Foundational Pieces

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Hope you are all surviving this incredible winter we've been having. Lately I've been thinking about those few "work-horse" pieces that are a must in every wardwrobe. You know, the black dress pant, a good "business suit", other neutral colored pants, solid colored tops, comfortable dress shoes, a neutral fashionable handbag, and several scarfs to punch up the color interest. I'll address accessories in a different post. But today, I'd like to focus on two pieces that I use a lot together: the ivory turtleneck and camel dress pants.  These can look great on their own with a statement necklace or provide a great foundation for other pieces to layer over them.

Ivory turtleneck, Mossimo, Goodwill

camel dresspants, Liz Claiborne, gifted

Elle mules, Goodwill

 

Add color interest with a statement necklace, Karma resale

Throw on a faux fur vest for instant winter fun!!

faux fur vest, Karma resale shop

 

                                              Navy shrug, New York and Company
                                                Necklace, New York and Company

                                                  

                                                            tiger stripe cardigan, H & M
                                                    necklace, Rag Doll Clothing Exchange

                             A little trick I've learned when I'm tired of winter is to add a touch of coral...
                                                              coral knit swing cardigan, H&M

                                                        black sweater vest, JCPenney
                                                        fuschia scarf, Karma resale shop
                                                    rhinestone earrings, Karma resale shop

What are some of your favorite foundational pieces in your wardwrobe? Leave a comment below. I love to hear from all of you!! Spring's just around the corner....

Sweater Bonanza

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I don't know what the weather's like where you are but this has been one of the coldest winters I can remember. One of the best things about winter is picking out cute sweaters to wear. Pair it with some jeans and boots and woila.....a dressy yet casual look you can wear on date night, to coffee with a girlfriend, even church. I recently visited a Goodwill thrift shop in my area and hit the motherload. Feast your eyes...

 Sweater dress, Cato, Goodwill

Turtleneck, Merona, Goodwill last year

leggings, old

boots, Kohls

necklace, Karma Resale Shop, Glen Carbon, IL

 

 Sweater vest, from ITALY!!! , Goodwill

turtleneck, Merona, Goodwill last yr.

Cato jeans, old

mules, Elle, Goodwill several yrs ago

 

 cowl neck sweater, Goodwill

Cato jeans, old

boots, Payless Shoe Source, old

 

 sweater, Mossimo, Goodwill

magenta Coobie under sweater, Studo Gaia, Edwardsville, IL

necklace, Goodwill

Cato jeans, old

Elle mules, Goodwill several yrs ago

 

 earrings, Karma Resale Shop, Glen Carbon, IL

necklace, gifted

make-up, Mary Kay (blush, strawberry cream; lipstick, raisinberry)

What's your favorite way to stay warm this winter? Cozy sweaters? Fuzzy slippers? Hot chocolate?
Let me know in the comments below. Until next time......happy shopping!

Fast Frugal Formalwear

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Recently hubby and I had a chance to attend a banquet in "the big city" as my dad says. We took the opportunity to really get dressed up. What a great time we had! Got to meet some new friends, have a wonderful meal, hear a great speaker and then strut our stuff on the dance floor. It was very cold that night and I was able to score this full length dressy overcoat at my favorite new resale shop "Karma". As I was purchasing it the owner told me "I've already had 5 calls on this coat today." (It had been displayed in her front window for a few days.) As they say......timing is everything!

 

Dress: (old), Sears, worn at brother-in-law's wedding, 2001

Shoes: Payless shoe source

Coat: Forever 21, Karma Clothing & Accessories https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Karma-Clothing-and-Accessories/180118455334033

Clutch: Rag Doll Clothing Exchange

Jewelry: Kohl's

Lipstick: Raisinberry, Mary Kay

 

 

Hubby's suit, local men's clothier(now out of business)

Tie: Beatles, Of Course!!!

Shoes: Famous Footwear

Glasses: Rayban, Crown Vision Center, Edwardsville, IL

Shirt:  Ralph Lauren, yard sale...WAY before I knew him!

 

 



 

We clean up good, don't we?!?!

 

 

Just to illustrate that a good, basic black dress can be used over & over...

I wore it September 2013 for a photo shoot at a refinery

http://tomatwood.net/

 

Here's to dress-up occasions! It seems like we dress up less and less now-a-days. I hope you get a chance to dress up at least once or twice per year. I know I LOVE it! When's the last time you got really gussied up? Leave a note in the comments below and let me know. What did you wear? Thanks for stopping by and have a fun, frugal, fashionable week!

