You Are My Friend...

I am singing Pattie Labelle's song "You are my friend". (sing it with me!)

The alterations lady that is...lol. You know how people make friends with hairstylists...not me. I must have my tailor on my team at all times. If you look at the dress above, I had the dress shortened to right above the knee. Can you see what a nip here and tuck there can do? Remember that I got this dress from GOODWILL...A Neiman Marcus dress at that.

What is the saying? Someone's trash is the next man's treasure? Yeah...SCORE! I absolutely adore every single thing about this dress. The full sleeves, the buttons, the pattern, the pockets! It has pockets!!! LOVE IT! I had the tailor use the scraps from the bottom of the dress to make a belt/sash/occassional headscarf!













The above dress is my Nurse Jackie look (Mocha Trina gave me that name:) Remember this came from Good Will too. Instead of making it super short, I had it taken in around the hips and knees into a pencil skirt. I love the fit of this uniform...I wish I could find a black one. I would rock the heck out of a black uniform. I threw on silver pumps and a scarf just to give you an idea of how I am trying to de-uniform the look:)












Lastly, I confess. I went back to Goodwill. How could I not? It's my new obsession. I feel like this is my week to thrift. I even literally discovered 3 additional thrift stores in my area completely by accident. It's as if God wants me to thrift! Is that going too far? Probably. Anywho, I picked up this dashiki at Goodwill for $4.99.

Yes, it can be a little too Power to the People or Ebay from Good Times (gotta be a true Good Times fan to know who that is), but I saw potentional in it.

I am really into prints these days and usually am drawn to ethnic prints. I immediately thought that I could turn this into an ecclectic professional look. I think I succeeded. I went through my closet and found a pencil skirt and some old pumps for my loyal readers!

I just wanted to show that you can pull off a look if you mix and match. Thrifting is my new obsession!













Shoes w/pink dress- Karen Scott pumps (got these atleast 5 years ago
Shoes w/Nurse Jackie dress-Silver pumps by Calvin Klein via Ross
Shoes w/dashiki- Nine West weaved shoes (They are torture to wear so they stay in the closet)

Belt w/Nurse Jackie dress-Scarf from Target (2 years ago)
Skirt w/Dashiki- Nine West via Ross (last year)
Belt w/Dashiki-Vintage aka can't remember

Jacket w/Dashiki- Banana Republic Wool Cropped Jacket (about 5 years old)

ps....Do not Right Click on my pictures! And please send a link back to this site if you choose to reference something you see here...thank you:)

Just Plain Weird...

This is so utterly random but it must be shared.

I had the weirdest dream last night. Let me preface this by saying that I went to bed late after watching a bizarre Vampire movie called Let the Right One IN (I was forced into watching).

Then I watched a little news and stayed up late surfing the internet.

Now the dream. I am not making this up. I just woke from this dream a few hours ago.

I was on 2300 Jackson Street. (please keep reading)

In the dream, my fiance' was a cousin to the Jackson Family and we were all at Katherine's house awaiting some news. Janet Jackson was on trial for manslaughter for killing her brother Michael, by giving him too much sleeping medication. So we were all there awaiting the phone call. Janet gets the call or text (can't remember) that she got 2 years. She told everybody in the room and just stood there in shock. After a while, she went to her room and sat in the corner. Everyone was going in there to try to console her.

I wasn't a blood relative so I didn't want to overstep my boundaries or look like a groupie (which is possible). Everyone was mingling and trying to console her. Finally, I went in and offered to cheer her up by performing the Pleasure Principle video for her. (Which I can do in real life. lol)

That still didn't work and after a while I got tired of trying to cheer her up. I went to look for my fiance' but he wasn't ready to go. I sat and waited patiently but I was getting ticked off. Oh yeah, Katherine Jackson was in the room but she wouldn't or couldn't talk.

So my fiance' is enjoying himself and catching up on old times. Then this "over friendly" cousin started talking to him. I am saying to myself in the dream that she sure is touchy feely to be a cousin! (Remember the cousin from the Soul Food Movie...yeah that kind of cousin, lol).

So he continues talking to her and I couldn't take it any longer. I was ready to go home! I stormed outside and called a cab even though I didn't have any money. At this point in the dream, my nephews were with me. My fiance' came outside to convince me that he was leaving but I was not having it. Then my nephew started complaining that he had to use the restroom. (Random, I know!)

So, my fiance waits with me for the cab and gets in...even though he drove. We left and then I woke up!

WTH was that dream about! LOL!!! MJ is piercing my thoughts. No more surving the net after 10pm for me! Oh yeah, in the dream...Janet looked like the Janet from the Control video...not the 2009 Janet:)

Here are a few of the responses from my friends when I told them about the dream.

