Fashion

So I get distracted by pretty things. Are you surprised?

18 June, 2011 / 47 Comments

And if you ARE surprised, well. You must be new.

So I was on my way home from work this morning, and I had to stop by my favorite store (aka Goodwill) to find a pair of shorts for summer camp. Because I only have one pair, and believe me… even though it’s Washington and rain happens all the time here, I would die without shorts. I’m pretty sure.

And I found a pair. But that’s not exciting.

I was distracted by the dress section. Slightly. I may or may not have tried on about twenty dresses. I also may or may not have bought one of them.

Okay. Maybe I should change that to  “I most definitely DID buy one of them,” because I didn’t steal it… and… well, it’s at my house. On my body. Currently.

Details: Dress ($9.99), thrifted. Earrings ($8), Fred Meyer; Necklace ($4), Hallmark; Shoes (unknown) Target.
Approximate outfit cost: $21.99

And I know I said I wasn’t going to do a fashion post today, but then I found this dress.  

And I WAS going to write a “what I’m packing” post, but currently, packing looks like this:

 So yes. It’s… um… yeah. I need to do my laundry before I start packing. In the meanwhile, here are two of the dresses I tried on at Goodwill and didn’t end up buying.

Ignore the dorky socks look. I was so close to buying this, but in the end I decided that it was just a tad bit too short for me, and finding a slip to go beneath (up close it’s see-through) was too much work.

And you have NO idea how much I wanted to buy this. No idea. But it was a size ten, which is 2-3 sizes too big for me.  I had to clench the fabric at the back just to make it look decent for the picture, and I was sorely tempted to just buy it ant take it in. But I’m not a sewing kind of person, so I let it be. I have dreamt of a dress exactly this color and shape for YEARS.

I guess there IS a downside to losing weight.

But I’m sure I’ll find something equally fantastic to wear.

Also, I bought an adorable notebook for summer camp use:

Yes. I know. Shut up. I love owls.

😀

Oh! And I almost forgot, brooches. Also found at Goodwill. I’m trying to build up my brooch collection,because I think they’re a fantastic accessory. I now own several gold animals:

Yes. You can be jealous now. 😉

I’m off to do laundry, clean my room, and make sure I have everything I need for summer camp. I hope you all have a beautiful week while I’m gone!

I’ll see you Saturday.

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47 Comments

  • Asia Morela

    18 June, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    Great new dress! It fits you perfectly.
    And the red dress is awesome. 😀 But yeah, too bad it was too large… I hate it when I find something I love, but not in the right size. I can sew a little, but mostly I’m just too lazy to do it. I did once buy this skirt on sale, though, which was only left in a bigger size, and then just sewed some more elastic inside the waist to make it tighter. Not something you can do on any type of skirt, however.

  • jsh0608

    18 June, 2011 at 7:19 pm

    I’m not a dress person…but I would have to say, that was a cute dress. And I noticed since you are Eccentric Owl, that owl notebook was perfect. Did you get all of this at goodwill???

    • Mara

      25 June, 2011 at 8:51 pm

      Thank you! I’m totally a dress person… which is probably obvious. 😀 Hehe.
      I didn’t get the notebook at Goodwill, no. The notebook was from Target.

  • Booksphotographsandartwork

    18 June, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    Geez I never find great dresses like that at Goodwill. I think the South has horrible Goodwill stores. No surprise. That dress is fabulous! Very classic and sleek. Love it. My daughter and I went to Goodwill today also. Needless to say I did not come away with a great dress like that. I only got one okish shirt. And books were on sale, two for one. There weren’t that many great ones to choose from.

    • Mara

      25 June, 2011 at 8:57 pm

      My Goodwill has been getting better over the years, I think.
      I love the books there!
      And really… it also depends on the season you go. I’ve noticed that dresses are better during the Spring and Summer, as are the jeans. And that shirts/sweaters seem to be better during the Fall and Winter.

  • Booksphotographsandartwork

    18 June, 2011 at 7:24 pm

    Opps I forgot, the red dress, you should go back for it!!!!! I don’t normally like one shoulder dresses but that looks great on you. Another classic look that will never go out of style. That is a gorgeous dress.

    • Mara

      25 June, 2011 at 8:58 pm

      Haha, I don’t have many opportunities to wear dresses like that, so I won’t buy it unless it actually fits. 😀 It was gorgeous, though!

    • Mara

      25 June, 2011 at 9:01 pm

      Since I don’t really have opportunities to wear dresses like that and it didn’t fit me, I wouldn’t buy it. If it had fit me, I would have. 😀

  • Emily

    18 June, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    Our Goodwill? Sad, and gloomy. Your Goodwill? The envy of all the people who follow your blog :p At least, thats what I think 😀 Just because I’m madly jealous you know. That red dress is amazing, but the one you bought is fantastic as well 😀 Adore the notebook and brooches… That turtle and… cheetah? look Amaziing!!! 😀
    Good luck at your summer camp 🙂

    • Mara

      25 June, 2011 at 9:03 pm

      Hahaha! You should come visit me and we’ll go to my beautiful Goodwill. 😉 It’s not ALWAYS amazing. Winter months aren’t as good. But it’s been getting steadily better. I think we’re getting clothes from Seattle.

