SO Busy

It feels like it's been forever since I've posted about my goings-on.   I've been busy trying to get all this baby weight off so I can fit into all my great thrift finds.

I'm 8 weeks into a 12 week long fitness program.  The goal of the program is to transform your body through proper nutrition and exercise.  I consider myself to be pretty slender but was I shocked when I got the results of a hydrostatic (under water) weigh-in at the beginning of the program.   I had a mind boggling 50.5% of body fat. 

I personally think it's all in my upper torso- if you know what I mean.  Not too much I can do about it unless I opt for an augmentation, which I've actually considered on a number of occasions.  But then I always hear a little voice in my head saying, "Be thankful for what God gave you".  (The voice is actually my mother who thinks I'm being ridiculous because some people pay good $ for 'em)

I also joined a sports team to get extra exercise.  We've been practicing at least 4 times a week it seems. Wish me luck my 1st game is in 2 weeks!

                              I'm SoRosie
                            Stay Rosy Y'all

So Mixed Up

I'm still trying my hand at mixing prints.  I love the concept, but for me, it takes a lot of effort to get it right.  I definitely feel like I'm getting better at it but hey...practice makes perfect!

Recently, I mixed a Polka-dot shift blouse, with a tweed-like window pane skinny leg cropped pant.  Actually, the pants were thrifted so I'm not sure if they were actually cropped style or just short for my height.

While I loved the entire look, I'll be the first to admit the outfit was in desperate need of a POP of color.  I'm still working on wearing brighter colors now that I live in the south.  With spring being here but the weather still a bit chilly and rainy; I can still get away with wearing some of my winter items.   I'll try my hand at mixing patterns with a more colorful array of prints once it warms up a bit.

Not sure how much I paid for each of these pieces but I'm pretty sure the blazer, blouse and pants were less than $20 in total.

                           I'm SoRosie
                         Stay Rosy Y'all!

SO Pinspired

I generally like to pick out my outfits for the work week on Sundays. I try everything on to be certain they fit and look good together, I'll iron everything and hang them back in my closet.  When I'm feeling super obsessive compulsive, I figure out the weather for the week and sort the outfits according to the weather for each day of the week.

On the occasions when Sundays don't provide the luxury of picking my clothes out in advance, mornings can get pretty rough.  There are some mornings I wake up and as it turns out I'm not quite as into an outfit as when I first put it together.  I stand in the closet and stare around as if an outfit will just magically jump off the shelf.  Then the real troubles begin.  Items get pulled off hangers, tried on and tossed aside which creates a huge mess. 

Since I don't believe in magic, every now and again I go to my Pinterest boards for a little Pinspiration.  If you've ever used the site you know its sort of magical in its own way.  I mean you can find EVERYTHING on Pinterest.  Type an item and up pops a ga-gillion ways to style it.  My favorite search is on Polka-dots!  Try it out you can find Polka-dot everything!

Last week I hit my boards for a few Pinspired looks and came up with these looks to recreate.  I recreated these looks with mostly thrifted finds but I also have some pieces I picked up retail (discounted retail).  I try never to pay more than $20 for any retail find, although shoes are an exception to that guideline.

My thrifted items include:
Yellow Merona cardigan
Blue Pinstripe Old Navy Skirt
Black Manolo Blahnik heels
Burgundy DKNY corduroys
Vintage Blouse - No Name

I think I came pretty close to recreating these looks with items already sitting in my closet.  How did I do?  How do you get inspiration for your outfits?

                   @~~~~~I'mSoRosie
                         Stay Rosy Y'all

You Are SO What You Wear

Below are some of my fave looks of 2014.  I personally believe you can tell a lot about a woman by the way she dresses.  You are what you wear.  I, as you can see 1) am pretty conservative. 2) I don't do over the top costume(y) outfits, 3) I don't do trendy but I am always well put together, I like to think classic. 4) I love a nice blazer or jacket and I apparently will slip a vest in from time to time. 5) I'm not much of a girly girl and love menswear inspired looks occasionally. 6) I do have a girlish love of polka dots. 7) I prefer a nice pant over a skirt any day. My closet is evidence of this as 85% of my bottoms are pants. 8) I love shoes (YAY) another girlish quality.  I have an affinity towards peep toe. 9) The New Yorker that still lives in me tends to gravitate toward darker colored clothing although I will add a pop of color every now and then. 10) I love accessories, they are great for adding that pop of color just for fun. 11) I have lots of clothes and shoes and bags and jewelry, probably too much.  (Yeah NO) 12) I don't repeat outfits (strange right) although I will remix the heck out of specific pieces. 13) I like dresses but I don't think they  feel the same way about me. 14) I shop way too much (Hush your mouth, NO I DON'T)

Overall assessment of me: I am a reserved woman who takes care of herself and others,  a calculated thinker not a risk taker.  I like to show a little but leave a lot to the imagination.  I like to have fun but you won't see me on an episode of girls gone wild.

What does your personal style tell you about your personality?

@~~~~I'm SoRosie

Stay Rosy Y'all

I am SO cleaning out my closet!

