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Sunday, October 31, 2010

What Do Pebbles and Cleopatra Have In Common?

They were my two Halloween costumes this weekend! Friday night I went to a party, and Saturday I went to a Halloween fashion show (look for those pictures tomorrow!). So of course, I needed two costumes. They were both were pretty easy to make, and I liked how they turned out. I'm a big fan of putting together the whole look myself and not just buying some pre-made costume from a store.

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Pebbles from the Flintstones

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Kat Von D from LA Ink, Cleopatra (she didn't have a costume so I lent her my extra), and Pebbles

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Cleopatra

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I never get to wear winged eyeliner, lipstick,
or a wig,which made this SUPER fun!

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Scarecrow, Peacock, Mother Nature, Cleopatra, and a Fairy

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Mother Nature with her turtle

As I've mentioned previously
, I usually get much more excited about Christmas than Halloween, but this year was actually really fun. I love using this holiday as an excuse to dress a little crazy or wear makeup you normally wouldn't (check out my roommate Jillian's Mother Nature makeup...isn't it awesome?! She also has a bird in her hair!) Next year I definitely want to pick a costume that allows me to wear really wacky makeup. Until then, I'm ready to start putting away the Halloween decorations and busting out the Christmas tunes. Yes, I'm that girl. I will be listening to the Christmas Pandora station long before Thanksgiving rolls around. Ha ha what can I say...I get in the spirit a little early. Well I'm off to do some studying (writing this blog post may have been part of my procrastination...) Happy Halloween everyone!

Friday, October 29, 2010

College Days: From Then to Now

I'm currently taking a 20th century fashion history course, and one of our recent projects involved analyzing old family pictures and comparing them to the trends of that time period. It was kind of a hassle finding old pictures, but once I did, I really enjoyed the project. It was really interesting looking at old pictures of my grandparents and realizing how much things have changed since they were my age. I wanted to share with you this picture of my grandma (my dad's mom) with what I assume are her college girlfriends.

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My grandma is the one sitting down in the front right. It's funny to think she is probably around my age in this picture; I think they all look so much more mature than being in their early 20s. This picture makes me want to know more about these women and what their college experience was like. Unfortunately, I never really got to know my grandma because she was diagnosed with Alzheimers right around the time I was born. I'm fortunate to have access to these pictures because even though I never got to sit down and talk with her, these pictures allow me to get a little glimpse of what my grandma's life was like.

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This is a picture of me and some of my college friends (and roommates). 70 years makes quite a difference, doesn't it?

Thursday, October 28, 2010

I Said Brrrrrr, Its Cold Out Here

Bring It On reference, anyone? I cannot get over how quickly the weather has shifted here. It went from pretty and sunny to very cold and windy. Brrrrrr. I think its about time to start bringing out the heavy coats and scarves. Although I hate being cold, I can't wait to bust out my chunky knit scarves. Also, I have my eye on some cute suede gloves from Target...gotta love Target! I cannot wait for the day after Thanksgiving. My mom and I go shopping at Target at like 5 AM when they open the doors. SO FUN! Is anyone else this crazy?!

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What I'm wearing: Gap blazer, Forever 21 sweatshirt, Gap Always Skinny, Aldo boots, Forever 21 pearl and gold leaf necklace

If my face looks frozen in this second picture, it's because it was. I seriously underestimated how cold it was today. I was also eating some serious hair from how windy it was. I think I definitely need to invest in a trusty tripod because my camera keeps falling over from the strong gusts of wind. I bought this sweatshirt this weekend at F21, and I love it! So comfy and I can see it being really versatile with my wardrobe. I loved my outfit today; it made me feel put together and ready to face my busy day.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Costumes, Costumes, Costumes!

In celebration of Halloween, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite costumes from past years. Every year, my mom would make our costumes herself and throw a big Halloween party for my cousins and neighbors. The past few years I really haven't been that excited about Halloween, but these pictures remind me how much I used to love this holiday. I can't wait to share pictures after this weekend and show you my costume!

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1991- Devil
I think this was the first year I went trick-or-treating. Wasn't I cute? :)

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1993- Snow White
I think this is one of my favorite costumes of all time. My mom did an awesome job making this. It even had a removable cape like she wore in the movie. My mom spray dyed my hair black for the Halloween party, which I remember made me feel like the coolest kid on the block.

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1995- Cinderella and Winnie the Pooh
I was really into Disney princesses, clearly. The year before this I was Sleeping Beauty, and the year after I was Pocahontas. I remember playing dress up in this costume all the time after Halloween was over.

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1998- Rose from Titanic/ Princess
This costume was supposed to be Rose from Titanic, but then I wore a tiara? I seem to have been a little confused. This dress was another amazing creation by Mom, and I remember it being really hard to make. And yes, I totally thought I was hot stuff in that red lipstick.

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2002- Clown
This was the last year I went trick-or-treating. My friend and I decided at the last minute to throw together some costumes, and we went as matching clowns. Our costumes ended up being pretty awesome, and I remember getting lots of compliments. (I apologize if you're afraid of clowns!)

