The Outfit Repeater

Tag: fashion

Fit Check: Everything I’ve Been Wearing To Work

What I Wore To Work Recently

Long time, no fit check-in!

As a social media manager at maurices, I get first dibs on seeing new arrivals and playing dress-up with them in-store.

Here’s a look at what I styled in-store from the past few months.

Ready for some outfit inspo? Let’s dive in!

(Please note: any sale signs featured in the photos are from the past and do not reflect current sales or prices at maurices. Follow our page @mauricesmonroewi for the latest deals at our location!)

What I Wore: Lovely In Red

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but it was fun to be surrounded by so much bright red and garments dotted with hearts. I had fun trying on some new-to-me silhouettes and showing off the details that made these pieces special.

What I Wore: Christmas Clearance

If Valentine’s Day feels far away, these looks are from clearance during Christmas! On our social media feed, I’ve been trying to showcase more of the versatility of our pieces. I especially love showing off how much bang for your buck you can get out of a clearance item.

You don’t have to go broke to dress fashionably!

What I Wore: Pastels and Purses

Spring always ushers in lots of colors and is one of my most beloved style seasons at maurices. You can tell I’m having fun sporting pink and stripes—two of my all-time favorites!

Plus, we’ve been getting in a decent selection of purses, tote bags, and belt bags. They’ve been lacking in recent years but I think corporate heard our cries and they’re making a comeback. I can’t wait to see what’s next!

What I Wore: Forever In Blue Jeans

Jeans will always be a staple at maurices. We’re going through some major updates on that front too: expanded cuts for plus sizes, new inseams coming, and more trendy styles than ever before!

In Clothesing

Which look caught your eye? I’d love to hear your favorite in the comments!

I hope these outfits spark some inspiration for your own wardrobe or give you the confidence to try out a new trend. If you need a style number or more details before your next shopping trip, don’t hesitate to ask—I’ve got you covered!

And if any of these looks stood out to you, don’t forget to save them to your outfit inspiration board on Pinterest. Your support means the world—thank you for reading!

ALSO SEE MY STYLE ON:

FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE

March 24, 2026
What I’ve Learned About Fashion After 8 Years of Outfit Repeating

Becoming The Outfit Repeater

Wanna know a secret? You don’t have to be an expert to post stuff online. I just had a passion for fashion and access to a camera and a computer when I started my blog The Outfit Repeater in January 2015!

To make a short story long: in 2014, I was fashion blogging under another name and feeling really worn down. (No pun intended) I felt like I had a message to share in the secondhand fashion space but it wasn’t reaching the right audience.

I spent months brainstorming, reading articles from Pinterest, and pouring over fashion magazines until the right inspiration hit; I would become The Outfit Repeater! So in January 2015, I hit refresh on my blogging efforts, and now here we are!

Making that switch (especially after blogging under the previous name for 6 years) was a game-changer! I owe so much to this blog and everything it’s brought me and taught me over the years.

What I’ve Learned About Fashion

I think the biggest thing has been watching my personal style evolve. It’s taken me a few trips around the sun to get it just right! Here are a few lessons I’ve picked up after posting my outfits online for the past 8 years!

• It’s not the end of the world to develop a signature style. I thought doing this would box me in but it’s actually helped me when I shop because I can spot a “Hannah Rupp” piece from a mile away. (Looks like stripes are part of my signature style!)

• Layering makes an outfit interesting. I really picked up on layering outfits when I started working as a stylist at Maurices in 2018. It was a huge part of our training and it’s just stuck with me since.

• Comfortable clothes > trends… ALL DAY! I don’t have time for aching feet, or picking a wedgie, or adjusting my bra. It’s all about comfort for me these days, without losing my sense of style.

RE: Outfit Repeating

Sharing your outfits online is an empowering and inspiring way to express yourself and I’m excited to see where it will go in the future. Especially as the next generation has embraced sustainable fashion, thrifting, and upcycling as part of their wardrobe.

Here’s to another 8 years of sharing outfits online whether it’s a blog post, an Instagram Story, a TikTok video, or you spot me on the street! 🥂

ALSO STALK MY STYLE ON:

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January 12, 2023
My Style Goals For The Year + How To Set Your Own
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New Year, Better You

Happy new year! Now is the best time to think about who you want to be in the new year. From a clothing point of view, you may finally be ready to make some big changes!

