Kaley's Weekly Wear- 3

Hello again, friends. I join you again from my desk here in Waco with a bit of a confession to make.

This is how I prepare to write. Iced coffee and mustache glass in hand.

Actually, I have to put the glass down before I start typing, but you get what I mean.

You see, I've had a few pretty good hits this week. A couple of misses, too, but let's focus on the positive for a second.

I wore a cute dress to the Farmer's Market. I went to a birthday dinner early in the week and wore one of my favorite vintage dresses (and heels!). The other night I went roller skating (where I was seriously injured in a selfless- and successful- attempt to avoid rolling over a child), and I think I pulled together a pretty solid casual look, which is rare for me. We all know what my typical "casual" wardrobe is. (If you don't yet, read on-- you will soon.)

In my mind, I was keeping track of my average style score for the week, and I was feeling pretty good about it. But I made a colossal mistake.

I didn't take any pictures of the previously mentioned ensembles.

I'm still trying to get in the habit of getting pictures of myself- or asking people to take pictures of me. There are few things I hate more than being the sole subject of a photograph, so asking for that to happen on a daily basis is quite counterintuitive.

So I'll be honest- last week's "best" wasn't necessarily my best. It was just the one I wore the day before I wrote that post.

This week I did things a little differently. I put one of my best outfits back on this morning and had my sister take a picture of me in our front yard.

So there you have it. My confession.

That's why half of my photographs are self-portraits in the mirror, and the other half aren't in cool locations like the Brooklyn Bridge.

Well, you can also partially blame that on the fact I live in Waco. But mostly it's the first thing.

Anyway, next week I'll try to overcome my self-consciousness and have legitimate pictures for you all.

Okay. Now that I've cleared my conscience, let's do this.

THE WORST:

That Dove chocolate wrapper next to my mirror says, "You make everything lovely." Not today, Dove chocolates. Not today.

Here we are once again. Me. My ill-fitting v-neck. Some Nike-shorts. But this time I traded in my ribbon flip-flops for my Baylor flip-flops, which I would never dare to speak ill of.

Also- that's a neon green sports bra sticking out of the shirt there. Just to class it up a bit.

To give this ensemble a little bit of context, I wore it into the office that morning. (I know.) I had to run in to do a few quick things, and I didn't feel like showering. Or getting dressed. So I wore this, thinking I'd be able to get in and out without seeing many people.

But as luck would have it, all the classes got out early that day to have a big social hour in the main lobby.

The one I had to walk through upon entering the building.

Right as this gathering was happening.

Awesome.

One of the students I work with saw me and said, "Ahhh, Kaley!" and then proceeded to laugh at me because I looked "different."

It was a real confidence booster.

THE BEST:

My front yard is almost as pretty as the Brooklyn Bridge. Go on- look at all that dead grass. I'll see if I can print up postcards for anyone that puts in a special request.

Now if you read my entry from last week, I know what you're thinking- this is almost the exact same outfit. And to that I would say, "You right."

But I'm pretty proud of the fact that I thought to pair purple and orange in this ensemble. Do people do that?? Maybe it's obvious to everyone else, but I thought it was a bold move.

I guess the shirt looks more red in photos, but it's orange. And the wind makes the skirt (and my hair) look weird, but it has a 50s flare and pockets that make it fantastic.

So, anyway, here's the line-up:

Shirt: Still Old Navy

Skirt: J-Crew outlet (making it even more eerily similar to last week)

Necklace: Still Old Navy

All the other Accessories: Target

Much like Christy, that belt is probably the #1 item on my "Most Worn" playlist. I love belting skirts and dresses. I struggle to wear one without a belt, actually. I just think it's the perfect accessory- it pulls everything together and emphasizes the smallest part of my body? MVP of my closet, for sure.

There you have it. Awkward photos of my worst and best for the week.

As Christy mentioned, we would love to see what you're wearing. Send us pictures of yourself- or even pieces of your outfit. You might be featured right here!

Send us a tweet here or here.

We look forward to being inspired!!

Also- keep an eye out for the wrap skirt tutorial! It should be posted soon!

Saturday Sneak Peek!

Well, everyone, it's a beautiful day here in Waco. I just got back from a great trip to our local Farmer's Market- one of my favorite things about our little city. I'm in a really good mood after such a lovely adventure, I have a record spinning, and I'm feeling pretty productive (thanks, in part, to Outdoor Waco and their iced coffee- shout out!).

