Sunday, January 27, 2013

What I Wore Sunday: The One Where I Use Self-Timer

by Shannon


If you hang around until the end of the post, you can oogle my accessories collection.

This is why I used self-timer this Sunday.


I think Ryan has tired of taking pictures of me. And, yes, that's the smoke detector on the counter. It goes off when dinner is ready. 

Here are the results from the self-timer session.



It was a difficult decision, but I think this was the best one. Not completely out of focus, and you can see the fun, poofy sleeves.



Deets:
Earrings: Victoria Townsend, Macys
Necklace: heirloom
Jacket: LOFT, consignment shop in trendy neighborhood
Dress: Taylor, TJ Maxx
Belt: Simply Vera, Kohls
Watch: Fossil
Tight: Target
Boots: Sears

I have only been dying to wear this party dress to Mass for more than a year, but it's very ... friendly up top. I've only worn it one other time, to a friend's wedding, for which I borrowed a cardigan last minute. I've been searching for a cropped jacket ever since, and I finally found one this weekend at my favorite consignment shop, running me $12. Yay! I would have liked it to be a bit more cropped, so I don't look so much like a bell from neckline to hemline, but I'm pretty happy with it. In the closeup of my locket, you can see the jacket has a fine dot pattern, which is really fun with the patterned skirt. 



This is my favorite heirloom from my paternal grandmother. She gave it to me when I was 14, and I immediately put a picture of my sister and me in it.



Maybe it's because I've known us, well, our whole lives, but I think it's really funny that we don't look like each other in that old picture, but we look so similarly now. 


Here are the earrings. I'd been on the lookout for two-tone love knots for a while, and these fit the bill. I've had them for a couple years.



No closeup on the boots, as I've done it before


Here's our lunch guest's Pinterest hair, which she sported at Mass. She's just got over a bug, so I didn't insist on a picture of her fashion. Check out her scarf, though. Pretty, pretty.



Ever since my post about discovering my personal style, I've wanted to show y'all how I organize my accessories. Accessories are my favorite part of fashion. I started really collecting them three or four years ago. Between gifts, consignment stores and Target clearance, I've amassed so much that I rarely feel drawn to buy anything unless it's super unusual (read: usually vintage). I knew I needed a new (and cheap) way to organize my sparkly things when I could no longer close the jewelry box my father made. 


I decided to use what I had, so I piled up a bunch of pretty things to hold my pretty things.

Left: Peacock plate from friend's Japanese grandmother, teacups from my bridal shower, wooden box regifted to me from my cousin (an ex gave it to her as a wedding gift — heh.), oooold butter container that was one of my mother's first vintage buys (funnily enough purchased to hold jewelry), and a lie — I did not only use what I had around the house. I later bought the egg crate from World Market when I decided I needed more space for stud earrings. Top: Smallish necklaces, now kept in my father's jewelry box. Bottom: I found a couple more St. Francis of Assisi items in our house this weekend — where did all this stuff come from?!
I keep bracelets, brooches and scarf clips with these teacups. 
For my long necklaces, I took an old shelf and screwed in hooks, which came in one of those small divided boxes full of hardware. The heart hanger isn't my style, but it was laying around. Not sure why or from where. I hung the art because it was on the floor in a corner, the music box is from my childhood (plays "My Favorite Things"), and the Cantillon bottle holds silk flowers from our wedding.
Top: The first vintage necklace I ever bought, purchased at the antique mall near our college where Ryan and I discovered our shared love of old things. Can't believe it's been 10 years. Bottom: More pretty stuff. Right: Ryan and Crucher's Christmas gift to me. 
Earrings live here. Danglies are hung on the teacup or put on the plate, and studs are in the egg crate. I put earrings that are broken or missing partners inside the teacup.
Top left: The wooden box holds the extra notions that come with new clothes. Top right: I hang my headbands on the top of the dresser mirror. Bottom: One of my drawers is full of scarves and hankies. 
Eh, while I'm at it, here is the rest of the closet. It's actually a fourth bedroom that we hung Closetmaid hardware in. Our bedroom is closetless. Ryan's stuff is to the right, and his dresser is to my left. My dresser and jewelry are behind me. We also keep linens in here, folded to the left of that hanging sweater divider. What you see here is everything I have for winter, spring, summer and fall, save what's in the laundry and a few coats/jackets in the hall closet.

