As you all know I like to wear dresses. I’ve said it before that it makes me feel “girly” when I do and of course I’m a girl.  So here are a few looks I’ve worn this week.

This dress for whatever reason reminds me of Aztec inspired fashion. I think it’s because of the beading around the neckline and circle at the “v.” I got this dress at Marshalls last fall for $10. I’ve worn it a few times – once for a holiday party with heels and second time with a chocolate turtleneck and tights and boots. I accessorized with my gladiator style sandals this time and gold jewelry.

I purchased this dress earlier this year on clearance at Macy’s. I thought it reminded me of the beach. I even took it to Florida on a business trip in February and wore it with blue tights and a cardigan. I paired it with silver accessories and faux patent leather royal blue shoes.

I’ve had this dress for so long. I’ve worn it many times through the years and still enjoy wearing it. I like the deep purple color.  I decided to pair it with some jewelry that has lavender and black in it. I went with nude shoes to elongate my legs.

For the past few weeks I’ve worn is items I’ve selected mostly  from my existing wardrobe. During the next several weeks I plan on keeping it up, especially since I’m moving. Yes, that’s right I’m going to be packing my closet at one location and moving it to another.  It’s scary and exciting. The frightening thing is knowing all the things I’ve got to pack to move and the thrilling part is that once I do I will see everything anew.

In the past when I’ve cleared out my closet to re-organize it I find new looks. It’s probably why at least twice a year I take everything out and put it back in, it’s also a good time to purge and get rid of any items I no longer wear.

Once my move is complete I will share more details — like the look of my closet in my new digs (it’s a small walk in.) I’m really excited about organizing it and will share with you my tips and tricks once I’m there.  Organizing fashion is what keeps me inspired. If I see it I’m more likely to wear it. Really it’s what all retailers do – they stage stores and windows in order to get you to stop, shop and spend your money. If you’ve got the room why not do it at your own house that way you keep wearing what you already own.

What do you do to keep your wardrobe in order? Do you do anything special or is your closet a complete mess?

As we reach the third day with the heat index reaching  into the 100s I decided I didn’t want to take the time to do my hair today. Of course I washed it, but instead I pulled in back into a sleek look.

I wasn’t sure what outfit to wear and as I was rummaging through my closet I came across this beaded collar ombre top. I haven’t worn it since last fall. I wore it to the Heads and Threads fashion show at Jacoby Arts Center.

Fashion Rewind

I purchased this top on clearance from Fashion Bug. I put it together with some board shorts and silver accessories.

It’s a different look from the last time I wore the top, but then again I was headed to a fashion show, which I modeled in.

Today I decided to wear my hair back because of the heat and the fact that I didn’t want to spend 30 minutes drying it.  It wasn’t until I looked at my look from last fall that I realized I had wore my hair up  then too. Either way you get a good look at the outfit.

So which look do you like more? Summer or fall? I like them both and I can already see a future look.

Can we talk about the hot weather? Really with the heat index well into the 100s all most of us want to do is stay inside blasting the AC. Most of us are unable to do that and must venture into the smoldering temperatures to go to work.

What does a girl wear when it’s hot? Should you dress in something comfortable and cool or stay on course with style — or both. Here are just a few tips.

Fibers like cotton, linen and silk breathe easier and will keep you cooler and comfortable.

Covering with hats and sunscreen are perfect for keeping those summer rays off your skin.

Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from those nasty UV rays.

Closed-toed shoes make me crazy during the summer time. However, flip-flops are way too casual to wear unless you are hanging at the pool or beach. Consider some pretty sandals that are not only both comfortable, but that can also be worn with dresses. Something with a little platform is perfect for the office.

Loose fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants in the blistering heat will keep you looking chic and sheltered from the sun. Think Moroccan flair.

No matter what you put on the important thing is to stay hydrated and of course it doesn’t hurt to have a cute water bottle.

The heat is here and doesn’t plan on going anywhere for the next week, so it’s only fitting I dress for it. I may be inside, but if I have to get out I want to be wearing something that I’m able to stay cool and at least get a little sun.

I’ve had this top for so long I don’t even remember where I got it. (I have a black one too.) I paired it with a thrifted  skirt ($3) and thrifted shoes (new $5) along with a new necklace I picked up this past weekend when I went shopping with my mom.

It’s a floral bead and shell necklace. I got it to wear with a dress I thrifted as well. (I wore it to a wedding reception, but didn’t take a pic yet because I plan on wearing it again soon. I promise I’ll show you.

The necklace reminds  me of some place tropical like the Aloha state. The colors in the dress are seafoam green, aqua blue, brown and off white. The hues remind me of the sand and surf.

I always like it when I find the perfect piece to go with an outfit.

Do you have any jewelry pieces that you are partial toward and like wearing with a specific look?

All I can say is that it’s been one of those weeks. I’ve not had a lot of time to focus on my fashion. Not that I haven’t presented myself well in public – I always feel that I do – it’s just that I haven’t spent much time taking pics that I can show you.

Anyway I did get one of the outfit I wore to the RiverBend Growth Association’s Business After Hours at the Alton Marina.

I’ve shown you this maxi dress before. I found it NWT for$5 at a yard sale earlier this summer.  I paired it will gold accents, shoes and jewelry, and my Mulberry for Target bag I bought last fall. I think it’s the “cat’s meow.”

