fun and festive for the holidays

december is one of my favorite months

of the year! i cannot get enough of the holiday

lights, decor, and festivities (not to mention the 

delicious treats and baked goods that frequent

our office kitchen). spending time with family and

friends during the holiday season is of 

great importance, too. something about this

time of year feels, well, extra special.

the past few weekends have been filled

with parties, babysitting commitments,

and of course, last minute holiday shopping.

putting together fun, yet festive looks for these

events was at the top of my 'to do' list. 

well, maybe not right at the top, but i hoped

to find a few different pieces to mix and match

 for various occasions.

velvet and faux fur are prominent 

this time of year, and i could not wait to

style both. after all, you're allowed to dress

a bit more boldly than normal during

the holidays. grab all your velvet, faux fur,

and sequined items for the holidays!

i paired my velvet skirt with a blouse

(one i frequently wear to work), vest, and 

comfortable wedges. standing for extended periods

 and walking from one event to the next 

requires cute and comfortable footwear (sadly, no

heels for me). gold jewelry and a statement

clutch completed my look.

i have also worn this skirt with a lace

top, an oversized sweater (for a more casual

vibe), and a fitted cream blouse. the possibilities

are seemingly endless, as the skirt

is a neutral color, and this particular skirt

has proven to be a wardrobe staple.

photos by jenn from hello rigby

velvet skirt: nordstrom rack (similar here), 

flats: nine west, blouse: loft (similar here),

vest: target (exact here -- on sale!), ring: lucky brand.

clutch and bracelets: charming charlie

can you believe christmas is next weekend?

the holiday season always seems to sneak up on me.

i have a few last minute gifts to pick up

but otherwise feel ready. i cannot wait to wear

this velvet skirt to our christmas eve dinner!

xoxo.

thriftaholic: tips & tricks for your next thrifting adventure

if you've been a reader of diary of this girl for some time, 

then you know i am a thriftaholic! many of my clothes, shoes and handbags

 were purchased second-hand (including these flats, this sweater and 

this dress). thrift and consignment shopping is a 

passion of mine - i love the thrill of thrift shopping; you just never know 

what you'll find! 

putting together outfits to share on my blog is a wonderful hobby,

but keeping up with current trends, while also providing new

content (and thus, new outfits!), is expensive. i can't always

justify purchasing those new ankle boots or that faux fur vest.

however, when purchasing items second-hand, and at a

much lower price point, i feel like i'm being kinder to my wallet.

while i typically find fun pieces when thrifting, there are days 

i come home empty-handed. unfortunately, it all depends on what's 

available at your local thrift or consignment shop. some days are better

than others, and it's important to go back (again and again!).

a few areas of the thrift store i always make sure to check?

shoes, handbags, sweaters, skirts and dresses! 

if i have extra time, i also look through the shirts

and blouses, and i sometimes browse the men's section

(some of my favorite flannels were purchased in the men's department).

when thrifting, allow yourself plenty of time!

thrift and consignment shopping requires patience. you often

have to dig (and dig!) through the racks and of course, try on any 

items that end up in your cart. check for major holes and/or snags. 

minor adjustments, such as hemming skirts

or pants, can be made. i've also bought tops that were 

missing a button because this is a quick and easy fix.
additionally, don't be afraid to look at items outside of your usual
size range. for example, i like to browse sizes small through large,
as vintage pieces are generally sized larger (and fit smaller)
 and clothing may or may not be mixed up.

photos by elizabeth kathryn photography

and now, for a few of my favorite thrifting destinations!

seattle goodwill:

for years, i have been an avid supporter of goodwill. while i 

have found great designer items at a variety of goodwill locations, 

the redmond store (located here), the ballard store (located here)
and the capitol hill store (located here) are where i typically
have the best luck!

buffalo exchange:

located in the university district, buffalo exchange

is where i often sell gently-used items from my closet. while i'm
waiting for the staff to look through my clothing, i subsequently browse 

(and often purchase!) from here as well. 

gigi's closet:

when visiting my parents on weekends, i make sure to 

stop by gigi's closet, located in mukilteo. it's a small, locally owned

consignment shop for women. their merchandise varies, 

but i've found several pairs of shoes and jackets for work.

crossroads trading:
crossroads trading, located on capitol hill (not
far from urban outfitters!) is full of vintage, gently-used
and new clothing, shoes and accessories. i can spend forever
looking through everything, and my favorite pair of distressed
madewell jeans were purchased at crossroads!

value village:

my love for thrifting began in college. we would

visit the local value village for vintage sweatshirts and

halloween costumes each year. i soon realized everything else value 

village had to offer, and my loyalty has continued!

i prefer the lake city, lynnwood and redmond locations.

where are some of your favorite places to thrift

or consignment shop? i'm always looking for new places to visit!

xoxo.

p.s. the jumpsuit i'm wearing in the photos above is a thrifted find 

at goodwill by my photographer, elizabeth!

what we wore: wine tasting edition

^^^ skirt currently on sale here! ^^^

tank, skirt and necklace: nordstrom, booties: target

tank: h&m, skirt: madewell, sandals: asos, sunnies: ray-ban wayfarer

this past weekend, we celebrated the upcoming wedding

of our dear friend // girlfriend, patty. 

her bachelorette party was a blast, 

and it was wonderful to spend time with both her 

and maggie (pictured above)!

one of the highlights was wine tasting at gorgeous, local 

winery, novelty hill januik.

located in woodinville, novelty hill offered lovely views, 

comfortable seating, games, wood-fired pizza, and of course, 

a delicious assortment of wines. 

maggie and i decided to snap a few pictures of our outfits

to share on this little blog. 

i sure do miss swapping clothes with this lady;

her closet is a dream. 

i hope you had a wonderful weekend

and were able to enjoy the sunshine!

xoxo.