So, that's how I organize my pretty bobbles and bits. How do you keep your jewelry organized? Do you keep it on display or put it away? Did you need to buy special organizers, or did you get creative? Do you have a spot for extra buttons and thread, or am I just OCD?

Don't forget to go to Fine Linen and Purple for much shorter blog posts.



26 comments:

  1. What a super fun and hip outfit! I love it. The jacket is a little vintage-y, which I really dig. Wish I had something that cute in my closet. :)

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    1. Aww, thanks! TJ Maxx clearance. Can't beat it. I love a good textile.

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  2. LOVE the fullness of that skirt! You are totally rocking it with the cropped jacket :)

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    1. I feel totally Mad Men in it. I wanted a crinoline for it, but I think I might look like a child if I went there.

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  3. The skirt! I love the skirt and the cute modern cut of the jacket. Love it. You look great!!

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    1. Thanks, Mary! I'm so glad I finally found a cropped jacket. They should be easier to find.

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  4. Shannon, I'm in love with this whole thing!!! The skirt is awesome and that jacket was such a perfect find for this! AND, your jewelry storage is amazing. I attempted a similar system with plates/cups and but I really love some of the old pieces you found. And I'm jealous that you have an entire room for a closet :)

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    1. I was a bit inspired by your blog. Felt like I needed to show off my wares a bit and inspire some organized fashion.

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  5. Hahahaaha, still laughing over the smoke alarm going off when dinner is done! You look super cute, and I wish I had a closet that big!

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    1. We hope to one day move some walls around, since our bedroom is through one of those walls. It would be nice to have one big master instead of a small bedroom and huge closet. There's too much wasted space.

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  6. I think that I am absolutely stealing that jewellery storage collection idea! I share your adoration of all things vintage!

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  7. I LOVE the flouncy dress and that gorgeous heirloom locket. And I am totally digging how organized all your accessories are! I am also a huge fan of accessories, but the bulk of mine are currently in storage in the U.S. until I get back! I love the idea of using an egg tray for studs. I use those plastic bead boxes (like a tackle box for craft supplies) to organize my jewelry, and they're a tad on the utilitarian side. Your collection is actually tour-worthy. :)

    I'm also laughing because I am the master of the self-timer! Almost all my blog photos of me are done with the timer!

    Thanks for sharing and for stopping by my blog earlier! All the best from the Holy Land!

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    1. I need to learn the self-timer. A ton of the pictures were fuzzy and weird. I love your little continuum of pictures on your WIWS post! It's too funny.

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  8. You look beautiful! I am beyond impressed with your accessories and even more impressed my your organization!

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    1. Thanks, Brooke! I actually just cleaned out that closet this weekend. Give it time, and it'll be a mess again.

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  9. You know I have not been much of an accessorie person until recently. I'm starting small; my older daughters make earrings for me and they are lovely, really pretty beads and they have a flair for matching colors and beads.

    Your closet is great. It would be nice to actually be a part of your room, but as long as it works for now, good job.

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    1. I love handmade jewelry. Handmade and heirloom are the best.

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  10. AH, I have too many things to say! #1, I love your photo shoot. WERK! #2, Your dad made your jewelry box. CUTE! #3, That St. Francis medal? AWESOME! #4, I love your house. It's very warm. It's got "a look" while still being accessible. It's delightful.

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    1. Yay! Thanks for complimenting my home. Sometimes I think I might put borderline too much effort into it, but I believe one of my roles as mother/wife is to make our home comfortable and lovely for my husband. It's a thing.

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  11. You had me chuckling at several points here. Smoke alarm going off when dinner is ready--oh I hear you there! And your jewelry organization is lovely!

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    1. Thanks, Laura! I had some funny inspirations this week.

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  12. Incredible accessory collection! That jacket is an awesome 2nd hand find, and the print of the dress is beautiful. Also, our smoke alarm is super berserk and goes off almost every time the oven is used. Crazy.

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    1. Thanks, Lisa! Yeah, I'd say our alarm goes off 75 percent of the time, even when there is no smoke. Good to know the thing is sensitive, I guess.

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  13. Just found your blog and love it!!

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