Rad in plaid: a remix

Outfit Details:

Plaid vintage dress: Exile Vintage 

(See how I originally wore it here!)

Black pinafore: eBay

The Best of Times Heel in Noir: ModCloth

Knee socks: ModCloth (old, similar here)

Fox purse: Target (old, similar here)

Boater hat: River Island (old)

I'm actually not sure whether this is a fox or a raccoon.  A foxcoon?  A rox?

This plaid number might look a little familiar to you, if you read my blog regularly!  When I was invited to join Flock Together (which, if you don't know, is a marvelous style collective of bloggers who showcase how they remix other members' pieces, as well as ones that are already in their own closets), I knew I had to challenge myself to start remixing items in my own wardrobe!  I think this practice is an excellent one, for a multitude of reasons; not only will my bank account be happier, but it's a great way to express creativity AND give new life to clothes that, under normal circumstances, may only be appropriate for one season.  And since upstate New York experiences the extremes of all four seasons, thinking about my clothes in less limited ways can only be a good thing!  

I have such a penchant for knee socks lately!  Whoops!

I think one of the simplest ways to remix a piece that has its limits (like a dress or a romper) is to layer it under a skirt -- or in this case, a pinafore!  I've had other posts where I've worn rompers under skirts or pinafores (see here, here and here), but it may be the first time I've worn a dress under a jumper like this one.  Since this dress is so short already (some readers commented that they thought it might have been cut or taken up, and I think they must be right!), it was really easy to layer it under something.

On an unrelated note, I am very grateful for kind, supportive people around me (this is always true, but is especially true as of late).  I may not always be deserving of such kindness, but I am truly thankful to have it right now.  I won't go into details, since I know there are those who have read my blog and have reported back (and frankly, I don't want to rehash the bullshit situation in question anyway), but please know that your sweet comments never fail to put a smile on my face, and knowing that there are people I've never even met who care about me... well, that's just a really wonderful thing, and a great comfort.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

xox Sammi

Plaid about you (and a little announcement!)

Outfit Details:

Plaid dress: Exile Vintage

High Dramaturge Tights in Ivory: ModCloth (no longer available)

White t-strap flats: Urban Outfitters (no longer available)
Bringing Down the Horse Ring: Hello Holiday

Wicker bag: Chicwish

White belt: eBay

Truly, plaid is the quintessential autumn textile.  I feel like I need to wear it at least once or twice a week (which would be a pretty big feat, since I don't think I own quite that much plaid!).  This dress from Exile Vintage is so lovely for fall, and I knew I had to snatch it up when it became available in their shop.  The one problem is that it's quite short on me (I'm 5'7", which I don't think of as being terribly tall, but I guess it's on the taller side), so this isn't a dress that I can wear all the time as is.  So I decided to try my hand at remixing it for another post in the near future, and I like what I came up with!  I still consider myself sort of a novice at remixing pieces, but I'm very motivated to keep pushing my boundaries with it, because (drum roll, please).........

I'm starting on an additional blogging venture, as a new member of awesome style collective, Flock Together!  So in addition to blogging here at The Soubrette Brunette, I will also be blogging over at Flock Together, which focuses on remixing swapped pieces from other group members (as well as remixing items already in one's wardrobe and trying new trends in different ways).  If you're not already following Flock Together (and why wouldn't you be?), you should head on over right now and check out these marvelous ladies.  I've been an admirer of nearly all of their individual blogs -- as well as their collective one -- for quite some time, and I'm truly flattered that they would want me to join their ranks.  I feel honored to be in such good company.  My first post is scheduled a little later this month, on October 18th, so keep an eye out for that! 

I love that these are actually snaps, not buttons!  It certainly helps with the obnoxious gaping problem.

Other than blogging news, I've been really busy with rehearsals... plus, I'm now sick for the second time in less than a month!  My immune system isn't the greatest, but this is bad, even for me.  I was just getting over the nasty cold I had a week ago, and now I'm sick all over again (but I'm wondering if it's bacterial this time).  I'm sure stress hasn't helped, honestly.  I'm hoping to get in to the doctor tomorrow morning.  We start up with our school tour on Thursday, so please cross your fingers that I'll be better by the time that starts (though being around little kids, we're all bound to get sick anyway)!  

As of late, I'm struggling a lot with managing my disappointment in people.  I get very much "in my head" and wonder if I am too trusting (though then I wonder if I would really want to be any other way -- for how can you find love and joy if you don't trust?).  Or maybe my standards are just too high.  I know that there are a plethora of good, kind, honest people in this world, and I am lucky enough to know many of these kinds of people.  But it boggles my mind that some of the very people who I have trusted to keep my heart safe are the same people who have done it the most harm.  I know those who keep their hearts and emotions guarded at all times, who are not fully invested in relationships, as a protective measure.  I have always thought I would never want to be that way (i.e., "'tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all"), but I can now see why protecting oneself at all costs has a certain appeal.  I don't know.  I guess I'm in a weird place, since on Saturday, I realized it's been a month since my relationship ended, and I still don't know exactly how to handle things.  I guess one can never really know how to handle something like this, other than to keep moving forward.  But it's very difficult to do that without my best friend.  And the worst part of all is, I don't even know who he is anymore.  And I guess it's true: how well do you ever really know someone?

I'm keeping my chin up, and I'm going to try and make this week a good one.

Have a great Monday.

xox Sammi

Mad about plaid

Outfit Details:

Prairie Extraordinary Dress: ModCloth (no longer available)

Kimchi Blue T-Strap Flats: Urban Outfitters

Heart necklace: ASOS (sold out)

Daisy ring: Mom's

I wore this dress on my blog back in April, before I started taking photos outside.  I wear this dress pretty often, because I'm so in love with this vibrant plaid and the design of it.  I'm basically wearing this dress the same way as I wore it last time (though I changed up the shoes and added a ring), but this one is a little difficult to remix -- at least for me!  If it were cool enough outside, I'd have worn it with a cardigan, but Saturday was just too warm and lovely for that!  I wore this to the Public Market and out to dinner.  It was a truly beautiful day.  I want to savor summer for as long as it will stick around.

Sadly, this beautiful dress is no longer available on the ModCloth website (and the brand, Blutsgeschwister, is based in Germany and does not ship outside the country), but ModCloth carries several other pieces by them -- all of which have charming, German-inspired details.  And speaking of ModCloth... did you know that yesterday marked the start of their Last Hurrah Sale, which features some incredible pieces, all 70% off!??  I couldn't resist snagging two dresses I've been lusting after for quite a while now.  My bank account is very angry with me.  Shopping ban reinstated.

Have a great Tuesday!

xox Sammi