7/20/12 - Total outfit cost $27 (Dress, Shoes & Necklace)

The Animal Print dress is older, it is a Maggie London $7; The heels are BCBG Paris $9 at Buckner Thrift in Dallas; the Silver statement necklace is by Dana Buckman $11 at Kohl's.

I Need a Super Hero.

Ever have a day when absolutely Nothing goes right?  We all have.  Some of us more than others.  Sadly, you can usually tell when someones day is going straight to the dogs.  We need an intervention of some sort, a rescue, a tiny miracle, a new outfit, a personal assistant, a fairy godmother - something.

Since you can't count on a super hero to fly in and fix your immediate issue, you need to be prepared to work your own itty-bitty miracles when it has to do with your appearance. That is why the Closet Fairy is here.  To keep you ready to craft your miracle fix.

I was reading today about a stylist in Europe who had a list of 5 must-haves in your bag.  Her list was great if you are a model and heading straight for the runway.  One of her must-haves was a leather hole-punch to add an additional belt hole to your outfit.  Really - this is what you need to carry in your purse all the time?  Not necessarily.  It is a great tool to have at home so that you Can add an extra hole to your belt (or more likely, to your shoe strap). But you need to be a bit more practical with the real necessities to tote with you all the time. 

Baby wipes (they make travel size) - they are perfect for wiping up outfit smudges if you have a minor accident, or see later that you have left your deodorant streaked on your top.  Just make sure that they are not ones that leave lint all over the place.  What is the use of wiping a shirt to clean it, if you leave a giant, linty, fuzzy-white mess instead. 

Lint brush or lint roller (they also make tiny travel size) - Speaking of the lint you just left all over yourself, use this to roll yourself fresh. Dark, solid colors show nasty lint and make you look unkempt and dandruffy (never good).

Safety pins - Grab some of different sizes and you are set to pin yourself back in place - hook your waistband together after a hungry-man sized lunch; pin your blouse in those gaping areas that expose your intimates; hook anything to your keyring when necessary; make a boutonniere from various and sundry items.

Tape - Double sided tape works best to mend hems; tape overly-exposing-scoop-necked tops to your chest area; it comes in small rolls or tiny sheets that are pre-cut that you simply peel off. 

Clear nail polish - If you wear hose or tights, it is indispensable to stop a run; not to mention actually fix your fingernail issue.

Sewing Kit (tiny travel size) - they still make them?  Yes.  You can grab one from any Dollar store - for just a buck (imagine that).  I keep one that is in a zippered pouch - the hard plastic cases Always break and crack - avoid them. The zippered pouches are clear, have plenty of different thread colors, several needles, itzy scissors, a needle threader (So important to those of us who no longer have perfect vision), and a few buttons.  (Throw those safety pins in this pouch too).

Chap stick - This is great for everything.  Your lips; your cheeks - if you need a tiny glow just smudge some there (and it actually helps prevent chapping during windy weather); if your ring won't go on (or come off), rub it around your finger and the ring will move; or use it on the pin of a brooch that seems unwilling to go through your fabric.

An emergency set of gold and/or silver earrings.  This would be a pair that are small and not your 'go-to' pieces.  These are some that you will always carry in your must-have kit - when you realize that you forgot to put some on or you lost one you were wearing.  I actually carry two sets of earrings in gold and silver, a ring for my finger, a simple necklace and a collapsible bracelet (not a big solid round one).  That way, if I have forgotten to grab something that I realize my outfit needs, I am prepared.

Something for your hair - it can be a pony wrapper, a headband, a clip, a barrette, scarf, whatever you might need to fix yourself up quickly.  If you are out and realize that this morning would have been a perfect time to wash your oily hair, but you didn't do it - you seriously need to have something to pull your hair back before folks appear in haz-mat attire to sop up your oil spill.

All of these things fit into a tiny make-up bag!  This will pull you through almost any fashion disaster.  A few more things that I throw into my make-up bag (no joke, a Lot will fit in those things): a spare pair of pantyhose (taken out of the packaging, of course); spare pair of undies (gals, when you reach a certain age, just make sure you carry a spare); extra toothbrush; tiny travel body spray; AND travel size first aid kit.  Yup.  All of that. 

