If footwear doesn't go past my ankle, I'm not interested!

As I was cleaning out my closet the other day, I became aware that I have a type...of shoe that I can't get enough of. High-tops and boots.

Let me introduce my collection of Converse and Sperry from left to right:

• Black Converse High-Top - Chuck 70 Canvas
  • ​I was inspired to get these shoes a few years ago at a vintage car show. They had stunt motorcycles performing in the street and one of the riders had a pair of these on. I purchased some immediately. Do I look as cool as the guy on the motorcycle? No. Am I glad I got them? You betcha.
• Brown Leather Sperry Boot - Torrent Lace-Up
  • ​The Torrent is hands down my favorite type of Sperry. Explaining why you'll see the same shoe again in a couple of bullet points! These are waterproof and made of "seam-sealed premium leather." I've worn them as a stylish winter boot. They look good, are warm and extremely comfortable. Sperry doesn't have these on their site anymore, may be discontinued and why I got them at a deep discount.
• Moss Sauce Green Converse High-Top - Chuck Taylor All Star Lift Platform
  • ​​The shade of green of these Chucks is not for everyone, but I love it. The pop of color it brings to an outfit is unmatched by my other shoes. They are also one of my most comfy pairs. The platform on these is a feature I enjoy, it elevates them in a way - in look and adding some height to this shorty!
• Dark Green Sperry Rain Boot - Torrent Chelsea
  • ​​These are my slip on garden boots. I'm not too much of a Crocs person, I'd much rather wear these. Barefoot or with socks, equally wearable. And if they get dirty, a quick rinse with the hose shines them up like new. Unfortunately, Torrents are not showing up on Sperry's site anymore, so an alt site is the place to look for these.
• Grey Sperry Boot - Torrent Lace Up
  • ​My gateway Sperry boot and number one favorite. I wear these all the time. They lace up, but are pull on, which I prefer. They are waterproof but don't have super warm lining, so thick socks are recommended when worn in the winter. I wore these every single day of an 8-day cruise and my feet were never sore (or soggy) at the end of the day. To me, that's the biggest testament to how great they are! That's why it's such a pity they've been discontinued...they are available on alt sites like the other Torrents I shared.

What kind of shoe person are you? Dressy, casual, low-top, high-top, neutral, colorful? I'd love to hear some of your favorites!

Here's what it looks like on:

It may be a little bulky for some, but I'm not a fitted jacket girl. I want to feel like I'm wearing a comforter, and if I look like a marshmallow, even better!

Here's what I especially like about it:

• ​It is WARM. Some may argue too warm. But that's the point!
• There are exterior and interior pockets. This was perfect for traveling Europe because I could keep money and IDs securely stored in the interior zipped pocket. We were warned several times about pick pocketers, so this was a feature I looked for specifically. The exterior pockets were handy for my phone, excursion tickets, personal care items, and so on. No purse necessary! Always a plus in my book.
• It is durable. The material is high quality, windproof, and waterproof. It also appears to be stainproof, I haven't needed to wash it yet. It's a jacket I'll keep for years to come.
• To me, it looks fashionable and unlike other jackets I've seen others wear. I wanted something unique, and I love the pop of the black zippers against the taupe color.

If you're in the market for a jacket, I highly recommend Orolay! They're often running sales, which I took advantage of. The coat came when expected and they sent it in its own special bag that could be reused for off-season storage. 

Stay warm out there, friends!

My mom is following her dreams! She recently opened a boutique named "Splash of Pearl"! She has wanted to start her own business for as long as I can remember, so I am very proud of her for making this all a reality.

She carries a variety of clothing and accessories. Everything is cute, high quality, and comfortable. I can personally vouch for her products - I've acted as her model:

If you are looking for something unique, check out her shop! You can buy online or schedule an appointment with her. See below for direct links to her Shop and Facebook page (which is always full of inspiring messages).

I am typically not a jewelry person. I love looking at it and once every so often I'll purchase a piece or two. But when it comes to wearing it...I just didn't naturally think about putting on accessories as I got myself ready. UNTIL I found Formed Clay Designs by Ebony King!

Ebony's earrings are EVERYTHING. They are beautifully handcrafted and because they are made from clay, even her most intricate designs are light as feathers. I often forget I have them on. The quality is great, I have never had an issue with any items I have purchased. She also offers a huge variety of options so there is something for everyone. From studs to shoulder brushing danglers, she's got you. And she is an endless well of creativity. There are always new beauties to adore.

