[duck 4] Outfit 2

So I wore the salmon skirt/ruffle cardi yesterday at work. Well, I also wore my awful geekazoid glasses too. My co-worker was like, "Is this the salmon pink skirt you were talking about?" "Yes... but I don't think the color is appropriate for work!!" "Girl, it's OK. You're our graphic artisse" "THAT'S what I keep telling myself!! But it's still not working!!!"

Yeah, so did I mention I'm a creative in a conservative finance industry? Any chance I get to show off a little bit of my creativity I do- but now I'm trying to hone in my style so that it is conservative and businesslike, yet not suppressing my nature. I looked a little wacky yesterday with the whole ensemble(tights included). So, I made up my mind to rectify it today- try to look a little nicer.

Purple/Green print top: secondhand

Cerulean Blue Cardigan: thrifted

Belt: 2nd hand

Skirt: TJ Maxx

Pumps: Payless

I even put in contacts and straightened my hair. Even though my supervisor wasn't in today, I kept thinking to myself, "What if I run into someone important?" and lo and behold, I ended up meeting with the VP to discuss plans. In my transition from full time student/ part-time waitress/ part-time technology firm graphic designer to full time graphic designer at a finance industry, my dress has changed significantly. Worried about what to wear, I would at first try to play it safe and mildly boring. Then, in my 4th day at my new job, I decide "screw it, I want to look like me!" I thought "Oh, well I've been dressing so professional each day, let me just wear something totally frumpy and creative." That day I go out to a luncheon, if you will, and meet all the board members and 50 of their clients. "Oh, don't worry about Crystal, she's our graphic artiste." Well, lesson learned: you'll never know who you'll be in contact with. So while I was in frump artist wear, my colleagues were in suits. Did I mention it was my first time meeting the CEO and another VP of the company? Yeah.

Picture coming soon.

<3>

Wait a Quack...

I guess we never explained who we are and who olivia and duck (hence, oliduck) are.

This is a story of two cousins Helen (Olivia) and Crystal (Duck) who once started writing letter to each other as youngsters and angsty preteens. How we chose Olivia and Duckie as our penpals names, I can't even remember. We've grown up and grown old(er) and still love being crazy and creative together.

Here's a diary of our clothes and tidbits of the lives that we lead in them.

Weather, why do you hate me?

[Olivia 1]

Currently wearing:

Uggs

COH grey, distressed jeans

Madewell beige, crewneck sweater

Anthropologie cream pea coat.

Current weather:

60 degrees, humid, and raining. FML.

Yesterday I had high hopes of picking out my 30 for 30 (props to Crystal for her skills, love those ALDO shoes!), cleaning out my closet, and not freezing from surprisingly cold Atlanta weather.

I did clean out my closet and streamline -whittling down to my 30, and probably post up pictures on Friday. I really think picking a 30 not only makes getting dressed easier in the morning, but it really pinpoints the weaknesses in any shop-aholic.

Here's what I learned about myself:

1. I thought I was obsessed with neutrals.

I am.

HOWEVER, I also have some funner, eclectic pieces I could work in to my daily outfits that too often get stuck in the back of the closet. 30 for 30 actually clarifies your style into exactly what you want to express, and shows that what you wear really is a reflection of yourself.

2. I buy with my heart not my head. (see my current accessory crush above: JCrew hat!)

Tank tops, nail polish, socks. You name it, I'll buy it. Anyway, to the point: I buy things that I don't need. I spend money on pretty things, all things in moderation at least ... ;) and not warm sweaters that can easily fit into my wardrobe. When you buy things, you should know your closet well enough to see how it fits.

3. Style isn't about WHAT you have. It's about HOW you wear it.

Simple as that.

My 30 for 30 will be up soon, I SWEAR. I have major papers looming over my head, and finals creeping up on me. I dressed up like the weather today, very blah, please forgive me, but made sure my hair and makeup looked decent. Do you ever use hair and makeup to compensate from a not-so-wow outfit?

Style on,

Helen

[duck 3] Kate Middleton's Style

I know, I know, Kate is kind of a common choice as she has made several best dressed lists. However, why the heck not? She's young and she has classy taste. She likes quality blazers/jackets, wearing dresses, heels, and best of all, bold hats. Anyone who wears old lady church hats and can pull them off publicly gets an "A" in my book.

Sometimes, I wish I could be royal so I would have an excuse to wear my over the top headpieces. Nah, I still wear what I want, where I want. I do what I want.

[duck 2] day 1

So today's plan flowed strangely well. I picked out my items yesterday with about 2 or 3 wildcards, and decided to match one today. I've actually worn this outfit to the office before except sans tights, geek-a-zoid glasses, and belt. It was super cute, at least I thought. Anyway, it was cold, hence my ballet tights, but I decided to dress up anyway even though I was supposed to spend the day nailing shingles to my new garage with my sweet hubs. He comes rushing through the door and says he needs to go to town for some work. Me? I'm already dressed and ready to go, strangely enough. So I grab my bag, laptop, camera, and set out to civilization. Turns out, I spent about 7 hours (I'm still here...) at Barnes and Nobles. Quite nice to be reading you know! I love me some B&N- it's super relaxing and I get to read all I want. Loves it.

So, Helen, how's your day going?

glasses: ZenniOptical.com (btw, $8 prescription. no joke. I have 5 pairs, but lost 3, now I'm forced to wear the super nerdy ones not as a fashion statement but as a necessity. Oh wells)

cardigan: the Limited

belt: 2nd hand

skirt: thrifted

tights: Danskin (yes, my ballet tights)

shoes: naturalizer

www.AngriBunni.com

I knew the tights were sort of a bad idea, but I went with it anyway. When I saw the pics, I immediately took them off, and the belt as well. Too much. In design, we say KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid.

[duck 1] 30 for 30 challenge

So Oli and I decided to start our very own 30 for 30 challenge. Perfect timing since the holidays are around the corner! Basically, we pick out 30 items from our closet (jackets and accessories not included) and we remix these items for the next 30 days in hopes of creating a new and amazing outfit. The catch is that we don't go shopping for these 30 days as well. It'll be hard but ultimately worth it since the holiday season is KIND of a drain on my tweed pocketbook :).

Here are my 30 items! I forgot to take pics of my cardigans, but may do so later!

- 6 pairs of shoes

2 button downs

4 pairs of pants

3 skirts (pardon my crappy pic)

7 shirts

These are listed above, but I love this shot :).. These were the shoes I got on Black Friday that ultimately made me start the challenge and stop buying for myself. I was looking for a nude comfortable flat that would be versatile in matching- matching complete.