for purchase...

Laura and I would like to leave you with the power of RAWK:

And again, thank you Sheila!!!!

NOTE: official photos courtesy of Jim Jordan, Photographer.

Scary Things Lurking In My Closet, Part One

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:25:00 +0000

Lately, the only truly scary thing about my closet (besides the Boogeyman, but that's what the lock on my closet door is for) is that I keep forgetting about its contents. Once again, I discovered a cardigan I'd bought a MONTH AGO and forgot to wear. I remedied that on Wednesday. However, I was never home to take an outfit photo. So you'll just have to take my word for it - the green/grey cardi from Target exists, and it is lovely.

Although I love my closets now (except for the Boogeyman - he is dead to me), this has not always been the case. Let me share a few of the terrifying items that once lurked in those dark depths...

1. Mom-waisted jeans. Not only did I own such jeans, I pegged them, and then covered the safety pins with scrunchy socks or legwarms. Oh 80's. You were an ugly, uncomfortable time.

2. Stirrup pants. I WISH these had just been big in the 80's! Stirrups made their evil ways known to my closets all the way up until I graduated college. In '94. ICK. And stirrup pants never had enough Lycra in them, so I always bagged them out/wore them out in the knees. I have very bony knees, folks.

3. Overalls. Just... no. Unless you are painting a house, you should not own overalls. Ever. I don't care what TLC wears in their videos. YOU ARE NOT TLC. Rest in peace, Left-Eye.

4. Converse sneakers. Guys, look. I know all those hipsters out there are sporting their Converse all over town. You might even be one of those hipsters. Heck, some of my friends are hipsters, and they wear Converse in my presence. And I refrain from making snarky comments about how the cast from Singles wants their shoes back. Because I love my friends, and everyone is entitled to wear the footwear of their choice. Even an over-played choice like Converse.

5. Big, black, clunky shoes. The 90's were as cruel with their fashions as the 80's. Possibly worse. And the one item I look back at with the most fear and loathing were those clunky-heeled, un-cute, goth/grunge/club kid clonkers we wore. Sure, they're comfy, but MAN are they UGLY. Embrace the curvy heel, ladies! You'll look better for it.

What looks from the past still haunt you today? And have you banished them from your closets? And then lit sage to remove any lingering trace of horror?

Same Thing, Different Day

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:07:00 +0000

It's the same old story - I'm busy, I haven't taken outfit photos, my back aches, oy my poor feet, damn kids get off my lawn! In other words, I haven't posted in quite some time. My bad.

However, I have worn costumes, and I have taken pictures of THEM at least. So! Here you go! More costume pictures. Hell, at least I'm wearing something, right? Right?

A week ago Saturday, I worked at the Minnesota Society of Costumers Steampunk Sale. My other Steampunk costume was at the cleaners, so I wore this:

Um, yeah. This outfit is a wee bit more bare than I thought it was as I wore it. But pictures don't lie. Too much belly! Not enough, you know, SHIRT. Ah well, it was comfy and I didn't overheat!

Steampunk:
Tiny top hat, Claire's Boutique decorated by me.
Grey half vest, Savers
White half shirt with banded collar, Savers and then cut off by me.
Black knitted hand warmers, some teeny-bopper store in Chicago.
Burgundy velvet bloomers, Opitz Outlet. They are Triple Five Soul from the Holiday Collection, originally $95 and I got them for $5.
Black patterned tights, ???
Black bull rider boots, Durango via eBay.

Then, last Saturday, I showed the world which football team I loved the best with this number. I wore it to its first MN event, the MarsCon Masquerade. Most people loved the costume, if not the team:

My Green Bay Packer Elizabethan court gown. GO PACK GO!

Homage to the greatest football team in the history of ever:
Cheesehead top hat, Mall of America
Fabric and trims, Mill End and Jo Ann's
Football purse, Jo Ann's
Patterned and sewn by my bestie, Laura, and me.

Here I am with my biggest rival:

And yes, I'm posting this during the Monday Night Football match-up of the Vikings v. Packers! GO PACK GO!

