Now that I've successfully completed my year of no shopping, I will be revamping my blog over the next few weeks. In the meantime, send me your fashion related questions.

Email your questions to -
renouncingmyfaithinshoes@gmail.com

Day 337 of No Shopping

Growing up in rural Michigan, there we not a lot of “dress-up” opportunities for us.  Our house was surrounded by farms and corn fields, and the closest mall was a 20 minute drive from my house.  Despite all of this, my Mother always instilled in us a sense of pride in ourselves growing up. Going to Sunday Mass in jeans was simply unacceptable and getting a new dress outfit for Christmas and Easter was the norm.

The point is that you should always be presentable and take pride in your appearance. There is a fine line between being vain and being put together.  There is always an appropriate outfit for every occasion.  I'm of the opinion that its better to be a little overdressed than under dressed.

I am not suggesting that you don a pair of heels and pearls for a trip to the grocery store, but please rethink those flip flops and worn out sweat pants before you leave the house. Throw on some light makeup and a casual sundress, or for the winter jeggings, a sweater and boots. It will take you the same amount of time to put on that ratty old outfit as it would for you to put on something sensible. You never know who you might run into at the grocery store...

Fashion Tip of the Day:  We have had a number of rainy, wet days in Atlanta recently and having a fun pair of wellies has helped to brighten my spirits on those grey days. Wellies are functional and very in style right now.  Throw on a pair of skinny jeans, tuck them into your wellies and you're off to play in the puddles.  My personal favorite brand of wellies is Hunter. They are reasonably priced and a well-justified purchase.

Day 321 of no shopping

One of the perks of living in the south is the weather. It's hard to believe it's January 1st and 62 degrees outside. But if you are stuck in a more northern place, winter doldrums are sure to set in and your wardrobe  options are limited to turtlenecks and over sized sweaters. I love the idea of a slouchy sweater paired with skinny jeans/jeggings and boots, but often times the look is less than sexy.  Make sure when you purchase an over sized sweater that the sweater is actually meant to be baggy and you aren't just going up 2 sizes to be able to pair the item of clothing with leggings. This will inevitably make you look like a bag woman.  Look for sweaters that flatter your over all figure and fit properly. For a more polished look, try wearing a skinny belt around the sweater. I like to pair my neutral sweaters with a pop of pattern like an animal print belt. Throw on a pair of heels/heeled boots instead of flat boots and your ensemble is both warm and functional, without looking like a throwback to 1983.

Fashion tip of the day: Another winter friendly look is to pair fun patterned tights with your favorite dress or skirt. You are able to add visual interest to the outfit and stay fashionable without sacrificing warmth. But under no circumstances should you be wearing white tights, ever. Stick neutrals like navy, gray, black and brown. Don't be afraid of fishnets - the smaller the fishnet, the better. I am a big fan of nude fishnets which are more subtle than black.

Day 304 of No Shopping

If you haven't had a chance to check out Pinterest yet, you must do so immediately. I've been finding a lot of fashion inspiration on there recently and find it incredibly helpful when I am stumped for what to wear. It not only has fashion, hair and makeup, but also home decoration, DIY, and other helpful things. I like it because it visually appealing and easy to navigate.  Since it connects you to so many different people, the site is constantly updating and you can find new ideas for outfits daily.

Fashion tip of the day: Growing up in Michigan, the long winters are a good excuse to invest in fabulous winter coats. Often times people see your coat and never see your outfit. Treat yourself to a great statement coat that will stand the test of time. A great tweed will never fail you. Find something that is tailored and can be dressed up or down. A knee length coat is both flattering and great for blocking the cold winter wind, without being dowdy. 

Day 224

In an effort to stay on track and yet continue to be stylish, I raided my closet this weekend to see what "gems" I could find and I was pleasantly surprised with what I was able to dig up.  I found numerous pieces of clothing that had ben neglected, mainly because they did not fit anymore or were slightly out of style. I am pretty good at keeping my closet fairly organized and cleaned out, so the things I found are definitely salvageable.  

Last fall I took the cape my Grandmother had given me and had it hemmed to just above my knee. She had given it to me years earlier, but I had never worn it because its Retro ankle-length hem was outdated.  After getting the cape hemmed, it has become one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe and definitely a winter staple. 

It's amazing what a great tailor can do to revitalize an item of clothing. After visiting the tailor this week I will have two pairs of pants and a pencil skirt.  The pencil skirt and one of the pairs of pants have never been worn, because they never fit properly.  It will be nice to have three seemingly new pieces of clothing in my wardrobe! 

Fashion tip of the Day: Find your inner Sass and get yourself some red lipstick. My current favorite way to wear it is with an entirely black outfit. It instantly makes the outfit more playful, with a touch of sexiness. My favorite color is Lancome's Smoky Rouge, just don't forget to use lip liner!

Day 220 of No Shopping

Although I have been terrible about posting to my blog over the last few months (okay, down right awful),  I have stuck to my promise not to shop.  It has definitely been hard, but I have rediscovered things in my closet I had totally forgotten about! I have tried to be inventive with my outfits and wear things that had been long shoved to the back of my closet. Though I have to admit it is starting to become quite a challenge.

Living in Atlanta can definitely have its advantages weather wise - lots and lots of beautiful, sunny days -it can also mean a prolonged use of my summer wardrobe.  I've been wearing light weight clothes, sun dresses and wedges since late March. Needless to say, I'm ecstatic about fall/winter and pulling out cool weather gear.  Seeing the pictures from New York and London fashion weeks has not helped my desire to throw on my slouchy, suede boots and my vintage camel colored cape.

Fashion Tip of the Day: This is the perfect time of year to begin to transitioning your summer wardrobe into fall. Start pairing your floral blouses and dresses with more fall inspired accessories - try a heavier cardigan or a pair of boots. Keep the playfulness of summer clothes, but begin to add layers for those chilly fall mornings and evenings.

Day 143

Lately I have been incredibly inspired by England's newest princess. Her chic style and elegance make her put together look seem effortless.  And while one could argue that her sense of fashion is merely the work of a royal stylist and a limitless clothing budget, I would beg to differ. Kate's clothing, while certainly nice, is more affordable than you might think and she is not afraid to re-wear items. In fact, on her recent trip to Canada she reportedly wore the same pair of jeans not once, not twice, but three times. Gasp! Not only did she wear the same pair of pants three times, they were a reasonably priced pair of jeans (J Brand under $200). Take a cue from the Duchess of Cambridge and find pieces that are timelessly chic, yet age appropriate. She always seems to be aptly dressed for any occasion.

Fashion Tip of the Day: Invest in a pair of heeled loafers. Instead of pairing them with dress pants or a pencil skirt, try a pair of skinny jeans and a menswear inspired jacket. You can also pair them with a blazer and tailored walking shorts for a summer work appropriate ensemble.