Jeans Purge

I clean out my closet all the time. Imagine that! I have the best job in the world, and one of my favorite things about it is that my closet is forever changing.  I'm getting ready for fall and trying to decide what to add to my wardrobe as far as jeans go. I also felt like there were probably some pairs that could be weeded out. I decided to document the process. It worked really well for me!

Here are all of my jeans. I have 12 pairs. I LOVE my colored and white denim, and I had a few pairs that I am nowhere near ready to give up. BUT I want a new pair of super skinny dark wash and some black ones too, so I feel I can justify that by finding a couple of pairs to get rid of! Makes sense, right?

Here are the five pairs I tried on, left to right: Gap Ankle Zip Skinnies in fawn. I actually just bought these and wanted to try them on, so I really didn't plan to get rid of them. :) Old Navy Skinny Divas, Joe's Skinny Boot, Gap Real Straight, and Citizens of Humanity Straight.

I got out a pair of flats and heels to get the whole effect right when doing my try~on. Aren't those gold J Crew loafers adorable? Castaways!! :)

Here are the Gap Ankle Zip skinnies. I love them. Also love the neutral color. I can't wait to wear them with chambray and black for fall. A skinny is NEVER skinny enough for me, though. These fit more like a straight jean. I am still on a quest for the perfect skinny jean. But these are cute and fun and a great way to continue with my colored denim phase.

Here are the Old Navy Skinny Divas. I am not a fan. They aren't even close to being skinny and they definitely don't feel great on.

Eh. I don't feel like they are very flattering either. Off to Castaways they go, they will surely look cute on someone else! 

The Joe's Skinny Boot. I don't like them, have never worn them. I just can't get into the skinny boot. It looks odd on me. I love the wash though.

Nope. Not bum~flattering. Jeans that flatten that area of the body are NOT a good idea. Castaways for these too, Someone taller will ROCK them!

Gap Real Straight. I like these with flats, it is one of my favorite looks in the fall. I think these are cute. I will have to hold on to them. They are so comfy! 

I'm also not one to have a lot going on back~pocket~wise. I think a plain pocket and a dark wash is the most slimming on EVERYONE.

Here are the Citizens of Humanity Straight Fit. I like these too! They are similar to the Gap pair above, but cut just a little skinnier! Cuffed with heels, they look great!

I was lucky enough to find these at Castaways, and I'm not ready to send them back to the racks just yet.

So, there you have it. I found two pairs of jeans to take to Castaways and make a little bit of money. Most of you probably have MORE than 12 pairs of jeans, so take the time to try a few on that you haven't worn in awhile. You'll be glad you did, and you can come bring the pairs that don't make the cut to US! Maybe you'll even find some replacement pairs while you're at Castaways! AND if the idea of cleaning out your closet intimidates you, we will begin offering a closet cleaning service this fall. We'll come help you make all the tough decisions. We'll bring a bin for items to consign and a bin for items to donate, plus a camera to photograph outfit ideas. Heck, we'll even bring a bottle of WINE to ease the pain a little. If you'd like more information about this service, please call Castaways at 309-886-2424.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Cindy

What I'm wearing Wednesday

Sometimes, when I'm getting ready for work, I don't want to have to think too much. BELIEVE me when I tell you that with the craziness of our Back To School season, I am doing PLENTY of thinking once I get to work. So, on those days, I gravitate toward a simple dress and accent it with a statement necklace and a great pair of shoes.

I bought this dress from White House/Black Market three or four years ago at Castaways. I am NOT normally a girl who will hold on to an article of clothing for that long, but the cut, quality, and feel of this dress is pretty classic. I've had it through seasons of being heavier and losing a bit of weight, and it never fails me. I can also add black tights and a pair of boots and it works for fall and winter. How versatile!

I added this taupe bubble necklace from Castaways to complete the outfit. I LOVE this taupe to wear into fall, but we also have the necklace in an array of brighter colors if you want the pop! I loved the way the necklace and my wedges felt so neutral with the black dress. I am ready to my clothes to feel transitional into fall and I love how much fun it feels to change up a summer piece by wearing a way that feels a little more... autumnal... is that a word?

So, there you have it! EVERYONE has a LBD (little black dress) in their closet. Try it with a pair of heels and an awesome necklace (perhaps one of ours!) It's a no-brainer!

Have a wonderful day!

Cindy

Five For Friday... Brought To You By The Color...

CHARTREUSE!!!  Color is big for fall/winter, but most of the colors are dark and more muted. I think we NEED color once the days get gloomy, which, by the way, I am DREADING. I have always loved bright royal blue and fuchsia on a gloomy day, but this winter, I think chartreuse will be fun.  VERY few people can get away with full on chartreuse... I envision it on a dark complected brunette. However, I think we can all get away with it as an accent color. Here are a few of my favorite chartreuse pieces!

1. Super cute pointy toe flats by Nine West. Did you read last Friday's blog? Pointed toe flats are in!!!

2. This chartreuse Burberry Bag is gorgeous!

3. THIS GORGEOUS necklace is my favorite piece out of the five. It is Oscar de la Renta, and it is available at Neiman Marcus for approximately one million dollars. I am trying to find a similar piece to order for Castaways, and I promise it WILL NOT come with a hefty price tag!

