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!