Pattern Shorts Under $20

I've been less into dresses and more into shorts this summer and conveniently shorts are going on sale this time of year, and there are plenty of ways to wear shorts through October (at least here in DC where I stay sweating through October).

Here are some looks I like that can work outside of just summer:

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I bought these black & white Aztec shorts at a thrift store for $8, but they are at Forever21 for $19. I love them because they are made from quality material (F21 steppin up!), lined, and not booty shorts at all. 

F21 also has these blue and white geo pattern shorts for $17 and these striped denim shorts for $9.

Also love these $15 boho embroidered shorts from Nordstrom Rack (they remind me of the last image!), and these fun bright shorts from Old Navy. 

Asos curve has some bomb plus size shorts.

Question: would you ever wear shorts to work?

Currently

Eating:

Breakfast salads for approximately 2 meals per day. 2 eggs over easy or soft boiled + diced tomatoes + spinach + salsa verde + sriracha. Yes. OMG yes.

Watching:

Do you ever put something on like "oh this will be boring enough to just have on in the background and I won't pay any attention" then 2 hours later you are on the edge of your seat over gamers in South Korea who accidentally killed their baby because they confused reality and video game world? Just me? This "background" documentary was called Love Child on HBO. WTF. Don't watch it before bed because this thing takes you inside the video game and you'll be having nightmares about running through a rainbow tunnel from a winged Arnold-Schwarzzanegger-esque monster.

Reading

Just finished In the Woods - murder mystery in Ireland. It was ok...I didn't love Lovely Bones either, and I think this is a book for that crowd. I've been on a North Korea kick - the more I read about it the more I'm like WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON EVERYWHERE. I started with Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea - memoirs of North Korean defectors and am now on The Orphan Master's Son. F*cking fascinating.

Looking forward to:

Government is out which means DC shuts down for the summer which means I get 4 day work weeks in August. Yes. Yes yes yes yes yessssss. It's crazy how one less day of work each week actually makes me more productive.

Dreading

Doing the dishes. I spent years in apartments and houses with no dishwashers. Now I have a dishwasher. Now I want more. Someone to come to my house and do my dishes for me perhaps? A live-in staff? LOLLLLLLLOLOL.

Exercising with:

"To thank everyone for getting us to two million followers, we're going to kick your a$s!" Thanks Fitness Blender! But for real, this 1,000 Calorie Workout is a good one. 

Confused by:

Kylie Jenner. Is she ok? Why has she been allowed to date this grown man? And did the Kardashians really have an intervention with her re: plastic surgery and if so wouldn't it have been a little easier to just not sign off on a child getting plastic surgery? AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE? And wtf happened to Rob? is he alive?? 

Wanting:

How beautiful is this dress. And how far out of my price range is it...womp womp,

Feeling

 Reflective. I hit my 2 year anniversary at work this summer and am so thankful for the work-life balance I have been able to achieve with this job while still making a difference. Also going to friends' weddings has me reflecting on my own relationship. A lot to be thankful for over here!

Planning: 

Upcoming travel - Richmond this weekend to get my sister-in-law moved into college (tear!!), Richmond the next weekend for a one year old birthday party, Labor Day wedding in Charleston, Boston wedding the next weekend, cabin weekend in Luray, VA with friends, and a winery wedding. Thank you, Rover for always keeping me stocked with awesome, affordable dog sitters.

Wearing

Just got this  Club L Cap Sleeve Body-Conscious Dress in Watercolour Floral Print for $17 from Asos and loooove it. Asos you KILL ME and I LOVE YOU. Head's up: it runs real small. Also about to buy all these on ASOS 60% off work clothes sale (PS am I boring for only wearing black to work?):

Wanting to

Catch up on blog reading! I have missed being in the know about what everyone in the blog world is up to!

Limiting

Social Media. I have wasted so much time scrolling through my Facebook feed to see what people I haven't spoken to in years are doing. Limiting Instagram to once/day and FB to once/week (eeeek).

Wal-Mart Workwear?!?!

So my little brother is in town and my cousin flies in today and we are going to bop all over DC and then head to Richmond for our engagement party and I am so excited and my mind is actually all over the place and today I'm thinking about Wal-Mart and I'm spazzing and my head is going to spin off into outerspace...

Yeah, ya read that right. Wal-Mart has workwear and it's clothes I would actually wear to work that actually fit and actually feel like quality material!

I've been following Shauna @ Penny Chic for years- her posts are all about putting together nice outfits from Wal-Mart/Target/cheap places, and NOW she has her own Wal-Mart line! Her blog has lots of different ways to wear the dresses so basically 1 dress = 3 outfits. Genius! And affordable!

