On Remixing

Today I ran across Ashe's post FBFF: Fashion, Blogging, & “One Time Use” (based on Modly Chic's FBFF prompt) and thought I'd chime in with my thoughts on the subject of remixing and such.  One of the things that I love most about blogging, and fashion blogging in particular, is that we're real people, living real, regular lives.  We're not celebrities who have designers throwing clothes at them to wear to events, and we probably don't have the disposable income to buy something to wear once and then never again.  What drew me to blogging in the first place was a) the idea that fashion/style wasn't limited to people with lots of money, that real people on a budget could be stylish and remix what's currently in their closet and b) these are girls who are like me!  They aren't models, they aren't celebrities.  There are bloggers who are 5'1" and bloggers who are 5'9", bloggers who are 100 lbs and bloggers who are 180 lbs.  Blogging is so much more diverse than magazines, and that's what makes it so inspiring!  

1. Are you a one-time wearer?


Definitely not.  I'm sure there are a couple things I've bought and thought would look good, only to discover I didn't really like it after all, but for the most part everything in my closet has been worn multiple times, and in multiple seasons.  This frugal part of me feels like I have to style something multiple times, because I have to get the most out of my money.  But I'll never consciously get something to style just on the blog once and then return it.

 2. Do you feel the need to purchase something new for an evening out or a special event?


Not for just an evening out.  I have a few LBDs in my closet which rarely get worn, but exist for the sole purpose of being "evening out" type dresses.  I don't go to a lot of special events, so sometimes I think I'll buy something new for something special.  I remember I bought a sequined dress once to wear at NYFW, but as I typically don't go to special events, I'll most likely just try to find something in my closet and make it work, or maybe try thrifting.  Hell, I didn't even buy a wedding dress!

3. Re-mixing is something a lot of bloggers are proud of being able to accomplish – are you a re-mixing pro or do you shy away from posting items frequently? Why?


I think anyone who's been around here for very long knows that I have no shame in wearing something to death (hi, recent propensity for wearing a certain denim jacket).  The true mark of when I absolutely love a piece is if I want to put it on before I leave the store and can't stop wearing it for the next two weeks.  In fact, if that doesn't happen, I kind of feel like I wasted my money buying something I wasn't in love with.  I'm sure some readers get sick of seeing me style up the same item over and over, but outfits on the blog are outfits I'm wearing in real life, so if I'm in love with a dress or top IRL, then you're probably going to see it here quite a bit.  But I do avoid wearing the same outfit more than once. The beauty of remixing is that you can take one item and style it up in almost infinite ways!  I love making the most of items in my closet, and remixing is the best way I've found to keep things interesting, while not spending a ton of money on new clothes all the time.


I started the Delightful Dozen because I was so inspired by remixing, in fact.  I wanted to see how other stylish ladies would style up one piece of clothing.  It's really fun to see someone else's perspective when it comes to styling one of your items.  They come from a completely different place, stylistically, so they can see ways to style it that you might never have thought of!  It can open up a whole new world of seeing your clothes in a new light.  It's also a fun way to style something atypical which you might not usually go out and buy.  It could be a dress with a silhouette you don't usually wear, but you give it a try because you're swapping and not actually buying it.

 4. Do you have a clothing budget or are you an impulse buyer?


I don't have a clothing budget, just because I don't have a budget-budget (which I need to have).  My clothing "budget" is to avoid buying clothes 90% of the time.  When I do buy clothes, it's usually at Target or thrift stores, so the impulse isn't too painful financially.  Some companies and shops choose to give me clothing to style on the blog as a way to promote their business, so that means I get some clothes for free (though I feel like a distinction should be made that while I get the clothes themselves without having to pay for them, I definitely work for them, in the sense that I work very hard on this blog and companies see value in that work and choose to sponsor me by allowing me to style their clothes, rather than purchasing ad space, as other sponsors do.  Sponsored clothing "allowances" and such seem to be a touchy subject for some, though, so that is a discussion for another time).

