Loosey Goosey

Sometimes I like to make up fashion rules in my head that may or may not actually exist.  My roommates made me aware of this strange habit in college.  Today I need you guys to tell me if this rule is real or if it is a figment of my imagination.

The rule doesn't have a name but it goes a little something like this: if you are wearing something loose on bottom, you should wear something fitted on top.  Likewise, if you are wearing something super tight on the bottom, you should wear something a little more loose on top.  I'm not sure where this came from, but I have lived by this rule for quite some time.  So, when I bought these Gap Jeans, I never imagined wearing them with anything else besides a fitted top.  

I haven't actually worn this outfit out in the real world because I just don't know if I can break this Monica Rule. 

 If you're wondering why that shirt looks familiar, it's because I wear it all the time-see here and here.  It's just so comfortable and airy.  It works well with the stifling humidity.  

Shirt: TJ Maxx Jeans: Gap Belt: Thrift Store Shoes: Target

So, can I go out in public with a double flowy ensemble?  Or, should I just keep wearing these jeans with fitted tops?

READER SUBMSSION

Monica and I have been dealing with a shoe/belt fashion related question for some time now and it turns out we're not the only ones! Jana, who has graced our blog before, is also dealing with the same issue (and she looks bomb.com so we thought she should display the issue). We're so happy to have her back on the duplex. Here's Jana:

Hi Everyone. Me again. I'm sorry to monopolize the front page of ATD, but I have another fashion question that I could really use some roommate advice on.

I don't typically pay much mind to fashion rules. I'm comfortable with mixing non-matching patterns, I'll wear navy and black together any day of the week, and I'll wear a winter white. But for some reason there is one fashion rule that keeps me wondering. It's the policy of matching your shoes and belt. Like this outfit below.

I get it that it looks put together to have my belt and shoes match in the same shade of camel. And I like this belt with the outfit, and that's why I more often default to it. But I also like to have options. 

What if I wanted to change up my accessories and wear this other belt with it?

Shirt: American Apparel, Sunglasses: Target, Skirt: Vintage, Belts: Thrifted, Shoes: Nordstrom Rack

Would you wear it even the brown in the shoes and belt don't match? How do you feel about matching your belt and shoes? What about if one of your accessories is a color? Does that change the ability to match and wear?

Questions for the duplex? email us at asktheduplex@gmail.com

Now I'm Never Going to Throw Clothes Out

I had a fashion emergency this weekend that reinforced my,  "keeping clothing beyond their expiration date":

My niece came to visit and late Saturday night I found out she was staying for church on Sunday. The only problem was that she only had her swimsuit, cover-up, and jean shorts. She could have worn any of those things and it would have been fine, but she wanted a dress. Soooo I sorted through all of my clothes, and sure enough with two safety pins this is what we came up with:

You might also remember me saying I once spent an entire month traveling wearing a tie-dye muu muu. Yup, same muu muu for a month.

In a hole in Vietnam

Still in the dress in Cambodia

So now I'm really torn about getting rid of things. But some of you gave me some good advice so, thank you!


My question today is, have any of you had a fashion emergency before? 

This wasn't my first, when my oldest sister got married, she got married 3 hours away from home and we forgot all the bridesmaids dresses at home. We ran to TJ Maxx and got 4 matching black dresses and duct taped them up the back for the pictures.

Also, on a different note, do you have feelings for or against tie-dye? Most people hate it, but there's a soft spot in my heart for it.

Greasy Hair Toolkit

Not only does Ask the Duplex provide me with very important answers to very important questions, it also provides entertainment for Rhett and I.  Rhett, so very kindly, walks outside with me every time I have one of these very important questions and snaps pictures of me (while neighbors pass and wonder why a woman needs pictures taken of herself everyday).  Every time we walk outside, he tries to guess what my question might be, based on my appearance.  It's a fun game.

Well, it's fun up until he says, "So, is your question about whether or not you should wear that hat thing on your head?"

Wrong. I'm sorry to say he lost this round of "Guess the ATD Question".  My question today is NOT whether or not you like my headscarf.  Because, whether you like it or not, I have just found one more tool to add to my Greasy Hair Toolkit.  And I fully embrace any method that means I could go one more day without a hair wash.

