Breaking the Rules Again with White Jeans

a.n.a (JCPenny) Sweater - NY&CO Ankle Jeans - Old Navy Flats

Old Navy Camp Shirt $9

Old Navy Purse $4

A few weeks ago I took a chance and went shopping at Old Navy during the 75% off adult outerwear event with my 8 yr old son, Camden. We started out at the smaller Old Navy on Friendly Avenue around 11 am. The crowds weren't too bad but they didn't have the coat I was looking for in my size so we headed over to the Old Navy on Wendover Ave. What the heck was I thinking?? The store was packed! People had obviously been camped out there all morning. One lady  had at least 10 coats in her cart.  We picked out a coat for me and couple of coats for Christmas gifts and then headed to the clearance section since it was an additional 20%. By the time we made it out of the fitting room and in line, the line was wrapped around the store. Thank goodness Camden was comic relief and not complaining. I didn't take pictures until later on that evening and he was still in playful mode and kept jumping in pictures. I love that kid! 

Bow-Tie Scarf

Kim Rogers (Belk) Sweater - Old Navy Tights

Worthington (JCPenny) Skirt - Goodwill $3.75

Merona (Target) Scarf and Booties $17.50 

Kasper Blazer - Goodwill $5

I feel like a middle school English teacher (what I originally thought I wanted to be when I grew up) in this outfit. I've worn this scarf a few times but this morning I just couldn't get the look I wanted until I tied it in a bow.

Jack BB Dakota Cape

Jack BB Dakota Cape - Nordtrom's Rack $29.99

Banana Republic T-Shirt and Trouser Pants - Goodwill

Metro 7 (Walmart) Sweater

Last week while in Chicago for CAEL Conference 2011, I ventured down to State St. to do some shopping. A few hours and I don't remember how many stores later I found an ohsocute camel cape in Nordstrom's Rack. A cape was definitely on my fall wish list, but I just couldn't find the right fit or color in my size. After trying on several I knew I wanted one with sleeves. This was the one and only item I purchased! (I made a brief trip to the mall earlier in the week and found a few things at Target)

 I couldn't believe it myself, I went in H&M, American Apparel, NY&CO, and didn't buy a thing, tried on a few things and left empty handed. I guess I will have to admit, THRIFTING has forever changed my life. I've been a frugal retail shopper since my brief summer stint a Goody's Family Clothing. If you've ever worked in retail you understand my reasons, an item comes in the store at full retail price, two week later it's 20% off, 4 weeks later it's 50%, throw in a coupon and you can possibly walk out the store with an item for practically free. But thrifting has taken my frugal shopping to another level, and has me thinking about a few challenges for 2012:

1. $500-2012 Shopping Budget Challenge

Yes, $500 for the entire year! That's roughly $42 a month! I think I can do it, I could 5-10 items from Goodwill for $42. But as much as I love to thrift I will occasionally get the department bug and have to buy something brand new. The goal is to use the extra money on a real vacation!

2. 5 Days a Week Sweater Challenge

My sweater/cardigan collection will surely rival Bill Cosby's. I tried on a few sweaters in H&M but remembered that I don't have any room for another one. So I'm thinking, until I wear every sweater in my closet I can't buy another one. I don't know how long this is gonna take but I'm already thinking about the sweaters I'm gonna miss out on during after Christmas sales.

Fall Fashion in Foust Park

Rafaella Print Shirt - Goodwill [$5]

Banana Republic Pants - Nine West Shoes - Charlotte Russe Bangles

Every once in a while I get the opportunity to go thrifting with my girl Briana and our boys at Goodwill on N. Elm. I know they hate to see us walk in the door because we usually spend about an hour catching up in between yelling at the boys running throughout the store. I wasn't totally in love with this shirt until Briana said "Girl, that looks like something from the motherland! All you need is a black fist and pick!" (She cracks me up on a regular). The colors are even more impressive in person, but nothing compared to the explosion of fall colors a few weeks ago in NC. I started a photography class last month taught by Dan Smith and I am learning so much about how to take my pictures to photographs. I had been trying to get the perfect shot of this tree in Foust Park for weeks. After taking Dan's advice I was able to get these shots in like 10 minutes. I noticed today this tree is now bare, guess I will have to take some pictures playing in the leaves this week!

My new, favorite RED BLAZER!!

 

 

Mossimo Sweater Dress (Goodwill) $5  - Mossimo Printed Tights 

Merona Booties $17.50 - Sag Harbor Blazer (Goodwill) $5

I didn't realize until I started writing this post that I'm wearing all Target brands today! I love me some Target especially when I can find Target new stock at Goodwill. I purchased the sweater dress earlier this year and I must say that I have come a long way in just a few months. And that hair, YIKES! No wonder the original picture never made the blog!

I've always been confident in my personal style, but blogging has made me step my game up and often step outside of my box. I probably never, never would have purchased a bright red blazer (look at long it took me jump on the red jeans bandwagon), but I've been searching for the perfect one for a few months now. Every time I thought I found the right one it was too big, too small, or just not the shade of red that I was looking for.

I finally found the perfect red blazer on a Goodwill shopping trip during lunch at the newest Triad Goodwill location,106 Muirs Chapel Road. I love a quick middle of the day shopping trip, but it always seems like my time is so short. My new, favorite red blazer was in heavy rotation last weekend at East Carolina University's Homecoming (I didn't take not one outfit picture! What was I thinking) and so far has received a ton of compliments. I picked up the Merona Booties on the way to ECU with an impromptu stop in Target to grab some Mike and Ikes for the long drive to Greenville, NC. I was surprised to still see a few Missoni items in the Targets in Burlington, NC and Wilson, NC, guess folks in the country had no idea that Missoni for Target was a big deal.