Sweaters, Tights, and Boots, Oh My!

Sweater: If It Were Me, TJMaxx, $18 // Shorts: Flying Tomato, Fred Flare, $36 // Necklace: Local shop, $10 // Boots: Courtesy of BC Footwear

In stark contrast to yesterday's luau-worthy look, this cool, breezy Monday was all about fall. I got the chance to pair my plaid wool shorts from Fred Flare with tights. Also, I remembered that I had some sweaters in storage and unearthed this favorite from last year. A scarf seemed like the obvious choice for an accessory, but I resisted the urge and opted for this drippy metal statement necklace. I liked the delicate quality of the necklace against the woolly layers.

Hawaiian Holiday

Today's warm weather compelled me to don this summery floral bustier that I've only worn once or twice. I felt very retro beach party.

Leafy Greens

Shirt: Vintage, thrifted, $4 // Skirt: UO, $20 // Trench: Target kids' section, $18 // Tights: Target, $6 // Shoes: Worthington, from my sister

Here's what I wore to work yesterday. I just adore this shade of green (somewhere between forest and jade?) for fall, so I was excited to find these tights at Target. The skirt is part of my weekend shopping loot. It might be perfect. It's black, so it goes with anything. The pleating on the front adds interest. The tulip shape is flattering and work-appropriate. It's high-waisted. Not too long, not too short. Okay, you get the idea. I was home sick on Tuesday, so I was just glad to get dressed and out of the house. It was a perfect fall day.

DIY with PacSun

One of the highlights of the Weardrobe Conference was our DIY session courtesy of PacSun, a really generous sponsor. They gave us a selection of jeans to choose from and supplies to customize them! The pair I chose has a great skinny fit and a crosshatch look that I really dig. Amidst all the super talented bloggers, I felt like my studding was kind of lacking in the creativity department, but I really like the way they turned out. They're so easy to wear.

 Shirt: UO, $10 // Jeans: Courtesy of PacSun // Jacket: BB Dakota, Weardrobe Conference Clothes Trade // Shoes: alice + olivia for Payless

Another fabulous part of the conference was the clothes trade, where I scored this BB Dakota jacket from the Clothes Horse. Feeling a little wild last Friday night, I paired it with my skinnies, a simple white tee and edgy peep-toe booties. I definitely felt Michael Jackson-esque, so when the DJ played "ABC," my sister and I knew we had to rock out. And that we did.

Happy Birthday, Blog!

Okay, that picture is a little misleading. Kansas Couture is only a year old (as of yesterday). A lot of amazing things have happened in the past year because of this blog. I went from dreaming of the Big Apple to going there twice. I went from looking at the glossy pages of fashion mags to being in one. I went from gaining inspiration from fellow fashion bloggers to meeting them in real life. And, really, I have my lovely readers to thank! The fact that you all care about what I have to say (and wear) is the reason I keep doing this. So, whether you're here for the first time today, or you've been with me since the beginning, thank you, thank you, thank you!

I'm Officially Cut Off

Shirt: UO, $10 // Pants: F21, $12 // Necklace: F21, $6 // Belt: F21, $3.50 // Shoes: Pour La Victoire, TJMaxx, $20

After a clothing trade on Saturday afternoon, a trip to the Urban Outfitters sales rack after dinner and a margarita (dangerous!), and a Forever 21 adventure on Sunday, I gained several key (mostly basic) pieces this weekend. Among them were these denim leggings that I've been looking for. They're great because you get the look of super skinny jeans without the discomfort. Expect to see more of my finds throughout the week. I am definitely cut off from shopping for awhile, so hopefully I got my fix!

Crap Shoot

Shirt: Old Navy, $6 // Blazer: Lux, $22 // Skirt: F21, $14 // Necklace: Wildman Vintage, $13 // Shoes: Lela Rose for Payless

          When I have to be somewhere early (i.e. work), I try to have at least a vague idea of an outfit the night before. More often than I would like, this planning doesn't happen, which makes for exasperated mornings involving changing multiple times, running late, and feeling dissatisfied with my final ensemble.
          But sometimes, just sometimes, everything falls into place. Yesterday was such a morning. I put very little thought into my clothes, left the house (on time) in the first and only look I tried on, and found myself happy with the result.
          Staying true to my personal style while dressing appropriately for work can be a fine line to walk, but I thought this look had a nice mixture of color, pattern, texture and layering without being over-the-top.

Cheap Thrills

Shirt: Courtesy of Cheap Monday // Blazer: Vintage Levi's, thrifted, $1.50 // Leggings: UO, $5 // Shoes: UO, $10 // Necklace: Fred Flare

I liked my outfit today but didn't snap a pic before dark, so instead I'll share with you what I wore last Friday. T-shirts with stuff on them are not really my thing, but I just love this Cheap Monday "Popular Revolution" shirt from the Weardrobe Conference swag bag. It's just barely long enough to pair with leggings. A boyfriend blazer, my Fred Flare necklace and some oxfords complete the look. It fit the bill for afternoon errands and a casual dinner and drinks.