Lately I’ve worn a lot of clothes with pink. I don’t know why, but I’ve been gravitating toward it. Whenever I wear the color I immediately think “girly” but more so I think about breast cancer awareness. Like many I think pink all year. This week I went to get a mammogram. I was just a little nervous, especially since 14 years ago my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. After her treatment she’s been cancer free . She was only 48 when she was diagnosed and it will not be long until I’m there.

Is there are color you wear that makes you think of a particular cause or action?

The scorching heat outside is like being in a desert. So I thought why not dress like I’m going on safari.

I thrifted this cargo style dress this past weekend for $7.99. It was NWT, which I then paired with a red bead necklace and a pair of red faux croc sandals.

I really do like this dress. It reminds me of being in the desert. I actually lived in the Mojave Desert years ago. I lived in Barstow, Cal. when I was stationed at Fort Irwin. For those of you who don’t know, the town is about halfway between Las Vegas and Los Angeles and it’s a hot place.

I may not be going on a actual safari, but I felt this style was satisfactory in the city heat.

Are you ready for your style “safari?” If so what do you plan to wear?

It’s another casual Friday and didn’t go with any denim at all. I was inspired by a recent catalog I got in the mail.

The colors may not be the same, but the style is similar. I love the way the color fades in the top and the long necklaces.  I just went with a different hue – aqua blue.  I accessorized with turquoise and shell jewelry.

There’s really not much to my outfit, it’s casual, and that’s all I wanted.  The photo doesn’t show the variety of colors in the top, but I like it. It reminds me of a breezy day on a beach.

Are there any clothes you wear that specifically remind you of something? They say smell reminds us of memories, I think clothes can too.

It’s a jungle out there. I feel like with all the heat and humidity lately we are living in the tropics. So the past couple days I’ve decided to go wild.

No. 1 - I thrifted this animal print cardigan for $3. I wore it atop my black slip dress and accessorized with my animal print Switchflops and jewelry.

No. 2 – This is another thrifted $3 animal print top. I opted for shorts and tank. I wore my new thrifted Coach slides ($28, originally $158) and turquoise, sliver and black jewelry. The long strand is from Jewels by Park Lane, the shorter one Forever 21 ($6, new purchase.)  The heart ring and turquoise bracelet were gifted by my son and the other ring was thrifted for $5.

As you can see I actually wore my hair curly this week. It’s been awhile since I went natural. I received a few compliments  too. Although I like my curls every now and again, I don’t like the frizz that often goes with it.  I’ve been sticking to my regimen of using MoroccanOil, which is the best product I’ve ever found. I also use it when I wear it curly.

Since getting a Brazilian blowout last fall this is the first summer season I’ve had that I’ve dealt with the heat and humidity. I will say so far it’s holding up and I like that. Even when I go “wild” the frizz manages to stay tame.

What hair product do you use? What gets you the best results?

OK, I feel like I’m running on empty. I need another vacation. Instead I’m settling for this holiday weekend.

For whatever reason this color combo outs me in a relaxing mood. Maybe because the colors in my bedroom are pink and black. Anyway I feel like I could just sit at the table with glass of wine and watch the Mississippi River all day.

The majority of this outfit is thrifted. I picked up the skirt at Goodwill for $3 several years ago. I just love the white trim on it. I found the hot pink cardigan for $3 and the Croc wedges were $3 too. The got the tank top at Fashion Bug and the beads were a yard sale find ($.25.) I’m also wearing my big “C” pin.

I’ve been playing around with different setting in where I shoot my look. I also recently had to buy new camera because I broke my old one. I’m not happy with it yet.  I’m still learning all the settings, but until I do it’s going to drive me crazy. I knew how to use my old camera. When you “shoot” yourself nearly everyday it’s important that your camera take clear shots.

Besides showing all of you my outfits, the other reason I like taking my photos is because it makes me aware of what I look like in my clothing. I know now what does and doesn’t work for me. I highly suggest everyone try this once in awhile. Even if you never show your pics to anyone you will begin to like what you see about yourself and what you don’t. It’s better than any mirror.

It’s never really been a concern of mine what people think about my look. I dress for myself, that’s the way I’ve always been. The reason I enjoying writing this blog is that I like sharing with all of you my good buys and the places I go to get them. As a single mom I’ve had to live on a tight budget, but I still enjoy shopping so thrifting and sales are how I buy things. I know there are a lot of women out there like me, so I just want to pass along the fact that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have have fabulous fashion.

It’s the start of a holiday weekend. I’m not sure what my plans are yet, but I know at least one thing I will likely shop. Actually I plan on going to a new thrift store and once I do I will let you know about it.

Anyway these looks were created once again digging through the vast amount of clothing in my closet.

No. 1 – I got this top years ago at Fashion Bug. I don’t know what it is about it, but I like the vertical strips and the faux halter in it. Anyway I paired it with brown capris and a pair of Dana Buchman python wedge sandals. (clearnace Kohl’s) I accessorized with a simple pair of large silver hoops.

No. 2 – This white skirt is a recent purchase from Cato. It was on clearance for $13.99 and it came with the black belt. I pulled out a red top and black blazer (clearance Kohl’s $9.99.) to go with it. I accessorized with some black shell beads (yard sale, $.25), small silver hoops and my Simply Vera Wang slingback peep-toe pumps at Kohl’s for $4 on clearance ($69.99 original.)

Except for the white skirt everything was in my wardrobe. The skirt was one of the items on my list that I wanted this season. I didn’t have one and felt that throughout the summer season it would go with so many things.

Is there anything you’ve put on a list that you want?