beads,beads, beads

Ok, so first of all I have to point out that I spent some time on Vinted UK and when I checked my blog stats I saw a few views from across the pond. So shout out to my readers in the United Kingdom and Denmark! Thanks for checking me out :)

Now, on to tonight's post! I spent some time this afternoon being crafty and I made two necklaces... I will admit that one was made earlier than today but I wasn't 100% happy with it so just made some slight revisions to it before I moved on to the next one. Its my favorite thing I've made in a very long time.

It has TWO HUNDRED FOURTEEN BEADS on it, and it took a few hours to put together. I wore it out to dinner tonight, and Jordan said it was nice. He sells pretty things for a living, so I guess that means its ok. Haha!

Anyhow, I like it because it can be worn with lots of things. You can't see it, but in that first photon I was wearing it with a navy blue dress with a blue and white chevron pattern on the skirt. The necklace is also not heavy like a lot of other statement necklaces that make their statement with chunky beads and heavy chains. My necklace makes its statement with intricacy and pattern and delicate construction.

I made another one too. I haven't counted the beads on the second one, but I did make some of the beads myself. They are rolled paper beads, I thought they added a unique texture to the necklace. (I will try and get better photos of this one in the daylight)

#customerservice

So I found this website, an online jewelry boutique called Kitsylane. I thought it was cool, so I joined. ( you can shop my boutique here: a.o @ kitsylane )now they encourage you to buy some jewelry for yourself to wear to promote you boutique, yada yada yada. I just thought the jewekry was super cute. So I ordered these earrings, long dangle-y black beaded earrings. totally rad. When they were delivered they were deformed. :( The top bead on one of them had some sort of hole or indentation that just didn't look normal. You can see it in the photo (but those are cute earrings right?! ).

So as a boutique owner I was supposed to get a free par of earring for attending this welcome webinar thing and I had forgotten to use my promo-code to order them so I emailed them asking about it and they told me a couldn't get my free earrings. I thought it was dumb so I was skeptical about how they were going to handle this little mishap. (If they hadn't done what they did, I woulda closed down shop and never bought from them again.) I emailed them told them about the defect and showed them a few photos. They responded with "that is unacceptable, would you like a refund, or a replacement pair?" I asked for a replacement pair ad they has a return label for the bad pair in my inbox WITHIN THE HOUR, so return postage was paid by them and they were going to send the new pair as soon as the bad ones arrived at their Headquarters.  It was a much faster resolution than I expected and I was very pleased. So I'm waiting on my replacement earrings to come and I've ordered a few more pieces from them, which I will be sure to show off when they arrive so stay tuned! I couldn't believe the kinda deals  I got either, they offer all kinds of sales and promotions. which is cool because some of their stuff is a bit pricey, but so unique and pretty , they have some awesome designers. 

threadflip sign up credit

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its similar to vinted and totally cool. 

#gameday

Soooooo.... my guy and me are going on a micro road trip this weekend to see the Texas Rangers in Arlington (happy birthday to him).
I bought us both T-shirts that didn't cost an arm and a leg as they do in the Rangers M.L.B. shop (discounted even more tanks to the Old Navy employee discount).  Anywho, his is red (though he needs a bigger size so lets hope that one is still available when I go to exchange it) and mine is grey (only women's style available when I bought it). Now I have to decide which of this summers shorts and sandals to wear on Saturday.
Navy? Aztec?

I do wish I could find more royal-y blue or red shorts somewhere. (and I had the extra money to spend on them right now) but this is what I've got. As for sandals, I'm leaning towards blue. Hopefully the weather will be nice enough that I don't need to bring a sweater and it won't rain. 

 I'm super excited about the game, I haven't been in a while, so it will be fun. And Jordan has never been to a baseball game, so hopefully this will be a good one. Last week I went to the horse races for the first time with him, and now he's going to watch baseball for the first time with me, lots of exciting firsts going on. Maybe He'll let me take a picture of us together (another first) in our Rangers shirts. 