Work With What You've Got

Romper: Better B., $30 // Vest: Target, $10 // Necklace: Nomads (local shop), $10 // Shoes: Kenneth Cole, thrifted, $3

While looking at the forecast yesterday (80 degrees and sunny), I got to thinking. Though it's not the crisp fall weather I'm yearning for, it is absolutely gorgeous and perfect. So rather than being delusional and wearing tights and a scarf, I wore this temperature-appropriate outfit and took a nice walk downtown. This romper is something I bought over the summer. I was really excited about it at first but then only wore it one time. Same goes for the shoes. In terms of both weather and clothing items, I felt like the theme of the day was making the most of what you've got. I should remember to do that more often.

Sunday Best

This is what I wore yesterday for a casual jaunt in the park and a trip to the movies: a laidback, loosely menswear-inspired look featuring the plaid wool shorts I got from Fred Flare (it was too warm to wear them with tights as planned), a buttoned-up cardigan, a scarf from ShopRuche that formed a nice ruffly collar and my laceless oxfords.

Cardigan: F21, gift // Shorts: Fred Flare // Scarf: Courtesy of ShopRuche // Shoes: Pour La Victoire, TJMaxx, $20 // Sunnies: Fred Flare

Kickin' Boots

          I felt like a grunge cowgirl rockstar today. Not a bad combination. The boots are courtesy of conference sponsor BC Footwear. I love the western silhouette coupled with the modern grey color. The necklace is the braided gold number from Fred Flare that I mentioned in an earlier post. I've been wearing it constantly.
          Oh, and what do you think of my high-tech slideshow action? I'm not a huge fan of long strings of images in single posts, so maybe this will give me a way to show you more pictures. We'll see.

T-Shirt: UO, $10 // Plaid Button-Up: Vintage, thrifted, $1 // Jeans: Almost Famous, TJMaxx, $18 // Boots: BC Footwear // Necklace: Fred Flare

Last Day of the Conference: Thank You & Farewell!

The last day of the conference was a brief and bittersweet morning spent at the good old HQ. Rich took goofy photo booth-style shots of everyone, we had a clothing swap (you'll see the treasures I scored soon), and we enjoyed one last brunch together. Everyone shared their favorite part of the conference, and I must admit I got a little misty-eyed. I want to extend endless THANK YOUs to Suz, Rich and Jessica of Weardrobe and to all the other bloggers for being so wonderful. At the close of the weekend, I felt a lot of different things. I felt so lucky to have been a part of it. I felt like I really belonged to a community. I felt sad that it was over but excited for the possibility of a reunion. Most of all, I felt completely inspired.

Photo from the conference blog.

Top: Alice & Olivia, thrifted, $10 // Jeans: ZCo, TJMaxx, $18 // Scarf: Vintage, gift /// Shoes: Vintage, garage sale, $1

This is what I wore the last day of the conference. I neglected to have someone take my outfit photo, so (being the complete dork that I am) I re-created it! Hence, the different hairstyle.

As it turns out, having huge buttons down your spine is not the most comfortable for a plane ride. Oh well, I adore this blouse. Swap the jeans for a pencil skirt, and I could have been one of the flight attendants!

Late to First Hour

Shirt: Target, $13 // Jeans: BDG, UO, $10 // Jacket: Target, $25 // Shades: Conference sponsor Fred Flare // Shoes: Payless

I definitely had one of those mornings: kept hitting snooze, stared at the wall for awhile, felt unable to perform basic tasks like brushing my hair. When I finally raced out of the house (fifteen minutes late), this is what I had on. I felt more like a junior high student than a corporate office employee. But, hey, nothing wrong with a casual...Thursday. Perhaps it was the dressy, somewhat conservative outfits I donned earlier this week that compelled me to throw together a buffalo plaid tunic and bright indigo jeans? I felt playful and a little rebellious. Can you tell I'm ready for Friday?

Thank You Kindly, Mr. Newton

Check out mrnewton.net to see photos by Eddie Newton from the first day of the Conference!

Weardrobe Conference, Day 3!

Sunday, the third and final full day of the conference, started out with another decadent brunch: this time, at Lure Fishbar. There was a special menu prepared just for us, and we visited with ladies from Glamour, Seventeen and Guest of a Guest. They were all so interesting and fun to talk to.

Right after brunch, we made our way to the street where the talented and dashing Craig Arend of Altamira took our photographs. Before long, a crowd of people formed and took pictures of us getting our pictures taken. A disgruntled old man asked me what was going on.