I’m here to share my own style goals and help you set some for yourself. Let me know what you’re working on in your closet for 2023 and if we have any of the same style goals/resolutions/wishes!

2023 Style Goal: Fill In Color Gaps

I love color! I’ve spent the last couple of years cultivating a bright and bold color story in my closet.

Despite my efforts, I’m still missing a few colors. Namely PINK and PURPLE. (How am I missing pink?!)

So that’s definitely something I want to work on in 2023!

2023 Style Goal: Shop More Individual Secondhand Sellers + Small Businesses

Thrifting is my ride-or-die, as evidenced by partnering with thrift stores or thredUP over the years.

But I’d like to share the wealth even more by buying more from individual secondhand sellers or small businesses with ethical, sustainable, and size-inclusive collections.

What better way to give back to those who follow me and support MY fashion dreams than to support someone else with big fashion dreams?!

2023 Style Goal: Find The Perfect LBD

Finding black clothing is fairly simple, as it’s one of the most popular “colors” to wear. But finding the perfect little black dress? It still eludes me.

I’ve compiled a short “wishlist” on thredUP of dresses I’ve come across that serve as inspiration. I’d like it to have fun sleeves, a modest length, and a unique neckline. Overall, it has to be something that can be dressed up, dressed down, or styled in a playful way.

2023 Style Goal: Invest In Better Shoes & Denim

I had a goal of buying better denim last year and am still committed to it again.

This time I’m adding an additional challenge of finding higher-quality shoes. I rarely spend more than $30 on a single pair, secondhand or not. While I do have a good selection of shoes, the quality is lacking which means they wear out easily, are unsupportive, or are just in poor condition overall.

I wear a size 11 which makes it tough to find what I like, and what I need, in my price range. But I’ll keep looking!

2023 Style Goal: Narrow Down Sock Collection

My sock collection is a big ol’ mess. I technically did narrow it down, weeding out the ones with holes. But then I got the bright idea to stitch them and fix them which then increased the population again. Oops.. or a win for the environment?!

How To Set Your Own Style Goals

All of these goals are nothing without inspiration or intent! Here’s how I came up with the goals/resolutions and how to set your own!
- Create a vision board and mood board. Both are helpful in getting a big picture of what your style is now and where your style is headed.
- Evaluate your closet. Match it up with the aforementioned boards and see where you could work on things.
- Think about how you can be better. Nobody is asking for perfection but is there an area of your closet you’re slacking on? Do you need a better fitting bra? Or is it time to finally donate your pre-pregnancy clothes? Do some reflecting and consider them as goals.
- Get help from a friend. Sometimes, when we’re in our closets day in and day out, we’re too close to see issues or the systems we have in place not working. Have a (trusted) friend step in to give you some guidance. Maybe you need better organization or there’s a gap in your clothing needs. Work that out with your advisor!
- Listen to your closet. Maybe you don’t NEED anything – there’s not a product or item you need. Maybe you just need to reconnect to the clothes in your closet. A goal might be to reorganize it, play in it more, or wear all those hard-to-style items once and for all!
Wear To Go From Here

Just by reading this post and reflecting on the different points, you’re setting big things in motion in the universe! I’m so excited for us to step into this year – hopefully wearing really fabulous shoes – and see what happens.

Please follow along if you’d like more outfit inspiration and thrifty shopping resources. Also, be sure to Pin this post to reference later or share it with a friend who needs some motivation!

ALSO STALK MY STYLE ON:

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December 29, 2022
How To Upcycle Your Old Fashion Magazines Into Stylish Bookmarks!

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Read All About This DIY!

Dress up the pages of your current read with a fashionable bookmark you can make yourself in under 5 minutes!

I’ve spent a lot of time reading during the last 2 years and realized my bookmarks are pretty subpar. Random scraps of paper, some sophisticated magnetic types, and many I got from the Scholastic Book Fairs in the ’90s. (Yikes!)

The idea for a bookmark made from a fashion magazine struck after I saw something similar on Pinterest.. and I was probably browsing one of my many fashion magazines at the time. 😏

It’s super simple to make and only takes a few minutes to take your book from drab to fab. Be sure to Pin this post for later.. or bookmark it!