These are the dresses I got (I know I always get really boring colors because I work in DC where we have to dress bawwringgg), and I got a lot because they are only $16 and you have to order $50 worth to get free shipping so I was all ohhh I have to get like 5 to get the free shipping, I'll keep one and take the others back yeah right.:

Penny Chic by Shauna Miller Women's Long Sleeve Wrap Dress : Because wrap dresses look good on everyone

Penny Chic by Shauna Miller Women's Curvy Dress: This one is super flattering for big bootied girls. The black and rouching shows off curves but not like too much (no Nikki Minaj status here):

Penny Chic by Shauna Miller Women's Scoop Neck Dress : Hi flattering + pockets!

Penny Chic by Shauna Miller Women's Classic Sheath Dress: Hi my name is Claire Underwood and I bought my dress at WAL-MART

      

PS these run kind of large so I suggest ordering a size below what you would usually get.

PSS this is not a sponsored post in any way. I'm just pretty much obsessed with Shauna and the fact that I can get work dresses for $16.

Where do you get inexpensive workwear?

ASICS on Hautelook today- cheap workout clothes/shoes!

I got a lot of positive feedback on my post a few weeks ago about how to find inexpensive running shoes  so when I saw this e-mail in my inbox I HAD TO SHARE:

I'm all about Asics running shoes, this is my favorite shoe for my high arches, which just so happens to be included in this sale. They have tons of shoes:

As well as LOTS of great winter running clothes for amazing prices (these are a few of my favs):

So go check out the Hautelook Asics sale today! Use this link for $20 off your purchase (disclaimer: I will also get $20 off if you use that link. We all win!).

BOOT SEASON (the only season that is this stressful and wonderful all at once)

Hi my name is Lindsay and I have a boot problem. Ok more like a fall problem- I hoard all things fall as soon as the temperature drops about 10 degrees (ahh yes high of 81- must be fall in DC!) and never use them because as soon as winter hits I go into hermit mode and spend any time outside of work watching Lifetime/Netflix/Sopranos and drinking wine.

All this is besides the point, today the point is BOOTS. I went ahead and ordered these in cognac and didn't like how they looked, and these after I saw them on Amanda's blog and thought "Ooh! Black boots that don't look like I went shopping in Santa's closet!". But both fit funny, and I didn't like the way the brown ones looked ON. So I'm back to the never-ending boot shopping. These are my favs of the moment:


So help. Please help. Where do you buy boots for a decent price? I think I need a real life store so I can try them on (am I the only one who feels like some boots make me look fatter?) and make sure they fit my feet right.

Plus I need them by the time I go on my weekend getaway to Harper's Ferry, WV next weekend (eee!). We booked a dog-friendly house on vrbo.com (similar to airbnb with a few more options) and are getting the F out of this city for a weekend! So, also please tell me good things to do in Harper's Ferry- bonus points if it involves dogs, double bonus points if it involves dogs AND booze.

Friday Favs: COLLEGE FOOTBALL EDITION!!!

Today's Friday Favs is dedicated to the greatest time of the year, the time of year that everyone has been counting down to since January- COLLEGE FOOTBALL. IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!! FYI: my weekend recaps for the next few months will consist of Saturdays watching UGA games followed by Sundays recovering.

Favorite Tear Jerker: I'll just watch this over and over and cry alone in my room.

The Georgia Way from Georgia Football on Vimeo.

Favorite Moment So Far: 
Bwahahah suck it, Spurrier.

Favorite Red & Black Game Day Looks:

$17 Belted Lace Dress @ Target

$40 Warehouse Shoulder Pad Belted Dress from Asos

$24 Forever 21 Layered Sleeveless Woven Dress


Favorite Tailgate Drink:

SKIPPY aka Strip & Go Naked aka Summer Beer. Recipe here.

Favorite Tailgate Snacks:

Recipes here

Favorite Tailgate Burger:

Avocado Mozzarella Stuffed Turkey Burgers


Favorite Game Day Accessories:

$8 Asos Tribal Belt in Red

$11 Gem Setting Bracelet from ChicNova

$10 Vintage Necklace from ChicNova

$8 Silver Tone & Red Stud Earrings at JC Penney


Favorite Drinking Accessories

NCAA Georgia Bulldogs Six Pack Team Sip Sport Straws 

NCAA Georgia Bulldogs 1-Liter Macho Mugs

$205 NCAA Georgia Bulldogs Vulcan Tailgating Cooler/Grill (I mean this is just really cool)

$250 NCAA Georgia Bulldogs 9-Foot x 9-Foot Pinwheel Tailgating Canopy, Red/Black (really want one of these for my extremely bright zero shade backyard)

(Affordable) Neutral Flats

Now that we are (hopefully for good) out of this polar vortex mess, it's time to start thinking about footwear aside from that which is required to cover 4 pairs of wool socks. Enter: The Neutral Flat. Look, I could spend a lot of money on some nice, neutral flats but honestly no matter how much money I spend on flats, I guarantee they will not live to see more than one year of DC sidewalks/cobblestone/rain/mud/seasons/excessively-salted-everything. So here's my list of my favorite affordable neutral flats (with some spice of course).