 5. Do you find yourself bored when reading a blog in which clothing items are often remixed and appear frequently?


Definitely not.  It's what drew me to blogs in the first place!  Actually, the blogs which bore me most, are the ones where the blogger wears super fancy designer clothes and never ever ever remixes.  I love the down to earth aspect of blogging, and while those bloggers have beautiful photographs, I can't identify with them, and I know that I would never feel comfortable spending that much money on clothing even if I was rich enough to have the disposable income to be able to comfortably afford it.

Red Lips and Dots

Dots galore! I should've worn my polka dot tights as well, but they are too sad and shredded at the moment. Plus, these grey tights from Target are pretty cozy & warm for walks to The Red Hot for an afternoon hotdog/beer date.

I got this red lipstick from my mom over Christmas break. She's not really a red lipstick kind of gal, so she figured I might make more use of it. I don't wear a lot of lipstick either, but I sorta want to start wearing more lipstick. It's just fun and vibrant and adds a little kick.

dress/delightful dozen via tick tock vintage :: cardigan/courtesy of modcloth

tights/target :: shoes/courtesy of blowfish :: photos by Dan

You guys. My hair is starting to have a gravitational pull of it's own. I kind of want to go a few more months before cutting it, just so it gets ridiculously long and out of control. Then I want to cut it off and have it be fun and short like Christina's hair. I don't know if mine will be as awesome as hers but I haven't had my hair that short since I was in like 4th grade, so I don't know how my curls will react without three feet of hair weighing them down!

Blue Suede Skirt

Man it's been a long time since I did an outfit post! I need to get back in the habit. After we got back from the honeymoon I got a super annoying cold and was certainly not feeling like going out for outfit photos, not that there really was an outfit to take photos of. Instead I was wallowing on the couch underneath four blankets. Lame-o! I'm feeling a bit better now though, still a bit sniffly, but feeling comparatively more healthy.

When I was looking through these photos I noticed how the color of the recycling bins in the background match the skirt perfectly... haha. So crafty of me to match my outfit to my surroundings. I need to find somewhere near my house to take photos where there aren't trash cans in the background.

dress/from adored austin via delightful dozen :: shoes/vintage bandolinos

skirt/courtesy of sam wish

Late fall wedding style with Orchid Grey

Dress // ModCloth :: Bag // Threadsense :: Bracelet // ModCloth :: Shoes // Lulus

Hi there, Julie here from Orchid Grey! I am so excited to be helping out Elizabeth as she gets ready for her big day! As a recent newlywed myself and a long time reader of Delightfully Tacky, I can say that this is such a special time, and I couldn't be happier for her and Dan. I love weddings, and only wish I had more opportunities to attend them, why can't more of my friends be the marrying kind? Haha. Something I always have trouble with though is finding an outfit to wear, there is definitely something about weddings that just puts the pressure on. For a late fall wedding like Elizabeth's, earth tones and neutrals in luxe fabrics are a great way to go. This dress from ModCloth is so fun and just so happy, paired with black wedges from Lulu's, a velvet bag from Threadsense, and a simple bangle from ModCloth, it's the perfect outfit to help celebrate a friend or family member's big day. Do you have a go-to outfit for weddings?

Congratulations Elizabeth and Dan!

Wedding Outfits from jenloveskev

Hi Everyone, it's Jen from jenloveskev! Yay! I am so excited for Elizabeth. Marriage is such an awesome journey. I am so happy for the two of them. I wish them a lifetime of love and happiness! Elizabeth asked us to write about wedding fashion, like perhaps what we would wear to her wedding if we were attending. I started looking back through all my style files and found that I had a good handful of outfits I have posted that have been from weddings. I thought it would be fun to look back on them and recap. Shall we?

These first pictures are from way, way back. I love dressing up for weddings- it's a great excuse to wear the fancy dresses you don't normally get to wear.

Even when I was 8 months pregnant I was trying to look decent for our friends wedding. I wore this black wrap dress over my giant bump. The picture on the right was a few weeks after Rowan was born.

You can even take dresses you wear day to day and dress them up for weddings. I wore a great Modcloth bird dress with a yellow crystal necklace and some heels and felt perfectly dressed for my cousins wedding back in May. The most fun is when you get to be a bridesmaid and they let you chose your own dress. The picture on the right is from Orchid Grey's wedding this past summer.

Aren't weddings the best?