Supplies Needed

• Fashion magazines (Don’t have any magazines lying around? Order a free fashion catalog. Learn more in this post!)
• Scissors
• Tape or laminator
• Colorful thread, string, yarn, etc
• Hole punch

[irp posts=”17309″ name=”Fashion Catalogs You Can Order For Free”]

Instructions For Making a Fashionable Bookmark

• First, pull a few pages from a pre-loved fashion magazine.

• Cut out your shape from the page whether it’s an outfit, a coveted clothing item, or something else you found.

• Next use tape or a laminator to protect your magazine page. Be very generous with the plastic!

• Once your image is protected, cut around the outside, leaving a little extra along the edges and a lot of extra at the top.

• Use a hole punch to add a hole at the top of your image, where I had you leave all the extra clear plastic.

• Gather a handful of colorful thread together and loop it through your hole and tie a knot. Cut any extra string and save it for another project.

And that’s it. Now you have a stylish way to hold your place in a book!

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What book will you use it with? Here’s a list of my must-read fashion books, from memoirs by designers to sustainability guides!

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ALSO STALK MY STYLE ON:

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March 9, 2022
My Top 6 Style Goals of The Year

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2022 Style Goals

Happy New Year! The number on the calendar may have changed but I believe every day is a chance for a fresh start. I’ve worked on overhauling my closet for the past couple of years and feel really good about where it’s at. Between immense personal growth during the pandemic and turning 30 last year, I’m just feeling much more confident about the choices I’m making in my life.

Despite that, there’s always room for improvement. I did some reflecting after one of my amazing readers asked what my 2022 style/thrift goals are. I haven’t really made any since 2019 so this should be interesting!

In no particular order, these are my 2022 style goals!

Upgrade My Loungewear

I think we’re all at that point where our usual leggings, joggers, and sweatshirts are feeling pretty worn out.

Last year I had more doctor’s appointments and medical tests than ever before so my sweats were worn to the max! I also started working from home as a social media manager and comfort was important to me.

Needless to say, I’d like to buy more casual clothes that reflect where my personal style is going and that help me feel upbeat in my day-to-day situations.

Buy More Cute Pajamas

Going off the previous goal where I mentioned my health; my biggest and most persistent symptom is fatigue. Y’all, I spent 70% of my 2021 napping! (I did the math ?) Yet I haven’t treated myself to new pajamas in 3-4 years. It’s time to overhaul what I have and buy something new or like-new for optimum sleep.

Invest In Basics With “Flair”

I love the direction that my personal style is going in. Lots of color, patterns, and fun silhouettes. My focus right now is finding “basic” items (like t-shirts or jackets) that express where I’m going and have a bit of flair.

Increase The Quality of my Denim Collection

So last year skinny jeans started to decline, which I’m all for, but that means I have to overhaul a lot of my denim!

I have a pair of flares and some overalls but I’m still trying to find an elusive pair of boyfriend jeans for my body type and maybe some denim palazzo pants?! I’m up for experimenting with some new shapes!

Collect Special Occasion Dresses… For Real, This Time!

In my 2018 style goals post, I resolved to add more special occasion dresses to my closet. I followed that up at the end of the year and said I’d like to continue that trend in 2019.

In 2022, guess what I’m still working on? FINDING SPECIAL OCCASION DRESSES!

It’s not that I’m NOT trying, it’s just that I’m so picky about dresses that I’m having trouble finding exactly what I want. Even using thredUP, I struggle to find exactly what I’m looking for. Will that change this year? Stay tuned!

Continue Being Selective About Accessories

Another takeaway from my 2018 style goals wrap-up post was talking about accessories. I no longer try to force myself to wear what I have and have actually spent a considerate amount of time going through what I own and giving away what no longer sparks joy for me.

Now I’m all about being thoughtful about the choices I’m making when I buy or wear a piece. I will never be a jewelry maximalist and I’m finally OK admitting it!

Wear Are You Going?

Now I’d like to hear about your style goals! What are you hoping to add more of to your closet, or give away, or change? Let’s chat in the comments!

Please be sure to Pin this post or share it with a friend who could use some inspiration!

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January 2, 2022
How It Started, How It’s Going: Fashion Blog Edition

There’s a recent social media challenge going around with the title “how it started, how it’s going,” where you share progress you’ve made in one area of your life.

