My One Year Blogging Anniversary!

Can you believe it? One year ago I started this little blog with the idea of doling out a few tips on dressing on a budget and here it is a year later. I am still here, still letting you know about the latest bargains I have found and still spending way too much time shopping! LOL! Last year was turbulent at times. I went through a serious illness and had surgery. I ended up having to retire from my costuming career but I am still here. I can't tell you how happy that makes me. Having this blog gives me a purpose and I love that I have made new friends that I wouldn't have had if I hadn't of done this. This upcoming year may be interesting with what is happening with my husband's job. I may truly be pushed to be stylish on a shoestring. If so I will document it all for you. Hopefully it will be inspiring and not just plain insanity!

So thank you everyone for following me and befriending me. I really appreciate it. Here is to another year of dressing well on a budget!

Pel

Friday Finds Jan 29th

I can't tell you how excited I am to get my Forever21 order in. It is from their Forever21 Twist Limited Edition Collection. This may be the last items I get to buy for a bit since it seems that my husband may be out of a job on Sunday. Let's hope not, but it doesn't look good. So on to happier things. Like NEW CLOTHES! Yay!



Navy Checked Jacket $27.40. This is a really cute jacket and it is well lined so it is warmer than I expected it to be. With its high cut it is suitable only with my high waisted trousers and skirts and with dresses, but that is alright, I have plenty of those.



Cherry Red Cardigan $24.80. I have been waiting on pins and needles for this cardigan. The black cherry embroidery is so adorable! I want to wear it every day :)


Bow and Ribbons Cardigan $24.80. Another great little layering piece. I will get lots of use out of this. I think I may want a red tee or top to use as an under layer. I will have to look in my fabric to see if I have any so I can make one.


So here is to a good weekend for all of you and that my husband will continue to have a job!

Pel

Wishing

I saw this dress on etsy.com. It is not my size, just a tad too small. I wonder how big the seam allowances are on it? I bet I could let it out.


Dream Dress


My dress collection is slowly growing. I wonder how many dresses a person should have? All I know is I love all of mine and they are so easy to wear.

Pel

Shoes to Dream About

I dream about shoes all the time. I may even be addicted to them. These are ones that I am lusting after right now.

Shoes to Dream About by Peldyn featuring Not Rated shoes

Items in this set:
Mod Retro Indie Clothing & Vintage Clothes, $115
Mod Retro Indie Clothing & Vintage Clothes, $43
Not Rated Interview Heel - Black, $50
Urban Original fashion shoes, boots, gladiator sandals, flat boots -..., $21
Alice Cullen & Rosalie Hale clipped by Gothic_Pheonix, $23

I really do hope to get at least one or two of these for this Spring :)

Pel

Friday Finds Jan 22, 2010

This week was a week of basics shopping. The clearance racks at Target are full of great little pieces right now that can fit into any wardrobe to make it more versatile. I know they slipped right mine with nary a splash! Sometimes you want a splash and sometimes you just need items that can carry a supporting role.



Basic white. You can do a lot with a basic white shirt. This one is sleeveless and has a great pleated detail around the slit front. Darts at the bust and help give it shape and at $4.98 it was a total steal! The cuddly pine green cardigan was a total steal as well for $4.98. I like the longer profile of it, but you could alter it if you want to a shorter length. Casey's Elegant Musings has a great tutorial on how to do just that.



Purple tunic $8.98. This may seem to be a showy piece, but think of all the layering possibilities! I plan on wearing this under vests, sweaters, dresses. With maybe another shirt under or on top. Who knows? I just wish I had gotten it in black as well. I may have to go back!



Flowered tunic, yes I bought a flowy, flowery tunic. I am a flower child! Makes me feel almost like Spring is here. Well, I can dream, right? Another good layering piece. I do love to layer. My shoes here are from my Modcloth.com order. I LOVE them! I haven't worn pink shoes since the 80's. I bet my friend Valerie remembers my pink ballet flats and those pink, Reeboks I think they were? I haven't wore pink since. But these shoes were so cute I had to buy them. Only $34.99 and the sizing seems to be true.



Bright green sweater $8.98. This sweater looked really cute layered over the flowered tunic and I liked the colour so much and how comfortable it was I figured I would get a lot of wear out of it. I usually dress up so much I needed relaxed pieces that I could dress down. It is hard to clean the house or watch TV in a dress or pencil skirt! I am actually wearing it now to write this article :)




Bright green handbag $11.98. The pièce de résistance was finding this bag in a matching green on clearance! Seriously, now I have to find shoes in the same green it is so luscious.



So while I have not spent all the money I made making the wedding dresses (I am still owed $120.00, I hope I get paid that soon) I made a serious dent in it this week :) Just what I needed to lift my spirits after all this rain we have been having. And since most of it was off the clearance rack I can say that I was frugal, right?

Pel

Vintage Inspiration

I have an extensive collection of vintage patterns that I turn to when I need a little boost of inspiration. Many of them belonged to my mother and grandmother. Others I found at yards sales throughout the years.



My mom loved it when Butterick re-released these patterns and snatched them up. I particularly love the suits. I must at some point try to make one for myself.


Here are actual vintage patterns and they are just fabulous! I must make the blue dress with the with white cuffs and collar. It is too perfect. The sleeve detail on the green two piece dress is also delicious. I will have to add it to my must make list :)

I have many more patterns, some from the 60's and 70's too. It is fun to see how fashion has evolved and to also see how often we go back to the same styles again and again. Some classics will never go out of style.

Pel