Outfit: Long Skirts

Spring is finally around the corner. You can spot the occasional flower blooming and I suddenly have the urge to throw on a skirt or dress. A maxi skirt or dress with a jacket or sweater is definetley a practical and comfy way to wear a dress in these cold months. This weekend Ellie and I had a fun night out at Bridgeport Brewery to celebrate a birthday and have some yummy food. We took the oppurtunity to dress up and take some pictures. Coincidentally we both choose long skirts and dresses for our night out. 

Ellie's Outfit:
Jacket: Levi
Skirt: American Apparel
Boots: Nordstroms
Necklace: Homemade, look for a tutorial in the coming weeks!

Maddie is off in beautiful Hawaii, I am very jealous! She will be updating us on her trip as well as including information on her outfit in this post soon! Also did you spot my pedometer in this post? I have started wearing one to track my steps and embarrassingly forgot to take it off for pictures.

Ellie & Maddie

Outfit: Workday Wednesday

This week I challenged myself to move away from skirts and dresses and find an outfit that I usually wouldn't gravitate towards. In the past I have had a hard time finding outfits that were both flattering on my body and incorporated pants.  I chose to wear a cropped pair of black slacks from Banana Republic that I feel work well with my figure when paired with the right items. To lengthen my legs and draw attention away from my hips I added some fun pumps and a long blouse. Sparkly earrings also add to the glamour of the outfit. 

Finding these pants took a lot of effort and time. Choosing pieces that fit and flatter is essential to an items longevity in your wardrobe. I am always reminded of this fact when I look at my mother's closet. She has many items that are older than Maddie and me but, because of the quality and fit of the items they continue to look great and in style. 

Ellie's Outfit:
Pants: Banana Republic
Shoes: Target (similar)
Shirt: Target
Coat: J Crew (out of stock)

Ellie

Outfit: Thrifing

With the abundance of stylish people living in Portland, it is easy to find some lightly worn items at the multiple thrift shops around town. Finding a bargain and a great piece can be challenging though. Here are some of our tips:

1. GOODWILL: This is where expensive thrift shops often get their items. If you have the patience and time you can find numerous pieces to add to your wardrobe which usually won't cost more than ten dollars. Our favorite Goodwill is the SuperStore, located in SE Portland. It is massive and we have found tons of deals. 

2. GO NOW:  After the holidays many people have restocked with new clothes, thrift stores therefore get a surplus of items that people have donated to make room in their closets.  We found this to be especially true on our most recent trip to Goodwill, where we each found more quality items than usual. 

3. BRANDS: It may sound obvious but look at labels! A five dollar tank top originally from Fovever 21, may not be as much of a bargain as a cashmere sweater from J Crew. Quality brands tend to hold up better and maintain their fit. Always check for stains, pilling of sweaters, and rips. Some of our favorite brands to look for when thrifting are: Pendleton, J Crew, LL Bean, and Ann Taylor Loft. Finding a vintage Coach bag is the pinnacle of a thrifting experience.  

4. TRY ON: Brave the florescent lights and long lines, it is worth it! Many items at thrift stores made it to the donation pile because of an odd fit or flow. Trying on your finds is essential to knowing if they will work at home, and not end up back at the donation center. Our strategy is to grab a large shopping cart, scan each rack, throw in any possibles, and then try on. We often have twenty items in our cart when we go to the dressing room and walk out with two or three great steals.  

Here are a couple of our latest finds: 

J Crew Sweater

Ellie's Outfit: 

Sweater: Thrifted - Originally J Crew

Dress: J Crew (Similar)

Belt: J Crew (Similar)

Boots: Frye

Bracelet: Gift from Dad :) 

Aztec Skirt

Maddie's Outfit: 

Skirt: Thrifted - We are not sure where it originally came from, but it is awesome! 

Jacket: Levi (Similar - color no longer available) 

Boots: Nordstroms

Happy Thrifting! 

Ellie & Maddie

Outfit: Workday Wednesday

Thrifting is the theme for today's Workday Wednesday!  I recently got this skirt at my local Goodwill, such a fun find and a perfect skirt for a Wednesday outfit. I love how the skirt has lots of different colors, so you have a variety of options when accessorizing. I added a chunky red and gold necklace from To Zion, my favorite jewelry store in Joseph, Oregon, as well as a thrifted red Pendleton coat.

Do you have a favorite place to go thrift shopping?  I love my local Goodwill Super Center, it is a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon and I always find that if I am patient and take my time I can find some true gems hidden in the racks.

Ellie

Outfit: Cozy Comfort

When putting together a cold weather outfit for an outing in Portland I often ask myself the same question, "Is anyone actually going to see my blouse?" More often than not, the answer is "no". So, I have begun to develop my outfits around the jacket itself rather than what is underneath. The important thing then becomes what will be seen on top of the jacket! Cute scarfs, boots, and a fun bag can easily dress up a plain coat. Another trick I love is to wear a long sweater underneath so that even if your jacket is all zipped up, you can still see a little glimpse of what is underneath! 

Maddie's Outfit:

Cowl: Anthropologie

Boots: Frye

Purse: Vintage Coach

Jeans: Gap

Jacket: ASOS (similar)

Stay warm! What are your favorite winter outfit tricks?

Maddie