I thought it would be fun to reflect back on the amazing transformation my fashion blog has gone through in the last 11 years. (You can also check out my style revolution to see some cringe-worthy old outfits!)

Where I Started

My first blog, An Old Story, was actually started in 2009 and hosted on Blogspot. I was inspired to start a blog after reading What I Wore Today, Delightfully Tacky, and Gabi Fresh. I also knew my way around a camera and loved having fun in my closet so it seemed like an obvious fit.

My first blog was called An Old Story based on the fact that I shared thrifted clothes that I felt all had an old story to tell. I took all my outfit photos in my (admittedly) messy bedroom with a small camera and a self timer. Hey, we all have to start somewhere!

What Happened Next

During the next few years I invested in a camera, a tripod, a remote, and gained more confidence in taking my own photos in public spaces. I always had an interest in photography so it was cool getting to practice while also playing dress up. My two favorite things!

After 6 years, I felt like I had a pretty good grip on this whole blogging thing and spent a few months strategizing a rebrand and thinking about how I could take this hobby more seriously, expand my reach, and pick a name that better reflected who I am. That’s when I became The Outfit Repeater in 2015!

Related: Starting a Fashion Blog: What You Need To Know

I moved my entire blog from Blogspot to a self-hosted site on WordPress. (Ugh, what a DIY nightmare!) And eventually I upgraded my camera again (a Canon EOS M6!) and really started to settle into my new role.

How It’s Going

Something unexpected almost stopped everything when, a few years back, I developed chronic fatigue on top of some already present stomach issues. I thought about putting a pause on everything I had built because it was (and still is!) a struggle to concentrate and execute all the ideas I have in my head.

Aside from pre-shooting, drafting, and using scheduling tools, I’ve also come up with another solution to my creative problem.

To alleviate some of my strain, I set-up my own indoor photo studio that’s housed in a corner of my basement. It’s just a paper backdrop from Adorama and some cheap studio lights from Amazon. The system has worked brilliantly!

(I get asked about this choice all the time so now ya know why I don’t take outdoor street style photos like everyone else.)

Since I get most of my energy at night, it’s a huge godsend to be able to shoot photos or film videos indoors at my own pace. I actually wish I had done it back when I was healthy because it’s super handy! Plus, now a pink background has become my signature.

Related: Awesome Selfie Tips Using a Tripod

The Future

I guess in a strange way I’ve come full circle. I started with indoor photos and now I’m doing it again.

My message really hasn’t strayed very far from where I started either. I wanted to share my thrifted & affordable looks online to inspire people to be more conscious about spending and get creative with their wardrobes.

I’m just a couple months shy of turning 30 and it’s wild to know my 20s were so well documented online – all the good and bad outfits included. I feel like I’ll be entering the new decade with a better sense of who I am. I’ve developed more of a signature personal style that incorporates bright colors and edgy accessories and feel less afraid to wear weird stuff. I also lean much harder towards sustainability and secondhand which has come as I’ve grown up and learned more about the environmental impacts that fashion is having on the world.

Related: Goodwill Interviews ME About Thrifting!

Looking back on my fashion blog journey, I wouldn’t change a thing.

I’ve always teased that it would take me 10 years to become an overnight success and, well… I’m still working on it. But I’ve also learned that success isn’t everything. It’s honestly such a thrill just to have a creative outlet with an awesome community that’s excited and supports my content after all these years. You guys are the best!

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If you have any questions about starting a fashion blog, I would be happy to lend my expertise. I don’t have all the answers but after 11 years, hopefully I know something.

Please be sure to Pin this post so you can reference it later. Sharing my content makes a big difference and I really appreciate it!

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November 27, 2020
10 Celebs & Fashion Bloggers Who Inspire My Personal Style

The New Fashion Icons

One of my tricks for getting dressed faster is having a line-up of fashion icons and their inspirational outfits at my fingertips.

For a long time, we relied on celebrities and tastemakers to shape our style but now with the internet, we have fashion bloggers, influencers, and everyday people to look up to.

I believe that a fashion icon is someone that dresses in a way you admire. You might not want to recreate all their looks but you might strive to take elements of each one and shape them to suit your shape.

