The Fallen

As I said yesterday, I estimate that I got rid of over 40 items of clothes from my closet during my Nosh Shopping Expedition.  I don't have photos of all of the pieces because some were never worn, much less photographed.  However, what follows is a retrospective of most of those pieces (and of my hairstyles (Bonus!!)).  Let's get started, shall we?


Ta Ta, Tops

Cream tunic - fits weird around the hips.

Thrifted blazer - gave me bunchy shoulders.

Tan thrifted vest - too small, but I'm looking to replace it.

Jason Wu for Target tunic - I don't like the fit around the arms.

Target blouse - this (non) color is not flattering on me.

Vintage, handmade gingham blouse - sadly too small.

Mustard Tulle cardigan - the shape just doesn't work.

Bye Bye, Bottoms

Thrifted Jones New York Skirt - horrible for bike riding

Thrifted black pencil - oy, those pleats ruined my figure (it's the pleats, not the cake).

Banana Republic pants - sooooo very pedestrian

Black pleated skirt - I have several & this had a drop waist and size issues.

New York & Co shorts - fine, I admit it, they're too tight.

Navy polka dot pleated skirt - I have another & this has a drop waist.

Vintage polka dot skirt - I like the pleated polka dot skirt I kept better.

Vintage Jantzen skirt - this was hard for me, but really, this skirt is too small.

White pleated skirt - dropped waist, again, so I kept a different one.

Ann Taylor pencil skirt - a duplicate purple pencil; I kept the other one.

Gray Target skinnies - have since been replaced with Gap skinnies

Farewell, Frocks

Walmart Dress - I love the color, but it's cheap, clingy jersey.  Not good.

Vintage Dress - I tried to love it without success.

Sayonara, Shoes

Thrifted loafers - I'm just not a loafer kind of girl

Red wedges - cute but the heel strap slips off when I walk.

Thrifted cream flats - I struggle with light-colored shoes & never wear these.

Of course, these were only my summer clothes, so I'll probably have to venture back into the Land of Nosh Opping sometime this fall or winter as well.  But, I'll whine about that when it happens.

I hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday!

Gracey

The Expedition's End

Yesterday, Maurice the Mule and I left The Land of Nosh Opping, where we'd embarked on a sometimes grueling but ultimately effective two-month expedition.  During the expedition, I got rid of (donated, gave away, consigned or sold) at least 40 items from my closet.

I used a Nosh Opping Expedition Log to track what I wore while in The Giant's Closet region of Nosh Opping.

This is the Clothes page of the log:

The log contains what I wore and the date(s) I wore it as well as the decision to "Keep" or "Toss" and some notes.  I used the log because 1. I'm a nerd and 2. it was a good way to keep track of those items I wore but didn't photograph (weekends, etc.).  As you can see, I did a fairly good job making it through my closet by only wearing items once.  There were some things that I did repeat within the two months, but it was interesting to see what those items were.  For example, it's not shown in this shot, but I wore the same pair of jeans every weekend for the two months; maybe I should have gotten rid of more jeans...

The Shoes page:

On the Shoes page, you can see I was far less successful in wearing everything once.  But, that wasn't really the challenge.  I do have quite a few pairs of shoes, but my shoe collection is not unmanageable so although I only got rid of two pairs I'm comfortable with that.  Unsurprisingly, I wear my nude Banana Republic platforms and my Corso Como espadrille wedges the most.  I also wore my Lovely People sandals and my gray Target flats a lot as both are go-to weekend shoes for me.


And, the Accessories page:

I have to admit that I didn't do the greatest job keeping up my accessories page.  I didn't intend to get rid of any of my accessories so I didn't track them as closely.  Although I have quite a few pairs of earrings and bracelets I don't wear often, if I drag them out once a year for a night out, I feel justified in keeping them.  I may have to re-think that at some point, but for right now, I'm okay.

I'll post photos of what clothes, and shoes, didn't make the cut tonight or tomorrow.

Until then, here's one last shot of Maurice the Mule:

Happy Saturday, All!

Gracey

Saving the Best for Last

I�m not sure this is absolutely the best vintage dress I have in my closet, but it�s definitely top three:

Unlike Tuesday�s dress that I tried to love, but just couldn�t, I have no problems loving this dress.  In fact, I think it may be pert near perfect.  I love the strange little print (no idea what it is), the colors, the jaunty little lady tie and the length.  Most of all though, I love the fit.  I don�t think this dress could be any more flattering even if it whispered �hey baby, lookin� good� every three steps.

Seriously, it�s even good from the side:

I paired the dress (vintage Anthony Richards, thrifted) with a braided, cognac belt (thrifted) and cognac espadrille wedges (Corso Como via Piperlime).  I had originally thought to pair this dress with red accessories but then I ousted my red wedges and got a little stumped.  But, I think like it just as well, if not better, with the cognac accessories; the red might have been a little too matchy-matchy.

Whether or not this is the best vintage dress in my closet may be up for debate, but it is definitely the last that I needed to wear before Maurice and I would be allowed to board the ship home from Nosh Opping.  This weekend, I�ll post a wrap up of what got ousted during the expedition; I actually got rid of a surprising amount of clothes.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

The Other White Skirt

A couple of weeks ago I announced that I had five white skirts to deal with in The Giants Closet.  I wore one and then I probably got distracted by some color or a squirrel or something.  But, I�m back on track now and, as you can see, I did not get distracted by color (or squirrels) today:

Today�s white skirt is the other white skirt that I plan on keeping.  I paired the skirt (thrifted) with a short sleeve sweater (vintage, thrifted) that I belted with a suede belt (thrifted and worn backwards).  I added nude platform sandals (Banana Republic �Natalie�), a cuff (thrifted) and white shell earrings (gifted).  I decided to pair the skirt with other neutrals because I don�t do neutrals very well and sometimes I like to challenge myself.  