4. This scarf from Anthropologie is a great way to incorporate chartreuse into your wardrobe!

5. I love a fitted jacket for fall, and I know many of you feel the same way! This one, from Gap, is a play it safe grey with a great chartreuse piping! SO CUTE!

The cool temps this weekend are going to get us all in the fall spirit! We will collect pops of chartreuse and display them for you at Castaways so that you can be thinking ahead to days when you will need to brighten up! Chartreuse is a little daring but not in small quantities! What are some other daring ideas to incorporate into our wardrobes???

Friday Five

Hello! I received my beloved People Style Watch today, and it was tremendously THICK and FULL of fashion ideas for fall. I'm not quite ready to leave summer behind, but the cooler weather and my innate love for shopping are beginning to win out. I'm starting to get excited! I thought for this Friday Five I would share a few of the fall trends that I think will be really wearable here in Central Illinois. I love trends, but some of them aren't very realistic here. Oxblood leather? Probably not, for most of us. Peplums? Could be cute, but I can't picture very many people wearing them. I mean, skinny jeans are EVERYWHERE, but I can tell you with the utmost certainty that MANY of you are still uncomfortable with the idea. So... here are five great fall trends along with some ways to make them more wearable in the real world.

1. Menswear. This trend is being shown in the magazines as a head to toe look. I think, done that way, it is a little.... less than feminine. In fact, I can tell you that from experience, because we recently tried to duplicate this look for Castaways' Facebook page and I am the one who put on the outfit... and promptly refused to wear it. I think that one or two pieces could be worn together and look amazing. I love each piece individually: fitted jacket, chambray shirt, cuffed boyfriend jeans, structured cross body, oxfords... and I really like the way the Pinterest user who put this outfit together added the feminine necklace. So cute! I think I may have to invest in the oxfords for fall.

2. Black skinnies.  Love, love, love!!!! For those of you mentioned above who are STILL scared of skinnies, these are a VERY safe start, and would be flattering on just about anyone if paired with black riding boots. The monochromatic line would be streamlined and VERY flattering! They would also be HOT with a nude pump!

3. Hunter Green. It will be the mint green of fall/winter and it is so pretty! Pick something hunter green (this dress by Zara, perhaps?) to add to your wardrobe, and if, like our Kayla, green isn't your thing, any jewel tone will work!

4. Pointed Toe Flats. Love them! They are so much sleeker than a rounded toe! I will DEFINITELY be adding a pair to my wardrobe, probably several. These are Steve by Steve Madden, and Pinterest has TONS of other cute choices!

5. The Heeled Short Boot. Most of us probably can't swing this $495 Rachel Zoe pair, but I'm sure there will be plenty of cheaper versions out there. Everything about these are GORGEOUS ~ the rich mahogany leather, the gold hardware, the extremely wearable heel. I am still hesitant about flat short boots with skinnies and skirts, I think it could be extremely unflattering. BUT with a dark skinny or a short skirt, these could be SO amazing. A fun alternative to the everyday flat riding boot!

So, there you have it. A first look at fall. Are you ready? What trends are you looking forward to wearing?

Cindy

Friday Five

1. Great consignment finds. And, no, they don't have to be from Castaways! Although, it's perfectly acceptable, in fact, encouraged, if they are! My lovely employee, Haley, called me this week from a local resale shop with these beauties in hand. Yes, they are Cole Haan pumps with Nike Air technology that retail for over $200.00. They were priced at EIGHT DOLLARS!!!! And yes, they look brand new. Finally, yes, they are MY size, not hers, unfortunately (for Haley), and yes, she bought them for me (LOVE her!) It just goes to show you what AMAZING things you can find out there once you really start looking!

2.  I LOVE this Fashion Formula, found on Pinterest. It is the perfect guideline for getting dressed each morning and being perfectly put together without being either TOO bare bones, or worse TOO overdone! Try it this week, I think you'll LOVE the result. And isn't the Interest Piece the most fun component of the outfit???

3.  I had TWO customers this week compliment me on past acts of kindness.  Those compliments meant more to me than any great consignment, high dollar sales day, or fabulous shopping purchase EVER could. It really does feel good to make someone feel special, and I want Castaways to be a shop that does just that!

4.  It's almost here ~ my son goes back to school August 16! So don't forget our Open House on Saturday, August 11. We will have a sneak preview of children/teen fall clothing, NEW accessories, giveaways, refreshments, and much more! We are so excited to bring you this fabulous event, don't miss it!

Our Web Presence

5.  Another thing I have received many compliments on lately is our web presence.  I can't believe how many local professionals and people within my industry have taken notice of our Facebook page. I try really hard to keep our content innovative and interesting (Look, mom, I'm using my Journalism classes!) but I really couldn't do any of it without all of you!  If you weren't out there commenting and clicking the "like" button, our wealth of information wouldn't catch ANYONE'S eye! So, THANK YOU, and please let me know if there is anything new that YOU would like to see from Castaways on Facebook, Twitter, our blog... or anywhere else! 

Happy Weekend!

Cindy