This post is a list of famous people and regular folks who I regularly look to for outfit ideas! Feel free to contribute your own in the comments.

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July 5, 2020
40+ Books About Fashion That You Must Check Out!

My Favorite Fashion Books

Reading a book is always the answer to life’s problems and what better time to learn something new or brush up on a particular topic than right now?

For me, that topic is fashion. I can’t get enough of it! When I’m not thinking about what outfit to wear next, I’m catching up with a fashion magazine, or pouring over the pages of one of the books in this post.

I perused my hold history from the library and picked out more than 25 books I’ve read through the years and found helpful.

Be sure to check them out (no pun intended!) if you’re in need a good read right now.

Let’s dive in!

Your Reading List

I know you’re here to read about fashion books, not a long blog post. So for the sake of time, I’ve arranged this list by the books subject matter so it’s easy to navigate and find your new favorite. Happy reading!

Designers & Style Icons

• Visionaries: Interviews with Fashion Designers (Alibris)

The title of this book really says it all. If you’re interested in getting a peek behind the fashion world curtain, pick up this book to learn more about the designers creating the trends you see on the runways today and how they made it to the top!

• The Sparkle Factory (BookShop)

Tarina takes you inside her creative process and shares a behind-the-scenes look at her business and personal life. After you’ve become smitten with her, there’s tutorials for creating accessories in the likeness of her brand!

• Iris Apfel: Musings of a Geriatric Starlet (BookShop)

After reading this book, you’ll want Iris Apfel to adopt you. Her iconic over-the-top personal style and poised way of speaking just make it hard not to fall in love with her. I highly recommend reading her book and then following her online!

• Steal Her Style: Fashion Icons and How To Get Their Look (Alibris)

As the title suggests, this book rounds-up some of Hollywood’s biggest stars from the past and present and breaks down their most iconic looks. It’s a light read for anyone who loves fashion + celebrities!

• Always Pack a Party Dress (Alibris)

I selfishly loved this book for all the celebrity stories. But at the heart of it, the author, Amanda Brooks, paints a really raw and real look at what the fashion world is like. Her journey was fascinating and inspiring to read!

• Fashion Rebels: style icons who changed the world through fashion (Alibris)

This was a fun little read that outlined different icons of fashion throughout many different decades. A great book for beginners in the fashion world!

• How to Be Old: Lessons in living boldly from the Accidental Icon (Alibris)

After reading this book by Lyn Slater, the only thing I’m afraid about when it comes to getting old is running out of outfits to wear. This story was an incredible read and inspiring for any upcoming blogger, writer, or influencer.

• Pat in the City: My Life of Fashion, Style and Breaking All the Rules (Alibris)

If the name Patricia Fields sounds familiar, it’s because she’s dressed so many of your favorite TV shows and icons. She’s a powerhouse all her own. I loved reading about her New York City upbringing, crazy parties, and entrepreneurial spirit.

• The House of Hidden Meanings: A Memoir (Alibris)

There’s no one more icon than RuPaul and his memoir makes sure you know it! While I was underwhelmed by the stories, and disappointed by the ending, I still had a good time reading all about the house of RuPaul!

• How to Build a Fashion Icon: Notes on Confidence from the World’s Only Image Architect (Alibris)

Law Roach is another name you might recognize known as a stylist to some of Hollywood’s hottest starlets. The book was incredibly flat, which was a let down coming from such a vibrant character. But I did appreciate the glimpses into Law’s early years!

DIY

• How To Tie a Scarf: 33 styles (BookShop)

Even in the digital age of online tutorials for tying a scarf, there’s something nostalgic about having a hard copy that shows you each step on paper. The visuals are striking, too, and help make sense of the different folds.

• DIY T-shirt Crafts (BookShop)

Chances are, we all have old t-shirts collecting dust in our closets. Put them to good use with one of the tutorials found in this book. There’s something for everyone!

• How to Make Jewelry With Tatty Devine (Alibris)

The visuals of this book will make your heart pound. It’s so stunning! But even more than that, it has simple tutorials you can follow to make your own quirky jewelry in the likeness of the radical Tatty Devine brand.

• Shitty Craft Club (Alibris)

This book lived up to it’s title and namesake group created by Sam Reece. It was a fun, colorful read with projects you have a decent chance of being able to recreate with stuff around your house!

