Tribal Print Dress + Embroidered Vintage Coat

Dress: Ross Dress for Less

Coat and necklace: thrifted

Fine Form: Antique Doll Lamp

This lamp is one of my most sacred possessions--one of two gorgeous antique lamps that I inherited after my grandma passed away. Growing up they were weighed down in pounds of gold necklaces she piled over their skirts. It took several hours of untangling the necklaces to liberate these ladies, so most of the time I'm careful about how much I'm tossing on top of them. I happen to think this one looks like a bejeweled warrior in her sash of colored beads and my Cara bracelet as a headdress.

Detail Close-Up: Tribal Print Layered With Polka Dots, Vintage Brooch

Polka dot button-down and brooch: thrifted

Tribal print tunic: Forever 21

Outfit Inspiration: Two Ways to Wear a Knitted Skirt for Fall

Skirt and sweater: thrifted

Textured tights: George from Walmart

T-shirt: gift

Socks: Target

Cowboy boots: thrifted

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(Stolen Off) My Boyfriend's Back: Strange Donuts

T-shirt: Strange Donuts

Floral blouse: thrifted (old, so likely Salvation Army)

Necklace: thrifted, Belleville Flea Market

It probably seems like I own a ton of Strange Donuts t-shirts, but I swear, this one was by accident! I inherited the shirt after my boyfriend shrank it in the wash, an act of kismet that practically shouted, "Girl, you can rock this so much harder than he can!" It's become one of my new favorites to mix and match because the pink and teal tones are easy to play up, and the gray is so blissfully neutral (which is about as rare in my closet as a unicorn). Plus it always makes me hungry for donuts--never a bad thing in my book!

One of my favorite personal trends in high school was layering a button-down under a t-shirt. A crisp white shirt packs a put-together punch, while patterned shirts can shift the tone of an outfit. In this case, I think it keeps the graphic from coming off as too grotesque.

Check out my other Strange styles:

• A Strange Outfit
• Styling My Strange Donuts T-Shirt (Take 2)
• Best Festival Fashion: Representing St. Louis Flavor at LouFest

Off the Bust: Last-Minute Halloween Costumes (Or, How a Girl Can Be Ron Swanson)

I am a connoisseur of last-minute Halloween costumes, though I think I've only honed the talent because I wait until the last minute to decide if I'm going to dress up. This photo is from two years ago, when my sister requested I go as Ron Swanson instead of the fairy princess we'd planned. She made this request at 3:50 p.m. Trick-or-treating started at 5. 

How does a girl with long, luscious locks transform herself into TV's most manly libertarian? The recipe is as follows:

Step 1: Assemble one of Ron's most basic ensembles--slacks, sweater, collared shirt (all of which I found in a pile of my grandpa's old clothes at my grandma's house).

Step 2: Add under shirt for warmth (necessary 25 out of 26 Illinois Halloweens).

Step 3: Find some masculine shoes. (This pair, which are my mom's, seemed boring enough... and I thought Ron would prefer brown over black.)

Step 4: Attempt to replicate Ron's "high and tight" hairstyle. For me, it took 23 bobby pins and about half a can of hair spray.

Step 5: In the absence of suitable materials to make a mustache, cut one out of an old t-shirt and Scotch tape it onto your face.

Step 6: Perfect slight scowl.
Step 7: Consult the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness for other pointers on getting into proper character: 

My Swanson achieved moderate success--no one knew who I was, but I was mistaken for a dad two or three times. So score! 

Happy Halloween, y'all! 

Fall Outfit Inspiration: Mixing Tribal, Floral and Polka Dot Prints With Textured Tights

Dress: Ross Dress for Less

Scarf: thrifted

Tights: Forever 21

Socks: Target

Temperatures in St. Louis have been all over the map this month--I was sweating in my office yesterday, and today, I'm shivering! Plus or minus a sweater, this dress/scarf/tights/socks combo has been a complete godsend for rolling with the flaky fall weather.

Dressing Up With Mint Details

Dress: Ross Dress for Less
Jacket: Forever 21
Belt: thrifted
Shoes: Rampage via Ross Dress for Less

Fine Form: Freaky Vs. Funny Halloween Decorations Using Mannequins

Source: Simply Designing

Source: Unknown

Does anyone else seem to get caught in conversations over whether Halloween should be a silly or scary event? I always get roped into them, and all I care about is the free candy! 

Just kidding. In all seriousness, I believe 'to each their own' is a great Halloween decorating mantra. I love 'em all. One of my favorite houses to visit as a child posed a 7-foot T-rex in their backyard with a strobe light and tape of roaring sound effects. But surfing Pinterest this past couple weeks, I think I'd get just as big of a kick out of the sight of the Wicked Witch of the East's ruby slipper-clad stockings in the air as I would that dinosaur! 