I found Ebony on Instagram in my search to support more local Black-owned small businesses. When my mother-in-law asked about Christmas lists, I had a link to a pair of Formed earrings I was admiring ready to send her! Bless her heart, she got them for me, and I was immediately hooked.

There isn't a moment I've regretted finding Formed. When I go on Ebony's site, I am literally powerless - I must buy something. The truth is, I just know the moment I slip the earrings into my ears, I'm ready to take on the day. That feeling does not have a price tag.

I can't recommend Ebony's work more. I should also mention she is an admirable business woman to follow, obviously a killer creative, and most importantly, a very kind person who leads with love and gratitude. That's my kind of girl.

I am a proud Claybie! #isitrestockdayyet  |  See below for links to Ebony's work and pictures of the items I've purchased.

• Formed Clay Designs Website
• Find Her on Instagram 

We all go through periods when we have “NOTHING TO WEAR!” That is just a universal truth.

Well, this winter, I experienced that moment enough that I knew it was time to freshen up my closet. First, I thinned out what I had. My rule is to get rid of one item for each new item. I did that, plus some.

Over time, I have created a work uniform of sorts for myself. Loose top, black pants, ankle boots, earrings as an accessory. It makes getting dressed in the morning easy, and I truly feel good in this combination of clothing. I am a little more creative with what I wear in my downtime – but let’s get real – it’s normally jeans or leggings with a cute top or sweatshirt unless something special is going on. Knowing how my style has progressed, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted and needed to round out my wardrobe.

In 2021 I am trying my best to buy used clothing only, so this shopping spree took place in Cedar Rapids at as many Goodwills as I could find and Style Encore. I feel like the prices are way better at the Goodwills in larger cities and Style Encore has high quality/higher end pieces for prices you cannot beat.

I made a mental checklist of what I was looking for so I could go straight to those sections, be efficient, and not overbuy. I had enough pants, work and casual, so I mostly just needed tops. The goal was to find tops of various styles that were “classic” in color, material, and fit. I also ended up following a color scheme that I could easily mix and match, with many of my finds being neutrals aside from a few pops of color.
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Here is what I got for tops:

​There were a few types of shoes I also knew I needed, and I was able to find the styles I wanted. The black ankle boots are MICHAEL KORS! I was especially excited about that find.

​I also ended up getting a few accessories that went with some of the tops I got:

In total, I spent a whopping $146.61 for ALL OF THIS! I think that is pretty darn reasonable. It was worth every penny because I feel great in everything and love getting dressed in the morning again – that is priceless. I will also feel less guilty when I donate these pieces back into circulation for someone else to love. I am considering doing this wardrobe refresh seasonally (meaning Fall/Winter combined, Spring/Summer combined) if I am financially able, because in addition to inspiring me, I enjoyed a nice day to myself exploring.

When I was looking for clothing, I also drew inspiration from my favorite clay earring maker, Formed Designs. I am a sucker for her pieces – all her designs are just gorgeous. Check her out and sign-up for her newsletter (she often sends out discount codes!).

We’re on our third (and worst so far) COVID-19 spike as a nation. It is exceptionally bad where I live in Iowa. So what else are we supposed to do while safe at home? Bring on the dramatic sunset photos! I was channeling Diane Lane in the 2020 movie Let Him Go.
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This year was the final year for my beloved camel suede ankle boots, pictured below. RIP. They got thrown into a dumpster we rented to empty junk from our outbuildings since we had some free time on our hands. What a way to go. I remember asking for an Old Navy gift card for Christmas specifically so I could get them. This had to have been five or more years ago. They were good ol’ friends of mine and served me well. Even Joel was bummed they had to go!

There was a short period of mourning, but I got back on the horse and began searching for a new pair. I ended up hitting the thrifting jackpot! My old pair was obviously in shoe heaven, smiling down on me.
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The first set I found was a tall brown pair at Salvation Army in Cedar Rapids for $18.00. We happened to be cruising around with no set destination, so this was a lucky find. They actually had many pairs to choose from. The ones I got can be worn with both casual and dressy outfits. I’m always looking for clothing that is versatile. Here is what they look like up close and in my cowgirl glamour shot:

The second and third pairs I found were from Goodwill in Des Moines. Now that’s a good place to thrift. Bigger cities equal better quality and quantity of items. I also felt like the prices were better for what you were getting compared to the store closest to me.