A Theme

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:58:00 +0000

I like dressing for a theme, whether it's real or imagined. Wednesday night, I had a meeting with the Minnesota Society of Costumers (I'm a board member) to discuss our Steampunk Christmas Carol party. So I thought it an appropriate time to bust out a wee bit o'punk:

We gathered at Baker's Square, in order to partake of the FREE PIE:

above: Happy Bunch of Pie-Eaters. Um. That kind of sounds dirty... And yes, one of our board members Skypes in from Austin, MN.

Of course, meetings at Baker's Square can lead to photo-bombing with pie:

And all situations lead to Too Much RAWK For One Hand:

Steampunk-esque Outfit:
Lace shirt, Target by way of ARC Value Village by way of my bestie, Laura
Olive drab jacket, MASSIVE sale at The Gap over the 4th of July
Tan skinny cargo pants, Target Mossimo brand
Black fold-over boots, Payless Fall 2010

Halloween Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:47:00 +0000

No pictures - I didn't wear a costume (I KNOW. I'm a costumer who doesn't costume for Halloween. WEIRD.) but I did wear an all-black, ergo all-boring outfit. And I ate candy. And I watched Halloween.

I was also reminded of Halloween 3, Season of the Witch, aka the Halloween that has nothing to do with Michael Meyers, aka the Halloween movie that SUCKS. Have you guys seen this dog? It's about Druids and Stonehenge and masks. Seriously. And it contains some of the worst acting ever acted in a horror movie.

I saw Season back in high school at a party - I was a nerd, I hung with fellow nerds, and our idea of a cool party was watching bad 80's horror movies. Therefore, I've seen such fine films as Season of the Witch, Nightmare on Elm Street 2, and The House.

I also got to see epic movies like The Lost Boys and Sheila's pick, Near Dark. Sadly though, the clinkers outweighed the hits.

What is the WORST horror movie you've ever seen? The one so lacking in scares, it actually pissed you off. For me? The over-hyped first Friday The Thirteenth. Bor. Ring.

In Honor Of The Greatest Holiday EVER

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:53:00 +0000

That would be Halloween, of course. When else are you given license to dress kinda slutty and eat one metric shitton of candy? Unless that's a normal Saturday night for you, in which case? NO JUDGMENT.

I no longer dress kinda slutty (I'm nearly 40, peeps), but I still indulge in sweets. I also indulge during the season in a slightly more terrifying manner - Scary Movie Marathons!

Here's what is on my viewing list for Halloween 2011:

The Thing (1982 version). According to a vehement discussion with my father, The Thing with Kurt Russell is NOT the original. The one with James Arness is, and my father would like you all to know that it is SO MUCH BETTER. Whatever. I consider the apparent remake to be one of the freakiest movies in the history of ever. The commercial scared the crap out of me as a kid - so imagine what the whole movie does to me.

Halloween, the first. Rob Zombie, I love you. You're handsome, I love your music, and you seem like a cool person to hang with. However? PLEASE STOP MAKING MOVIES. BECAUSE THEY ALL SUCK SO HARD. Avoid the Halloween remake like the plague, and plug in the original, aka The Best.

April Fool's Day. Dudes, have you seen this flick? It is an 80's classic, and the gateway drug for horror movie lovers like myself. It's scary, it's not too gory, the actors are adorable and believable, and the ending is AWESOME. I love this movie so much that I try to watch it at least once a year. Someone should really buy it for me on DVD for Christmas... hint!

And so Halloween isn't a total 80's Fest, Paranormal Activity 2. I saw the first PA and it scared the ever-lovin' CRAP out of me. One of my big childhood fears is being drug out of bed by the ankle by some unseen (or worse, SEEN) force. Gah, so scary!!! I'm hoping PA2 is almost as scary. It's got babies and puppies in it, which is a recipe for freaktastic.

What are your big plans for All Hallow's Eve?

Meant To Be

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:15:00 +0000

You know what I hate? I hate it when people say something was meant to be.* No, no, NO. If you want something to happen, make it happen. Don't just rest on your laurels and hope good things come to you.

