It's Fall, Y'all! Or... Boots and Cutes

FINALLY. Finally, there is a break in the heat in Houston, Texas! Yass!

I love fall most of all. And here's the Cheap-Cute Scoop on this outfit:

THE Boots:
I searched high and low for several years before I found these. I needed some tall black boots and wanted a medium heel on them. I had some old ones that were actually kind of hideous--patent mock-croc with a kitten-ish heel... And it just seemed like the only tall black boots I could find were either flats or biker boots, neither of which was what I wanted.

THESE little beauties were a steal at only $10. Yep. I found them on Shoe Dazzle and got them with my VIP sign-up special offer. Ten dollars and free shipping. Dang! They are not perfect, but they are definitely closer than the old ones. I only got to wear them once last year, because I got them late in the season and there was no actual winter in Houston last year. Sad! I am already happier this year and wearing my boots in 70-degree weather. Brrr!

The Top:
Purchased last year at my current favorite shop, Cato, this top is just a little bit too big on me. Fortunately, with the swishy-swashy style, you can't really tell. It has 3/4-length sleeves and is made of matte-jersey. I love the colors and the look! I don't remember the price, but Cato's prices are really low, so I am guessing I paid about $20, maybe less.

The Leggings:
These are some of my old jean leggings from Walmart. I have them in several colors. They're about $12-$15 and come in a variety of colors and prints. I recently got some that are green tartan! LOVE.

The Secret:
These leggings are crops. They barely come below the wide part of my calf. Really more suitable for spring and summer wear. I was planning to wear them today with my shorter black cowboy boots, but those boots didn't cover the bottom of the pants. There is a look of short boots with a gap at the ankle and jeans (preferably cuffed) or leggings above, but these leggings were too short to do that.

Happy Fall!

Let Me Tell You About This Skirt

I. Love. This. Skirt.

Let me tell you about this skirt. It  is nothing in the world but a pencil skirt made out of t-shirt material, got a little stretch in it, elastic waist, boom.*

You can see that it is cut in a curve, so it hugs your knees nicely--no kick pleat.

On my five-foot-three-inches, it falls about 5 or 6 inches below the knee, which is a flattering midi length.

I got the skirt at Wal-Mart for--get this--$6.88. I am crapping you negative. I actually started with a black one and loved it so much, I went back for the burgundy. They also have it in a couple of stripe patterns, a solid heather grey, navy, a black/grape check, and a blotchy grey/black.

I have styled the burgundy version with four different tops, for both summer and fall.

#1: with a "capelet" top from Cato

Outfit #1: I got this "capelet" top from Cato last year--or was it the year before? It probably cost about $17.99, but I don't recall exactly. I love it not only for going with this skirt, but also the fit and the style. It has a little bling sprinkled around the neck, so it can dress up or down. (I have two other tops that are a similar style, but widely different prints and colors--the style flatters me and is so pretty!) Here, I have put it with my little suede booties from Payless, purchased several years ago. (Remember to closet shop!)

#2: with a simple tank from Wal-Mart

Outfit #2: This simple striped top came from Wal-Mart this year, about $6 or $7. It's sailcloth, very cool, has a slight swing to it. Even with me being busty, it's flattering, and I can put a belt with it if I feel too "maternity" in it. I pulled an old bead Necklace of Many Colors out of my closet, and added black/white houndstooth pumps (Payless, of course, and btw, super-comf! I have two pairs in the pointed-toe, like these, and three pairs in the round toe version of the same shoe. The pewter ones in Outfit #3 below are the same style.).

#3: with a medallion print shirt from Cato

Outfit #3: I got this shirt at Cato last year to go with my pink stretch denim leggings (Wal-Mart, about $14), but it is perfect with this! I pulled the silver belt (Nine West, bought at Ross for $11) and pewter shoes for one look, grey sweater tights and suede booties for another. If I needed more warmth, I would add a grey or white cardigan and a pale pink scarf. Or maybe a grey scarf--I don't like to get too carried away with colors.