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2009- Flapper
This was last year's costume (ignore the creepy facial expression...it was the only picture I could find!) Last year, I was a flapper girl and the costume came together really well: the dress, long strands of pearls, a feather boa. Unfortunately, it rained and by the time I got to the party, I looked kind of ridiculous. Better luck this year, I guess!

Which one is your favorite?

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

It's Raining, It's Pouring

Is everyone else having crazy weather today, or is it just an Ohio thing? Its been super windy, with tornado watches and warnings all day, which got my second class of the day canceled (score!). Now I'm holed up in the apartment, trying to stay awake. Its perfect napping weather, but I'm going to try to resist and do some homework instead.

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What I'm wearing: The Limited cardigan, Forever 21 ruffle top, Forever 21 metallic belt, Old Navy skinny jeans, Liberty of London for Target rainboots, Uniqlo umbrella

I rushed through my outfit pictures today before the rain started, so I apologize for the lack of quality. Not my best batch ever. I was happy to get another chance to wear these rainboots, even if it meant crappy weather. I think I need to invest in a pair of wintery rain/snow boots, since these boots are a little to Spring-looking to be wearing in late October.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Shades of Gray

Do you ever have those weeks that suck so bad that all you want is a hug from your mom? That was last week for me. Thankfully, my mom is awesome and drove an hour and a half yesterday to spend some mother-daughter time with me. We got Panera for lunch, ran some errands, did a little shopping, and finished up my Halloween costume. Thanks for a great day Mom :)

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What I'm wearing: Forever 21 cardigan, Old Navy button-down, J.Crew outlet jeans, J.Crew flats, Forever 21 tote, Self-made earrings

I've been going through a gray phase lately. It may have something to do with the crappy moods I've been in? Either way, I'm kind of loving it. This outfit came together really easily with all the different shades of gray, and it was the perfect laid-back outfit for a day of shopping and running around with Mom.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Bad Days and Blue Skies

I'm just going to come right out and say it. Yesterday sucked. There is really no other way to describe it. Got an unnecessary 6 o'clock wake up call (literally), had class and meetings all day, and spent my evening cleaning up our university's basketball arena until 1:30 AM to help raise money for an organization I'm in. To make matters worse, it was one of those days where I absolutely could not decide what to wear. I tried on about five different outfits before class, but nothing seemed quite right. When I did finally decide what to wear, my outfit pictures turned out like this:

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Blurry

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Awkward poses

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It was so windy my camera kept tipping over and taking pictures of the sky. Love how gorgeous the color looks though!

Basically, it just really wasn't my day. But hey, I guess that happens sometimes. Cheers to the weekend and getting to start fresh next week!

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My only semi-acceptable shot

What I'm wearing: Old Navy cardigan, Gap long sleeve tee, J.Crew outlet "Hipslung" jeans, Sperrys, J.Crew tortoise shell headband, Vintage necklace, Bag via Steinmart

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Window Shopping- Old Navy

My stress levels have been chart-topping this week, so after finally completing a 6 page paper that's due tomorrow, I decided I needed to unwind by doing a little online window shopping. My retailer of choice? Old Navy. Old Navy is one of those places that is really hit-or-miss for me, but I'm really liking what they have to offer right now. Here are some of my current favorites:

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Wool-Blend Trench with Detachable Faux Fur
Cute winter coats are something I can always count on from Old Navy. Do I really need more? Probably not, but I've really been wanting a long tan one. I'd justify it by saying we have really cold winters here.

Old Navy orange
Ruffle Collar Wool-Blend Jacket
I'm kind of in love with this color, but I think I would have to see it in person first. This jacket looks very J.Crew-esque (at a fraction of the cost...it's even on sale!), and I can see it pairing up nicely with some of my leather boots.

Old Navy gingham dress
Tie-waist Shirt Dress
I can see this dress layering up nicely for Fall and Winter with a cardigan, tights, and boots. But I'm not sure how I feel about gingham in Winter. Thoughts?

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Faux-Fur Lined Knit Slippers
Yes, I know its pretty silly, but I'm kind of obsessed with these slippers! My boyfriend's sister got me a pair for Christmas last year, and they were super comfortable. I wore them so much that I ended up having to throw them away at the end of the season because they were so worn down. I definitely need to get another pair this year!

Let me know what you thought of this post...would you like to see more of my picks from around the web on days when I don't have outfit posts?

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

The Perfect Layering Piece

Is it Friday yet? Somehow every week gets a little bit busier than the last. I was extraordinarily cranky this morning, and then I realized I need to slow down and enjoy the little delights in life. Things that are making me happy today: 1. Getting out of class an hour early! 2. Enjoying the most delicious pumpkin spice cappuccino I've ever had 3. Wearing my new leopard print scarf 4. Having the new issues of Lucky mag and Instyle sitting here begging to be read!