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RELATED: 4 Ways To Use Iron On Patches (Other Than On Your Jacket!)

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Sustainability

• Thriftstyle: The Ultimate Bargain Shopper’s Guide To Smart Fashion (BookShop)

Think you know everything about thrifting? Think again! This book surprised even me, a lifetime thrifter, with information I never knew about. Thrift store practices, shopping tactics, and style tips are just a few things to expect from this book. I highly recommend!

• Wear No Evil (Alibris)

Fashion is having a huge impact on our environment and I love how this book brings attention to that topic with cold, hard facts but also fills us with hope about how we can change things in our daily lives. I finished this book feeling pretty motivated to make my life more sustainable, which I think says a lot about the content!

• Fashion Victim: Our Love-Hate Relationship with Dressing, Shopping, and the Cost of Style (Alibris)

If you want to dig into fashion at more than the surface level, this is a great book to pick up. It’s packed with sartorial information to make you think and reconsider your next purchase!

• Secondhand: travels in the new global garage sale (Alibris)

All thrifters need to read this book! It debunks so many myths and rumors in the secondhand world and really peels the curtain back on what happens to our stuff once it’s donated or thrown away. Believe me, it’s not what you think at all!

• New to You: How to Buy, Fix, and Keep Secondhand Clothing (Alibris)

I have such high praises for this tiny but mighty book. It’s packed with clothing facts I never knew I needed to know! Whether you’re just getting into secondhand shopping or have been doing it for decades, do yourself a favor and pick up this book!

Personal Style

• What I Wore (BookShop)

The OG fashion blogger herself, Jessica Quirk, steps up to help your closet in this light and informative read about personal style. What sets this book apart is that it’s divided by seasons so you can really envision a years worth of looks + learn about mixing & matching the pieces you already own.

• The Book of Styling: An Insider’s Guide to Creating Your Own Look (Alibris)

If you really don’t know where to start with your style, start with this book. It covers all the basics of different fashion personalities and has cute illustrations to match.

• Penny Chic: How to Be Stylish on a Real Girl’s Budget (SecondSale)

This book is written by a former fashion blogger (miss you, Shauna!) and is packed with real-girl outfit inspiration + advice for getting dressed. It was made during the height of the 2014 print mixing so don’t be too surprised to see a lot of that!

• Your Ultimate Guide to Style: Tips, Tricks and Ideas For Getting Your Best Look Ever (BookShop)

While this book isn’t breaking any ground, it’s still a light read that can spark some sartorial ideas and help you understand fashion trends just a little better.

• The Way She Wears It: The Ultimate Insider’s Guide to Revealing Your Personal Style (BookShop)

I almost love this book more for the pretty images than I do for the information. But fortunately both are really good in this book which means you get a step-by-step guide at finding your personal style + an eye full of visual goodness.

• Know It All Fashion: The 50 Key Modes, Garments, and Designers, Each Explained in Under a Minute (Alibris)

Fashion is kind of it’s own language, right? This book is great at translating it whether you just love fashion or want to get into fashion design. It will help make sense of everything from darting to what in the world Anna Wintour does!

• The Curated Closet (Alibris)

If you’re struggling with your personal style, shopping habits, or overflowing closet; you need this book! I read it after doing a deep dive into my own closet and personal style and found that a lot of the techniques were the ones demonstrated in this book. It’s a great refresher for longtime fashionistas or new ones needing some guidance.

• Secrets of a Fashion Therapist: What You Can Learn Behind the Dressing Room Door (Alibris)

While I didn’t *love* this book, I also didn’t hate it. It just kind of fell somewhere in between. Maybe the advice has become too outdated for our fast fashion world!

Decades

• What we wore: An offbeat Social History of Women’s Clothing (Alibris)

While I have a few books on this list that breakdown vintage fashion, this one is unique in that it’s written back in the 1980s and covers styles that were worn by everyday women like you and me. It gives you a slightly different perspective on the trends you’ve seen in vintage magazines!

• Fashions of a Decade: The 1980s (BookShop)

You didn’t think I’d have a list of fashion books without mentioning the ’80s? Dream on! This book talks about the styles of the ’80s as well as the influences that inspired them. It’s a little bit historial and a whole lot of fashion!