Ahh, can't you feel the stress just flowing away from your body?  If you are ready for anything, people will actually notice.  You will become the go-to person for almost everything, if you are prepared for yourself. So go make your emergency kit (I call them ditty-bags) and be your very own super-hero.

God bless you richly. I know that He has blessed me!

 

7/18/12 - Total outfit cost $14(Dress, Belt & Shoes)

This proves that a simple dress does not have to be blah.  The colonial blue and brown patterned dress was $7 at Angelic Resale in Conroe; while the dress had a self-belt, I chose something different - the strechy belt with paten leather closure is what makes the outfit not ho-hum and it was $5 at Charming Charlie's; the heels were a steal - they are BCBGirls in colonial blue and were $1.25 at Balch Springs Thrift in Dallas. 

7/16/12 - Total outfit cost $21 (top, skirt & necklace)

This is really quite a sporty outfit - sporty does not have to be running shoes and biker shorts.  The white Tommy Hilfiger top was $12 from Palais Royal; the Green and white polka dot skirt is by Margaret Frances and was $4.94 at Family Thrift in Dallas.  The 3-strand green stone necklace was $4 at Angelic Resale in Conroe.  While I could have put some green heels with this, I wanted something more fun - so I wore fuschia heels by Apostrophe. 

Shopping Blues

So I went window shopping this week.  Actual "window" shopping.  I wanted to take a gander at the window displays of the stores at the mall and the stand-alone stores.  Talk about underwhelming!  It had been quite a while since I'd done this.  I believe that stores have forgotten the art of the window display.  And, the art of the in-store display.  There were far too many headless mannequins with absolutely BORING clothes draped loosely on their form.  There was nothing that even remotely made me interested enough to purchase anything.  Nothing.  That is some sort of pitiful commentary on the state of retail clothing.  How are we supposed to decide what we want to buy?  How do we know what is 'in' or 'cute'?  I suppose that leaves us with sales fliers, magazine ads and tv ads.  Yuck. 

This creates a serious dilemma. Truly serious. Anything that you see in a magazine spread (and there are some good looking outfits) will be both unaffordable (have you checked out the prices, if they dare put the prices on the page) and/or no longer available.  They like to put loads of clothes on the models from the H&M store.  The problem with That is - you can't order H&M on line - each store carries a different  block of clothes - the item you see was only available at the store for one week because they don't re-order or restock the items they photographed - you lose.  You may love the piece, but you can't get it. And let's not get started on those prices!  I am not sure if many of these editors even 'visit' the real world.  The majority of people don't have access to an unlimited clothing fund.  Too many times I read about "affordable" outfits - and the prices hover around $400.  That is not affordable.  That is not reasonable. 

There are loads of stores on-line now as well.  You can have unlimited companies send you urgent e-mails notifying you of immediate sales on-line.  They tease you with adorable outfits, you quick-link to the site and find that your size is unavailable since they sold out of everything in a mere 15 minutes. You have no time to think about a purchase - you have to click and buy.  That is not shopping.  That is a stick-up. 

Then there are the sales fliers from your local stores.  Ho-hum.  I have looked at so many of them that I am blurry-eyed.  The clothes all look the same.  All of them.  And none of them are really fashionable, desirable, extra cute or unique.  It is your job as a fabulous gal - to be wondrous and unique.  That is a huge part of why I shop resale shops and thrift.  You will find what others won't.  You can put yourself together in such a great and inexpensive way that others have to take notice.

Let's get together for a shopping expedition.  Gather your buddies and contact me for a scheduled shopping excursion.  You will benefit, your friends will benefit and you will do it for pennies on the dollar!
Then be Amazing!

This outfit is a black spandex little top for $3.  People really like this very flowy,  lavender print Emmanual Ungaro skirt - $6.96!

Today I am wearing some plum colored J Vincent heels - $15.00.

A velvet, plum bracelet - $3.00.

God bless you richly.  I know that He has blessed me!

6/29/12 - Total outfit cost $15.

This large polka dot dress is one of those "go-to" outfits.  It is cute and fun.  Put bright white or yellow with it and you are set.