Beaded to Perfection

Maxi Dress (Marshalls $10)

Earrings and textured bracelet (Grandolly's Costume Jewelry)

I got this dress last summer on one of my routine rummages through a discount department store. It's made by Steve Madden (who knew they made clothing?) and since the weather has finally decided to stop drenching us in sweat and I can now bare to feel fabric on my legs I thought I would take this lovely piece out for a spin.

As you can see in the last picture, the beading is pretty impressive for a clearance rack purchase.

Four Dollar Outfit

So I was out and about this morning doing some errands and though I have been trying to downsize my stuffed closet I couldn't help but pop into the Church Thrift store.

When I walked down into the dingy basement underneath St. Matthew's church it was cluttered with bustling ladies fighting for china cups and flowered sheets. I however honed in on this printed dress and automatically found a belt and shoes to go with it.

The Bill? Four Bucks

Not too shabby.

Sneak Peak Times Two!

Pink Romper (Loehmanns $25)
Yellow Calvin Klein Jacket (Loehmanns $30)
Fun Earrings (Second Time Around $10)

White Dress (Forever 21 $27)
Wool Blazer Sweater (Madewells)
Oxfords (Deena & Ozzy)

I leave today but thought I would post these before I go! Last time with the white wall background. Next up...ocean views and red carpets (I HOPE!!)

Anyways, I don't know how consistently I will be able to update you all but please keep checking on Gathered Garments and following all the other media sites and shows. I am sure you will be seeing me interviewed, cast, etc. haha. I kid I kid.

Hope you enjoy the outfits above. I must say that this week was quite a splurge compared to my goodwill and salvation army hunting. No worries! They will always be in the mix and you will probably catch me wearing some of my luscious dollar finds throughout the trip!

Cannes Shopping: Forever 21

3 Forever 21 Dresses. More pics to come before I leave!

So...I know it has been a slow week. I left my camera in Boston (thus the crappy photos) and went back to RI this weekend to do some last minute shopping and tie up all the loose ends before I head over the pond. This picture is of three beautiful dresses I got at Forever yesterday. I will make sure to take photos of them on while in France but this will have to tide you over until then. The fabrics/patterns were so nice and light. I absolutely love it!

Monday Madness

Blazer (H&M Garden Collection $29)
Silk Tank Top (Old Navy $10)
Earrings (.50 cents St. Matthew's Church Thrift Store)
This blazer is so soft and fits like a glove. I highly recommend going by H&M immediately!

Leopard Leggings (Miley Cyrus for Wal-Mart $10)
I am almost positive that I have a chronic condition when it comes to leopard fabrics. I hone in on it wherever I am. Disturbing...I know.

My grandmother's beaded necklace (rummaging through old costume jewelry)

My great grandmother's turquoise cuff (Got this yesterday from my great aunt. I love thinking about what she may have been doing when wearing this. such history!)

So as you all know, I went to New York this weekend. It was a beautiful trip filled with much reminiscing and amazing dusted off stories that had never been told before about all of the beautiful, eccentric and brilliant women that tread before me.

As Olive and I drove back up to Boston yesterday I got a little teary thinking about love, loss and everything in between. The weather definitely didn't help (torrential downpour can definitely put a damper on the day).

Anyways, I decided that I needed to turn it around. This weekend was a celebration of life and I want to express myself by wearing whatever the hell I want! Life is too short to be huddled in a corner with a t-shirt that blends into the wall. Nothing should be off limits and as a result, madness transpired on this wonderful Monday!

Marathon Monday

Striped Shirt (Salvation Army $1.49)
Sunglasses (Betsey Johnson @ Loehmanns $22)
PAnts (Urban Outfitters BDG)
Black Espadrille Flats (H&M $7)

Marathon Monday. A Massachusetts holiday I have never quite grasped or participated in. I think it all began when I was little and my mom and dad would drag my sister and I out to watch the Easter Parade in Newport. It was never quite warm enough and the streets were filled with runny noses, strollers and a view that was aimed at someone old guy’s butt pockets. Hmm. Yeah I never got the point of parades.

But this year, I am attempting to make a day out of the Boston Marathon.

Crowds? Loudly lined streets? Pshhh I can handle it!

And while most people are shot gunning beers and painting their faces, I’ll be sipping mimosas, awaiting friends and mentally preparing for the madness.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Late Morning Lounging

Rose Earrings St. Matthew's Thrift .30 cents
Gray Top Urban Outfitters Basement $5
Peek-a-boo Undergarment Liberty of London for Target $16

I hardly ever where real underwire bras like this one (I tend to be the sports bra/built in tank top kind of girl) but I was on a mission to find a great Liberty of London piece at Target and this just screamed to me from across the aisle. I had to get it.

I love this shirt! It is long enough that you can wear it around the house with short shorts but also looks great with light jeans rolled up and colorful flats!And it has Pockets...one of my favorite things in the world!

So I know it is Tuesday and normally I would be up looking like a crazy woman worshiping my computer and checking off my to-do list but it has definitely been one of those slow mornings...no class till the afternoon, no dire events to attend to so of course my default is to take pictures and write a blog!

It may appear that I am trying to show some skin but I am merely trying to present three amazing and diverse pieces in only a few photos.