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RELATED: Clothing Labels I LOVE From The 1980s & 1990s

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• Style Me Vintage Series (BookShop)

I can’t recommend this series enough to anyone wanting to get into vintage fashion! Every book from this series does such a great job at covering vintage fashion terms & trends plus giving you detailed tutorials that are simple enough for even me to follow. LOL

• Bikinis, Bell-bottoms and Little Black Dresses: 70 Great Fashion Classics (BookShop)

If the 1970s are your thing, you need to read this book. The images are fun and inspirational, and the information covers everything about the decade that you can think of.

• The Vintage Fashion Bible: The Style Guide to Vintage Looks 1920s -1990s (Alibris)

The terms & styles used to describe vintage fashion can be overwhelming but this book breaks it down and makes it easy for anyone to understand the trends of the past. Highly recommend!

• Unseen Vogue: The Secret History of Fashion Photography (Alibris)

Every coffee table would be lucky to have this book on it! It’s a masterful look back at Vogue through the years with editorial shoots and high-fashion looks to get your creative juices going.

• Dressing the Part: Television’s Most Stylish Show (Alibris)

This is such a delightful read that left me flipping for more! It covered a huge span of decades and genres on television. There’s truly something for everyone in this book!

Outfit Inspiration

• Women in Clothes (Alibris)

This book is unlike any other on this list as approaches the topic of fashion through conversations with everyday women. Through their interviews it reveals how they get dressed, some of their biggest sartorial mistakes, and even more in-depth topics. It really puts the “personal” in personal style.

• The Tattoorialist: Tattoo Street Style (Alibris)

This book is such a creative take on the usual street style compilations we’re used to seeing. It puts tattoos at the forefront and frames them with amazing outfits. It’s such a visually appealing read!

• The Coveteur: Private Spaces, Personal Style (BookShop)

Fashion and interior design have a lot in common and this book goes to show that better than any other! You’ll want to replicate the outfits and drool over the magazine-worthy spaces.

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RELATED: How To Upcycle Your Old Fashion Magazines Into Stylish Bookmarks!

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• Self-styled: Dare To Be Different (Alibris)

Who doesn’t look browsing street style and learning about people with interesting backgrounds?! I was enamored by this book! The only thing I didn’t like is that I need more; an entire series!!

• Face Hunter (Alibris)

You can never read too many street style books. This one is an inspirational page turner that will make you want to raid your closet and come up with looks to get yourself photographed on the streets by Yvan Rodic himself!

In Clothes-ing

That covers everything! If you have a fashion book recommendation that you think should be on this list, leave me a comment so I can check it out.

Please be sure to Pin this post to refer to later. Thanks for reading!

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April 13, 2020
Everything You Need To Know About Fashion Trends

Now Trending: Fashion Trends!

Fashion trends come and go.. but where are they coming from? And where do they go?

While I always advocate for cultivating your own personal style, I also believe there’s no harm in checking out the latest fashion trends to stay relevant, try something new, and have fun without becoming a fashion victim.

You never know when you’ll find a trend that just jives with your personal style and fits flawlessly in with your current wardrobe.

But how do you know what’s trending and what’s worth investing in?

By just being on this website you’re already staying in the style loop! Now let’s look at other ways people predict what’s popular…

What is a fashion trend?

First of all, a trend is something that has a surge of popularity among the general masses. And likely by the time you notice it happening, it’s almost on its way out.

That’s because trends don’t have very long shelf lifes. They’re normally trendy because a lot of people aren’t wearing them and that makes the item covetable.

But once we all take notice, a trends lifecycles starts to wear out and people are ready for the next best thing.

Where do fashion trends come from?

Generally speaking, nothing is actually new. Fashion trends on the runways are usually repeated every 20 years so they’re easy to predict. However, there are some exceptions!

For example, a designer might mix and match from different decades or styles to come up with something relatively new.

Influencers are a thing now which make can make more obscure styles trend, not just those seen on the runway. Speaking of influencers…

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RELATED: How To Dress Like a Fashion Blogger on a Thrift Store Budget

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How do fashion trends get big?

Runways aren’t the only place trends are coming from (more on that below). With the rise of influencers, now the people we follow online can have a big impact on what’s trending.