That being said, I do believe this top was meant to live in my closet. I tried it on last week at ARC Value Village, and then put it back on the rack without buying. Then? I thought about it for DAYS. So when I returned to ARC and saw it hanging just where I left it... a week later... I know we belonged together forever. Awwwww, it's like twue wuv:

My favorite part are the sleeves. I like a tucked-up sleeve - I'm lazy, and the sleeve is rolling itself up so I don't have to:

The only downer? It's now too cold in MN to wear a sheer 3/4 sleeve shirt without layering something over the top. So this is what I actually looked like all day:

The Outfit Of Destiny:
Dark-rinse jean jacket, Goodwill's last massive garage sale (God, I miss those sales)
Sheer plaid tunic top, New York and Co. by way of ARC Value Village
Black leggings, Old Navy on sale for $5!
Grey OTK socks, Target for just $5!
Black leather faux Frye boots, Target from my SIL for Christmas 2010

*I was a Realtor for years, and it drove me nuts when my clients would say, "If we don't get an offer/If our offer isn't accepted, then it wasn't meant to be." NO, you dip-shits. That's when we NEGOTIATE. GAH! Your damn house ain't going to sell itself! Your damn house ain't going to buy itself! Quit being so damn passive-aggressive and work with me, people!
And that is why I am no longer a Realtor. The End.

The Most Interestingly Boring Outfit I Could Muster On A Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:35:00 +0000

How's THAT for a mouthful of a title?!?! However, it perfectly describes what I wore yesterday when I taught real estate class. My class seemed to like me, and they all paid very close attention, so I guess this look didn't totally suck. Yay!

Ahhh. From this photo you can see how triangularly-shaped I truly am. Yup, I'm a pear. And now that I'm almost FORTY FREAKIN' YEARS OLD, I've gotten (mostly) over it. The way I see it, all that extra fat in my hips and booty will keep me alive during a famine. Not that the time for famine is nigh, but it's nice to be prepared.

Here I am, being all stern and teacher-like (Yeah, right. I never look like this in class...):

Mildly Interesting Teacher Outfit
Purple draped front T, Express on sale buy-one get-one 50% off
Pale purple/pink/grey vest, The Gap by way of Savers for just $8
Charcoal grey pinstripe pants, Express on sale buy-one get- one 50% off
Black dance shoes, Nike from their outlet store

Who Opened The Fridge?

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:22:00 +0000

Apparently, Fall has fallen. Hard. On my HEAD. In other words, baby? It's cold outside. Too cold for what I wore last Thursday on air:

Oh sure - I look all smiley and happy. But on the inside, I felt like this:

Also? If I'm going to try and rock bare legs, I best bust out the tanning lotion. Those are some pale stems there, yes? Yes.

However, I bought that sweater with the intention of wearing it over that dress. And I will do it again... as long as I bust out a pair of leggings to wear underneath.

The Too Cool For School... and MN Outfit:
Red flyaway cardigan, Mossimo for Target
Black sleeveless mini dress, The Gap for just FOUR DOLLARS.
Black leather boots, Circa Joan & David from Macy's

The Texas Chainsaw Dresses

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:25:00 +0000

Dudes. DUDES. I keep buying under-$15 dresses! It's as if there was a 300 lbs Texan maniac forcing me to shop. "Buy this dress, or I'll cut off your face and wear it as a mask!" That's a good reason to hit the stores, yes? Sure!

Granted, the only real reason I keep buying dresses is because I keep finding them. In fact, no former meat-packing-plant butcher with mommy issues is holding a chainsaw to my head. Sigh. I just need to avoid stores, sales, the Internet and fashion magazines. They are all a bunch of enablers.

However! In the mean time! Here are two more dresses I bought:

OHBEGAH, you guys. I love this dress SO HARD. It is comfy, it is flattering, and it goes with everything in my shoe/accessory/jewelry stash. LOVE IT LIKE I WANNA MARRY IT.

New Dress #1:
Grey/black/dark purple vaguely animal print-esque dress, Savers in Bloomingto for $12.99
Silver lariat and ball necklace, stole it from my buddy Laura whilst house-sitting (um... hi Laura!)
Silver hoops, white gold earrings from my Mom (didn't steal these, tho)
Black boots with silver trimmings, Circa Joan & David from Macy's (?) from 2003 bought on sale

And then, while I was trying on something completely different, I saw this dress on sale at Old Navy for 75% off. That's practically FREE:

My very first maxi dress! I love this thing - it's like wearing pretty and presentable pyjamas (now say that 10 times fast). It is so soft and comfy. And brightly colored! Best of all, it has full coverage on top, so I can wear a bra with it.