      Thanks! It was a wonderful week.

  • Demy

    18 June, 2011 at 11:17 pm

    Well yeah! We know that you get distracted easily and personally I LOVE IT!! Amazing dress! I love the color, the print, the shape! It’s gorgeous and yes, it does look stunning on you! As for the other two dresses that you tried on, I don’t really like the first one, but OH-MY-GOD!! The red one is perfect! Such a pity it was too big, it’s really beautiful! But oh well, it was not meant to be 😛 The animal brooches are SO cute!!!! I AM jealous! Have a nice time at the camp! 😀

    • Mara

      25 June, 2011 at 9:05 pm

      Hehehe. Yes. I’m SO easily distracted. 😀
      The brown/blue dress was way cuter in person– I hadn’t realized that the picture was blurry until I uploaded it. But it was really fun and flowy.
      I wish the red one had fit! Gah.

  • Kelly

    18 June, 2011 at 11:39 pm

    Oh my gosh! Whoever donates to your Goodwill wears such cute clothes! The one by my house is lame =(

  • Snigdha

    19 June, 2011 at 10:05 am

    Excuse me, I forgot again [ I forget a lot of things, you must know by now ;)]
    Do you live in Washington? Where, exactly?

    Don’t tell me Forks. I’m going to freak !
    Reply soon.!

  • annebeth

    19 June, 2011 at 10:31 am

    oh wow, how did you resist buying that red number? I would have gotten it even if it was too small, just to look at how pretty it was!! 😀 but yeah I’m sure you’ll find something amazing that does fit 🙂 the blue dress you’re wearing is sensational, looks very expensive!

    and I totally notice the weightloss, nothing “drastic” but you look so healthy and svelte! also in the face, loving your hair in these pics btw 🙂

    • Mara

      25 June, 2011 at 8:03 pm

      It was about 6 inches too big, and I’m not enough of a seamstress to take it in. 😀 It was so gorgeous, though.

      I love the word svelte! Hehe. Thank you, dear.

  • Avra-Sha Faohla

    19 June, 2011 at 3:16 pm

    Okay. Maybe I should change that to “I most definitely DID buy one of them,” because I didn’t steal it… and… well, it’s at my house. On my body. Currently. Ha ha!

    What about the red dress you already own? I think it’s quite lovely.

    • Mara

      25 June, 2011 at 8:04 pm

      Hehe.

      Well, it’s pretty but it’s not really my style. It’s a bit more stiff than I like my gowns to be. (I don’t really like satin all that much.)

    • Mara

      25 June, 2011 at 8:06 pm

      Thank you!
      Go with lots of time to search through, and especially in the dress section check ALL the sections, not just the one your size would be in. A lot of times I find dresses that have been misplaced in Large when they’re actually Small, or dresses that have a tie and even though they’re too big for me, the tie makes it easy to pull them in and fit. And keep your eye out for little holes. I’ve almost purchased one or two dresses but found holes at the last minute.

  • redcurlgurl

    21 June, 2011 at 1:25 pm

    Geometric pattern dresses are the best! You got quite a steal. Congrats. Taking in a dress a couple of sizes usually isn’t too much of an investment. The smartest thing a gal can do is make friends with a seamstress. Go back and get that dress! Every woman should have a long, red dress in her closet.

    • Mara

      25 June, 2011 at 8:17 pm

      They definitely are!
      Haha, I know it isn’t; my mom is a great seamstress, so she probably would have taken it in for me… but it’s not something I needed just then. I’m sure I’ll find something that actually fits me eventually.

  • Jamie Rose

    21 June, 2011 at 10:14 pm

    That blue dress you bought is wonderful! It’d be perfect for all seasons as you could layer tights and cardigans with it. It fits you so well too! Great find!

  • Henry

    22 June, 2011 at 2:23 am

    iI can confidently say you are the prettiest blogger i have come across yet! and i love the way you write keep it coming.

  • midnitechef

    22 June, 2011 at 11:54 am

    You inspired me to check out the Goodwill close to my office and I found an awesome Banana Republic floral silk handbag for 4.99… retail 58.00! (this is the one: http://cgi.ebay.com/BANANA-REPUBLIC-SILK-FLORAL-HANDBAG-NEW-/110706123575?_trksid=p3284.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DMRU-11450%252BUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D21%26pmod%3D370498820948%26ps%3D54) I wasn’t even looking for a bag and bought two… I was there to find baby girl stuff for my little one. So yeah, pretty things are distracting! 🙂

  • audrey

    24 June, 2011 at 6:49 am

    i am such a sucker for animal brooches, and those ones are AWESOME! and not buying that dress at $9.99 would have been downright criminal. good find.