Don't forget to check out last Halloween's Fine Form post!: 5 Spooky Halloween Decorations Using Mannequins

Layering a Vintage T-Shirt for Sweater Weather

Shirt: purchased secondhand from Strange Cargo in Chicago

Sweater, skirt: thrifted

Belt: New York & Company

Booties: ZiGi Girl from Nordstrom Rack

This psychedelic skirt is one of my latest thrift acquisitions. While I love maxi skirts--and come to think of it, 60s cocktail party-worthy prints--this particular one feels like a departure from my usual style. I decided to keep with the adventurous spirit by dusting off this sweater that I've never worn despite owning it for three years. It neutralizes the bold colors a little. The length and bit of embroidery detail reminds me of Dorothy Zbornak, which is probably why I've kept it all this time. May my mom and I be as sassy when we're old! 

Of course I still had to infuse it with some 'Karlie' with a graphic tee. (Read the tale behind my favorite thrifted shirt.)

What I Wore: STLFW Fall 2014

I'm still winding down from all of the festivities, but I wanted to share two of my favorite looks from this season's events!


St. Louis Fashion Blogger Awards

Dress: Ross Dress for Less

Lace top: Amazon

Obi belt: thrifted

Necklace: my mom's

Bracelet: Cara from Nordstrom

Booties: ZiGi Girl from Nordstrom Rack

The Blogger Awards marked the first outing for this pair of booties, which I snagged at one of Nordstrom Rack's Clear the Rack sales this spring. They're a great two-in-one--the suede sides can be folded down for a funky, more urban look, or buttoned straight up for a more steampunk vibe. 

Blogger Lounge

Dress: Ross Dress for Less

Jacket: Forever 21

Dickie: cut from a thrifted shirt

Necklace and bracelet: thrifted

Boots: TJ Maxx

I snagged this dress at Ross for something like $12--what a steal! Not only does it bring out the pink and purple hues in my hair, but it will serve as a super versatile layer to mix and match with all of my other 'bruise-colored' clothing.

Most Pinned: Nostalgia for the Polly Pocket Rings of the 90s

Credit: Buzzfeed's "The MC Hammer Doll And Other Relics From The 1991 Mattel Catalog"

"Most Pinned" highlights some of my most popular Pinterest pins, including these Polly Pocket rings. Follow me at pinterest.com/karlieb!

One of the completely selfish reasons I keep this blog is to catalog the clothes I own. With as often as I cycle out thrifted pieces, many have come and gone with virtually no physical evidence of their presence in my life. It probably sounds dramatic to say I regret that I didn't keep better record of them, but I do.

Other items I simply wish I'd kept. There was no way of knowing when I was four years old that I should have hoarded away--or at the very least, kept track of the pieces to--my collection of Polly Pocket rings. I get so mad when I see Polly Pocket products now, because I loved the old size and my nostalgic 90s kid heart doesn't believe their design needed to evolve. They really weren't that bad of a choking hazard! I wish my 9-year-old sister could know the joys of convenient, truly pocket-sized play, because I still have such good memories of some of my Polly houses (a tree house in particular that opened at three different levels and even had an escape chute coming out the trunk!). I prized the pink car because it shuttled the little dolls from house to house. Though I don't remember owning the throne, I have a distinct memory of playing with the gold-clad queen it came with. I might have actually used her as a chew toy before my nail-biting habit really grew into itself. If only I'd realized their potential as long-term statement pieces! Who would even want to look at their phones if they could whittle away boredom with one of these babies? 

What's In My Bag: STLFW Event Essentials

1. Purse, T.J. Maxx (old)

2. Notebook, Walmart (stickers from Strange Donuts and Target)

3. MOO mini-cards with blog contact info 

4. ID card holder

5. CoverGirl powder foundation

6. Benefit's Laugh With Me Lee Lee perfume

7. Maybelline's One-by-One Volume mascara

8. Lip gloss so old the label wore off

As you can see, I'm keeping my bag fairly uncluttered heading into the Saint Louis Fashion Week events. (I also have to make room for the camera used to take the picture.) I'm especially excited this season because I finally took the leap and printed some business cards for this blog of mine. They'll be handy during the meeting and greeting going on at tonight's Blogger Lounge! 

Headed to a Saint Louis Fashion Week event? Don't forget to order your tickets! 

Off the Bust: Rainbow Ombre Hair Dye At Home

The inspiration: 

Image credit: Buzzfeed's "How to Be a Pastel Goth"

The result: 

Color Jamz Raspberry Kamikazie + Manic Panic Purple Haze

Does anyone else have the color bug? I've been dyeing my hair since seventh grade. Perhaps you think that's too early, but after a disastrous stint with a bottle of sun-in, I needed color correction. The process was so fun I never stopped!

In the last 13 years I've tinted my hair every shade of brown and red I could find, including a phase during high school where I tried my damnedest to achieve Stacey Farber (Degrassi's Ellie Nash)'s light auburn hue... usually to mixed results. My mom even let me add hot pink streaks prior to my first day of eighth grade--a small change that made me feel like a complete badass walking into school despite the ire of several room mothers. I was emboldened with the knowledge that I could control my look, and therefore, my happiness about myself. That feeling is probably one of the reasons I've always chosen to go the DIY route with my hair care and styling.