$11.99 Top Moda Beige Textured Flat from Zulily

 $24.99 Steve Madden Angel Flat from DSW

$24.99 for Steve Madden is NOT a typo. <3 DSW for real

 $23.99 City Classified SADLER Pointed Toe Slip On Flat from Amazon

Classic.

 $15.97 SO Colorblock Ballet Flat from Kohl's

$22.80 Iconic Faux Leather Ballet Flats from Forever21

$14.95 Loafers from H&M

Bonus: the above loafers' more fun/prettier/wilder cousin (we all have that cousin):

$24.95 Loafers from H&M

Shop Smart: Winter Clearance Sales

Although we are in the thick of this winter vortex (I know I know, it's not technically the vortex but I'm suffering so I'm making it as dramatic as possible), the stores are clearing out their winter wear! This is the time of year I stock up on sweaters, jeans and coats. Check out some of the awesome winter clearance sales going on right now:

• Loft: 75% off winter Items
• Target: Up to 70% off winter items
• DSW: BOOTS on boots on booots!! $25 boots!!!
• Macy's: Extra 25% off clearance items for up to 80% savings (bought this for $10!)
• J.C. Penney's: Up to 70% off winter items
• Gap: 50% off winter items
• Nordstrom: 50% off coats (stock up for next year!)
• Kohl's: 70% off winter items (but really when is Kohl's not having a sale? love 'em)
• J.Crew Factory: 30% off
• Forever21: 40% off winter items
• Asos: Always ahead of the game- 60% off spring dresses (gimme)!

I picked up this classic crewneck sweater at from Target's Winter Clearance, $10 skinny jeans from J.C. Penney's clearance, and this tie-waist dress from Gap's sale.

Broke Girl's Work Wardrobe Pieces Under $20

Look I hate to brag but since power shopping isn't a nationally recognized competition yet, I have to give myself my own kudos in this area. Can we just talk about how I have managed to never pay more than $20 (except on shoes- hey, YOLO) on anything I wear? Also I follow a lot of those blogs that are just people showing what they wear to work every day and am almost always like OH I HAVE ALL THOSE PIECES! So a little broke and bougie inspiration for the week:

Monday

• Booties: $20 from JustFab (what up BOGO!) 
• Pants: $19.95 Slimfit Pants @ H&M
• Striped Chiffon Blouse: $11.99 @ H&M (in stores only)
• Black Blazer: $19 at Forever 21 (2 years ago- similar options here)
• Orange Infinity Knit Scarf: $12.99 from Zulily

Tuesday

• Boots: $20 (BOGO!) Jessie Boots from JustFab
• Tights: $10 Shimmer Fit {2 for $20 Sale} at The Loft
• Skirt: $23.99 Mossimo Pleat Skirt from Target (4 years ago, find similar styles here)
• Belt: $4 at Ross (yeah I said it- I shop at ROSS)
• Shirt: $5 Urban Outfitters Silence + Noise Crepe Button Down Shirt via Martha's Outfitters
• Bag: $39.99 Icon from JustFab

Wednesday (it was a desk day)

• Shoes: $15 Caramel Leopard Moonwalk Flats from Zuiliy (they are actually furry. Andi thinks they are animals)
• Pants: $16.95 Mossimo Women's Skinny Premium Denim at Target
• Shirt: $19.80 Longline Chambray Shirt at Forever 21
• Belt: $2 via  Martha's Outfitters
• Cardigan: $12 Merona Women's Cardigan at Target (3 years ago, find similar ones here)
• Scarf: $12.99 at Target (2 years ago, find similar ones here)

Thursday

• Boots: $20 (BOGO!) Jessie Boots from JustFab
• Tights: $10 (2 for $20 sale) Chevron Open Stitch Black at The Loft 
• Skirt: $6 (yeah that's not a typo) on clearance at Macy's last year. See similar skirts here 
• Blouse: $14.50 LC Lauren Conrad at Kohl's  
• Cardigan: $10 at Forever 21 (3 years ago. See similar cardis here )
   
   
  Friday

• Shoes: $25 at DSW (7 years ago)
• Pants: $19.99 Julie Straight Leg at Loft (I'm on their e-mail list and got an alert that these pants were 50% off the sale price and knew I had to track some down in my size)
• Blouse: $17.50 at Forever 21 (2 years ago, see similar ones here)
• Watch: $20 at Hallmark. Yep, Hallmark. Sidenote on Hallmark: they have a lot of random cool stuff. My mom did a part time gig there and I discovered that besides extremely over-priced cards, they also have reasonably priced chatchkis (see- unbreakable wine glasses, wine glass tumblers with LIDS, the list goes on).