Enjoy and have a wonderful Tuesday afternoon!

Reflections

Short Sleeve Blouse Thrift with BDG Cigarette Jeans(Urban Outfitters)

So I thought it would be fun to do a post wearing another one of my infamous 80's tops (another great find at the St. Matthew's Church Thrift from Easter $1.00).

I have always thought the silk short-sleeve buttondowns looked great on women. There is something so feminine about them (personally I don't get the whole Lady Gaga phenomena. The geometric look is great on her but seriously...its pretty hard for anyone else to pull off while walking down the street. Especially when you live in Boston)

Anyways, I thought I would add a little drama to the whole look by adding the antiquey coloring. Let me know what you think!

TGIF Newport Bound for Puppy Playgroup

Silk Top: .20 Cents Garment District
Square Diamond Earrings: .50 Cents St. Matthew's Thrift from Easter Adventure
Olive: $75 Vintage Mutt Potter League

Now I may not wear this particular top while running after little O at the Potter League's weekly playgroup but I thought it would be a nice top to show since the weekend is coming up and everyone is prepping for Saturday night attire. I actually flipped the shirt the other way so the v-neck was accentuating my back. I have a feeling this will be stowed away in my suitcase for the Cannes Film Festival (coming up in four weeks! ahh so excited!)

And as you can see, if you have been following my posts, I am absolutely obsessed with my dog Olive (who also responds to Ho Cake and Pooka Shell) and though I've had interventions from friends, family and my boyfriend, I don't think there will be any change of heart in the near future.

Ultimate Tapestry Bag!

Clutching it with dear life yesterday

I know yesterday was a post about bags, and I certainly hate beating a subject into the ground but after my weekly internship meeting at Second Time Around on Wednesday, I decided to sneak into the downstairs location at 176 Newbury and check out the merchandise and I found the the ultimate carpet bag! Well...at least I think so.

It's a handwoven tapestry overnight bag and I absolutely cannot get enough of it. My sexy mutt olive even likes it and found a way to balance perfectly on top of it when we were sitting outside the other night.

I am absolutely in love and got it for $32! Handwoven! Amazing!

Anticipating Summer...Handbag Edition

I actually got this wristlet the other day at Goodwill on Comm to accessorize my oh so lovely Hawaiian shirt but I have a feeling I will be grabbing this beautiful piece to pair with my summer dresses for a night out.

This is the perfect solution for a beautiful spring/summer day when you just aren't feeling a ton of color. It is a woven straw bag but still has the conservative black with a little bit of edge in the chain strap.

I absolutely must!! have a straw bag in the summer. This literally fell off the rack and into my well-deserving hands. Come September, this fabulous tote will be smelling of Coppertone and spilling sand and sea glass. Ah...I can't wait for summer!

I have never found a happy medium when it comes to bags. I am either drooling over Chanel's spring collection or smushed between racks at goodwill, hoarding all of their best clutches. Since it is such a lovely morning and all I seem to have on my mind is what accessory I am going to throw over my shoulder for lunch in Boston I thought I would share a few of my recent purchases from Goodwill on Mass and Comm Ave.

Each of these was only $4(Goodwill)!

DIY: The Oh So Trendy Vest

the inspiration:

(in case the type above is too small it's repeated below)
Final Product: The Girly Badass
Paired with Old Navy Tank, Citizens of Humanity Jeans, Jeffrey Campbell beaded flats, Grandma's earrings and bracelet

Every September I come across the same setback. What happened to my pants? The problem is that right when it starts to get even the slightest bit warm out, I line up all of my FAVORITE jeans and with my magic wand (aka scissors) I turn them into my FAVORITE shorts! It's a severe issue...but this is the first summer, where I think that another item of clothing in my closet may be at a greater risk. My jackets! Dun dun dunnnn!

So as I am sure you all know, the new trend this spring is the jean vest and though I must admit, many of my friends have been a fan of this look many years before, I am finally catching on. Here I bring you through the process of turning a blah jean jacket into my most fawned over piece of clothing this summer. Enjoy!

ALSO, as you can see I made a bracelet with the cuffs of the jacket. I love wearing scarves as bracelets and this is a great alternative. You can use any kind of fabric and I am terrible at sewing so as long as I have a hot glue gun, staples and safety pins I'm all set!

Happy Easter: Marie Antoinette Lace

Though many blouses made it into my paper bag, this was the chosen one for morning brunch. Easter reflections are on their way...

Easter Egg Hunt...well...kind of

Saturday. A Brilliant day in my book but in Jamestown there is a little extra oomph added.

From 9 to 11 each Saturday, Saint Matthew’s Church opens its big red doors and welcomes thrifty shoppers in to enjoy the lightly used clothing, furniture and house wares.

But this particular Saturday was a bit different. I had a goal.

The sun is finally kissing New England and I was on a mission to find the perfect pastel blouse to honor it.

I brought my mom along with me to experience this ritual and once again I have dragged someone out of the dark and into garment enlightenment. She was a natural, which I shouldn’t have been surprised by. Guess it runs in the family ;)

Stay tuned tomorrow to see all of the fabulous finds...to keep you intrigued, we walked out with a big bag of clothing for $10 total!