So, I think it's been just about a year since I started thrifting and now my closet is starting to overflow.  I have a pretty decent sized walk-in, so when I started having trouble maneuvering about, it was time to clean house.  Well not really...it was more like organize house and set aside a few things for donations.

Cleaning out my closet was a three man job so I recruited my mom and son to help.  Y'all know he dipped out on me after only a few minutes! Geez...good help can be so hard to find.  But my mom, bless her heart, is a beast when it comes to cleaning.  It took us several hours but now I have plenty of space to go in and twirl!  Seriously! I literally went in and twirled from room to room in my closet!!  I think it will be my new hideaway.

Everything is organized pretty much by color.  I have separate sections for my work and casual clothing.  You know the saying " a place for everything and everything in its place" this now describes my closet.  Let's hope I can keep it that way!😕

Are you cleaning out or organizing your closet for the New Year?  I'd love to see your before and after.  Here are a few of mine.

              @~~~~~ I'm SoRosie
                  Stay Rosy Y'all!

So_Rosie in Red

Quite unconsciously my outfits this week had a hint or more of red.  I love how red, black and white complement each other in an outfit.  I think I'll carry this theme through  the month of December.  It's very fitting with the holidays in my opinion. 

P.S. I'm still loving my polka dots!!

Thrifted items:

-Banana Republic plaid pants

-Polka-dot skirt

-Talbots Hounds tooth Blazer

-Red Nine West Patent leather shoes

-Red Necklace 

                      I'm SoRosie in Red
                        Stay Rosy Y'all

Ooh No La La

The day I put this outfit on I was feeling confident and loving my look.   I wore stockings with it, oh how I hate stockings, but it was much too cool out to go bare legged.   Anyway, I was feeling quite lady like.  My pleats were swinging with every elongated stride.  You couldn't tell me I wasn't working it. Ooh La La!!
But wait,  as I'm strolling, wait... what the... Ooh NO La La.  I can see through my skirt.  *blushes*  Ok, check my surrounding (whew) the coast  is clear.  I sure hope that guy in line behind me waiting to pay for his parking doesn't have a story to tell!
Lessons learned/To Do ASAP:
(1) Check clothing for translucency before strutting down the street.
(2) Buy a half slip (do they sell these any more?)
(3) Activate my So(Sew)Rosie persona and sew a lining in that little flirty skirt.
Other than accepting a co-worker's invitation to lunch, I stayed at my desk all day.  Knowing my plight, he was kind enough to go out in search of a slip on my behalf.  Upon his return he declared himself my savior.  "5 stores later," he boasted proudly and handed me a small bag. "You know, the women in the stores said people don't wear slips anymore, but they said this would work," he added.
As I opened the bag I busted out with laughter...I was holding a pair of boyshorts!!!
I thanked him for his thoughtfulness (come on how nice was that) but regretfully informed him that those same women duped him out of a few bucks.
Luckily, I brought along my new favorite jacket.  I scored this lovely Talbot's trench from the Goodwill for $7, the perfect cover up for my trip home.
                   @~~~~ I'm SoRosie
                        Stay Rosy Y'all

Pleated Skirt, Sweater (NoName-Thrifted) Shoes (Nine West-Thrifted

Trench (Talbot's Thrifted)

October Thrift Haul!

I've had some good days,  I've had some hills to climb...but when I look around and I think things over, all of my good days outweigh my bad days, so I won't complain.  If you listen to gospel you recognize these lyrics.  (Marvin Winans Lyrics)  These words apply to many areas of my life, my thrift life is not exempt. Sometimes my runs are a complete bust but mostly I score some cool stuff,  so no complaints here.
 

Here are a few of my faves:

Plaid Ralph Lauren Blazer ~$5  I have a serious obsession with blazers, I would be ashamed to say how many I have but I actually haven't taken count.  But promise put them to good use.  I wear one at least 4 out of 5 work days. Oh snap, I just realized I scored a RL necklace that matches the buttons on jacket (whatacoinkydink)

Red Leather Jacket Guess ~$6

Ralph Lauren Tie ~$1

Utility Blazer J.Crew~$9 retails for~100-130

Faux Fur Utility Vest Old Navy ~6

Lucky Brand Crop jeans $.25 Too chilly out but for a quarter??

Brown Sperry TopSiders ~$6 I bought a retail pair and paid about $80 but I like these much more(SMH)

Spense Vest~$4 (For my menswear inspired looks)

Alfani Leather Jacket ~$30 I may have over paid for this but it was well worth it because it ends my search for a brown leather and I absolutely love it.

Talbots Shirt ~5

J Crew Shirt~5(Goes nicely with leggings and these boots)

Ralph Lauren Silk Sweater (Soooo Soft)

 

Do you think any of my finds are a hit or miss?
What have you scored for the fall? 

 

P.S. I also picked some fall decor for the front steps,  which I've already set out.  I would go take pic but it's a little brisk outside and I'm feeling quite cozy.

 

@~~~~I'm SoRosie

Stay Rosy Y'all!