One-Dollar Wonders

Scorched Floral, Alt Shift

July 8, 2013

After the post on Alt's uniform, I started noticing that I have also been really formulaic lately. Definitely not VB in as chic a way as Alt, but maybe there is something to a go-to uniform of sorts. In my case, it has been a slim column topped with a jacket or vest with a feminine shoe that has chunky heels.

Today is the debut, of my floral River Island dress. At first, I wanted to wear it with my olive vest, but the beige jacket won out because it highlights the brown tones in the dress, giving the flowers more of a dried out quality that I love.

Gold tooth necklace - Una via Nordies
RI dress - ASOS
Nixon watch- Rack
Blazer - Modcloth
Report Marks booties - Amazon
B.Makowsky bag - Ebay

Posted in the What I Wore category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

29 Comments

  • bj1111 replied 10 years ago

    rae, i think to some extent everyone has a uniform...a ffbo of sorts.  i really appreciate your formula especially because it feels consistent without being restrictive as alt's can be.

    what do you think about that?

  • Angie replied 10 years ago

    The dress looks great with that shade of jacket!

    I am very supportive of "uniforms" if that makes you feel fab about your style. Why not! A FFBO is just one form of uniform. And we can have a few. I certainly do :)

    And I think we should all wear school uniforms too!!!

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Rae, if this is a uniform, sign me up for your school! You look gorgeous in this. The jacket is perfect with the dress! 

  • Thistle replied 10 years ago

    Fab uniform! You look chic and pulled together.

    I don't see anything wrong with a uniform, especially one that works so well for you.

  • Diana replied 10 years ago

    I don't see anything wrong with a uniform either, especially not one that has so much room for variety and self-expression anyway. 

    LOVE LOVE LOVE these scorched florals. 

  • replied 10 years ago

    Great uniform -- I need to find me a blazer like yours!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 10 years ago

    This is positive GORGEOUS on you Rae! Love that dress - of course, you know I'm partial to a great floral print.

    Really like the choice of the jacket and booties too. Every time I see you in these booties (and others in them too) I think I should find a neutral bootie as well - they just seem so versatile.

  • shedev replied 10 years ago

    This dress is really pretty on you Rae.

  • Sara L. replied 10 years ago

    I love that dress and it looks great with the jacket and boots!  Great outfit!

  • Caro in Oz replied 10 years ago

    Your dress is amazing - I love the moody floral. I think all stylish women have uniforms (that are updated). That's how they get to be stylish & not just trend-driven imo.

  • Jaime replied 10 years ago

    Great iteration of a terrific formula!

  • Eliza replied 10 years ago

    Great look on you. The way you compose an outfit is anything but boring, Rae. Beautiful.

  • ElleH replied 10 years ago

    This is a gorgeous outfit! Wow! FWIW I love your uniform as much as I love Alt's uniform.

    Angie I think school uniforms are a good thing too. I didn't think so growing up but my lack of nice well fitting clothing would have been so much more obvious if I didn't have one. I might sound like a granny but I can't believe what young girls are wearing to school these days. A bit too risqué.

  • Angie replied 10 years ago

    Elle, here are my thoughts on school uniforms, which I wore for 12 years of my life:

    http://youlookfab.com/2010/06/.....-uniforms/

  • ElleH replied 10 years ago

    Sorry for the hijack Rae but Angie I just read & loved your school uniform post. I agree with all the pros & the cons. My mother wouldn't let me hem my uniform as short as the other girls & I wanted to fit in so now as I share this I have to take back my judgemental comment about girls wearing risque clothes to school. Your comments on modification reminded me that when my mother wasn't home oneday I got out the sewing machine (I could sew), cut off the hem so it wouldn't be seen & hemmed my dress into a mini. Mum just thought I had grown over the Summer & didn't want to spend money on a new one so I got to wear a dress like the other girls. When I switched from primary to high school I had the embarrassment, as did all the other 7th graders, of wearing knee high socks the first day. The high schoolers were wearing bobbie socks. Until it was time for new socks I had to roll my knee highs down into what looked like bobbi socks. Kids can be mean & we judged the Catholic school girls because their strict rules didn't allow them to wear anything above the top of the knee. They also had to wear ties & ours were optional. We could wear turtle necks instead of button downs. The Catholic boys at a nearby school had to wear purple & green so we judged them too.

