Kohl's Archives - Fashion Fairy Dust

Plaid Slip Dress & Striped Tee: Best Marketing Strategy Ever

04.30.2015

On my way to work this morning I saw what has to be the best marketing strategy ever. Seriously, ever. I was behind this tank truck with large hoses attached and it was painted the most beautiful shade of blue. I realized from the hoses that it was a septic system cleaning truck. It took a minute for the words painted on the back to sink in. It said “Stool Bus” and in smaller lettering, “Hauling Yesterday’s Meals Today”. I completely busted out laughing. While driving down the road. Alone in my jeep. I prayed for a red light so that I could get a picture. Fate was on my side and I did get a sweet shot of it. If you follow me on Instagram, watch for it today. You really have to see it to believe it. Trust me, it’s fabulous.

So here is my much loved plaid slip dress styled accordingly for the beautiful spring weather. I last wore it here, styled with over the knee boots and a turtleneck and three feet of snow for a background. I gotta say I much prefer it without the three feet of snow. I could have gone the subtle route and layered it over a white tee, but that just wouldn’t be me now would it? It wasn’t quite warm enough for the short sleeve striped tee, so 3/4 sleeves it was. As I’ve said before, if you’re going to mix prints, keep them in the same color families so that they play well together (see here and here for more examples).

Linking up with: Thursday Fashion Files, Throwback Thursday, Spotlight Weekly Link Up, What I Wore To Work, A Labour Of Fashion, Style Elixir’s Friday Fab Favorites, Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop, Favorite Fashion Friday, Fun Fashion Friday, Passion For Fashion, Fashion Friday At Mummy’s Got Style.

Slip dress: Target (No longer available); Tee: Walmart (In-store purchase); Pumps: Kohl’s (Old)

Boyfriend Khakis & Camo Button Down: The Irrelevance Of Being A Fashion Blogger

03.23.2015

Sometimes it’s still weird to think of myself as a fashion blogger. I mean really, it’s a hobby; by trade I’m a teacher. But I don’t suppose that either of those facts make me any less a fashion blogger. If being a steelworker brings in the paycheck, but you lovingly tend your garden after hours, does that make you any less a gardner? I think not. In any case, the only time being a fashion blogger is really relevant in my world is when my friends and co-workers come to me for style advice…which actually happens more often than you might think. And I love it when they do because then I get to share my love of fashion in the real world and I gotta admit, that ‘s pretty cool. But, let me tell you the one thing that will make any fashion blogger (and I mean even the big time bloggers) feel completely irrelevant. Take two eleven year old girls shopping to spend some birthday cash. Umm…yeah. After about the third eye roll and or mini-smirk at a suggestion I made, I found myself a nice little bench in Justice to perch myself on and played with my phone. Normally my daughter enjoys shopping with me and listens to my words of wisdom like I’m Mr. Miyagi, but throw an extra little girl into the mix and I was done for. Maybe next time I’ll take a friend along with me so we can roll our eyes at them.

How is it that I’m pretty sure this camo button down has never made it to the blog before? I got it a year or so ago from the men’s department at Kohl’s. Usually I wear it open over a tee, but this time I decided to make it a little more girly by knotting it and pairing it with pink boyfriend khakis. I dressed it up even more with that magnificent piece of neckbling and my bright pink flats. For some reason recently I’ve been mixing my camo with pink (here’s the evidence). But camo is also one of those prints that lends itself well to print mixing like I did here and here. Funny how something that’s known predominantly for it’s association with hunters and soldiers can be so crazy stylish.

Linking up with: Sunday Funday Link Up, Creative Monday’s Blog Hop, Style To Inspire, Let It Shine, How I Fall, Personal Style Link Up, Link Up With Lisa, Visible Monday.

Button down: Kohl’s (Old); Khakis: GAP via Poshmark; Shoes: Windsor (Old); Necklace: Shamelessly Sparkly

Floral Skater Skirt, Graphic Tee & Coral Blazer: It’s That Time Of Year

03.18.2015

You know…that time of year when you absolutely adamantly refuse to wear another cable knit sweater or pair of boots. Like ever again. Or at least until next Fall when you’re dying to bust them out of storage. Even if we get that usual March snow that seems to happen most years, I will completely refuse to acknowledge it. Because you know, if you ignore something it just goes away, right? On the bright side there’s no snow or uber coldness forecast for the next week so maybe we’ll dodge that bullet this year.

It doesn’t get more Springy than this outfit. You are all aware by now of my love of skater skirts. (See here, here, and here). But this floral skater skirt may well be my favorite. It’s not just any floral; it’s pansies, and pansies are one of my favorite flowers so I imagine you’ll be seeing it around fairly often. I went with my “Fabulous” graphic tee to dress it down and the blazer to, well, dress it back up. How’s that for being all over the place?

Linking up with: Turning Heads Tuesday, Wednesday Blog Hop, Random Wednesdays, I Feel Pretty, Style Me Wednesday, Thursday Fashion Files, Throwback Thursday, Spotlight Weekly Link Up, What I Wore To Work, A Labour of Fashion, Reason To Dress.

Skirt: Kohl’s; Tee: Old Navy (No longer available); Blazer: Sears (Old); Shoes: Target (Old)

Faux Leather Pencil Skirt, Plaid Sweatshirt & Black Pumps: Stealth Professional

02.13.2015

At first glance you might be thinking, “Um, Debbie, what are you doing dressing all professional-like for work?” Never fear my friends, it’s not as it first appears. I called this outfit “stealth professional” on Instagram the other day because at first glance it appears that way, but upon closer inspection, maybe not. The pencil skirt is faux leather. And the plaid top is a sweatshirt. See, no need to worry. I haven’t been taken over by an alien being who is controlling my mind and forcing me to dress like a grown up with a job. Ain’t no mind control gonna make that happen. I like to have fun with my clothes and that includes my work wear. I never ever dress provocatively or in poor taste for work, but what most people consider professional is just too restrictive for me. Trust me, I can throw together a smokin’ professional look just as well as anyone (Exhibit A), but even then, I have to throw in something to make it unique and maybe a bit rebellious. If I don’t, it’s just not me. And that, in my opinion, is what personal style is all about. It tells the world a little something about who you are without speaking a word.

My lovely friend Alice at Happiness At Midlife posted a link to this outrageously cool faux leather pencil skirt from Ann Taylor on her Facebook page and the rest is history. I scored it for under $35 and I’ve gotta say, it’s pretty great. It looks and feels like the real deal, and it’s so comfortable. The skirt I originally ordered was too large and the return process was super easy and quick. I’m so happy I found it…thanks Alice! I haven’t given the plaid sweatshirt a spin for awhile so I decided it was time. I layered the red chiffon blouse underneath for the visual interest it provided and since I just wasn’t feeling boots that day I went with the black pumps. No, I wasn’t running around in all of this snow and ice in pumps…my trusty Bearpaws were waiting patiently in the car.

Linking up with: Throwback Thursday, What Wives Wear, Spotlight Weekly Link Up, What I Wore To Work, A Labour Of Fashion, Fashion Item Friday, Style Elixir’s Friday Fab Favorites, Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop, Fashionomics Friday, Favorite Fashion Friday, Fun Fashion Friday, Passion For Fashion Link Up, Fashion Friday.