Photo from the conference blog.

The next stop was Eryn Brinie where we paired up and styled mannequins that will grace the store's windows in the coming weeks. My partner was the sweet, smiley and oh so stylish Amy of Flying a Kite. We browsed through racks and racks of luxurious knits in the loveliest fall shades, picking our favorite pieces along the way. Amy and I were totally on the same style wavelength. Our vision was a unique layered look for fall that was bohemian at heart with a hint of city-girl edge.

Photo by Sara of Style Magnet! My outfit details: Collective Clothing dress (thrifted, $16), vintage scarf (gift), Colin Stuart wedges with DIY ankle ribbons (thrifted, $5) and vintage belt (thrifted, $2.50).

We couldn't go a whole day without shopping, so we hit up some stores in SoHo. Being the hopeless bargain-hunter that I am, I spent my time at H&M instead of the upscale boutiques. I picked up two dresses, which you will see soon.

Our next event was a little more conference-y. We gathered around a table for a blogging workshop with Rue La La and Tumblr. The discussions were both interesting and informative. Thank you for talking with us!

For dinner, Krystal of This Time Tomorrow and I grabbed a slice of classic New York pizza and a beer. It hit the spot. Then some of the gang literally ran to the movie theater to see the September Issue, a captivating documentary about the making of the September 2007 issue of American Vogue. The film delicately and intelligently juxtaposed the personalities of the stern, decisive, sometimes ruthless Anna Wintour and the warm, romantic, whimsically creative Grace Toddington.

Velvet Goldmine

Dress: Behnaz Sarafpour for Target, thrifted at Buffalo Exchange, $12.50 // Shirt: Vintage, thrifted, $6 // Shoes: Payless, $20

As I do my daily recaps of the Conference, I would also like to resume regularly scheduled programming: daily outfit posts. Today I sported a simple, rather austere ensemble featuring the velvet dress I got at Buffalo Exchange in NYC.

With the jumper-style frock and dramatic bow-tie blouse, I felt like a cross between a schoolgirl and Edgar Allan Poe... That wasn't a bad thing. It seemed appropriate for the dreary day and made me feel sort of authoritative at the office.

After looking up a WikiHow about teasing hair (I really fail at being a girl sometimes), I attempted something different with my up-do. I think it kind of added to the Victorian air of the look... and resembled a bird's nest. I need more practice.

I returned from New York with two velvet dresses, so I can safely say velvet is a favorite for fall. Of course, it's common for cool weather, but there's just something about the rich, sumptuous fabric (especially in vivid hues like goldenrod, purple, cobalt and forest green) that feels so right this season.

Weardrobe Conference, Day 2!

The second day of the Weardrobe Conference started with a quaint outdoor brunch at Eat Records, courtesy of Fred Flare! We enjoyed generous wedges of frittata (which always reminds me of my Italian host mother's dismay at the American habit of "eating frittata for breakfast"; Italians consider the eggy dish a dinner entree), muffins with tart rhubarb spread, coffee with warm foamed milk (Rich made fun of me for being so excited about the milk. What can I say? I'm an excitable gal, especially when it comes to anything coffee-related) and more. The dining area was like a secret garden with its worn brick walls, wayward vines and filtered sunlight ... a little oasis tucked away from the city.

Photo from the Owls Are Not What They Seem.

Then, we headed across the street to Fred Flare for some shopping. The ladies were super sweet and excited to have us at the store. I scored some plaid wool shorts to wear over tights, a braided gold chain necklace that I've already worn twice and some killer vintage-inspired shades.

The Glamourai shopping shades at Fred Flare. Picture from nyc.weardrobe.com.

Continuing our shopping spree, we visited Beacon's Closet in Williamsburg - an enormous thrift store filled with vintage treasures. Because of our busy schedule, I didn't have time to give the place a proper scouring (I'm a slow thrift shopper), but I did leave with a vintage lace dress that you'll see soon.

Next stop: Buffalo Exchange, a lovely sponsor of the Conference. They were so very kind and happy to have us. I bought a velvet dress that I wore today (outfit post coming soon). Thanks, guys!

To finish up our afternoon shop-a-thon, we visited Artists and Fleas, an eclectic marketplace with everything from quirky vintage hats to fine handmade jewelry.

All shopped out, we headed to Third Ward for a DIY session courtesy of PacSun. They gave us all jeans and supplies to customize them. I was floored by the level of creativity of my fellow bloggers... and by my utter inability to place studs in a straight line. Look out for an outfit post with my imperfect but cool jeans in the near future.

Finally, we dined at the Fat Hippo with lovely ladies from Gilt Groupe. The company and the fare were equally divine. Family-style courses of artfully arranged food just kept coming and coming! Everything from beet and blue cheese salad to sliders.