 

 

 

Neutrals With a Punch of Red

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Hello! Just wanted to take a few minutes to say Merry Christmas to all of you. With the holidays in full swing we've had a lot of things to go to from kids' music concerts to church Christmas pageants and everything in between. I've long said goodbye to my "ugly Christmas sweaters" in favor of more understated yet festive attire. I threw this outfit together for my older son's Jazz U concert last week:


Sweater, Banana Republic, Rag Doll Clothing Exchange
Pants, New York and Co.
Tank, What to Wear, Edwardsville IL
Necklace, Rag Doll Clothing Exchange
Boots, Payless Shoe Source

Add some Christmas ornament earrings and you've got an instant festive, holiday outfit.

 

Another frugal, fashion for the home I used this season was to decorate my outdoor plant pots with evergreen boughs from a friend's garden. Hard to beat FREE!

We also attended a Celtic Christmas celebration in St.Louis called "Christmas in the Kitchen" featuring the music of Mitzi MacDonald and Keltic Reign. You haven't lived 'til you've seen Santa in a kilt!

One last thing.....Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Barber-Hallquist Family caroling, 2013

 

Thanks for stopping by....hope your holidays are joyous!

Please comment below to let us know any family traditions that you celebrate...

Being Flexible

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Hope you all are enjoying a wonderful holiday season! One of my best casual-wear purchases was this reversible black and red zip (fake) down vest. I can wear it either on the red or black side. Then I can wear either a white/off white turtleneck under it, or a red/black/grey/white long sleeve. So many variations! I procured it and the off-white turtleneck at Goodwill. I've definitely gotten my money's worth.

Merona vest(Target), Goodwill
Off-white turtle neck, Goodwill
Cato jeans, Cato
Clogs, Clarks, Macy's

I like the idea of being flexible during this time of year. I've learned over the years that being flexible can really allow me to be so much more relaxed during the holidays. Writing a list of people for whom I'm purchasing gifts on a post-it note in my datebook with their sizes has helped me to stay organized. I tune my car radio to the station that plays Christmas music and sing along--this ALWAYS improves my mood! Also, to keep it simple, I remember my friend Abys(www.simplify101.com) saying "done is better than perfect".
 



earrings(miniature ornaments), Walmart



So what do you think? Do you have a favorite article of clothing that is versatile and can be worn with many different things or different ways? If so, I'd love to hear from you down in the comments. Comments are open to anyone now. I get my fashion inspiration from others.....so please, join in the discussion!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Val

Dressing The Table

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I love holidays because my dining room table gets to "put her formal wear on".  We have an oval oak formica covered table that I found on Craigslist for $90. We always had rectangular tables but I find an oval to be more inviting and easier to pull up additional chairs when we have guests.
Our Thanksgving was VERY laid back this year (just our little family of four) but I still wanted to get out the china, crystal, and fancy flatware. Much like wearing a smart outfit makes me feel good, a beautifully set table gives me pleasure as well. I included my 9 yr old this year, showing him the proper position of the flatware, cloth napkin, and goblet relative to the plate. He liked it and did a great job!

Sweater, Tommy Hilfiger, Macy's
Lucky Brand Jeans, Rag Doll Clothing Exchange

 

Mikasa China, gifted
Mikasa crystal goblets, gifted
Oneida flatware, gifted
Tablecloth, Walmart(I think)
Cloth Napkins, Walmart(I think)

This bottom picture shows the moment my 15 yr old figured out we could play the theme to Jaws by flicking the edge of the goblets with varying levels of liqud therein. (Only in this musical family!)
We had a fashionable, frugal table by using items we already had at home to decorate it. (and shopping at Aldi for the food!)

From our family to yours.......Happy Thanksgiving!!!


 



A Beginning

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11-24-13

In beginning this blog I hope to accomplish a few goals. One: to challenge myself to write on a semi-regular basis. Two: to inspire myself and other women to look their best. It is my belief that when one looks nice on the outside it can enhance self-esteem and improve one's mood which then enables her to be a better mother/wife/employee/friend.

I believe a lady can look fashionable on a budget. Also, I'm a mom to two sons so I don't have a lot of time to labor over deciding what to wear each morning. I also don't have a lot of time to go shopping.......hence the name of my blog: Fast Frugal Fashion.

Thanks for joining me on this journey!   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNPAM5ABhvs

Turtleneck: Calvin Klein, Goodwill
Skirt: Jaclyn Smih, Kmart