Speaking of challenges, this shopping ban is killing me, but I kind of like it too.  I�ve gotten rid of a ton of clothes and feel pretty good about it.  For example, I�ve gone from five white skirts to two and I�m happy with that decision.  I�m keeping a knee-length A-line skirt and this pleated midi and I think I should be able to make do with those.  Especially because I don�t even wear white that often; which, yes, makes it even more ridiculous that I ever had five white skirts.

Also, today is Thursday and much of my outfit is thrifted, so I�ve linked up at Coffee and Cardigans for Thrifter Thursday.

Finally, if you haven�t already entered my giveaway for Sal�s amazing book, you can do so here.  I�ll choose a winner on Sunday.

Happy Thursday, Everyone!

Gracey

A Map of The Land of Nosh Opping

Terri, from Rags Against the Machine, asked for a map of the Land of Nosh Opping.  All I have is a (poorly) hand-drawn map.  Said map is poorly drawn because I had to do it myself.  I am, unfortunately, the expedition's cartographer, mule wrangler and commander-in-chief.  As you can imagine, it's the saddest one-woman and one-mule expedition the Land of Nosh Opping has ever seen.

But, the map.  Here it is:

Um, because it's soooo not clear, that caption by the camel says "pregnant camel (obvs)".

And, in case you were curious, this is my expedition mule, Maurice:

Isn't he cute?

Gracey

Rough Going in the Land of Nosh Opping

I am beginning to dread what I believe is the months of exploration I have left in the Giant�s Closet region of the Land of Nosh Opping.  Although I�ve been here for a mere three weeks, it feels like three months.  And I can certainly see why they don�t get a lot of tourist dollars in Nosh Opping.  The weather isn�t that great, the terrain is inhospitable and the government is really strict on the whole no shopping thing. 

I know that the more quickly I get through, or get rid of, all the items in my closet, the more quickly I can return to the land of retail and joy, but it�s been rough going to create outfits with new pieces each day.  This was the fourth look I tried on today:

And it was such a struggle fording the river and climbing the hill to get here (my mule, Maurice, was once again of little help), that I�m not even sure it was worth it.  I know I like the pieces of this outfit, but I�m not sure it all works together.  I believe the hardships of this expedition may be causing me to lose perspective. 

What I do know is that I like, and plan on keeping, all of these pieces.  I like the top (vintage, thrifted) though I think it could be less boxy.  I also like these pants (vintage men�s pants, thrifted) and do like the top with them.  And, the shoes are great (Jeffery Campbell via Nordstom) though perhaps not with this?  I don�t know.  Did I mention the food here sucks?

But, what doesn�t suck is the fact that today is Friday and it�s sunny and I�m going to the Doug Fir to listen to Guy Dilly tonight.  I�m very excited.

Happy Friday, All!  Enjoy your weekends!

Gracey

A New Record

I�m wearing pants two days in a row.  I think that may be a new record for me:

Today�s pants are cropped, floral Ralph Lauren (thrifted) with a crazy-high waist that makes me suspect that they may be from the late 80s or early 90s.  I paired them with an aqua sweater (Target) and yellow peep-toe mini-wedges (Me Too via Nordstrom).

Unlike yesterday�s actual pants, these cropped, colorful print pants are NOT perfectly serviceable and so will most likely not be cut from the team.  Also unlike yesterday's pants, I like these ones.  Really, the only reason I haven�t worn them before (I�ve had them about a month) is because they�re tough for me to style.  I don�t really do pastels, and we�ve established that I don�t really do pants, so pastel pants are quite a conundrum for me.

I think this outfit worked though and I have a couple more ideas so I�ve decided that thesepants shall stay.  For now.

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Gracey

Day One: In the Land of Nosh Opping

I embarked on my journey into the peculiar land of Nosh Opping today.  It is truly a strange country; all credit cards had to be left at the border and there are no thrift stores.  I do not know how long I will last here, but I am dedicated to exploring the currently uncharted region the locals call The Giants Closet, so I will hold out as long as I am able.

For the first day of my expedition, I wore the following:

I paired a pleated skirt (thrifted) with a silk tank (Anna & Frank, thrifted), an open open-weave cardigan (Eddie Bauer, thrifted), animal print booties (80%20 via Piperlime), lion drop earrings (vintage), a cameo bracelet (vintage) and a long necklace (thrifted). 

The pleated skirt probably looks familiar as I wear it often.  The booties are also a favorite of mine and have been seen before, but the silk blouse and the cardigan may be less familiar.  I actually found these artifacts as I explored The Giants Closet today, which was encouraging.    It is my hope that I will find similarly pleasing items as I explore the region, but I know this will not always be the case.  There are bound to be pitfalls filled with sharpened stakes and/or ill-fitting clothes.

Pitfalls or no, I shall continue to document my progress in Nosh Opping, and The Giants Closet, for as long as I am able to resist the lure of thrift stores in the outside world.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

P.S. For those of you wondering what the heck I�m talking about, this post will help explain.