  • Angie replied 10 years ago

    Oh Elle, your stories crack me up! And they sound so familiar!!! We ABSOLUTELY had to wear button downs, ties, blazers and pinafores in Winter - and the boys did too, but minus the pinafore of course. I remember being threatened with detention for scrunching my blazer sleeves and having tails!!! Of course, no one batted an eyelid at that.

    Sorry for the hijack, Rae!

  • rae replied 10 years ago

    Angie, you rebel! It is so fun to know that, even then, you had to have those sleeves scrunched!

    Elle, I am laughing at your stories, too. And just think, when I was in junior high, parents could sign a waiver allowing their children to opt out of the school uniform - UGH. Of course, my parents did no such thing. I know my friends and I were judged harshly by the girls wearing Roxy shorts and baby tees. I wish there had been a more strict uniform policy, even if we had to wear ties!

  • Angie replied 10 years ago

    It was still a ladylike and controlled rebel Rae, so that might disappoint you :) When you loved fashion in the '80's, the good bits stay with you for life, AND effect your school uniform!

    I LOVE the pattern on your frock!

  • Adelfa replied 10 years ago

    I can't think of anything to say but.... this is a perfect outfit. And you look beautiful in it.

  • ElleH replied 10 years ago

    Just to avoid any misunderstanding I was raised Catholic & our judgements were about the uniforms, not the people wearing them.

    I forgot to mention that my sister in law is older than me & had to wear a hat to school in England.

  • harmonica replied 10 years ago

    Rae - you look beautiful and I love your uniform!

  • TraceyLiz65 replied 10 years ago

    Well, if this is a unform it is well worth repeating!  Love it from head to toe!

  • chewyspaghetti replied 10 years ago

    It's a great uniform!

  • Susie replied 10 years ago

    It is a beautiful dress and the overall look is lovely. If that's a uniform, it's definitely worth repeating!

  • lyn67 replied 10 years ago

    YLF Rae, jacket matches your dress perfect! Loved to learn about  some of your different school uniforms. I had to wear one, too. From kindergarten to end of high school!! I can tell you, It was trully sickening. Whoa, happy those times are over!:-)

  • unfrumped replied 10 years ago

    Super look. I just love this floral--I really like prints that can go with pale items for summery look or change up to darker jacket and shoes for evening or fall. Something I need to try to keep in mind for item versatility when super-summery, one-season prints are everywhere. Also it's a great way to keep some dark or jewel tones in the outfit to go with  hair color or brighten up--love the olives and raspberry--but add white or cream accessories, when a whole outfit of light tones would wash me out. 

  • rachylou replied 10 years ago

    Smashing. I like the way you've edged up this dress. An excellent formula.

  • RoseandJoan replied 10 years ago

    Uniform dressing at its best.

    I think we may be watch twins :-)

  • replied 10 years ago

    Fabulous! I love the idea of a uniform or signature look. I had to wear school uniforms too. When we moved to AZ, all the public and charter school kids wore uniforms but then the school board (parents) voted to do away with them. I was SO disappointed! 

You need to be logged in to comment

Categories

Blogroll

Archives

About

I'm just your average working stiff who loves nice things and hates to pay for them. This blog outlines my efforts to navigate that treacherous shopping/saving divide through swappin', thriftin', and even a little resellin'. Many of the pieces in my wardrobe cost me just $1! We've heard a lot about people "living above their means" in recent years; I'm championing the concept of living large *below* your means - whatever that means for you. :)