Rather, I would like to know what kind of outfits you wear head scarves with.  Or, if you don't like head scarves, which option bothers you the least.

Option A: skirt

 Head Scarf: I have no idea Shirt: TJ Maxx Skirt: Thrift Store Shoes: Thrift Store

Or, 

Option B: jeans

 Jeans: TJ Maxx

If you don't like either of them, you're just going to have to be okay with seeing my greasy hair all the time.

It's Business Time

Well, it's actually summer but I'm talking about business in this post. I have a definite way that I like to shop for clothes.  I like to have months and months to look for items that I need so that I can find them at their best possible price. I mean, probably 85% of my wardrobe comes from seeing something that I like at a thrift store at a great price and buying it without any real thought, but for big ticket items or work clothes I like to look for a long time.

That was a reallllly long intro for my question, which is funny because I've been in a conference all week on how to be more clear and concise in my teaching, turns out I need one of those for the blog as well.

So here it is, I wear skirts and dresses sometimes to work but I am sitting "criss cross apple sauce" for a large portion of my day, so pants really are best. I currently own two pairs of pants that aren't jeans. Gray skinnies and black skinnies (I'm really professional). I don't know what other kind of pants are stylish/cute yet still acceptable at work? Here I am in normal work attire:

sweater: gift shirt: old navy pants: banana republic shoes: TJ Maxx

What other colors/styles should I get? Navy? Dark Gray? Should I venture in to a wide leg trouser???

A Stormin' Easter Dress

Today's full body pictures, unfortunately, are taken inside my tiny, dim, apartment.  If you're thinking, "Monica, why the heck would you do that?  You don't even know how to use a DSLR camera when the lighting is good." If that thought crossed your mind, first pat yourself on the back for being right, and then look at these pictures and you'll understand why I can't be outside.  And you'll understand my it's-storming-outside-and-I-have-no-electricity photos.

 (via)

(via)

 (via)

Good thing they put that cone there.  Otherwise, I don't think I would have known to turn my car around.  

So as you can see, things have been a little crazy here in Knoxville, Tennessee.  We experienced some crazy storms and the largest power outage in Knoxville history.  But, don't worry.  Although I haven't had any electricity, my mind is still swarming with questions for my roommates.

Let's move on to some really important topics of discussion.  Like, what the heck to do with this thrift store dress I purchased five years ago and have NEVER worn.

 I don't really like it plain.  It reminds me of a two-year-old's Easter dress.  But what can I do to it?  I don't know how to sew...so I can't really repurpose it.  I tried stuffing the top of the dress down and making it a skirt...but it was too lumpy.  The only thing I could think of was layering a bunch of crap on top of it.

Do I look mad? That's because I am.  I didn't realize how attached to electricity I was.

Sweater: JCPenney Ruffle top: Forever 21 Belt: Thrift store 

Dress: Thrift store Shoes: TJ Maxx

How would you style this Easter dress? Can you think of anything? Or, should I send it back to the thrift store?

READER SUBMISSION: Would you call us triplets?

Monica and I have known Erin for over 15 years! We went to junior high and high school together and she was always so stylish and fun. Turns out some things never change, she is still so stylish and fun and amazingly creative.  It's hard to believe she is now a mom to twin baby girls! Here's Erin:

Hey roomies! 

My name is Erin and I'm from e heart e. {ehearte.blogspot.com}

I {somewhat} recently gave birth to adorable little twin girls. 

Most of the time I dress them in coordinating outfits, but sometimes it's just too cute to dress them identically.

Case in point: the bubble romper.

Meet Stella:

And meet Olivia:

Is it okay to dress siblings alike nowadays? Or do I just get a free pass because they're twins?

While they rocked their bubble rompers, I rocked this: 

{disclaimer: I had 7 minutes to get all 3 of us ready for church, which means I got 1 minute for myself. Please disregard the serious lack of make-up and self tanner.}

Shirt: DownEast, Tank: F21, Belt: torn from a F21 blazer,  Skirt: Banana Republic, Shoes: Target, Bracelets: Tiffany's

So now here's an even BIGGER dilemma....can I match too?