They have the the power to sell out collections and help old trends re-emerge and look cool again.. all because they wore an item in a photo. (And likely had a genius marketing plan in place.)

Who decides what trends next?

Influencers don’t normally pull fashion trends out of thin air. The trends actually start a little higher! While some influencers watch the runways for ideas, there’s a bunch of other methods we can all use to figure out what’s next in fashion.

• Follow large websites with fashion authority (My faves are Refinery29, Man Repeller, and Who What Wear)

• Browse fashion magazines online or a grab a tangible copy (Elle, Marie Claire, or Vogue are good ones to start with!)

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RELATED: Free Fashion Catalogs You Can Order For Free

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• Take a walk around the mall and observe what styles are carried in each store.

• People watch in a crowded space. Hey, maybe while you’re at the mall! Take notes of what everyone is wearing.

• Invest in a crystal ball (JK!)

How to create your own trends

Just because influencers, models, and fashion tastemakers are following traditional fashion trends, that doesn’t mean you can’t start some of your own in your school, community, or workplace.

• Maybe you have a practical clothing trick that everyone around you wants to replicate. (Hello, like pairing tights with socks in the winter for extra warmth!)

• Invest in your personal style and buy things that make you feel good and express your personality. Over time, you’ll probably notice you’re attracted to particular pieces and that’s how you create trends in your own closet.

• Going off that, your friends and family will start to connect your clothes to your good mood and try out the styles you’re sportin’. Soon everyone will learn that there day goes better when they’re wearing leggings. Or maybe that’s just me?

To trend or not to trend?

A good rule of thumb, because trends are so fleeting, is to save yourself time and money by thrifting the trends you want to try. This is better on your wallet, the environment, and is easier to keep up with season after season.

And sometimes you can just get lucky if something starts trending that you already love because then you’re tres chic!

It’s ultimately your call if you’d like to try out a trend or not. Just don’t over-do it or else the fashion police will come a knockin’ on your door!

Be sure to Pin this post to reference later and share it with a friend who could use the info!

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RELATED: How To Update an Old Fashion Trend w/ Rit Dye

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February 19, 2020
Revisiting my Thrifting Fashion Goals for The Year: How Did I Do?

2018 Style Goals

I started off 2018 by making thrifted fashion resolutions for the year. To be honest, I haven’t looked at that list until right now when I was writing this post so it should be interesting how I did. Let’s take a look!

Buy more statement clothes

I actually think I played it safe this year with my fashion choices. The reason being was that my size changed drastically as a result of taking care of my health so I spent most of the year just building up a good selection of basics.

Now that things have settled down, I’ll try to carry this goal over to 2019!

Invest in dressy clothes

Aw, yes. I didn’t want to get caught without a fancy frock at a moments notice so I decided to stockpile some pretty gowns.

This was actually on my mind all year so I definitely think I succeeded!

Shop out of season

I did pretty good at this by snagging a few coats in the summer and some swimsuit tops in the fall. Sounds like a win to me!

Wear the darn jewelry!

I’m the worst at this. I hardly thrifted any jewelry this year and I still barely wore the pieces that I own. I promise I’ll try to change!!!

2019 Style Goals

Now that we’ve established what I did and did not do in 2018, I’m going to try to set some new thrifted fashion goals for 2019. Hopefully this time I stick to them better. 😉

Buy more skirts

Is it just me or does it seem that good skirts and dresses are hard to come by at thrift stores? My skirt collection is embarrassingly sparse so I really want to remedy that in 2019.

Be more mindful of my choices

Raise your hand if you’ve ever thrifted something you’ve been lusting over buuuut it was just a little off? Like a cute t-shirt that was actually too big. Or a beautiful dress that’s just a bit short.

We’re all guilty of this. I want to make sure that I’m buying pieces that I love, that fit, and will have longevity in my closet. I’m tired of buying things that are almost perfect. Who’s with me on this one?!

Find my perfect purse

I have more purses than I know what to do with but in the same vein as the resolution above, I’m finding they’re not as functional as I thought they would be.

So I’m determined to find the perfect small purse that fits my needs and is still cute!

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What style resolutions do you want to set for the new year? Be sure to follow my blog on Bloglovin’ to see how I do!

If you liked this post, please Pin it or share it with your thrifty friends so we can all keep each other accountable.

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December 23, 2018