This year I plan on buying less. I plan on buying less fast fashion and I plan on saving up and spending money on items I truly love and that are of better quality. That is how I plan on simplifying my closet. I will continue to thrift as much as possible (although the thrift stores in Albany are TERRIBLE!!!). I am sure I will still cave to the cheap price tag at Forever 21 from time to time but here’s to buying more quality items.
With that said. I am a sucker for J.Crew. Their sweaters are dreamy and their catalogs drool worthy. I can’t always afford the stuff but I do LOVE the sale section (& the factory). I love this outfit so much! Back in November I joined forces with Kork-Ease to be their holiday guest blogger. Today, I am wearing the Marlo Boots. They are seriously super comfy, like wear them all over town, doing errands with Rowan kind of comfy. Now, that’s my kind of boot. Next week I’ll have my last guest blogger Kork-Ease post to share.
Outfit Details:
Sweater: J.Crew (on sale)
White button up: AA
Skirt: J.Crew (on sale)
Tights: Target
Marlo Boots: c/o Kork Ease
Vintage Dooney and Bourke Purse: Thrifted
I love this outfit. You look great! I never would have thought to pair that colour tights with that colour shirt but you make it work! Have you posted before about how to wear coloured tights? I always want to try them but am scared… haha
my first New Year’s resolution? for the whole month of january, i will not buy any clothing.
pure. torture. i’m literally immediately deleting my madewell/j crew/gap/h&m emails before i can even look at them. how many more days in january?!!
xx
i love love love this outfit! and those shoes are amazing. we have something in common….i am a huge jcrew fan. i tend to gravitate towards a “preppy” style. i love stripes and solids and rich colors. i wore a uniform for 12 years of schooling and i think that had an influence 😉
I’m pretty sure you have the best collection of tights… ever.
This is kind of Hogwarts-esque. I dig it!
Love the vintage Dooney and Burke. It’s just so pretty. XO
real budget, real busy, real body fashion:
4scarlet.com
this is a perfect outfit in my book. love j. crew too! i want that heart sweater 🙂 and your boots are amazing!
<3 steffy
Steffys Pros and Cons
Love this outfit! It’s taking me back to school where I wore a uniform, since those were our colors in your sweater!
Ohh, what an adorable outfit! I love j crew as well, such great stuff, and the sale section is the best.
xo,
Em
That skirt looks so comfortable! I am also a huge fan of same colored tights as shoes. It makes me giddy with fashion excitement every time I see it. Now I just need to work up the courage to try it myself. 🙂 Happy Thursday!
Turquoise & Lime
Apparently I’m comment crazy now, LOL, but I just had to tell you I LOVE this outfit! And maybe it’s just me, but your tone has really changed in the last few posts (right after you told us what you were thinking as far as the future of this blog). You sound much more relaxed and confident and I imagine maybe it’s because you feel more “you”, maybe? Anyway, I love reading what you write no matter what, it’s just interesting… Anyway! I would say J.Crew is my all-time favorite and I’m trying to do the same thing. Somewhere I read about the “French 5” idea…basically that French ladies only buy 5 main pieces a season and just accessorize, etc. Have you heard of this? Anyway, now I’m saving my pennies to buy more J.Crew and Emerson Made and other quality brands instead of just blowing all my (very little) budget on Forever 21 and then kind of being meh about everything I own! Great post! 🙂
I am thinking of doing the same. Spending less and buying pieces that are authentic and better quality. Think about it this way, you can pass down the nicer pieces to Rowan!
I love this post so much. Not just because the outfit is adorable, but because I have been thinking the same way the past year or so. Sometimes a quick trip into a cheaper store (Old Navy, for me!) is fun, but the pieces definitely don’t last as long as say, J.Crew. Haven’t you been LOVING the additional percent off of sale items there recently?? I know I have!
Jen, I SO hear you!! Since starting my blog, I’ve definitley gone for quantity in my closet! But for 2012 I’ve also vowed to buy things which I love, and not just buy for the sake of buying!! I’m also trying to get back to my remixing roots because with a little creativity – it’s crazy how many outfit combinations I can come up with. Phew, sorry for the blab on there! Lastly, I ADORE this look …the stripes, hues, collar shirt – perfection. xo V
Those boots look really nice with the matching tights.
That skirt is soooo cute! Oh the possibilities would be endless with that little number in ones wardrobe!
Love & Lollies… Jessa
♥ Confessions of the Cupcake Countessa ♥
So cute! This preppy look is perfect on you, loved the stripes!
Cess O. <3 The Outfit Diaries
That’s basically what I had in mind for 2011 but let’s just say that I couldn’t keep my resolution! I did buy some amazing (and quite expensive) timeless pieces, but I also spent so much on fast-fashion items. But I think it’s possible, especially if you already have a working closet (which I’m still working on). Anyways, I love your ideas and directions for your blog. Wishing you all the best Jen!