Some of us had planned to hit the town after dinner, but after such a full day, we opted for a girls night in (Rich was there too) at the HQ. A couple glasses of wine, a slice of key lime cheesecake and hours of conversation later, it was nearly 2 am. Time for bed!

Weardrobe Conference Day 1, Again!

Needless to say, I didn't do a very good job of providing daily recaps of the Weardrobe Conference. Because it was such an overwhelming (in a good way), unreal and super busy whirlwind of a weekend, it was hard to step back and reflect on everything while it was still happening. Now that I'm back home, I can really process the once-in-a-lifetime experience I just had.

photo from What I Wore

For the next few days, I will do posts recapping my experiences and sharing my thoughts about the Conference starting with a more detailed account of Day 1.

Here's a better lit, less disheveled shot of what I wore on the first day of the Conference. Outfit details: Target fedora ($12), Old Navy t-shirt ($15), vintage Levi's blazer (thrifted, $1.50), UO leggings (on sale for $5), Target shoes (on sale for $8) and necklace from local shop ($10). Next to me is my awesome roommate and "blogging bestie," Krystal of This Time Tomorrow. Off to the side is Tavi, the Style Rookie, or as we like to call her, the Style Pro. Picture by the oh so cool Sara of Style Magnet!

The Conference officially began at 4:30. We gathered at the Conference Headquarters: a Penthouse Suite at the luxurious Gramercy Park Hotel that just oozes with old New York elegance.

Picture from nyc.weardrobe.com.

Everyone was nervous and giddy and dressed to the nines. We all agreed that meeting everyone in real life was simply surreal. We all "knew" each other through pictures and words, but it was fascinating to see everyone as living, breathing, three-dimensional people. We heard each other's voices and laughs, saw how tall everyone was, noticed quirky mannerisms and personality traits that don't come across on our blogs. Honestly, I thought with this many ladies in one place, there were bound to be some divas, some attitudes or at least a few disagreements here and there. Coming from the friendly Midwest, I was afraid I might get swallowed up. I was wrong. Everyone was incredibly friendly, open, easygoing and utterly down-to-earth. We got along with ease and became fast friends.

Photo from nyc.weardrobe.com.

It was really something magical to meet so many people that you have a lot in common with but who are also quite different. Obviously, we all have fashion blogs, have an interest in style and have a soft spot for clothes. We all know that taking pictures of yourself everyday doesn't make you crazy or vain. We talked about blogging platforms, links, traffic, comments, analytics, giveaways, cameras and more without anyone saying "Huh?"

Despite all our similarities, the group spanned a wide spectrum of ages, backgrounds, careers, geographical locations, styles, tastes and so on. There were high school students and career women. Those from small towns in middle America to city gals through and through. There were ladies with intimate knowledge of high fashion who wear lots of designer duds, thrift-shopping bargain hunters who don't care about labels and everything in between. Because of our similarities and differences, we were able to connect to, learn from and inspire each other on so many different levels.

After a bit of "getting to know you," we took to the streets for a photo shoot with talented style photographer Eddie Newton. A gang of decked out girls traipsing through the city was quite a sight to see. We definitely turned a lot of heads and literally stopped traffic a few times.

Strutting on the streets of NYC. Photo from nyc.weardrobe.com.

Eddie Newton working his magic. Photo from nyc.weardrobe.com.

After the photoshoot, we headed back to the HQ. Spread out on the floors were tote bags brimming with goodies. Like so many have aptly said, it was like Fashion Blogger Christmas. We all found the bag with our name on it (the ULTIMATE stocking), plopped on the floor and started digging through our treasures. The room was filled with oohs and ahhs, squeals and laughter. Suz, Rich and Jessica (the amazing Weardrobe team) beamed down at us like loving parents seeing all their hard work pay off.

Photo from nyc.weardrobe.com.

Photo from nyc.weardrobe.com. (Thanks to everyone for tolerating my photo theft. Your pictures were prettier and more plentiful than mine!)

The loot included stuff from PacSun, Nooka, Victoria’s Secret, Payless ShoeSource, Hayden Harnett, 80s Purple, Who What Wear, Seychelles, Ruche, Knock Out, SIGG, We Love Colors, Cheap Monday, Gilt Groupe and Indi Denim.

Thank you so much to our sponsors for helping to make this weekend a reality.

We rounded out the night with a casual pizza dinner at the HQ. By then, we had loosened up considerably and started to really get to know each other and have fun fun fun. Following din din, A group of us made our way to the rooftop terrace bar at the hotel. My one cocktail - a Grey Goose Greyhound - was $18, but I was so content to be in that place, at that moment, with that company... that it was worth every penny.