I couldn’t choose between the two pairs because they have different vibes, so at $8.00 each, it was doable to purchase both. Joel was in full support!
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Here is one pair. I wear these most of the time:

​Here is the other pair. These are suede and so cute! I wear these when I want to look a little more polished:

​If it’s Fall, I’m in brown boots. There is no question. I hate accumulating too many “things,” but since these were secondhand and I will undoubtedly wear the crap out of them – I felt comfortable stocking up! What are your “go to” shoes for the fall?

I must say, I was quite upset when Zac Posen said he was closing his fashion label. It certainly feels like something is missing without him (in the little corner of the high fashion world I admire at least). I was very inspired by his creations. So many of them took my breath away. I am still holding out hope that he’ll be back. If you’ve watched “House of Z” on Netflix, you know he is a resilient man and this isn’t the first time he’s fallen down, only to get back up better than ever.
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Anyway. What I’m trying to get at is that although I still very much miss Zac, a new designer has caught my eye and his work gives me the same kind of feels (almost) as Zac’s. Let me introduce to you Brandon Maxell (these looks were in his spring/summer 2020 collection):

​I really like that although he has some killer gowns that we’d normally only see on celebrities (like Mandy), he also has a huge variety of everyday pieces that any woman could wear. Even if a person can’t afford his clothing (I know I can’t) – his looks can inspire us to get creative with what we have or can afford! I already know I’ll be doing an “Outfit Imitation” with thrift finds of one or more of his looks. He takes classic pieces and looks at them with fresh eyes, using new fabrics, combinations, and fits.

​It’s also commendable that he does menswear in addition to womenswear. I’m wondering if it’s easy for him to do both because his womenswear collections obviously have a strong menswear influence.

I don’t know much about who he is as a person or his backstory yet, but what I found online via Wikipedia is this: Brandon Maxwell (born September 18, 1984) is an American fashion designer, television personality, director and photographer. He is the founder and creative director of Brandon Maxwell, the luxury women’s ready-to-wear label. Prior to launching his eponymous womenswear label, Maxwell entered the fashion industry as a stylist. He began assisting Deborah Afshani in 2009, followed by Nicola Formichetti in 2010, where he was introduced to Lady Gaga, as Nicola was her stylist at the time. In 2012, Maxwell took on the role of Lady Gaga’s fashion director. Many influential women, including Michelle Obama, Karlie Kloss, Jennifer Lawrence, Oprah Winfrey, Nicole Kidman, Jane Fonda, Viola Davis, Queen Rania of Jordan, and Kerry Washington, among many others, wear Maxwell's brand.

And he’s on the Bravo’s new version of Project Runway. Knowing this makes me want to get cable!

In summary, I’m completely obsessed with Brandon. He’s rolling out his pre-fall 2020 ready-to-wear line right now and WOW. Here are some pieces I love (I have literally visited his Instagram page multiple times to re-look at these outfits):

I think I like him so much because 1) I didn’t know until I found him that this is my ideal way of styling clothing and is (luckily) close to the way I dress already – only elevated – which makes me want to push my wardrobe further; 2) a lot of his looks are attainable without having to buy his pieces and they’re not so “off the wall” that you can’t find something similar at a lower price point (not saying what he’s doing has “been done before,” of course I would buy if I could, I just can’t, so mimicking is the next best thing); 3) his use of color is sublime; and 4) I’m just extremely inspired by him.

What do you think? Do you like his stuff, too? What designers are really speaking to you right now? I’d love to know! I’ll forever be looking for more designers to fill the Zac Posen size hole in my heart.

All photos on this page are courtesy of Brandon Maxwell's official Instagram page @brandonmaxwell.

I have a large chest, so I never thought cute bralettes would be an option for me. Turns out, I just hadn’t been looking at the right ones for my body type. I found the perfect version at (of all places) Scheels! I hate going to Scheels. There is nothing for me there (or so I thought) – it’s just not my scene. Until now.
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My dear aunt invited myself, mom, and sister to a “Ladies’ Night Out” that Scheels in Cedar Falls was hosting. The tickets sold out in four minutes, so that told us a lot about how awesome the event must be. I heard “everyone gets a swag bag” so was in without hesitation. Little did I know I’d find several items I liked enough to buy in the moment, and others I’d like to go back to purchase.

