Des Moines, I'm wearing your clothes

This summer, we're lucky enough to get to celebrate with seven of our pals as they tie the knot. Of course, with seven weddings comes a smattering of engagement parties, showers and other festivities. This, of course, requires a gal to be lookin' good like all the time.

Which is really, really pricey. Especially when I prioritized spray tans and bought a six-pack of them because really, no clothes are gonna look good on a pasty blonde.

Luckily, Des Moines is home to at least two super delightful consignment shops, a category of boutique I have only come to recently appreciate. Basically, when Des Moines hoit-iest and toit-iest tire of their Vera Wang, J Crew and other swank attire, they pass it off to these shops where bargain-hungry wedding guests like myself scoop them up.

I've found myself stopping by both Francy Pants and Worn (which is now expanding to West Glen!) about once a week to see what new steals I can find. So far, I've got two wins beneath my belt:

This yellow Banana Republic dress, which I got for $34.

And this simple black dress from J Crew which was my very favorite buy at $14 - tags on. 

Trust me, it's super cute, even when I'm not posing with my sister's leg.

What consignment deals have you found? 

Casualties of looking this good

Like every other Pinterest-obsessed blogger, I too have tried (and been won over by!) the no heat curls via headband.

Hello, vapid side eye. 

I did have one issue with this method:

See that massive forehead dent? Yep, I lived with that for about an hour after taking the headband off. Pinterest never warned me. But I have warned you, dear blog. I'm considering it my good deed for the day.

Smashing hat, darling!

I felt compelled to share this blurry photo of me in my adorable new felt hat from Target, which always seems to have exactly what I need to whittle my dollars away. They had a purple one, too. But I'm not sure I'm a purple hat kinda gal; are you?

I'm now ready for blustery days. Waft my way, autumnal breezes!

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The easiest way to look classy

...is to add a scarf. I learned this old trick down in New Zealand, where everyone dresses like fashionable hippies, which is pretty much my most coveted style. I'd see ladies strolling around, hiding behind huge sunglasses, with their skinny jeans and knee-high boots (in 2005, so ahead of us!) with long, loopy scarves, army jackets and sloppy buns, looking like they just might have paparazzi hiding behind bushes and buildings waiting for them.

Oh. How I envied them as I trotted to work in one of the three pairs of (boot cut. Gasp!) jeans I brought for my six month stay and Columbia jacket. ("Hey! I'm American! Hey! Just passin' though y'all. Don't mind little ol' me.")

One quick trip to a cheap-o boutique changed that and I was soon sporting a scarf  that was so horrendously tacky and cheap that it may have lost me friends along with the best of 'em. Whatever. At least I thought I looked good in the moment.

Luckily, my scarf-purchasing habits coincided with the rise of scarf popularity once I returned stateside (coincidence? Am I a trend setter? Ha!) and I have an easy repertoire of  go-to scarves that add at least 10 style points to any outfit, even if I don't brush my hair (or, in the case of my hopeful, stylish hippie look, I suppose especially if I don't brush my hair).

Sadly though, now that it's summer, most of my scarves are out of commission; but a few weeks ago at Market Day downtown, I found the perfect summer scarf.

Stansberry scarves are super light-weight and have awesome little rosettes that add super-fly-ness to any t-shirt. I was so sold I bought one for each of my (far more fashionable) sisters' birthdays. While they go for a more polished look (they both own actual Michael Kors things. They are, like, very classic.), I know these scarves will still work. That's the beauty of a good scarf - works for everyone, from the schleppiest among us to the most highly styled.

What's your one-step-to-fabulous trick?

Weekend in review

My weekend was a rip-roaring good time. The basement is really coming together.

These work pants I've sported since 2004, however, are doing quite the opposite.

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Happy Things I Can't Believe I'm Wearing Tuesday!

Leggings, a long sweater and flat riding boots? Yes. With swagger.

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Finally cold enough for this...

(Angels singing, heavens opening up, rays of soft light dancing on my shiny hair and fabulous vintage coat)

I've been waiting since the Fourth of July to don this puppy (not literally, though the fur is real - WHICH is okey-dokey with me since it's vintage (the cuddly little guy would have been long gone by now anyway and what am I gonna do - disrespect his life by throwing his hide away? Should I bury my coat? Or thank his little ghost for being such a trooper and apologize for any pain he was in and wear the hell outta my fine coat?) and my stylish Nana's and sohelpmejeebus, if someone throws red paint on me (is that still happening? Or did it go out with flannels and bowl cuts?) I'mma cut someone (not literally. With my words. Slice.)) and tonight I finally get to step out in it!

Don't you hate finding awesome winter stuff in summer? It's a long wait. (Let's not talk about the fur thing. I feel a little guilty, which isn't a good look for me. I furrow my brow when I'm guilty (now you know) and really don't want to have to find a vintage fur hat to cover up all those lines.)

Aaaaaaand scene.

Oh, opera!

Earlier this week, Hubs and I trotted ourselves to the Des Moines Metro Opera's Susannah. It was both of our first time at the opera, so it was really exciting.

First things first, though. Q: What does a gal with a blow up pool in her back yard and a past flecked with mosh pits and neon hair dye wear to the opera?

A: The dress she wore to her bridal shower in Chicago, frilly wedges and a vintage clutch she recently picked up when going through Nana's cast offs.

Sweet, right? It's got a very snappy clasp and I think I might someday accidentally lose a phalange to it.

Anyway, once we were all preened and pretty, we set off to Indianola, about a half hour away for the show.

I had no idea what to expect as this was not only my first opera, but an English-language opera with a modern story line. Usually when I hear English operas on NPR on weekends, I don't like them, so I was a little nervous. Seeing it in person, though, was a different story. The singers' voices were amazing. I couldn't believe that actual people in the same room as me could make those noises. I was in awe the whole time. I can't wait to go back and see a more traditional opera.

Have you been to the opera? What'd you think?

Happy First Skirt of the Spring Day!

At least, that is what we are celebrating at my house. And since I'm the lone lady of the place, I party alone on this one. Plus, I'm still rocking the tights; the world just isn't ready for the pallor of my legs quite yet.

No matter, I'm just glad the snow is melting!

Blast from the past: Cold weather leg garb

The post below was written by me a while ago and then got lost in my laziness. It seems pertinent because the high in my world today was negative 3, I think

The seasons changed overnight here in Iowa. It's that perfect, crispy fall air that got me thinking about how I might keep warm and toasty if the wedding day is cold in the way only Iowa can be.

Right now, I've got lovely purple peeptoes with big, gaudy bows and a plan to have dark red tootsies peeking out. If it's super cold, though, I'm going to don some eggplant-colored tights I bought five years ago in New Zealand (fact: tights and skinny jeans were huge there at least two years before they caught on in the U.S. Kiwis are adventerous dressers.) and cute grey felt pumps I picked up at Payless a few weeks ago.

Seriously, how cute is this!


Almost cute enough to make me wish for some 30-degree weather and light snow!

I've also got an antique mink shawl from my grand-grandma that I could toss over my shoulders. I'm not normally an animal pelt-wearing gal, but this dainty 50s heirloom is the exception to the rule. Let's focus on the loveliness of wearing something from my great-grandma and not the ickiness of wearing a carcass, shall we?

Do you have alternate accessory plans for your wedding day?

Disclaimer: My actual wedding day turned out to be a total surprise - 70 and sunny in November in Iowa! I was sweating and bare legged and peep-toed and it was glorious. But, I did throw that mink on for a few photo opps later on in the evening. It was too pretty to let lay on the back of my mom's chair.