"TOO MUCH TV"

"Stop eating late at night!"

"A word of advice, turn the TV off before you fall asleep"

"Don't tell anybody else about this dream."

And I agree with it all!!! I had to share!

**P.S...Janet if you are reading this...I know you would never do anything like this. The media got to me**

Let Thy Will Be Good!

Let thy will be good...forget it...all Hail to Goodwill!

Occassionally I am a "thrifter" but usually I have to be in that specific mood or have a specific treasure I am trying to find.

Well, I stumbled into the almighty Good Will Thrift store this weekend and straight up lost my mind! I found so many fabulous treasures that I literally had to convince myself to walk out of the door and not look for another thing.

I actually went out of boredom and came out with great finds. First of all, there is something to be said about a Goodwill that is neatly organized and doesn't smell like old people's feet. If I walk into a store and it smells like refried vomit, chances are I will get right back in my car and go straight home to take a shower. But this Goodwill was better than any Marshall's or TJ Maxx anyday.

First of all, how long have I been wanting a Kimono Robe. Like forever! Remember this post? Guess what! I found one! For $6.99! And it is beautiful. I literally squealed and held it close to me as if it were going to run away! And it was reversible! What what what!!!!

Then since I was back in the "robe" section, I found a cute little floral nightie that I am so going to rock as a Kimono Top. I wish you can really see the sleeves...they narrow around the wrist rather than flare. $4.99!
Then it just snowballed from there. I found this cute little dress made by Neiman Marcus for 9.99! You know I am the queen of alterations so I am going to shorten this and all of the dresses I thrifted! I would so pick the dress out if I was in a high end boutique so imagine how I felt when I saw the price! I am going to just shorten the dress to above the knee because that's just what I do! Throw on a wide belt and BAM! Oh yeah...it's 100% SILK!
Then I ran across this Mexican dress. When I was little, my mother used to buy me these dresses and I wore them with Jellie Sandals...I bought it for 6.99 and it might be my favorite summer dress. The idea was to throw a belt over it but it was just so comfortable, I decided to rock it as is. (sandals by Steve Madden...aren't they fabulous, they are very "Bollywood")I ran across a Nurse's Uniform. YES. YOU READ THAT RIGHT. On the tag, it literally says "Hospital Nurse Uniform by Vanderbilt Co." That would be Gloria Vanderbilt. It was so Vintage, I couldn't pass it up. Since it is stark white, I can only wear it a few times before the summer is up...but I am straight up jazzing that baby up with a short hem and a big purse and belt and dare anybody to ask me if I am rocking a Nurse's outfit. YES I AM! 6.99!

(I know the belt is crooked but my photographer was tripping so I had to keep the picture as is:)

Then the ultimate JACKPOT! JUST LOOK AT THIS BAD AZZ Purse! It's a KOOBA purse...not that I know what that means but it had to mean something for the purse to be 40 bucks. I just grabbed it because of the soft leather and the color.

Of course I had to do a little research on the purse because I suffer from a rare strain of OCD called "I gotta know everything". I googled KOOBA handbags and my my my, I must say this GOODWILL did me justice! Kooba brands can range anywhere from 100 bucks to $700...yeah...Mine was $40!

I can't write enough about it. THIS IS A GOODWILL PURSE!! I can't tell you how many times I have stroked it since I got it! The condition of the leather is impeccable and the gold details are perfect. Trust that I am going to wear this baby out!

Can you believe it? GOODWILL. I think when one shops there, one must have an eye for the potential in what could be considered strange choices. My alterations Lady will be happy to see me walk through the door with these babies. I plan on Nipping and Tucking all the dresses to make them more my style but I couldn't be happier. I will post the "AFTER" pictures once I make the alterations to each dress:)

This is what shopping within your means is all about. Find some vintage items and make them your own.

By the way, I am slipping! My blog made it's first Birthday on July 2nd and today is July 27th and I just realized it! I'm a bad mommy:(

So Happy Blirthday (get it? Blog + Birthday) to God's Favorite Shoes!

***please excuse all lame poses and wild hair moments...my photographers (fiance' and nephews) were being temperamental and impatient so I had to work in a fury before they staged a walk out***

Speaking of my darling Nephews. As I was taking pictures, one of them asked why was I doing this? Here is a taste of that conversation...

Nephew: Why are you doing this? Just taking pictures of yourself in somebody's old clothes?

Me: I have a blog about clothes...

Nephew: You take pictures of clothes of dead people's clothes?

Me: No, It's kind of like a fashion blog. I give people ideas and I tell people what I think is cute.

Nephew: YOU? FASHION?

Me: ____________Flat line_____________________________

Photo session ended. LOL. He is such a brat!

What Have I Done?

