Ms Mermaid: ootd

We'll soon say goodbye to summer and it makes me a little bit sad that I didn't get out to enjoy it this year.  It's possibly my last chance to live so near the ocean that I can run down to the beach for a quick swim, but it just wasn't meant to be.  I guess I'll just have to snuggle up under one of those mermaid tail shaped blankets and watch Splash this weekend.  Just because summer is ending, doesn't mean I have to pack up all my siren prints for the season as well.

   I discovered this mermaid print top on Ebay and it was so cute it was calling to me, but it was shipping directly from an outlet style store in China which is a gamble on quality and sizing.  Sometimes I'm willing to take a bit of a risk for a bargain and since it was cute and only $11 I made it mine.  The top arrived in less than two weeks and fit true to size (Asian M = US XS/S).  It seemed to be decent quality, but after one wash (cold water, like colors, hung to dry rather than tumbled) a lot of the dark red seaweed prints ran in pink smudges.  It wasn't bad enough that I can't wear the top and I'm hoping since I didn't put it in the dryer that it will fade with another washing or two.  So, even though it isn't great, I can't complain too much.  I knew what I was getting in to.  

    As far as putting an outfit together, I always have to resist that temptation to make everything match.  I almost audibly had to tell myself to put away the starfish hair clip and the seashell purse.  I wasn't going to a costume party after all, and that's what it looks like when outfits have a theme.  It's hard to take someone seriously when she's dressed like a beach threw up on her.  So, for this look it's mermaid love not a nautical overdose.   I limited myself to one ocean-y item and the rest will have to wait for another day.

 Shop The Look:

Mermaid Blouse

Jewelry is my own design

Ann Taylor Loft Skirt and and JouJou Jacket are from ThredUp  

use this link to sign up and save $20 off your first order  

All About that Ombre

It seems like every time I say the word "ombre" I get asked what it means.  Even my spell checker doesn't recognize it.  So, let me do a quick definition of what it is before we talk about how to do it.  Ombre is when you have a color that gradually goes from light to dark.  I'm redefining it a little to be using multiple shades of the same color in one outfit.  Having everything in one matching color is boring, but taking one color and wearing several pieces in lighter or darker variations creates some visual interest.  I'm going to show you how to do that with the same color (purple) in two different outfits.

When choosing your color, be aware that some colors make such a statement that they really need to be worn in moderation. For example I've seen an orange ombre dress that really just looked like a melting Popsicle costume.  So, when you're just starting to play around with this style, stick to the basics like blue, green, purple, pink, or even brown or black.  I chose purple for this demo because some of its shades have so much blue that they're almost neutral and also because I have so many shades of it.  In a later post, I'll repeat this theme with brown, rust, and tan.

This is my first selection of purples to ombre.  The top and scarf, and the dress in the next outfit were all purchased from ThredUp.com, my favorite online thrift store, for $37.  If you're new to ThredUp, use this link to sign up and save $20 off your first purchase ThredUp 

    This first outfit is very casual and uses three shades of purple going from the lightest shade at the bottom to the darkest at the top.  The scarf also has an ombre theme with the accent stripes.

The second style is more dressy and I really only used two shades of purple and black counts as a neutral.  Using only two shades is a good way to start playing with this concept if you're afraid of single color overload.  I love the eyelet details on this dress and the top above, which add visual interest to all these solids, but I would advise against using prints with this look as it might be overwhelming to the eye. 

Shop the Look:

Shirt from ThredUp for $6

Dress from ThredUp for $27

Scarf from ThredUp for $4

Boots, Purse & Cardigan from ModCloth.com

Heels from Charlotte Russe

Jewelry is Handmade

Satchel is from a local thrift shop