What We Wore: Purple Galore

Big surprise, us in purple, right?? Actually we are pretty sure we wore mostly purple just about every day this week. Woot.


It was snowing when we woke up this morning (not OK! Not at all!) so we decided to end the week of skirts and break out some denim (from Victoria's Secret clearance, ~$30). They are kind of a super flare, which usually helps balance out wider hips (although we're not positive it's working quite right here). This is the debut of a sweater found at Goodwill over the summer ($6). We thought it was burgundy but it turns out to be aubergine. So much for trying to branch out a bit. What we love most is the detailing on the sleeves (complete with tattoo peekage):



Beneath the sweater, Victoria's Secret heathered bra top cami, $10. Scarf from Marshalls, $7.99. Boots, Impo via Famous Footwear, $30.

We snagged another pair of earrings from our shop, originally a custom bridal order that was never paid for (retail price $23). Boo to that fickle bride, but hooray for lovely dramatic sparkly pearl earrings for us.


We're wearing the hair down, so no flower clip today (it doesn't stay well!)

Happy Friday! Hope you're wearing purple, too. We're trying to start a tradition.

What We Wore Tuesday: Shawls-R-Us

Just a quick daily outfit post for you!
Wish we had more info on these pieces... sorry...



Teal ribbed sweater, most likely thrifted, ~$7
Black linen ruffle-bottom long skirt, TJMaxx, under $30
Turquoise butterfly-print scarf/shawl, Marshalls, $7.99
Unseen: Black pleather faux-Fryes by Mudd, Famous Footwear, ~$20
Barely visible: Teal flower hair clip, Claire's, $2.99 on clearance
Earrings by us- vintage jet glass (gift= free) and silver filigree balls. Cheep.

Evidently we felt pretty matchy-matchy, much like Monday. Sometimes a girl just wants to rock a theme, can you blame her? We were mostly excited about using the new handbag from the Target mini-spree... Here we have a terrible, terrible photo for you, with coat and purse, in which we look like a psychotic bag lady or something (but at least you can get a better sense of the awesome ruffle situation on the skirt)...


Coat: Brocade from Target, $29.99 several seasons ago- faux fur collar removed, buttons replaced with vintage from Etsy.
Bag: Faux leather from Target, $10.98

Let us know what you think!
Happy Day :D

Charlotte Russe $10 and Under, with Free Shipping!

We were alerted to a special free shipping offer on Charlotte Russe by a savings email we get now and then (we kind of forget how we signed up for it but it's called FindSavings). Use coupon code AFFFS when you check out! (We hope they don't mind us sharing the secret). You can also get 10% off just by joining their e-mail list! We also just noticed that a lot of the items on the site are ALREADY on a free shipping promo so maybe you won't need the code at all.

Here are some of our finds from CR today (click pics to go to listing- but come back please :) )

WARNING: The end of the post gets rather shoe-heavy, and they're ridiculously affordable, so before you read any further we want to state that we are not responsible for any crankiness or Imelda-calling by your boyfriend or husband due to your inability to resist!

Carry on.

Soak up the last half of summer with these- not quite right for us, but totally adorable- pink striped short shorts, $9.99:

A great take on a basic cami, this ruffle-top tank with bow-tie shoulder detailing and a nice flowy silhouette is only $6.99 and comes in either royal or heather grey.


While we're at it, another super-cute ruffled-neck top; this one available in hot pink as shown and also a maize-y "lemongrass," $5.00! We're loving the longer length, too.



...and while we're not normally that "into" plaid, madras or pastels, how adorable is this corset-style a-line double-layer cami for $9.99?


While it's only halfway through summer for most of us, we can't resist a cute pair of tights (stocking up! Hahahaha. OK sorry), as you should know by now. These pink pointelle ones, also available in grey, are at an awesome clearance price of $3.49 (one size only though, boo).

Or, if you're a little more daring and enjoying the neon trend of late, you can have hot pink or yellow tights, too, for $2.49!


We are totally going to score this awesome tie-dye scarf in our personal favorite colors, $4.49


We've been looking for bright blue heels for ages, but aren't these flats too fantastic for $9.49 as well??
We don't go out and about on the town much but would surely be seeking an occasion to rock this fabulous iridescent metal mesh mini-handbag with a removable strap to make it a clutch or shoulder bag! ($8.49):



That's definitely the cutest stuff we found for our taste, but you can find more items listed under $10 (at least 200 of them!) here.

Despite the title of the post, we did have to check out what's available for just over $10. You'll be pleased we did. Have a drool over this chiffon and satin blouse with corset styling and layered-look sleeves... EEK! $10.99! Do.Need.



Perhaps paired with these fabulous studded ankle-strap stilettos? $14.99! How fabulously rock-chic.


Look, look, look! We found our blue heels! Well, OK maybe not ours - we're not sure the cage trend is so good for us stubby-legged girls- but great color and surely someone requires these for only $11.49, no? (They're also available in red, and we all need more red shoes.



Pardon if you heard the echo of the thump as we fell off of our chair for the next ones. O.M.G. Are there really any words? Besides purple, shiny, platform, rosette? Augh. $14.99. Available in black or red, too. These people are trying to kill us and our poor, poor budget with all of this dear-god-I-must-own-that!



Ditto. $11.49. Oh, the preciousity. (We're coining the word).