#obsessions

Ok, so I haven't written in a while. But its definitely time to get back to the blog, and I have to share something I started that pretty much made my life. it called Vinted. Heard of it? My phone promted me to download this app that would allow me to buy sell and swap clothing with other women across the country. My initial thought was it would be another app I browse for a few weeks then uninstall like so many others. I had seen similar apps before (anyone familiar with Poshmark) but they were geared toward high end brand name clothing and accessories that i neither owned enough of to sell nor had the budget even to buy used from other women. No Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Tory Burch, Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade, J.Crew, Ralph Lauren Coach or any other anything with significant price tags in my closet. I may have had a few big name hand me downs in my closet and some things I picked up while working at Banana, but they were not things I planned to get rid of. I discovered something though. Vinted was not geared toward the biggest brand names. In fact I found most Vinties sold their stuff for under $20 (and usually a lot less). My closet was bursting with things that got little use from me. I think I sold my first item (a white tank with a crocheted back) in a couple hours... then I was hooked. I've bought two things so far, a pink chiffon top from Forever21 (thanks to my $10 welcome credit from Vinted) and three pairs of earrings from a girl who was super duper sweet and gave me a great discount on the bundle. Her name was Christina, she goes by cre8tivevirgo78 on Vinted, and she had oodles of pretty inexpensive jewelry in her closet.

A few days later I've sold a few tops and a dress and Vinted is my new obsession. My bf thinks it"ll turn into some kind of new job that will allow me to quit working and just sell clothes online all day, butI think its just a fun hobby, buying and selling and interacting with other clothes lovers in the forums. Its pretty great. I go by autumn.oakes on the site. But here's a link to my closet... which will subsequently lead to to the rest of vinted.
 http://www.vinted.com/members/942585-autumnoakes

choosing comfy clothes

So I was feeling pretty excited, lying in bed playing with my phone and watching the clock get closer and closer to the evening, when I would be going out with a wonderful guy by the name of Jordan, when I realized... I cant go out in what I'm wearing. You see, I've been lounging around in yoga pants and a t-shirt and hoodie all day... hardly date worthy attire. But its Saturday, and I'm tired, and its cold outside, and we're just going to see a movie right? I can go out looking like this... can't I?

He said I could when we were texting, but he had not seen me. So now I must search my closet for a compromise between a cute going out outfit and lazy rainy Saturday attire.  What is my initial instinct? Jeggings and a cozy sweater. why does this work, its not our first date (its not even our second... I think this is date number five), he can see me dressed down a bit, and the weather IS cold and rainy, it even snowed a bit yesterday. So... jeggings, boots, and a cozy sweater will do just fine if I be sure to fix my makeup and wear some cut simple accessories. I have two pairs of girly rose stud earrings that will play up my double piercing quite nicely, and a frilly scarf or a statement necklace will take the outfit from lounge wear to casual dinner and a movie fairly easily. Throw on my leather jacket to keep the cold out and I think I'll be set, and HE'LL think I always look this cute when I dress for comfort. 

The Transfer

I would have been at work right now, but our little Banana Republic is closing and there wasn't enough work to justify me coming to work the last night of us being open. the good news is the company has allowed me to transfer to Old Navy (for the many who didn't know the Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy brands are all owned by Gap Inc. which means employees can transfer between the stores). i had a meeting with the Assistant Manager at the store I'm moving to today, a very short meeting. The store is quite a drive from my house but I am happy to still be working with the company, I've quite enjoyed my few months at Banana. I think it will be cool to work with a more accessible brand from now on, though you can usually find fabulous and affordable merchandise in any store if you know how to shop the deals and take advantage of promotions. So I guess I'm saying goodbye to he slow pace and personal experience of Banana Republic and hello to the high traffic world of Old Navy. It will be an adventure! 

Sadly there won't be any place like this left to shop in our city without Banana, its a shame. Many of our customers are very disappointed. 

However, I cant wait to see what Old Navy has in store for me. It will be a completely different environment and a lot of new things to learn but so much fun.