#4: with a large cat

Outfit #4: Outfit #2 combined with a large feline named Blue, who enjoys helping and making sure that I never leave the house without cat hair.

#5: with a 3/4 sleeve georgette blouse from
I don't remember, because I have had it forever!

Outfit #5: I have had this blouse so long that I don't remember where I got it or how much it cost. But you know me, I doubt I paid more than $20 for it. Maybe at JC Penney? Anyway, it has a lot of beautiful colors in it and I have paired it in the past with teal leggings and also with a long green linen skirt. It is fantastic with our new favorite burgundy skirt! Same silver belt as Outfit #3. With this one, I decided to go with flats. These patent mock-croc loafers in a color somewhere between puce and cordovan are perfect. The tailored style balances the boho softness of the blouse. And the low heel means added comfort if you're on your feet a lot or walking around all day--perhaps while Shopping Cheap to Look Cute!

Cheaply and Cutely Yours,
Susan K

More of the Shopping of the Closet

Here we go again with the closet shopping. I love digging into my old stuff and finding new outfits to enjoy!

Spring has sprung a bit early in Houston this year. Yes, Texas is warm, but we usually get a little more winter in March and even April. I remember many an Easter when my daughters wore their sweet spring frocks under their coats as we paraded into church.

This year, though, oy vey! We are in for a hot summer, if this March is any indication. And, being a "woman of a certain age", I am already personally heated, so warm weather really does a number on me.

I've swapped out my winter shoes for summer ones, and today, I went a-hunting in my closet for something coooool to wear. And this is what I came up with!

Ancient cotton skirt - Old Navy
Ruffled red top - can't remember
Fantastic belt - Cato, purchase in the last couple of years, the newest item
Peep toe white canvas shoes - Payless, of course

What I like about this outfit is that it still fits in my current wonderful fattitude!

Here's how I did it: I pulled out the skirt and started holding it in front of the tops in my closet. I have a yellow blouse that would go and there was a chartreuse t-shirt that matched perfectly, but there isn't enough of that color in the skirt to really pull it out. Then I found the red. Hm... good match!

I put the top and skirt on. Eh--the top doesn't look quite right... Tried it tucked in. Oh, no, much worse! (Learn more about tucking here.) How about a belt? Ah, perfect!

Putting the belt with gives me a more hour-glass look than I usually sport, considering that the Good Lord Above did not see fit to give me any hips. I feel feminine and pretty! And COOL!

Thus ends today's lesson. Happy closet shopping!

Best of the Vest

I love this outfit!

I know, I always say that. But I do!

I found this totes adorbs owl purse on sale at Cato for about $7. I KNOW! I was very excited that it went great with this scarf vest (and completer piece), also from Cato, about twenty bucks.

I put them both with this very old black pencil skirt and even older black matte jersey top, but I also have a black t-shirt dress from Walmart ($10) that works great.

You can add tights with the dress/skirt or put the vest with other neutral garments. I love my footless black tights with it--makes me feel hip! I also wear the scarf vest with a black t-shirt and tan pants.

Shoes vary--these are white canvas peep-toe wedges, Payless, ~$20.

Remember to pull neutrals from your stash of "classic pieces" in your closet!

The Blanky Vest - Wait. What?

This is a silly garment.

I know that. It's silly. And I made it. And it's still silly. I have yet to actually wear this outside of my house. Because it's silly. BUT...

But it's so soft and cozy.
But it's cheap!
But I made it myself, Mom.
But I love the colors.
But it's kind of a cool shape, right?

I was inspired to make this "Blanky Vest" by some scarf vests I saw at the fabric store. I looked at them closely and saw how simple they were--a simple rectangle with armholes cut in them. The edges were all hemmed neatly. And they were made of... chiffon. Oh. I do not have the sartorial skill to do that with chiffon. Or to do anything with chiffon.