I’m on board the simplify/spend less on “cheap thrill” clothing for 2012 and also LOVE J.crew but cannot afford it outside of a sale. That said, your outfit is so adorable and those shoes are so buttery and soft looking.
oh they are so cute! i’m totally into the 90s platforms right now. i thrifted some the other day and can’t wait to share them in outfit posts to come! i’m trying to simplify too and spend less, it’s so hard when there’s so many cute things out there…and i hear about all of them, or read about them rather, being a blogger.
Nice! You like in Albany? I live in Syracuse! Good to know there are normal people in these parts!
Well…you are still kind of far, but any who!
Love the blog, I am one of those readers that have read your blog for years but have never commented, sorry!
Love that vintage bag!
Dude. I totally hear you on the thrift scene in Albany. Plato’s Closet is the only one I go to, more so because Goodwill and Salvation Army are so far up Central and I HATE driving up to Colonie with a passion because of the traffic on Central. The Treasure Chest on Hamilton can be very hit or miss. I found this awesome Loft sweater and Gap skirt there in July but since then, I haven’t been able to find anything there.
So cute! You look lovely..i’m the type of person that will have them things in my closet but never even think to put them together! I am trying to become more adventurous in what I wear though, that’s my aim for this year!x
This outfit is so pretty. I like the slightly preppy look that J Crew is so famous for. And I love those booties! What a gorgeous color!
http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com
I really love this look!
xx
Love the bag! I also need to stop buying many cheap things and start splurging on things that are better quality.
xx
Micheala,
http://www.michealagardner.com
Oh, this outfit really is great! I love that sweater. And you always look so stinking cute in glasses. I think your no “fast fashion” plan sounds like a good one. Perhaps one that I should try too.
I love your sweater and boots! And the color of those tights is awesome!
http://www.saysskippy.blogspot.com
I love all the Earth tones in this outfit and especially your skirt…it is such great inspiration for a girl like me who wears pants entirely too much, especially during winter. This outfit seems so wearable and perfect for cold days too 🙂
I love your fashion resolution for this year. I’m trying to do the same, not only for simplifying, but also to create a more sustainable closet (and lifestyle).
Happy New Year!
You are looking fabulous! I love love love Jcrew too!
I like this ensemble! I’ve also made the same resolution: to spend less on “fast fashion” as you perfectly described it, and put my money toward quality, higher end pieces.
I love that vintage Dooney bag, super cute! In general, I think it’s best to buy pieces you can wear and pair over and over, this way you get your money’s worth every time. You look awesome hun. 🙂
Ugh agreed about the thrift stores in Albany. It bugs me to no end whenever I go home. My favorites are in Glennville- The Salvation Army and City Mission out there are pretty fun, but also hit or miss.
Have you seen this site? http://www.thethriftshopper.com/ If you type in your zip code there are a lot of church sales in Albany and Troy, I have found some gems at the one on First Street. Good luck with your resolution!
This is a lovely outfit, the colors really suit you! I love the tights, they make the outfit really special!
Oh wow, those boots are really cute, and paired with that great bag the whole thing pops with colour. Nice!
I am also aiming to buy less fast fashion and more quality, timeless pieces…I think it makes for a more sustainable wardrobe… 🙂
have you been to the jcrew outlet in lake george? very cute stuff and always great sales! the salvation army is usually pretty awesome there to!
Oh, Hi, it’s me. Just had to say you are the cutest ever. 🙂
i love this outfit! i have also had poor luck with thrift in the capital district (slim pickings up here in toga, and even when i drive out to city mission or sarmy it barely seems worth the gas). i’ve been trying to concentrate on at least buying higher quality new clothes as of late.
Such a quirky outfit! I really like that bag and it was on sale! Lucky ducky. 🙂
i totally agree. it’s such a weird conflict–trying to convince yourself to stop buying stuff at target & f21. on one hand, it’s a great way to participate in trends without spending a lot on something you may not wear next year. but on the other hand, i have this really apathetic attitude towards my cheap clothes. like, i don’t really care if they get stained or start falling apart because they’re “disposable.” i just read somewhere (can’t remember where…) that you should really only have 20 main items in your closet at any given time. TWENTY!?!!? that may be extreme, but something definitely to work toward.
adorable! I am a big fan of buying less and buying items that are versatile, that I can restyle in creative ways. Sometimes it just feels better to have styled a new outfit out of things you have owned for forever. But I do fall for cheap price tags all the time…just for those really trendy items; their life span is about the same as my ‘like’ span. 😉
hello! just wanted to comment that i LOVE your look. supercute! plus the glasses add an extra quirkyness that i love. question! i’m totally in love with the sweater but they don’t have my size. so what i want to know is, does this sweater run small or large or is it true to size? i’m usually a medium or small and of course they only have Large, X-small or X-Large lol. just wondering because it’s final sale and i’m trying to make smart purchases! 🙁 those sweater colors are gorgeous together and you did a wonderful job pulling together an absolute dorable look 🙂 hope to hear from you soon! thanks and cheers! 😀
Those boots are super cute!
I’d rather have classic styles than fast fashion.. why buy something you won’t like in a few months anyway? I always adore your classic pieces.
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com