Spring Trend in My Closet-Wide Leg Pants

I am loving all the wide legged pants lately! I purchased a pair last summer that are somewhat more casual, as seen here, and I received this lovely Andy The-Anh pair for Xmas...

So comfortable for day but they can certainly be dressed up for night. That being said, they also need to fit correctly in order for them to look good and for the most part, probably can't be purchased and worn directly off the rack. At the very least, they usually need to be hemmed. (Always the case in my situation!)

These were too big for me when I got them and had I known how much I was going to like them, I would have had them altered sooner. As you probably know, I usually do my own alterations, but these were just to pretty and too much beyond what little expertise I have to do it properly. (They were about 2 sizes too big!)

So after a little research, I came across The Blue Bonnet Cut and Sew Company. It's really not your typical tailor, I think they actually do more large scale uniform type work for big companies, and it's more like a warehouse than a cozy little shop but they did an amazing job for an amazing price! They took them in and hemmed them for $25! I have a few more items that I'm planning on taking to them.

Anyway, I'm now on the hunt for more flowy style pants and Topshop has some of the prettiest...

(photo from topshop.com)
Pleats are so pretty and feminine! These would be an easy substitute for a dress at a formal occasion.

(photo from topshop.com)
I love the print on these but sadly I'd probably have to hack off at least 6 inches to wear them and that would ruin them.

(photo from topshop.com)
But an all over pattern like this is doable...if I was brave enough...

What new trend will you be trying this spring?
J.

Austin Texas, I Live Here

I finally had a day off! 2 days off, actually, which is very rare. And I took full advantage of the first one! (And if you don't already know it, Austin is campy, very campy...)

After sleeping in, a pot of coffee and a little housekeeping, it was time for lunch and I love trying new eateries, so today the BF and I decided to try out "Cutie Pies" which had just opened last month...

Originally it had started out as a cute little pink "pie wagon"...

(photo from cutiepiewagon.com)
Adorable!
Anyway, I had a delicious 4 inch quiche Lorraine and the BF had the chicken pot pie, but we ate them before I could even get a picture, (I was starving,) but I did manage to remember to snap one of my tiny lemon meringue pie before it was gone...

but only because I was too full to eat it all!

After that we stopped at Austin Shoe Hospital,

(image from austinshoehospital.com)
because I happened to be wearing my thrifted Ferragamos and they were in bad need of a new heel and because it was on the way. I'd been meaning to do this for a while now and lucky me, the neon light announced that they repaired heels while you wait and 20 minutes later, I was on my way out the door. I had them put rubber on the bottom as well and it's well worth the $30 investment to make them last. (I only paid $10 for them.)

I've taken belts and shoes here previously and they always do a great job without over charging, and I'm certain I saw a lovely pair of red soled stilettos on the back counter waiting for it's owner...

After a little afternoon nap, (always a luxury,) and a little TV, we wrote up the grocery list and headed to the store, which seemed like a good idea at the time and would have been a good idea if it hadn't happened to be rush hour on Friday afternoon...traffic was horrible! So we stopped for a cappuccino at Monkey Nest ...

(Photo from www.monkeynestcoffee.com)
before heading onward to Central Market. And of course, being the time of day that it was, we had to fight for a parking space but once inside, it was clear that everyone was there for the live music at restaurant part of the store which made grocery shopping go by easily! (I admit, I'm not the best grocery shopper!)

But Central Market is always interesting...

I didn't buy any, but interesting, right?

Like I said, Austin is campy, very campy...

J.

Charity Fashion Show with Mona Sue Vintage

Even though I may be more of a fan of modern, more minimal fashions, I have a huge admiration for beautiful vintage clothing and I believe that every girl needs to have 1 or 2 classic pieces in her wardrobe just to mix things up. (Hmmm, that's how I decorate my house...)

Anyway, my friend Cailin, from Mona Sue Vintage,

has been asked to share her rare, classic apparel and frocks in a charity fashion show that benefits the Breath of Life Maternity Ministries, a local charity that helps provide aid to women in unplanned pregnancies. (As if life isn't hard enough!) Not only that, but she's asked me to help, along with the talented vintage inspired jewelry creator Debbie Carroll! (So excited and honored!)

So here's a sneak peek at some of the items that she may use in the show, (some are listed on her Etsy site, some are not.)

This is the "American in Paris blouse," as so perfectly named by the show's hair stylist, Matt. I love the print!

This colorful maxi skirt is right on trend! Tee shirt, wedges, done!

I wish I had a full length photo of these jeans! Big bells with a rodeo Mini Mouse embroidered on the hem!

So floaty and feminine! The perfect spring dress!

This blouse is sheer with an adorable heart print! And maybe my personal favorite. I think the grey has something to do with that...

This is Cailin's mom and the hat she's holding is incredible! It has what I guess one would call a fur texture, but I'm not exactly sure what kind of material it is. The color is fabulous though!

I'm always impressed to come across a vintage item that has maintained it's decor in such amazing shape! Sometimes I fall in love with pieces that are beyond repair or will cost more to repair than it's worth, so I make myself inspect delicate items like this before I buy them to be sure it's not going to crumble or fall apart after the first use. And this was near perfect!

They have so many beautiful pieces, it's hard to choose what I should share with you, so I'm going to stop here!

For those of you who are local and would like to attend the show, here's the info...

Saturday May 7th at 2:00 PM
Great Hills Baptist Church
Tickets are $5

J.