The Ugly Skirt Challenge

THE UGLY SKIRT CHALLENGE

Last summer while in Mackinaw City in Michigan on vacation, I was second hand shopping with my mother. As we pored over the thrifted racks meticulously (a mother daughter tradition), I looked up to see mom heading towards me with something on a hanger. She held up the skirt shown in the pictures below.  "It looks like you," she said.  I took offense to this comparison initially, because it was one of the ugliest skirts I had ever seen. "Whoah, mother..." I replied. "That is honestly too hideous of a print for even ME to wear."  She shrugged and started to file it away again when I said, "Wait."  I took a second look at the ridiculous blue and white pattern. Its squiggles and triangles seemed like they would be at home on a button up worn by Tom Selleck as Magnum PI.

"Hand it over." I squinted my eyes and held up the Bombay china dish inspired design. Was this skirt made from a nautical themed bed sheet that once fitted over Candace Cameron's twin mattress? Did Natalie from "Facts of Life" wear this skirt on a first date? Was it possible that Clair Huxtable wore this as a cape? (She WAS after all, a superhero...but I doubt she would don anything so God-forsakenly hideous).

"I'm accepting this as a challenge," I stated indignantly. "It's so ugly that I have to have it." I paid $1.50 for the cobalt and cream abomination and tossed it into my shopping bag.

Once I returned from vacation, I hung the skirt in my closet for six months...until yesterday. Because of "blizzard-y" conditions here in Michigan at the present time, I wasn't really able to shoot outside yesterday, and the daylight hours began to slip away from me.  Therefore, I found myself shooting inside after dark, which is never the BEST idea. To make matters worse, my camera fell off my tri-pod and my 50 mm lens was damaged, destroying the auto-focus gears inside. 

Was this skirt cursed with the cranky spirit of Judith Light on "Who's The Boss?" 

I'm not sure. However, I DO know the skirt is somehow actually starting to grow on me, and when combined with some fun vintage jewelry, a vintage Samsonite tote and Micheal Kors heels...I actually began to appreciate the ridiculously loud print.

I think I JUST MIGHT wear it again. MAYBE. Do you think I'm crazy? If so...I hope it's crazy AWESOME crazy...like Rose. Yes...I'm speaking of Golden Girls. 

Thank you for reading the blog today. And THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND.

OUTFIT DETAILS: 100% Secondhand and thrifted. Kors heels were a consignment purchase.

16 Ways Scarf Tutorial #2: Left My Heart At Ludington Beach

I left my heart at Ludington beach...

Not the adorable and delicate vintage pewter heart locket my mother gave me--that would have been a tragedy! No, I left my heart in spirit on the beautiful calm waters of Lake Michigan at Ludington's downtown beach, the place where I grew up and still return to visit with lifetime friends and family. I feel recharged when I'm there--despite spending so many afternoons planning my escape as a teenager. I visited yesterday to see a dear friend of mine for her 2nd baby's shower, and couldn't resist snapping some sunset beach pics on what I consider to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

I don't always wear pink, but on occasion I am drawn to it. Do you have a long scarf that you can "play along" with today? If not...remember you can win this scarf at the Grand Haven Hope's outlet on Washington Ave in Grand Haven, MI--it is there at this very moment! All you have to do is tell them Thrift Trick sent you, for tutorial 2!

The outfit was centered around a fun (SUPER EIGHTIES!) neon pink, blue, black and white blazer that I bought for mere cents at St. Vincent DePaul's in Muskegon. I paired it with tight black pants, a cowel necked black shirt, these black Micheal Kors heels (a consignment item I recently bought and LOVE), and of course...a fun scarf!

Normally I'm not so much a bow person, either--imagine that, pink AND bows today!--but it felt right with this outfit. It pulled things together and if you are a little bit on the heavier side, a bow or belt underneath the blazer and worn high can accentuate and flatter the parts you'd like to draw attention to--like a smaller waist! I preferred the way that the scarf looked tied UNDER as opposed to tying it OVER the blazer; but you can experiment.

Not digging bows at the moment?

Try it cumber bun style--check out this fun tutorial from Do it Yourself!

Don't worry--I didn't leave the scarf

on the beach.

Even though I left my heart, I remembered to grab the long, sheer pink accessory so that I could give it away to you!

Be the first to win!

in Grand Haven, MI at Hope's Outlet and win it for yourself.

I'd love to see the outfit you pair it with on my Facebook page!

Cheers and thanks so much for reading.

Enjoy this beautiful spring day, wherever you are!

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Hope's Outlet Thrift Stores are located at:

2424 Glade St., Muskegon, MI 49444

1974 E Sherman Blvd, Muskegon, MI 49444

1100 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, MI 49417

Find Hope's Outlet on Facebook!

It's a Plaid World!

It's a plaid, plaid world!
I love this outfit. SO much fun. So festive! But, you don't have to wait for Christmas time to rock plaid! As you can see from the picture above, I took this thrifted vintage Cathy Daniels plaid blazer (I bought this at Hope's Outlet in Grand Haven, MI for $1.59!) and paired it with dark skinny jeans, a purple vintage rhinestone brooch, the snakeskin Micheal Kors belt (all thrifted items, ofcourse) and red Nine West Platform heels. I did red and gold nails plus a fun cocktail ring with this outfit, along with a dark blue vintage clutch. My favorite part was the fun purple eyeshadow. I dig the way it worked! Very fun and colorful, yet "put together". I'll apologize ahead of time for the "flash"-y photgraphy and lovely (kidding) background of my back porch coat rack, haha! However it was late evening and I was headed out for a performance with my solo acoustic act(Ida's Rope). I didn't want to miss an opportunity to catalog a favorite outfit with you all...so I compromised the photo quality a little in this post. Have fun--get out there and pick up some plaid at your local thrift store!

Thrifted Micheal Kors and More...

On a thrifting adventure last week I came across all of these wonderful treasures: a snakeskin leather Micheal Kors belt (one dollar!), scarf and vintage gloves from the sixties ($3 for all), another nice teal leather belt for 99 cents, a precious little carved wood white owl and a vintage ceramic owl plaque (both for $3), carved wooden angel for 99 cents, 2 old rings that I am using to make DIY statement rings with next week for 99 cents, a blue cute cocktail ring for $2, a neat long gold and pearl necklace for 99 cents, pink button clip on earrings (also vintage) and these adorable little vintage plastic dishes for .49 cents a plate and .29 cents per teacup. They have that awesome vintage plastic stamp on the back...I'd guess they are late 60's, robin's egg blue. So darling! I only bought a set of three plates, salad plates, saucers and tea cups. What a score!