So I started ruminatin'. What fabric could I use with this same simple pattern to create a scarf vest without wanting to slit my wrists because CHIFFON?

Then it hit me--fleece. Fleece doesn't ravel. It doesn't even have to be hemmed. And I could make FRINGE around the edges if I so desired! Brilliant!

All my ruminatin', engineerin', and plannin' led to this: the Blanky Vest you see before you. Cost me about five bucks and forty-five minutes of crawling around on the floor, measuring and cutting.

As the Blanky Vest is as yet untested in public, I cannot announce whether it is a success or not. But I like it. Maybe you'll see me wearing it around the streets of Houston soon.

Variations on Summer Whites, Ocean Blues

I actually created this outfit late last summer, and dubbed it "Summer Whites, Ocean Blues". I love this outfit! First, lets break it down into the Cheap-Cute Scoop:

White denim leggings, Walmart, $12
White lacy sandals, Payless, ~$15
White lace scarf, Charming Charlie (I think), <$15
Sleeveless top, Walmart, ~$15

Right? Okay, the other day, now that it's February, I paired this same top with dark blue skinny jeans, and topped it with my white crocheted cardigan (Woman Within) and white canvas peep-toe pumps with cork wedge heels (Payless, sugar).

Let's talk about white in winter: It's perfectly fine. There used to be a hard and fast fashion rule that white was not to be worn from Labor Day until Easter every year. Some time in the 1970s, "winter white" appeared on the scene, but it was not quite white and it was worn in very limited ways, like only one garment and never a purse or shoes or a whole dress.

That old rule died several years ago, according to the experts. However, being the Good Southern Girl I am, it took me quite some time to embrace the white-in-winter. Of course, living in the South also means that winters are typically mild, so whites are even more practical. If you happen to live where there is dirty snow and slush, like Chicago, you will probably want to save your whites for summer, or just have a peep of white here and there--maybe a white turtleneck sticking out of your parka!

Okay, get out there and Shop Cheap, Look Cute!

Old Faves + New Faves = Cheap Cute

Have you read my post on Closet Shopping? It means going into your closet to see what old clothes you might have forgotten and/or you might not have tried with newer things. This is an outfit that is almost ALL old stuff, with just one newish piece acting as a "completer piece".

There's another definition for you: a completer piece is one that--well, yes, completes an outfit. Usually a jacket or vest, a completer piece typically "makes" the outfit, pulls it all together.

In the case of this outfit, the ivory crocheted vest completes the outfit. Yes, I could wear this without it, but it's much more interesting with the vest.

Now, what you really want to know: where and how much? Starting at the bottom, the boots came from Payless, naturally. You know I get most of my shoes there. (Not all!) I probably paid $25 or less for them, although I have had them so long, I honestly don't remember.

The skirt, a washable linen that crushes but doesn't rumple, came from a store in Austin called CP Shades about 12 or 15 years ago. I want to say I splurged a bit and paid $40-$45 for it, but if cost-per-wear counts for anything, it was actually really cheap.

The t-shirt came from Kohl's? I think? I probably got it about 2013 to go with something in the teal family, but it turned out to go nicely with this old favorite skirt. 

Now, here's the nice completer piece: Unearthed at Walmart some time last summer, I paid $10-$12 for this lovely vest. It has a hood, which is "eh" to me--I could take it or leave it, but I don't hate it, and I love the shape of it. I searched high and low for a white one, to no avail. (I did finally find a white crocheted cardigan at Woman Within for about $35. See it in this video.) 

You know I don't actually endorse any store, but you also know I talk a lot about certain places where I love to shop and always find good prices. But this particular outfit came from the recesses of my closet, only with the completer piece added. Now you can update your own wardrobe with a simple completer piece. Go for it!

Another example of a completer piece, this scarf vest, about $20 from Cato. 

How to Wear Colors Without Looking Like a Clown

I had a lot of fun with this video--it's totally amateurish, but I give good info! And I almost flashed the camera!