This means one thing: I'm about to sit down to work on a special post I've wanted to do for about a week now. So here's your

SATURDAY SNEAK PEEK!

(I hope the font and alliteration communicate the excitement I'm feeling right now.)

When I look at this photo, I obviously notice the skirt. Then I notice my purple feet. I'm not sure why they look like that. One of them was bruised when the photo was taken, but not that severely. I promise they are fine.

This little number is a wrap skirt I created a week ago after a spur-of-the-moment trip to Hobby Lobby and some marathon Olympic game watching. I looked at a skirt I purchased a while back (with Christy, actually) and said, "I could make this."

Now I'll be the first to admit I say that phrase pretty frequently. I'll also confess it's usually not true.

Actually, I guess I wouldn't know how often it is or isn't true; I typically don't try to make the things I boastfully claim I could create. It's a pretty effective way of sparing my pride.

But it this case I did. And, as it turns out, it wasn't too difficult. So I'm going to write up a tutorial to share with you all, which will be posted here later this week. So if that sort of thing strikes your fancy, be sure to come back and check it out!

That being said, I hope you all have a delightful weekend- filled with sunshine and friends and rest and all good things!

Including some fantastic outfits.

If any of you are particularly proud of your ensembles this weekend, send or tweet us a picture! We'd love to see what you're wearing! We could always use more inspiration!

Tricky Questions: Kaley's Answers

What up, everyone??

First of all- I won't start a blog entry like that again. Second- it's my turn to post responses to the questionnaire. Here they are:

Where are you located?

I am currently located in the thriving metropolis of Waco- the 22^nd largest city in the state of Texas, according the 2010 census. Waco is home to many great things- Dr. Pepper, a surprising number of celebrities (the Simpson sisters spent formative childhood years here, Steve Martin and Jennifer Love Hewitt were born here, and the men who directed the Tree of Life and The Count of Monte Cristo were born and raised here- just to name a few), the Cameron Park Zoo (never been? Your loss), Cameron Park (see the previous parenthetical), tortilla tossing (one day I’ll post a video of this magic), the Baylor Bears, and so much more! Who cares about New York now, right??

Really, though. I love Waco. I’ve lived here for the better part of seven years now, and the place has grown on me. Do I want to live here forever and ever and ever? Eh… Probably not. But for now? I’m happy. Which is good, because I’m stuck here for at least another year until I finish my Master’s.

How would you describe your personal style?

This question is surprisingly hard for me. I can describe what I want my personal style to be- indie hipster chic. I think most of the time I’m too mainstream for that, though, so I’d say I’m probably on the mellow end of that spectrum. Vintage clothes really strike my fancy, so I wear those whenever I can. Because I’m too mainstream to be hipster, I’m fine settling with clothing that has a vintage feel. Basically, I like clothes that are unique and interesting, so I’m trying to move in the direction of wearing them more often.

Describe/provide an example of yourself on a good day and a bad day.

I’ll go ahead and start with the bad to get it over with.

On bad days, I tend to be guilty of two different “un” words: I am uninventive and unaware. Uninventive in the sense that I wear the same (boring) outfit repeatedly. Unaware in the sense that I am oblivious of how things fit on my body. It’s a terrible combination.

I guess I have a tough time on these days because I wake up and just feel off.

Actually, "off" is an understatement. In reality, I feel like a monster. I try to avoid looking in the mirror because I’m afraid I’ll see this staring back at me:

To avoid turning into stone, I quickly put on whatever is on the top of the stack of clothes in my drawer that morning (or, sometimes, whatever is on top of the pile of clothes in my closet) and slither out the door.

They are rough days.

But, unfortunately, it’s difficult to avoid mirrors all day long, and at some point, I catch a glimpse of myself. I realize that what I thought was a perfectly fine outfit is actually a too-large shirt and old jeggings (that’s right) that are a bit too baggy in the booty. I basically end up looking like an upside-down triangle. And apparently I forget how bad this looks each morning, because I do this to myself on a regular basis. Seriously- if you have ever seen me in the past 2 years, there's a 99% chance you've witnessed me in some variation of that ensemble. I'd be lying to you if I said it hasn't happened in the past week. It's just so easy!

Here’s a picture that doesn’t quite do justice to how bad it looks:

Luckily the photo cuts off so you can't see how much these pants taper.

