Kermit Coat

Knit Hat: Forever 21, Sunnies: BSJ, Coat: ebay, Ibex Vest (similar), not pictured), long sleeve tee (not pictured): J.Crew, Knit Leggings: TJ Maxx, Wellies: Dick’s Sporting Goods (similar),  Gifted Bag, Mittens, & ScarfThis coat is a lot like my first (and only) car, a 97 forest green Ford Taurus with mint green interior, aptly named Kermit. Kermit was never perfect but I loved it because it was my first car. Eventually Kermit and I had to part ways (near the end stepping on the brakes was a total crapshoot) but that’s neither here nor there.

This jacket, ok so it’s more like a glorified robe, doesn’t just resemble Kermit in color alone; like my first car this coat was better in theory than practice. I’d expected an oversized, “faux” wool wrap coat. What ended up with was an extremely plush, hooded, Robin Hood style robe. Like Kermit it’s not perfect but while it’s working I’m gonna wear it

What online purchases have over or under whelmed you recently?

With a View

Dollar Store Sunnies, Velvet Blazer: Zara, Silk Blouse: Downtown Threads, Skinnies: Gap, Steve Madden Heels

What a view…

a winter refresh

I hope your holidays were warm and wonderful and of course Happy New Year. I got my Christmas wish a few days after Christmas when I returned to Burlington to find almost eighteen inches of snow. Something about a fresh, untouched blanket of snow makes everything look renewed, bright, optimistic even, and there is no better time for optimism than the start of a New Year. Here’s to hoping your New Year is off to a bright and beautiful start.

a cold weather clotheshorse

There’s no denying it I’m a clotheshorse. Not only is my closet packed to the gills but I’ve got tubs of clothes under the bed, in the crawlspace, and in the spare bedroom. Why do I need so many clothes you ask? Well, Vermont has four very distinct and different seasons and I need a wardrobe for each… at least this is how I rationalize it. So when Seven Days asked me to put together three winter weather looks the hardest part was narrowing down my choices. Vintage Jacket: Downtown Threads, Scarf: Italy, Knit Dress: Goodwill, Tights: The Sox Market, Boots: Vintage Vintage Coat: Saver’s, Blouse, Belt (not pictured) & Skirt: Goodwill, Tights: The Sox Market, Booties: Old NavyHat: Forever 21, Vest & Flannel: Battery St Jeans, Sweater: Bass, Chambray Shirt: Goodwill, Jeans: Hurley (via Plato’s Closet), Boots: Matt Bernson (via Dear Lucy)

My philosophy on surviving winter in Vermont is pretty simple; layer, layer, layer. In the look above I’m wearing a whopping 6 layers: a tank, long sleeve shirt, chambray button up, sweater, hooded flannel coat, and down vest. Needless to say I was sweating during the shoot but on a chilly day in February I’d be warm and toasty. I don’t let the winter weather rob me of my style and neither should you.

For more winter weather fashion tips and a look at how two other stylish Burlingtonians (and wonderful friends of mine) survive the freezing temps in style make sure to visit Seven Days.

all photo credit belongs to the fabulous Matthew Thorsen 

Black and Brick

Hat: Downtown Threads, Earrings: Goodwill, Scarf: Cruise Ship Gift Shop, Blazer: Goodwill, Booties: Old Navy,V-neck & Jeans: Target, Ring: Gifted Have you ever met someone and instantly felt like you’ve known them forever? That is exactly what happened the first time I got together with the stunning Aimee of Thick & Thrifty. As my grandmother would say we “hum on the same frequency” and it doesn’t hurt that we both love fashion and thrifting.

Yesterday after a much too short coffee date Aimee and I took turns snapping outfit pictures for each other (see the photos I took of Aimee here).  Photographing a fellow fashion blogger gave me a totally different perspective on posing and framing shots.

Yesterday’s buffet of nasty winter weather conditions put me in a total outfit funk so obviously I wore black. A little too much black I think. Next to Aimee in her bright pink scarf my black, grey and off white ensemble seemed as chic as the slush covering my booties. Speaking of… I’m not really liking the black jeans on black bootie look, hindsight is always 20/20 right?

How do you cope with fashion funks?

A Cold & Cropped Casual Friday

Blazer: Vintage via my Mom, Cropped Sweater Top: Old Navy, High-Waisted Jeans: H&M, Oxford Booties & Owl Ring: Forever 21, Two Finger Bar Ring: Downtown ThreadsIt was in the teens when I snapped these photos so please excuse the overly red nose, stiff posing and rushed feel of these images. I was cold and it was windy.

Had I not been concerned about hypothermia I would have loved to show you how this top is perfectly cropped in the front and slightly longer in the back, making it the perfect subtle mullet shirt, but like I said I was cold and it was windy so the blazer stayed on.

While my office has a pretty laid back dress code I thought a cropped top might be pushing it so I paired the subtle mullet shirt with high-waisted flares. While covering my midsection was my biggest concern I also wanted to balance out the boxy shape of the top with a more form fitting pant/bottom. I was concerned that the flares would mess with the proportions but I think they actually gave it a great 70’s feel.

What pieces do you use to balance out boxy tops? How have you styled crop tops in the past?

My Weekend in Snapshots

I love my giveaway gifts from Quarter Life Vintage!Friday night Gus and I were asleep on the couch by 10:30pmShowing off my “big apple red” mani Saturday morningD put way to much soap in our Euro washing machine Friends-giving carnage; 2 turkey’s, countless sides and too many deserts Finally used our juicer! Post Friends-giving detox, grapefruit and mint juice and… we bought out very first Christmas tree!

Oh and my computer crashed… but I didn’t have a fun snapshot for that. Please bear with me as I try and recover my files and fix my computer. Luckily I’d recently backed up most of the files and photos on my hard drive but there will always be things that slip through the cracks… like the vacation photos D and I took this summer.