Darn that "if you like, you'd probably love..." feature! ACK! How dare they tempt us with these incredible python-print pumps that have ventured up past the $20 range? Evil! ($22.99)


Oh, Charlotte Russe, you will be the death of our attempt-to-not-shop-too-much. Who could resist you?

For more finds $10-$25, click here.

If you've shopped CR before (eednic?) please let us know how you feel about the quality, customer service, shipping, etc. before we take the plunge!

Happy Shopping :D

What We're Wearing Today: Hippie... Zebra Chic?

Another long skirt. We're aware it's not the best length for petites and yet we love it so.

How do you like the uncropped mirror view for a change? (Still promising real photos in mere weeks...) You get a glimpse of the extra-purple condo and some of the power tools lying around during demo (cutting out walls to open up hallways to make the place a little bit more livable and that sort of thing).

Here's the zebra-striped scarf we got free with a black t-shirt at Marshall's recently, with a turquoise Mossimo tee and a linen skirt from TJ Maxx we've mentioned before, with a new slip (also from Marshall's) since it's a wee bit see-through.

We wore turquoise sparkly flip-flops (sorry, A, who hates them) for some super matchy-matchy (aaahhhh), until we got to the office, when we changed into these embellished silk with suede and wood heeled slides (OK, still matchy):


...except then we walked a block in them and they gave us the biggest blister we've ever had (seriously! Ever! One block!) so we went back to the flip-flops. Sadly, these ones are destined for the bin, however cute. We kind of despise both wood and kitten heels anyway, and can't exactly figure out why we would have purchased these in the first place (they've been under the desk for a long while now). Oh, right-- they have sequins. And they're teal! Case closed.

Accessories: earrings by us (silver/turquoise mini chandeliers in Swarovski and Czech glass) and a turquoise butterfly charm stretchy bracelet we probably got in an egg in some machine or something... Really :)

Sunday Experiment: Dress over Jeans

One of our co-workers rocks this look all the time and we decided to give it a shot for a hanging-out-with-the-fiance-while-the-kiddo-spends-Father's-Day-with-his-dad outfit.
This is not the thriftiest of ensembles, as the dress was an Etsy purchase and is a soy/organic cotton blend- it's by Dancing Tree Creations of Eugene, Oregon, and we wanted to support what was then a brand-new shop. We are so pleased to see her doing so well! And sometimes handmade and eco-friendly trumps bargain. It's a versatile little piece which looks great over a longer, heavier skirt and thermal longsleeve in the winter, adorable on its own when it's nice out, or evidently pretty decent over jeans during this questionable June we're having in Boston.

Jeans are Vicky's fancy backlifters (on clearance for $30 and in our opinion not as advertised, as the nylon panel in back does nothing but make them hotter) which we don't really like because they're too light and emphasize our thighs, but they work pretty well here.

Scarf, from a street booth in Salem, $15. It has little smiling skull & crossbones all over it! But it can be reversed to pure purple with merely a hint of a black print, for the office. Peeptoe slingbacks by Hot Kiss, $15 at Famous Footwear.


We think we'll do this again... unless our dear readers advise otherwise. Thoughts?

Today we talk about scarves.

Scarves are one of our favorite accessories. Since we wear a lot of all-black and we live in New England, they serve the twofold purpose of jazzing up an outfit and keeping us from getting frostbite of the neck. While we're not big fans of the pinned-or-tied-kerchief scarf (reminds us too much of our mom), we do like to use a cool scarf as a big necklace, hair ribbon or belt.

If you've been reading, you know we like to buy vintage when we can. It's not only thrifty, but good for the earth. Here are some bright, eclectic vintage options from Etsy, several on the super-cheap, all totally gorgeous!


From left to right, top to bottom:
Maggie Rouff Paris collection, silk, $60 at GeneralWhimsy2
1960s geometric print, silk, $10 at RoomForCake
Psychedelic "Warhol" print, unknown material, $10 at DriveThruVintage
Silook Japan, polyester, $8 at VintageEmbellishment
Pink japanese print, acetate, $10 at PetiteKaloo
Oscar De La Renta, silk, $15 at TheCuriosityShoppe
1970s geometric mod print, silk, $8 at TheLuckyFish
Large rainbow shawl/sarong, polyester, $14 at TheKoruBranch
Oscar De La Renta striped teal with gold threading, silk, $15 at Autumnie

We know that it's quite nearly summer (or, if you're in Boston, quite nearly spring), but that doesn't mean knit scarves are out of the picture completely. The chunky wool ones should probably go back in the closet (if only to promote the power of positive thought!), but think about lighter textures and fabrics... These finds from Etsy are a few of the beautiful handmade textured scarves available. On the left, from alonalona, a UK fiber artist, sari remnants that would otherwise be thrown away are spun into luscious yarn and then hand-knit into this beautiful, airy long skinny scarf, $16. On the right, in a gorgeous peacock- colored blend of designer Italian yarn and microfibers , a fluffy, fun, light decorative option from Maine-based designer Cathy of BabbidgePatch, handknit, $35.



Three of our favorite other sources for cool scarves are the bargain stores, of course- we often find cute ones for about $7 at Marshalls, street and craft fairs, and Oona's vintage resale in Harvard Square. Happy accessorizing!