On a good day, I wear clothes that fit my body and are adorable. I'm actually creative in the way I combine clothes and accessories, and I walk out the door feeling awesome. I don't mind catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and when I do I pause for a moment and think, "Yeah... I look good." Sometimes I say it out loud- I'll be honest. And shouldn't we all feel that way every day? Imagine how happy the world would be if we did!

Here is an outfit I wore earlier this week that wasn't too shabby:

I like the combo of the bright floral top and unique button-up skirt. You can't see the details in this picture, but the skirt has some cute front pockets that give it a little pop. I'm also wearing a belt- which is one accessory Christy and I both love. Again, you can't see any of these things well in the photo, but I am sporting my braided nude sandals, a vintage inspired green bracelet, and my trademark giraffe necklace. Bam- an outfit that trumps the weird lumpy triangle look.

Side note- I hope you're all prepared for a lot of photos of me posing with similar awkwardness, because that's what's coming at you in this blog.

What is your friendship story with your co-writer?

Christy and I first met at a camp where we were both campers and then counselors. We then wound up in Waco, as students at Baylor University, but it took years for our friendship to really take off. It’s hard to say what it really was that sparked such a close bond between us- I think it was a combination of talks about watching Spice World and actually watching way too many episodes of America’s Next Top Model. But at some point through those years, we realized that we have a lot in common- one such thing being our interest in fashion. I’ve been so thankful for Christy’s friendship over the years; whether we’re going thrift store shopping or staying up for hours talking about the important things going on in our lives, she has been someone I can trust in and depend on constantly. Even from a distance, she’s such a wonderful support and encouragement to me, so I am thrilled to write this blog with her!

What is the purpose of this blog?

This blog serves many purposes. It gives Christy and I an opportunity to exercise our sharp wit. It also gives us a chance to write together, which is a really fun way to keep in touch when we’re so far apart. But we could have chosen a blog with a totally different theme and still done those things. The reason we picked this one is because, plain and simple, Christy and I both enjoy fashion. We like picking out and looking good in great outfits.

The problem is, we also tend to get lazy sometimes. Even with a lot of solid options on things to wear, I find myself matching the same v-necks with jeans over and over (and over) again. It’s crazy. I get stuck in an incredibly boring and quite unattractive rut. And it occurred to me that, you know what? At 25, I’m way too young to do that! I shouldn’t be a candidate for What Not to Wear yet! (Although I’d love to meet Stacy and Clinton- love them!) I should be looking fierce and fabulous every day! (Well, almost every day… let’s be honest, everyone deserves sweatpants occasionally.)

When Christy and I talked about blogging together, we realized that with this interest and bad habit in common, we could create a fashion blog as a way of both keeping in touch and keeping one another accountable- to looking good and not letting ourselves go quite yet. So here it is. The fruit of our labor. The good, the bad, and the “meh.” We’re sure you can relate. We certainly hope you do.

Provide a picture that best describes your friendship. Explain.

I know- this is the second time I've posted pictures of us in Lady Gaga costumes. I'm fine with it.

Once I was at a froyo place and saw an advertisement for a Lady Gaga costume contest that was taking place at a bar a few weeks later. I immediately texted Christy, and we began planning. We worked out the costumes you see above, which were clearly brilliant. Then we arrived at the bar and realized we were the only people dressed up.

We changed in the car and entered like nothing happened, but it’s one of my favorite pictures of us to this day.

I think it represents our friendship well because it shows the following things:

1. Our love of pop culture

2. That we can be completely ridiculous with one another

3. The obvious fact that we look as good in Lady Gaga costumes as Lady Gaga herself- maybe better.

Also, remembering how we both rocked nude leotards and thought we looked like superstars (or at least felt the other looked like a superstar) makes me think of how much we believe in one another and how confident we are in this friendship.

I mean, seriously. Look at that! We look good!

Who are your style inspirations?

Well, obviously Tyra Banks in this photo:

No one rocks an angel wing on her face the way this woman does. But we can all aspire to such greatness.

Apart from that, I would say it’s more general groups/things than specific people. Aka- the people in Anthropologie catalogues. Walking through that store makes me wish I could be a millionaire for sure.

I’m also inspired by vintage stores, good music, bright colors and hipsters. It’s a lot, but I’m working on channeling all of those things into a look. It’s a work in progress, as you’ll see in this blog...