Recently I took a window of opportunity in which I didn't have to go to the office for two weeks to finally go back to the rainbow (and take advantage of the ombre trend). Matching my blog layout is unintentional, but I can't get enough of pink and purple together lately. I feel like a human princess who gets to visit Lisa Frank world. The fade-out on the pink is so expressive, and I'm finding that 'Ohh, pretty!' feeling I get every time I see my strands in the mirror is oozing into the rest of my outlook on the world. It's been a happy time, friends. The only sad part: watching that stream of magenta water swirl down the drain. Luckily, that's what touch-ups are for! 

What a difference lighting makes: natural v. incandescent light

Here are my tips for at-home dyeing with rainbow colors:

• Patch tests are a must! Don't fall victim to an allergic reaction. It'll also give you an idea of whether you need to do additional lightening on your hair before you put on the color, or if two applications are required to achieve the result you want. Keep in mind that if you're using products from different companies, one may wash out faster than the other. (I'm finding the Manic Panic has a bit more staying power on my hair, which made me feel justified in putting the purple on the top.)
• Start small. Don't try a full-head application at home until you know how the color works on your hair. If it's your first time trying an ombre look, go slow. You can always add more of the lighter color, or blend multiple shades together on a second application. Much like haircuts: it's better to go slowly and not fuck up than lose the whole look.
• In a pinch, a toothbrush or small makeup brush can help you achieve strategic streaks or highlights. I used a cheap tapered blending brush from Target, and found it was easier to maneuver than the highlighting combs available in most at-home dye kits.
• For the love of god, wear gloves during application and rinsing. With your run of the mill shades I skip the gloves on the latter step. My pink fingers, palms and forearms should serve as a warning to the rest of you. 
• Protect your skin with a layer of petroleum jelly along your hairline and neck. If you're like me and end up with colored blotches on your arms and face anyway, rub off with makeup remover or astringent (if still fresh), or soak in hot water (if it's more set in). 
• If you want the color to look as authentic as the sample, go blonde or go bleach. (Color Jamz offers a pre-lightening package that strikes a balance between the two, and doesn't fry your strands.) And if you're pre-lightening, condition liberally! Semi-permanent dyes aren't usually as abrasive as at-home permanent colors, but you have to keep your hair healthy for future dye jobs.
• That said, be sure to enjoy the fade-out! The color will wash out and develop on your hair in its very own peculiar way, and you should be proud of it! After a few washes the pink in my hair faded to a striking cotton candy hue, and that can only be achieved after you've lived in the color for a few days. Take as many pictures as you can. You'll thank yourself later. 

Pastel tint to the pink dye five days after application

Striped Tunic and Ivory Accessories

Top and jewelry: thrifted

Jeans: Target

Boots: Nordstrom Rack

While it's still bordering on end of summer here in St. Louis, I found fall has already arrived back home in Illinois (a whopping 3 hours' northeast, to be exact). This tunic--a Salvation Army find from my college days--is always one of the first shirts to be put back in rotation once it starts getting chilly. I love the henley collar and the coordinating floral fabric on the inside of the cuffs. It's the perfect grab-and-go shirt for a day of running errands, or for covering up on a late evening walk in the dusk of autumn. 

Fine Form: Mounted Deer Head Jewelry Display

Image credit: 11 Eureka Blog

I can't resist a cool pattern--especially when it's part of a jewelry display! These fish are fab! I spotted this deer head wall art from 11 Eureka Blog on Pinterest a few months ago, and ever since, I've been trying to get up the gumption to create my own version. It's a quirky take on the typical "rustic" man's statement piece, with the capability of keeping your necklaces tangle-free. What more could you ask for?

Celebrating My 5 Favorite Graphic Tee Looks On Bringing Up Bust Form's First Birthday

Celebrating My 7 Favorite Photo Collages On Bringing Up Bust Form's First Birthday

Celebrating My 7 Favorite Layered Looks On Bringing Up Bust Form's Blog Birthday

Celebrating My 7 Favorite Remix Looks On Bringing Up Bust Form's Blog Birthday ( + My STLFW Blogger Award Nomination!)

I couldn't be happier to be celebrating Bringing Up Bust Form's first blog birthday/blogiversary/"whatever you want to call it" this week! Not only am I participating as an official blogger of Saint Louis Fashion Week, but ALIVE Magazine has nominated Bringing Up Bust Form among its "Blogs to Watch!" for the 2014 Saint Louis Fashion Blog Awards. Please consider voting on the blogger portion of the STLFW website. The voting period closes Sept. 19! 

But even more so--I'm happy to be finding my readership, which just surpassed 15,000 unique page views! Thank you all for giving this blog a read, and for all of your feedback along the way. I really couldn't be more grateful for you.

Over the next several days I'll be sharing my favorite content from this past year. For now, check out pieces that made multiple appearances during BUBF's first year of life. While I can't deny (or circumvent) my addiction to prints, I do appreciate a remix-worthy piece.