I heart peplum

These are my $7 ankle pants paired with a super cute peplum top I nabbed from the Target clearance rack, which is a great place to shop in any store if you're willing to dig for deals .

I loved the simple look of these two pieces together and the flirty silhouette they created. I added fun bangles, including one gold snake bracelet I scored from an antique shop a few years ago.

My gold colored medallion wasn't on sale when I bought it from Old Navy, but I knew I would wear it with a lot of things I own. I like to think diverse accessories are an ok way to splurge when you always look for the best deals on the other pieces in your wardrobe.

Of course I wear heels whenever I can and these old school black shoeties, that I picked up at a payless BOGO sale are one of my favorite pairs for getting a few inches off the ground without seeming too glammed up. 

Not Brave Enough for Monochrome?

A cardigan under a jacket may seem crazy, but it totally works, and it took my all black outfit from simple to sensational. Using accessories to add a pop of color can really make a monochrome ensemble less intimidating. If you dont like this layered look you can get your pop of color from a scarf or a statement necklace, or even your shoes. I chose a cardigan bc I think it has the most impact.

This outfit is a compilation of bargain finds. There's that must have Anna Cardigan from Banana Republic you've seen in a previous post. I scored these basic black skinny pants for seven dollars at Ross, and my shoes are a pair of Kenneth Cole heels I found at T.J Max. My leather jacket is also Kenneth Cole; I found a great deal on it at Sam's Club, believe it or not.

TIPS FOR TRUE MONOCHROME: If you want to try a single shade look for real be sure to pay up different textures and patterns. This adds interest when varying colors are absent from your outfit. Mix fabrics like leather, tulle, and denim for dramatic impact.

Tennis Shoes are a Must

I don't even work out. I really don't like running. But everyone needs a pair of tennis shoes, right? I had a pair of U.S. Polo Association tennis shoes that I found at Academy for about $20 a few years back, I loved them. So when it was time for me to replace them I went down to The Shoe Department in the mall in search of another pair from U.S. Polo. I found these super cute hot pink and bright yellow shoes for about the same price as my old ones. They're so comfy, and so stylish they almost inspire me to take up jogging. 

From My Wardrobe: printed pants

In my last post I mentioned that I'm currently obsessed with the color grey. So, I figured I have to show off one of my favorite articles of clothing from my closet. I bought these grey on grey floral printed pants at Old Navy. They are a pair of the store's RockStar fit skinnys and they are absolutely fabulous! As you can see they have that great leg hugging fit you want your skinny jeans to have AND they're super comfortable.

But why do I love grey? The simple answer is its the most overlooked of the neutral shades. It pairs with everything and breaks the typical black/brown mold. 

My grey on grey printed pants balance a neutral color pairing and an bold pattern, adding interest without overwhelming. The modern grey teamed up with my vibrant yellow cardigan (a must have Anna Cardigan from Banana Republic) pack a major style punch into a very simple outfit. 

Have I sold you on grey yet? 

INTRO TO ME

So I'm a 19 year old girl who decided NOT to go to college right after high school. (crazy right?) No, I dont live with my mom I moved one state over to live with my grandparents in north west Louisiana, and worked hard to find work. I landed a job at Banana Republic which has slowly increased my love of clothes, and only multiplied my spending problem. Unfortunately my store is closing and we are all very sad. I've reqested to be transferred to our sister store, Old Navy, and will have updates on that transition to come. I also have a day job as a teller in a local bank, so in my posts I'll be exploring both my work and my weekend style. My wardrobe is nothing special, just clothes that I love bc they make me feel good to wear them. I'm a strong believer in that clothes do not simply cover your body but they express who you are and its important to feel confident in your style and love your closet, no matter where you shop.

I tend not to wear makeup on a regular basis and I'm currently obsessed with monochrome styles and the color grey. I love to read magazines and mimic the styles I see, especially when I can recreate them for less than the outfit in the magazine costs. I post new things I buy and outfits I wear to my instagram, you can find me as @asarahcapps on both instagram and Twitter. 

I look forward to exploring the world of fashion with you!