Inspiration - T-Shirts and Fancy Skirts

Lately, I've been loving the combo of a t-shirt and a fancy skirt.  I'm especially loving graphic tees with a fashion related or French saying.  Many of the blog popular shirts are crazy expensive.  Try $225 for one t-shirt!  I know, INSANE.  I created a board on Pinterest titled "Style I Should Try".  I pin photos there of outfits I love and want to emulate.  My love of this fancy casual outfit has made me want to expand my skirt and t-shirt wardrobe.  I've been looking for some great skirts and I just made a run to Old Navy for some new tees. These ladies are my inspiration.

Check out the links to these ladies by clicking the photo above. 

All of the ladies above have such great style. Their basic idea was the same, a t-shirt and a fancy skirt but they all have an amazingly different take on the concept.  Everything from the fantastic, over the top, feather skirt and cool graphic tee of Blair from Atlantic - Pacific to the sweet, flowy maxi and simple gray tee of Allie from Wardrobe Oxygen.  I love that each of them took the same basic idea and gave it her own twist. A couple weeks ago I went to a beauty event at Nordstrom and wore one of my favorite sparkly skirts and my vintage AC/DC t-shirt. I got lots of compliments and it was a chic but comfy outfit for a busy day. My sequin skirt is begging for the same treatment.

Old Navy is the best place for basics, like t-shirts.  They're inexpensive and the perfect canvas for a graphic t-shirt DIY.  My DIY is in the works.  I can't wait to show you the final results.

Over the weekend I visited one of my favorite stores for bargains, Talbots Outlet.  The entire store was $17.99 or less!  I got an amazing black and bronze, brocade skirt for only $17.99. I can't wait to pair it with my DIY t-shirt. 

What do you think of  pairing a fancy skirt and t-shirt?
 

Frugal Fashion Friday - Casual Sparkles

Fridays always make me think of versatile outfits that I can wear while I'm out doing errands and then go out to dinner and drinks later.  This outfit is just that. It combines casual day time elements with night time sparkle. You don't have to limit your sparkly pieces to evening.  My favorite way to wear sequins during the day is by dressing them down with tough and casual pieces.  Today I'm also doing another link up with Friday's Fancies on {long distance loving}. The challenge today was chambray and it fits perfectly with the casual sparkle of today's outfit.

The tunic style and roll up sleeves on this chambray shirt from Target, give it versatility.

I love the rose gold color of this sequin skirt by Lela Rose for HSN. 

Frye 8R Engineer boots are a classic. I love how they lend a casual rocker vibe to the sparkly skirt. They are a bit on the pricey side but these boots will last for many years and you know I value quality and cost per wear.

Mixing metals, sparkles, and adding tough spikes and a snake are a compliment to the boots.

Stella & Dot Renegade Cluster Necklace

Stella & Dot Sidewinder Ring

Stella & Dot Revival Bracelet

A lady like bag with motorcycle boots is fun and this Twist Lock Crossbody bag from Forever 21 will make running errands or standing at the bar easier.

I'm loving Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter. Sweet Tart is my favorite color.

With temps in the mid 70's lately in DC, this outfit will be perfect from day to night. I can't wait to wear it!   How do you wear chambray?

I'm sure you noticed that all of the jewelry I picked for this outfit is from Stella & Dot.  They have great jewelry and the quality is fantastic. I've just partnered with stylist Kristin Biggs of Stella & Dot to bring you some great new jewelry and some surprises.  I can't wait to share them with you.  Check out my instagram feed followgram to see the Femme Fatale necklace and Nouvelle ring I was sporting yesterday.  I'll be featuring them in an outfit post soon.

Happy Friday Real Girls!

Changing the World, One Sequin at a Time

When I read this quote by Lady Gaga it was the perfect inspiration for the title of this post.  So appropriate!

"And now I'm just tying to change the world, one sequin at a time." - Lady Gaga

It's kind of a running joke with my friends and family that I'm hopelessly attracted to almost anything with sparkle or sequins.  My friends, I have to admit, it's almost impossible for me to pass anything by that sparkles.  I have to think twice and look three times.  They just make me happy.  On my birthday this year it was cold and rainy.  I decided that didn't matter. I put on my sequin skirt, added tights and moto boots and I was ready to go.  My Honey asked me why I was so dressed up. I said, "Well I'm not really that dressed up." I was wearing a white button down with the skirt and moto boots.  No silk or heels in sight.  That kind of sums up my philosophy. I think that sequins and sparkles shouldn't just be for special occasions.  They can make you feel great every day.

I spied this skirt on a fellow blogger and when I found it on sale, it had to be mine. I've worn it often in the past year, to events, daytime, and my birthday dinner. 

Clockwise from top left:  Sequin skirt - Avenue (no longer available), DIY necklace with glitter safety pins,
same sequin skirt and thrifted Goodwill top, DIY bracelet, Sequin top - Macy's (no longer available), Birthday oufit , same sequin skirt and Moto Boots - Nine West

This post is for this month's Everybody Everywear item, Sequins and Sparkles.  Click on the link to check out all of the other blogger outfits.

Do you love sequins and sparkle as much as I do?

Birthday Rewind via Instagram

I took the day off yesterday (from work and the blog) to celebrate my birthday.  It was a wonderfully relaxing day with lots of fun and surprises.





From top left - Birthday flowers from my Mom, My Birthday outfit (sequin skirt and moto boots),
Tahitian pearl earrings (a gift from my Honey), Deep fried Deviled Eggs (Bday dinner appetizer),
Amazing chain necklace (a gift from my sister), Birthday pie (I love chocolate pie!)





Note: pics taken via Instagram app. Follow me - realgirlrunway