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

Friday Five

1. Castaways is taking Back To School! We love this time of year! This year we will be taking ONLY your best children's and teen items. Think Crewcuts, GapKids, Mini Boden, Hanna Andersson, Ralph Lauren, Matilda Jane, Janie & Jack, Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, and American Eagle! Make sure your items are freshly laundered, wrinkle free, and purchased within the last two years. Then CALL us and we'll get you an appointment. We'd LOVE to! 309-886-2424.

2. We are so proud of our new line of jewelry. It is on-trend, affordable, and the perfect addition to the fabulous outfit you're certain to find at our store!

3. Designer consignments! This week we have gotten in over 200 pieces of Tory Burch, Citizens of Humanity, Joe's, Ella Moss, True Religion, Three Dots and more in all sizes. We are absolutely THRILLED to have this kind of merchandise available for you and we intend to KEEP IT COMING!

4. That's right, you can shop at Castaways from the comfort of your own home. Simply become a fan of Castaways Consignment on Facebook and click on the Shop Tab with the shopping cart icon on the left just underneath the cover photo of our staff at the top of our page. Shop away and tell your far away fashionista friends, because we're happy to ship!

5. Summer just wouldn't be summer without a little time away, so this weekend my family is headed to Kentucky to spend some time on the lake relaxing and having fun! I don't want our Castaways girls to feel lonely, so make sure and come visit them while I'm gone, I know they would LOVE to see you!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cindy

Transitioning to Fall

Hello, everyone! I must apologize for my absence. I will admit that I have been soaking up every last hot, wonderful, silly, delicious moment of summer. The time with my family is so PRECIOUS, why does it go so fast?

Yet, we are faced with the inevitable change of the seasons (and I do also LOVE fall)! Castaways has started accepting Back to School for kids and teens. We have a huge Open House on August 11, so we would love to have your fabulous items in before that. Please call us at 309-886-2424 and we will happily schedule you an appointment.

We are also taking items for women that will transition into fall. Don't you love the magazine articles that feature ways you can wear items into fall in totally unrealistic ways? You're reading it, thinking, "I would NEVER wear that!"  What about some realistic ways to transition some of your favorite pieces from summer to fall?  I have created some examples from everyone's favorite resource, Pinterest, using MY favorite piece, or at least the one I am most excited to wear from now until fall, or at least until I become tired of it and bring it to Castaways, the chambray shirt.

The above picture (Polyvore) features the chambray short with white shorts, gold and cognac accessories, and aviators. Can I just say that I adore everything about this outfit? It makes the shirt classy and fun and it is so comfy and fun for summer!

The next picture, from the love of my life, J Crew, is an adorable way to transition the same chambray shirt into fall.  I love the leopard flats and the cropped jeans, and I actually think the denim on denim is cute! I would stack on the bangles, add the bag from the above picture... oh, and the sunglasses too!

I know none of us are ready to think about it yet, but fall fashion is so fabulous! What summer piece could you transition into fall and how? And if you need our input on HOW to transition your summer piece into fall, post a picture on our Facebook page! We love nothing more than a challenge!

Hope you enjoy the rest of YOUR summer!

Cindy

All that is green...

Picture collage made with Smilebox