Getaway

I'm all about the patterned skirts lately! I'd been wanting this adorable skirt by Heart of Haute since Christmas, and I'm glad I was finally able to get my hands on it (thanks to a recent sale at Doll Me Up). Although I love a full skirt, I have to admit that I get more wear out of more casual, versatile pieces like this one. It's definitely a piece I can wear during 3 out of 4 seasons, and although I went with basic white for this time around, because of all the different colors in this harlequin print, I can mix and match with ease.

I'm mostly moved in to my new place, but there's still so much to do and not very much time to do it. I'm exhausted most days after work; even though it's not physical at all, I find it very draining. It's proving to be a big adjustment. I don't know why I didn't try to ease into all this change a bit more, rather than having everything happen at once... but sometimes life just happens that way. I'm simply trying to rise to the challenge (and keep my head above water). My backlog of photos is dwindling, so my next task is fitting in my blogging with my new schedule – which admittedly will probably be more fun than some of the other things I've had to check off my list lately.

Outfit Details

Heart of Haute Getaway Skirt in Harlequin: Doll Me Up

White Vamp Top: Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoes: B.A.I.T. Footwear (similar)

Popcorn necklace: similar

Have a great start to your week!

Kitty Cat

I'm an animal-lover in general, but it's no secret that I'm a bit partial to felines; I'm a devoted cat mom, and I can't say no to a kitty print! This cat cardigan by Miss Ladybug is so adorable and soft, and I love the fact that it's sort of subtle, too (I may love kittens, but that doesn't mean I want my wardrobe to scream "crazy cat lady!"). I decided to style it with this skirt from Doll Me Up, which I've worn before on the blog (see the post here), but this cardigan could easily be styled with a cute pair of jeans or capris for a more casual rockabilly look. Even with a fancier outfit like this, I felt totally comfortable in this cat cardi.

I'm enamored with so many of the designs from Miss Ladybug, and their screened tees and cardigans are all fantastic. The designs are influenced by the 1920s-1960s (much like my own style), and have a childlike sense of wonder, which is something I always like in my clothes. I'll be styling two t-shirts in future posts (and I can talk a bit more about sizing then), but for this cardigan, I sized up to the XL to accommodate my bustline. There's still a bit of gaping present, which is somewhat unavoidable with my build, but wearing a leotard or camisole under alleviates any issues – and I wouldn't have wanted to size up to the XXL, since I think it would be too big everywhere else. This cardigan also comes in pink and green, and I've got my eye on a couple of Miss Ladybug's other cardigans (like this record embroidered one and this musical one)! Do you own any of Miss Ladybug's charming designs?

Outfit Details

Retro Kitten Cardigan: c/o Miss Ladybug

Queen Bee Skirt: c/o Doll Me Up

Black leotard: similar
Shoes: ModCloth

Tights: similar

In case you missed it, I've listed a bunch of new things in my Shop My Closet store! There are tons of gently-worn and brand new items (sizes M-XL) from popular vintage-inspired brands (and some real vintage, too!) up for grabs. Check out the full selection here.

Have a great day!

Poppies

Although my first love is novelty prints, I have a special place in my heart for landscape and photographic prints. I've liked this Bernie Dexter poppy field print for a long time, but because the dress version is in her "Chelsea" style (which I don't really love on myself) and because I wasn't a huge fan of separates until recently, I never thought to add it to my wardrobe. But now, I'm so glad that I have the Trixie skirt version (and coordinating cropped cardigan) from Doll Me Up. Even though they're both lighter pieces, they're still totally wearable during the colder months, and I know I'll get a ton of outfit combinations out of them.

As far as sizing, the Trixie skirt runs a bit smaller than my other Bernie Dexter pieces. I ordered my normal size and it fits, but there's less wiggle room than in some of her dresses. If you're between sizes, I would probably recommend sizing up. I own about 15 of these cropped cardigans and I wear them with pretty much everything – and Doll Me Up carries nearly every color I've ever seen. Doll Me Up also has a ton of new arrivals I'm drooling over (including more Bernie Dexter pieces and B.A.I.T. Footwear!), and I love the fact that they have higher-priced brands (like Heart of Haute) interspersed with inexpensive basics and fun accessories.

Outfit Details

Bernie Dexter Trixie Skirt in Essex Poppy Field: c/o Doll Me Up

Tootsie Cropped Cardigan in Viola: c/o Doll Me Up

Martha Mother Goose Brooch: Erstwilder

Shoes: B.A.I.T. Footwear (similar)

White tank top: Target

I had a crazy-busy weekend, but in the best way. We managed to put together a wonderful play in 6 days(!), and it went incredibly well. I hope we're able to do it again, because I had an absolute blast. I'm currently fighting off a cold, which is kind of a bummer, but what can ya do. At least I made it through the weekend! I hope your week is off to a good start!

Gift wrapped

This is the first of many Christmas-y outfits that will be making an appearance here on the blog. My holiday ensembles are usually only seen once a year, so I'm trying to get more use out of them by devoting the rest of the month to yuletide apparel. I'm really getting into separates lately, and when I saw this lovely skirt from Doll Me Up, I knew I wanted to feature it. I have about 15 of these cropped cardigans (they're my absolute favorite and I wear them with everything), but this kelly green color is a brand new addition to my collection. Normally, I wouldn't go for something that so obviously screams "CHRISTMAS!," but I actually ended up liking this outfit a lot – and I'll be able to make lots of other combinations with these pieces.

This taffeta skirt comes in several different colors, and I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it is in person. Doll Me Up provides detailed measurements for every item they carry (which is a huge plus when shopping online), and I found this skirt to run true to the size chart provided. Unlike a lot of the pieces they carry, this skirt unfortunately doesn't come in extended sizes – but some of the cropped cardigans do! Both pieces are of great quality for the price, and I love the fact that I can always find good, inexpensive basics at Doll Me Up.

Outfit Details

Queen Bee Skirt in Burgundy: c/o Doll Me Up

Tootsie Cropped Cardigan in Kelly Green: c/o Doll Me Up

Gold heels: ModCloth  ||  White tank top: Target

Brooch: Kohl's (old)

Have you started planning your Christmas outfits yet? :)

Have a great start to your week!

All dolled up

Is there anything more darling than a pink dress? I'm powerless to resist a good one, and this one from Doll Me Up had me swooning from the moment I saw it! There are so many sweet details on this dress, from the floral border to the puff sleeves, that I knew it just had to come live in my closet. :) Each piece on the Doll Me Up website has a detailed size chart, and the size medium fits me like a glove! It's evident how much Krista (the lovely founder of Doll Me Up) cares about her customers and how much work she puts into her online store. That personal touch is one of the many reasons why I really enjoy working with smaller businesses.

Doll Me Up aims to provide customers with items that are both adorable and affordable. With so many beautiful retro-inspired pieces available online, it can be really easy to spend more than you initially intended. Although Doll Me Up carries some of the pricier pin-up brands (like Bernie Dexter, Heart of Haute, and Lady V London), they've also made sure to have tons of options for budget-conscious shoppers. I think they carry an excellent mix of higher-end items and less expensive basics, and I love the sentiment that you don't have to spend a fortune to look amazing. They also offer free shipping within the USA and low international shipping rates, which is getting harder to come by these days! I had such a great experience working with Doll Me Up, and it's definitely become one of my go-to sites for variety of stock (and great deals).

Outfit Details

Tea Party Dress in Baby Pink: c/o Doll Me Up

Pink Chevy Brooch: Deer Arrow (gift from Amanda + Katie)

Petticoat: Amazon

Flats: similar

Have a great day!