And because it has a high waist, I can eat whatever the hell I want, and NO ONE would be the wiser! It's even long enough to come down to my ankles. And I'm tall!

above: the shoes underneath my very long, very new, very cute dress.

New Dress #2:
Black cropped cardigan with 3/4 sleeves, Marshall's
Black/pink/green/yellow/white floral print maxi dress, Old Navy (new stock) for $11.23
Black Aeresole sandals, ARC Value Village brand new

And now? I need to run screaming into the night. NO MORE DRESS SHOPPING!!!!!

I Am Haunted By Dresses

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 01:47:00 +0000

To exorcise the evil and violent Ghosts of Dresses Past, I am compelled to by adorable, well-fitting, inexpensive dresses wherever I find them. Makes sense, yes? YES. If I don't buy the cute dresses, they'll hunt me down in roving, ravenous packs and EAT MY BRAINS.*

Whatever. I like dresses, and I'm going to keep on buying them, as long as they cost less than $15, like this one:

It looks cute coming. And going:

I found this beauty hanging out on the discard rack at Savers (ALWAYS check the discard rack at thrift stores, peeps). Apparently, it had not fit the person who first found it. Which is a shame as it is so of-the-season (tres Mad Man, no?), and new. As in, still-had-the-tags-and-spare-buttons-attached new.

Ah well, their loss is my inexpensive gain! I styled this up fairly simple - just boots and silver hoops. I didn't want to distract from the dress's clean lines and vavoom shape. I feel so Joan in it! Albeit, less boobular endowed. And blonde.

Dress, Merona brand from Target via Saver's ($12.99!)
Earrings, Silver mod hoops (trust me, they're in there - tho buried by my hairs) gift from my Mom
Boots, Circa Joan & David bought on sale at Macy's 6 years ago

*Remember, if you do encounter roving, ravenous packs of ANYTHING, take cover from an elevated position and aim for the head. Words to live by.

Oh, Why Not?

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 21:12:00 +0000

When I saw this wrap top at ARC Value Village in Richfield, I thought, "Huh. Well that's not something you see every day." And thus, for a mere $6.99, I bought it. Sure, it's totally random:

But look at! Flouncy sleeves! They even have sequins on them!

Excuse the rando pose. I was trying to show off the back of the wrap, and the drape of the sleeves. Instead, I look like I am cheerfully being frisked by a cop. I'm quite certain I would not be cheerful if a cop frisked me. Unless he looked like Gerard Butler. I could roll with that. Moving on.

Deets:
Wrap top, ARC Value Village
Peach T-shirt, Target Merona brand
Skinny jeans, Calvin Klein from Macys
Black chunky sandales, Vince Camuto from Macy's clearance rack.
Leather cuff, vendor from the MN Renaissance Festival

I Should Just Get Over Myself

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:34:00 +0000

I started this blog to post what I wear on a daily basis. And yet? I often think what I'm wearing is dull, or not fashion-y enough.

However, the whole POINT of the blog is to have an honest accounting of what I wear, and where I buy what I wear. So I have decided to Get The Hell Over My Own Damn Self and just post my damn clothes, already. I hope you'll stick around for the ride.

So! Here is my last outfit I photographed. It's from a week ago, when the weather in MN was cool enough to allow for sweaters. Today? It's 89 degrees outside. Not so much sweater weather, no?

As you can see, it was warm enough last week for open-toe footwear. Hell, today it's warm enough for a SWIM SUIT. Which, as you know, is not work-appropriate. But this sweater is!

I bought this ruffled shrug this July, stuck it in my closet, and then COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT IT. So much for being frugal...

However, it's on my radar, and I can't wait to style it up all winter long. Mmmmm... ruffles...

Wanna know what I was doing last Wednesday whilst I wore this outfit? Sure you do!

I was contemplating one last costume to sew for the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. I didn't NEED a new costume, but I was so close to being finished! So I pushed through, and finished is up (picture below).