So, I am playing with my dolls...not really...I am on Looklet.com, styling Sanaa and I had to leave the room for a second.

When I came back in the room and picked up the laptop, Sanaa was dressed from head to toe...but not by me.

My fiance' somehow got sucked into styling Sanaa! LOL

Now, mind you that he gives me the *side eye* anytime I am on Looklet.com. His words are literally "Are you serious? You should be ashamed of yourself." I usually roll my eyes and continue to cyber-style:)

I am not sure how I feel about this but I will say this...I do like the outfit! He says that it is something that I would totally wear and I can't deny it.

I'm not sure if I am proud that he knows my style or concerned that he is playing with my dolls!

Here is Sanaa, designed by my fiance'...he says that this look is called the "Sexy School Girl" Look. Supposedly Sanaa is on her way to take finals. What finals? I don't know. But he says that he would totally "hit" that. Incredible.

What do you think? Should I be concerned or impressed that he actually did a good job?!? LOL. He is SO going to kill me for this post...but he's a man, he can take it! It's all in fun!

p.s....I am a little proud that he understands the art of "layering" clothes...apparently he does listen to me when I am babbling about clothes after all!

Meet Sanaa!

Thanks to Love Maegan's blog, I found a new website. Looklet.com allows you to basically play dress up without ever leaving your bed!

So, since I am poor and have no business shopping, this is the next best thing. So from time to time, I will post a few of my creations. This is very in tune with being a professional stylist, which I would love to do if someone was totally not affected by the economy and could afford to pay someone like me to shop for them and have complete control over their look....wishful thinking, I know!

At any rate, here is my first attempt at Playing Dress up. Of course I chose a beautiful model to represent for me.

This first look is totally me! First of all, wasn't I just saying that I wanted a 70's caftan in this post? Yes I did. I even included a clip of Diana Ross cussing out Billy Dee Williams in a caftan. I just said it, remember?

Well, MY model...Sanaa (I totally gave her that name) is rocking the ultimate Caftan by none other than DVF...that's Diane Von Furstenberg. You know her, she is the one that introduced the WRAP dress in the 70's and has been on my wishlist for about 10 years now.

I love her. Even my fiance' could answer the following trivia question. "What designer's dress would your "intended" slice a throat for?" He would know to answer "A Diane Von Furstenberg" Dress. Trust me, he knows it.

At any rate, Sanaa...my imaginary personal muse/model/only black model I could choose on Looklet.com is wearing a Caftan by Diane Von Furstenberg! It's totally Diana Ross in Mahogany which is totally me:)

I got to add everything, the shoes, jewelry, clutch. Doesn't she look fly? If I owned this outfit, I would totally wear it to my bridal shower or engagmeent party or a night out in Morocco, heck even Baskin Robbins or even church...well, a church that was held in a club. lol (No Judgement here:)

So, I present to you my very first Looklet piece, I present to you Sanaa on her way to a dinner party. I would probably wear a little tank under if it were on my body because I don't want any trouble on the streets, but Sanaa lives in a perfect world! lol

This is so fun and total waste of downtime, but fun nonetheless.

What do you think of Sanaa? She'll be back, so get to know her. She is my new best friend:)

(this dress is totally appropriate to get for a birthday gift for those of us born in September...just saying)

Click here to see my official Looklet:)

*Update...it's two hours later and I am still playing dress up. Here is Sanaa meeting her friends for brunch...on the wrong side of town!! Love the necklace!

Totally Inappropriate...I Know.

So this is totally inappropriate. Here I am watching the Michael Jackson Memorial...which was BEAUTIFUL by the way.

I'm soaking it all in and then I see it...LaToya Jackson's hat! WHAT! Just perfection. Then I catch a glimpse of Janet's "mourning" ensemble...WHAT!

Everyone knows that I am a fan of Janet...remember this post? Right...so you know.

But that dress, that beret, those gloves, that clutch...if you are going to mourn in front of the world...That's how you do it. I would wear that to go check the mail!

Like I said, I am totally wrong for focusing on such a frivolous issue but it could not be helped. Those sleeves on that dress and the gloves made it real to me. So what if it's summer time...wear leather gloves Janet...you are a Jackson...there are no rules. Look at the back of Janet's dress below...what what what! Rebbie's hat was on point too.

I admit. I am wrong for this. But it had to be acknowledge. Now let me get back to Lionel Richie singing the ultimate church song...JESUS IS LOVE...!!!

Tell em Lionel!

Oh...I am going to officially bring back wearing short gloves when I go to church. First church, then I am just going to start having lunch dates and show up with short gloves and berets with my ensembles. LOL. Janet has inspired me! Just watch and see! You dare me? Don't dare me!

.....totally inappropriate....I know. RIP MJ...but your sisters distracted me!