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What I'm wearing: Old Navy utility jacket, J.Crew outlet tank, Gap Always Skinny jeans, Nine West boots, Target Scarf, Bag via Steinmart

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous this past week. Look how blue the sky is in the first picture...it almost looks fake! It can be a little tricky sometimes to dress for this kind of in-between weather, but this jacket has proven to be the perfect layering piece. Turns out I'm not the only one who thinks so; two of my friends unknowingly bought the same one! Great minds think alike, I guess?

Monday, October 18, 2010

Can You Guess My Halloween Costumes?

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Black wig, Gold Jewelry, Black winged eyeliner

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Cheetah scarf (to be worn as a belt) and bone hair clip

Based off my accessories, can you guess my Halloween costumes? I wanted to keep my options open, so I have two possible choices. Both are pretty old-school ideas, but I wanted to keep it classy amongst my fellow classmates who will be running around in lingerie and equally trashy costumes. Best of all, I didn't spend very much on these items, and almost all of them are things I will use again in daily life (minus the wig and bone). Yay for being resourceful! What are you planning on being this year?

*Clarification- These are two different costumes pictured above!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Halloween Fever

I'll be the first to admit that Halloween isn't my favorite holiday. I'm much more of a Christmas kind of girl. But this year, I've decided to join in on the Halloween fun. I've already decorated the apartment (with help from my roomies) and have started planning out multiple costumes. Make sure to stop by tomorrow for a "can you guess my costume(s)" post!

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Witch covering up our creepy kitten calendar

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Hanging lanterns that don't actually light up
(that's what I get for shopping at the dollar store)

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Thursday, October 14, 2010

Playing It Safe

This week has been one of the busiest I have had in awhile. I've spent the past few days working two part-time jobs and studying in my spare time to get ready for my big accounting midterm tomorrow. Today's schedule is no different. I worked bright and early this morning, hurried home and got ready in record time, headed to an important meeting (I would love to tell you details, but I don't want to jinx it!), and now I'm getting ready for 4 hours of class and a night at work. Busy, busy, busy! Thankfully I have a fun weekend planned...I think that is what is keeping me sane and calm right now!

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What I'm wearing: J.Crew outlet blouse, Old Navy cardigan, Gap pants, Kelly and Katie flats via DSW, Earrings via The Pink Box (Cincinnati)

I had to dress professionally for my meeting, which gave me an excuse to wear this beautiful blouse I bought when I visited the outlets about a month ago. I have always loved J.Crew's silk blouses, and this one was at a price I couldn't resist. I probably could have gotten a little more creative with the look, but I wanted to play it safe to give the right impression at my meeting. I'm glad I will most likely be working in a creative environment when I get into the workforce; I don't know if I would be inventive enough to keep my outfits interesting everyday at a job with a dress code. Okay, well off to class I go...have a good weekend everyone!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Stumped

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What I'm wearing: J.Crew outlet cardigan, Old Navy v-neck tee, J.Crew boyfriend jeans (2007), Kelly and Katie flats via DSW, Forever 21 skinny belt, Forever 21 necklace, Kate Spade tote


Lately, I feel kind of stumped every time I look at my closet in the morning or sit down to write a post. I think I'm just distracted by my busy schedule and upcoming midterm on Friday. Hopefully you can bear with me until my creative juices start flowing again. Kendi is proposing another 30 for 30 challenge, and although I feel like I just finished the first one, it may be just what I need to get my creativity going again. I imagine it would be much harder to narrow down my closet to 30 items when there is so much layering necessary at this time of year, but it could be fun. Are you planning on participating in the challenge? Also, can I just say that I love how comfy these boyfriend jeans are, but hate how they look all weird and baggy in the crotch? I bought these a long time ago, so I think they might be a little too loose, even for boyfriend jeans. It might be time to invest in a new pair.

P.S. I finally have a twitter for myself/Best Foot Forward! Stop by and check it out at http://twitter.com/KateBestFootFwd

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Happy One Hundred!

Today I am celebrating my 100th blog post! I'm so excited about how much Best Foot Forward has grown over the past few months, and I can't wait to see where it has gone by the time I'm finished with the next hundred. Also, to celebrate the expansion of BFF and to finally join the 21st century, I finally created a twitter account! I'm still kind of checking it out and playing around with it, but expect to see it in on the sidebar of the blog sometime this week!

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(Yes, I think these pictures are clever...just let me believe it)
What I'm wearing: Forever 21 cardigan, American Apparel skirt, Old Navy boots, Urban Outfitters earrings

I cannot get enough of these boots! This morning I was debating between these and a pair of gray J.Crew flats, but I went for the boots. They perfectly balanced out my bare legs and semi-short skirt. I personally feel this outfit looked much more flattering in person, but hey- I guess that happens sometimes. Also, while celebrating my 100th post, I would like to thank everyone who has been reading Best Foot Forward. Your sweet comments make my day. Thanks for following Best Foot Forward :)