The Must-Sew-All-The-Things Outfit:
Black and white turtleneck, Express clearance rack from Fall 2010.
Black ruffled shrug, Forever 21 ($15!) but I don't think it's available anymore. Damn their fast turnover!
Bootcut jeans, Marshalls (they are Tahari - aka my "grown-up" jeans)
Black wedges, Savers - Marc by Marc Jacob!

And here is what I made:

That's me and my "ex-pirate-husband," Obediah Jib (his real name is Dave). My Fest character is Lilith MacDonald Jib - fallen Scottish noblewoman and ex-wife of a pirate. I have two pirate daughters - twins - Ophelia and Opaline. Yup, we have a good, silly-fun time!

Once More With The Excuses

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:02:00 +0000

Dudes. DUDES. DUDES, I KNOW. I am a bad, bad, bad daily style blogger. Sheesh, I can't even do once a week. However, let me explain (No, that will take to long. Let me sum up.) my absence with the following photo blast...

My Posse and I went to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in costume. As we are wont to do. However, we didn't go in just any costumes, oh no. We went in the FANCIEST, BLINGY-EST, MOST ELABORATE COSTUMES IN THE FREAKING WORLD. Because that is how we roll.

Here is mine. Warning: it is horribly period inappropriate. So if that sort of thing bothers you, move on.

It is a fitted comfort gown. Which is a complete oxymoron, but I do not care. It's so pretty! And it makes me look like I weigh 10 lbs! Unlike historically accurate comfort gowns, which tend to make one look like a house.

I also had a walking cane - or my Tzarina Pimp Stick. Take a gander - I'm sure you can guess what it really is:

C'mon, you know what it is, right? Sure you do:

It's part of a curtain rod. Since it was damaged and missing the other finial, I got it for a mere $3.50. Here are the deets on the rest of my "garb."

Fur hat - Ragstock, $11.99
Tiara on hat - Party City, then painted and blinged out with glued-on jewels from my stash of such things.
Red overdress with puffed sleeves - Dress pattern by Laura Ulak, sleeve pattern by Margo Anderson, made from red/black shot polyester taffeta from Hobby Lobby and trimmed with black velvet, black frogs and black braid. BTW? Sewing on braid? SUCKS SO BAD. And hand-sewing on frogs? SUCKS EVEN WORSE.
Black fur-trimmed sleeves - Pattern by me, and they are removable. Made from black Asian brocade from JoAnn Fabric and black fur pillow cases, also from JoAnn's.
Black fur collar - Pattern by me, also from the pillowcase.
Black corset cover (you can barely see it) - Pattern by me, Asian brocade
Black underskirt - Pattern by me, Asian brocade.
Jewelry - various thrift/consignment stores.

Here's a close-up of the top:

(Yeah, I know. I had a random piece of hair sticking out through the entire first photo shoot, and NO ONE TOLD ME.)

Even though this was a bitch-kitty to trim (Laura did all the major sewing), and even though it was amazingly dusty at MNRF, I LOVED wearing this. When you dress like (Russian) royalty, people treat you like royalty.

Confession - this was supposed to be made out of red Asian brocade fabric, to match my royal character: Imelda, Marquessa de los Zappatos. But the brocade was an epic failure of epic proportions, so viva la Russia! Plus it was chilly, and I wanted to wear my fur hat.

And since she made herself one stunning-ass costume, here is my seamstress buddy, Laura:

So much bling and trim and what-have-you went into that costume. She also modified or made a bunch of other costumes people are wearing. And as her trusty side-kick, I helped. Thus the busy, no-posting as of late.

However! Tomorrow, we resume our regular, non-costume posting.

Alive And Dressing

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 19:31:00 +0000

Yup. I'm still here. And still wearing clothes. Like you do.

See? Clothes. Bright ones, at that. For a girl in love with black, this is quite a departure for me.

In fact, my clothes were so bright, I had to wear shades. But not a smile, because the day I wore this outfit, I was being KILLED by my allergies. I have them under control now, but they still suck the life out of me.

My Grumpy Duds:

Sunglasses, some street vendor selling "Prada"

Silver hoops, Tommy Bahama

Silver necklace, Savers Thrift Store

Blue t-shirt, Target (LOVE this style o' tee)

White jeans, Tommy Bahama

Nude shoes, Opitz Outlet

And yes, I wore white after Labor Day. I am a rebel like that.