To sum up the evening – it was AMAZING. Below is a photo of the swag bag contents. Completely unreal. The buzz everyone was on from the swag bags to the sales to the prizes was palpable.

As part of the swag bag, we got a $10 Scheels gift card. I also won a $10 gift card at their wheel of chance game. That gave me $20 to spend. There were many sales going on, so we browsed through all areas of the store, including the women’s clothing. I came across a section of super cute bras. Some were half off, making them $10. I had to get at least one. I found this olive green “Women’s Fornia Lattice Front Bralette”:

I loved it immediately, but even more after I put it on. It was comfortable. It supported my “girls.” It was padded. And most importantly – it was pretty! I have styled it two different ways since getting it, shown below.
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I wore this outfit to a bar to watch a show. I was feeling myself for sure. It was something I threw together last minute (building the outfit around the bralette) and now it’s all I want to wear!

I wore this to do yoga. I stand a little straighter when I’m in gear that makes me feel good. Trying to embrace my shape, it’s different than what I’m used to, but I’m feeling surprisingly good in this season of my body.

The cut is perfect. It goes down a little further on the rib cage and shows just enough cleavage. And like I said before, it’s just so comfortable. Comfortable and sexy don’t normally get mentioned together to describe a piece of clothing – but this bralette is the exception.

I’ll be back to buy another in a different color and probably check out the other styles Scheels has. My mom picked one up that she really likes with a high neck, I’ve linked it here.
Let this be a friendly reminder – don’t write a store off just because traditionally it hasn’t been a good fit for you. We evolve. So do stores. Second chances are a must.
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In case you are wondering what else I got – I picked up this warm, quilted vest that was half off as well. Again, in olive green. That color is one of my favorite neutrals for fall.

We’ve had a pretty quiet wedding season this year but had one in August and have another coming up in October. My closet is pretty stocked with summer dresses and I wanted a dress that had more of a Fall feel to it.

Target to the rescue! I’ve said that more than once in my lifetime...After trying on several dresses from the discount rack, I wandered over to their new arrival area. I was immediately drawn to a floral dress (which is typically the case) with a deep green/olive base and burnt orange/blush flowers. The overall design had a very vintage feel to it, which also appealed to me.

I had a pair of rust mules in my hands (that I have been wanting for sooo long) that matched really well with the flowers, so I thought I’d give the dress a try.

It was magic. I put it on and I felt like the woman I aspire to be. If I had a few drinks in me, I probably would have twirled right out of the dressing room!

I think this picture says it all! I wore it to the August wedding and felt extra confident. When Joel saw me in it, he said it looked like I stepped out of a different era. And I didn’t know I’ve always wanted to hear that until he said it.

The brand is A New Day and I can’t find it online to link it, but found mine in the Waterloo, Iowa Target. The nude heels I ended up wearing with it (instead of the mules) are also still available, find them here!

I really enjoy watching Met Gala photos roll in on social media on the night of the event. Fashion as art. One of my favorite things! Makes me feel all the feels.

This year’s “Camp: Notes on Fashion” theme was especially interesting. Camp in this context meant exaggerated, extravagant, gaudy, ironic, kitschy, and tongue-in-cheek. The outfits walked down the carpet were all of this and more.

​I wanted to share some of my favorite looks.

The winner of the evening in my opinion was Lady Gaga. I mean come on, she did a full on performance as she ascended the stairs to the gala, showing off 4 different looks!

Loved the colors and cape detail on this look. It definitely matches up with Florence’s ethereal presence.

I thought this was a fun, young look that really stood out. From head to toe Elle looks gorgeous.

I am not a Kardashian fan, but I couldn’t deny how much I liked Kim’s dress. It was beautiful, she looked great, and I loved how the crystals dripping from her dress looked so much like water droplets.

The only time I like Gucci is when this man is wearing it. Harry 4-ever.

I would so wear this! So girly and soft. I really like Emma’s dewy make-up and the floral crown was the perfect touch.

And last but certainly not least, my boy, Zac Posen, killed it with his designs! He worked with GE Additive and Protolabs to create looks using a 3D printer. The results were stunning!