Inspiration Monday: Copying Katie Holmes

Before I began blogging, I had never tried to copy a celebrity's outfit.  In fact, even though  I religiously tore pages out of magazines, I had never tried to copy those either.  Somehow, I had never connected the dots from admiring a look to achieving that same look for myself.  Now that I blog, I am often found trying to repeat or interpret a look that I've seen.  And thanks to the sisters at two birds, each week I get to try and copy a celebrity look and then see how my fellow bloggers interpret that same look.  I've learned that there is a whole world between looking at something and recreating it.  In fact, action is learning because it is only in the doing that you learn.  This week's prompt was a look from Katie Holmes.                                                                                                                                      

But do I have what I need to create this look? Do I have a gray tee?  Check.  A short sleeved navy cardigan?  Uh.. have a short sleeve navy top that I could unbutton and use as a cardigan.  Oversized dark sunglasses?  Check.  Dark messenger bag?  I've got a brown one that's similar.  Shoes?  I can't really tell much about these so I'll just wear my dark slides.  High waist, self-tie belt, big bell jeans?  Not in my closet, so I guess I'll have to make do.

You can head over to inspiration monday at two birds to find out how to link up each week with your look.

What I'm Wearing:
THAKOON for Target navy shirt worn as cardigan, $2.50, Goodwill
J. CREW Gray knit t-shirt, $2.50, Goodwill
Faded Glory dark wash bootcut jeans, $12, Walmart

Steve Madden slides, $4, Local thrift store

Peacock headband, $10, Target
American Angel bag, $3, Goodwill

Total Cost of Outfit:  $34

Sparkly Grandma

You may remember how I told you earlier that Meagan of spunky chateau got me interested in the whole "grandma" look with her 70's inspired styling of her "grandma dress".  I wore this midi hiked up to a shorter level for one of my inspiration posts at two birds.  Here, I'm wearing it at it's true midi length.  I decided to make it fun with some sparkly silver accessories.

 The whole silver thing is like the best neutral to me.  If you don't want to constantly change your purse and shoes out then silver or gold is a great choice.  I had my colors done back when everyone was getting their colors done in the eighties.  Summers and Winters look good in silver while Springs and Autumns look good in gold.  Not that I go by the rules...I also have this sparkly vest and these shoes in gold.  Which will come in handy if I ever decide to be a redhead.

Just playing and showing off my skirt.  Rue 21 has some great sales.  I'm always going in there with my daughter, so I check out the clearance racks while she's browsing around.

This silver purse is great.  You can fit in a netbook, your Ipod, a Nintendo DS plus a book and a magazine.  It's THE purse you want with you if you're ever stranded on a desert island...and it was just four bucks.

This is me spinning.  I have yet to figure out action shots.  I've heard it takes a few tries to get jumping shots.  What about you?  Have you had success in snapping action shots?

Here's a close-up of my necklace.  This necklace is fast becoming one of my favorites.  I bought it this spring and tend to wear it several times a week.  Do you have a favorite piece that's becoming part of your style?


What I'm Wearing:
Silver Sparkly Shrug, $3, rue21
Navy/white stripe top, $3, Goodwill
Navy Grandma midi skirt, $3, Goodwill
Silver belt, $1, Goodwill
Silver shoes, $20, Old Navy
Silver purse, $4, Local Thrift Store
Silver heart charm necklace, $7, Gabriel Brothers

Total Cost of Outfit:  $41

Enter my first giveaway here and you'll be in the running for a chance to win a selection of EyesLipsFace (e.l.f.) makeup.

Vintage Pin and Earring Sets

My grandmother always looked put together.  If she wore black, lint never landed on it.  Her hair was in place, her clothes were neatly pressed and she never ever wore "old woman" shoes.  She most always accessorized her outfits with  clip-on earrings and matching pins like these.

These three sets belonged to my grandmother but I have found some nice pieces at thrift stores.

I found these two together on a trip to a local thrift store that's been long out of business.  That was a "good find" day!

Here is my "Daily Outfit Shot".  You didn't think I forgot it, did you?

A close-up of the pin.  I wrote before about all the different colors you can pair up with orange.  I tried hot pink with orange and violet with orange during the 30 for 30 remix.  Today I paired navy with orange.  I got the idea here.

This is a page out of one of my inspiration journals.  You can learn to make your own here.

What I Wore Today:
Orange cardigan, Gifted
Navy knit top, Eddie Bauer Outlet, $7
Denim skirt, Eddie Bauer Outlet, $20
Brown boots, B&H Shoes, $26
Green headband, Rite Aid, $4.99
Vintage pin and earring set, Gifted

Total For Today:  $57.99