Or did I just commit the cardinal "Mommy and Me" sin and the ultimate faux pas? Is it okay to coordinate with my twinsies?

xoxo,

Roommate Erin

stuff-a-phobia

shirt: Thailand pants: F21 shoes: somewhere in Paris

I am a self-diagnosed stuffaphobe. OH, you haven't heard of that? That's because it's a condition I made up, but it is REAL. I hate stuff, I hate when you have clutter everywhere and junk you don't need, and I have no issue getting rid of most things. The one exception- clothes.

Not only do I feel like, what if I can use that shirt in some great outfit in the future, it might be worth keeping for 9 years? I also have a sentimental attachment to certain items. How do you decide when you should get rid of a piece of clothing? I know this is a standard red polo shirt, and I never even liked polo shirts, but Bret has a matching one and I've had so many good times in it.

I went sailing under the golden gate bridge in it:

I've spent at least three 4th of Julys in it:

And I bought it in Thailand so it's like a souvenir. I think it's getting too short and I really haven't worn it for more than an hour in over a year.

What is your throwing out policy? (does anyone under 5'7' want it? It's pretty used but very loved).

Spring Tablecloth

For those of you who are looking for a great weekend activity.  Seek no further.  I have your answer.  Sam's Club.  Or Costco, if you are so lucky as to have one in your town.

I made my weekly visit to Sam's Club for samples this weekend in a seemingly normal outfit.  Or, at least I thought so. While perusing the samples, I met an interesting Sample Distributor (is that what their job title is?).  He was an older man, probably in his mid sixties, with gray hair, an apron, and a cap on.  I stalled by his sample booth, waiting my turn to taste some Panera soup and as he handed me my styrofoam cup he jumped a little and said....

"Whoa.  Now that is an.....interesting.... outfit.  I mean look at it.. You've got nautical on top...and a spring tablecloth on bottom."

 My first thought was: Nautical clothing is in this man's vocabulary?  Does he know what wolf tooth  is really called, too?

My second thought was:  Crap, do stripes and tablecloths not go together?

Shirt: Costco Skirt: Shade Shoes: Target

Even though I never had plans to ask about this outfit, the Sam's Club Sample Distributor really has me wondering.  Have I paired nautical stripes with the wrong skirt? Does your whole outfit have to be nautical if you have a nautical top?

I'm Pretty Classy

My DEEPEST apologies that these pictures are REALLY terrible. My husband had to go on a super last minute business trip last night and as he was frantically packing everything to get on a red-eye it just didn't seem right to say, "But what about the pictures for my fashion blog?"

I then thought about my other options. Self timer? Nope, too tricky. Then I thought, well I can ask one of my neighbors but then I thought about knocking on the door and saying, "So, I like have a fashion blog and I need some full body shots of me taken, and only me, because I post pictures of myself on the internet".  I don't think those are the words I would use, but it's basically what it would sound like, so I decided against that too.

So here I am taking pictures with photo booth and I promise it won't happen again. Onto to the outfit...

While it is nice to think I spend my summer months looking put together and stylish, I don't. I have a summer uniform and no matter what I start out wearing in the day, I always end in this outfit (and most days I wake up in the morning put it on then throw it on the floor at night and then wear the next day). Here it is:

Jeans: F21 Shirt: Mens Hanes Vneck Calculator Watch: Amazon. Yeah, that's right, I wear a calculator watch.

Classy, huh? And if one picture isn't enough, here is another (jumping over my couch to make it in time for the picture proved rather difficult, hence the pose):

Do you have a summer uniform? Something you can't help but wear everyday?

If not, if you could only wear one outfit, what would it be?

(Totally unrelated question: I'm throwing a baby shower tomorrow and I've only ever been to like 2 of these things. Do any of you know a fun game to play? links? ideas? Everything else is set but I'm looking for just one little game???)

Wolf's Tooth

You'd think I would learn after two years of marriage to avoid asking my husband fashion questions.  Especially since I have the Duplex now.  But, I still seem to forget that he is not Whitney.  Take yesterday morning for example.

Me: "Hey Rhett, what should I wear today?"

<long pause>

 Me: "It's just so tough because I need to look professional...but it is so dang hot outside, I can't wear pants and a cardigan...but, then you go into my office and it is like 2 degrees in there and I want to be wearing pants and a cardigan...but then I have to go back outside and its hot again out there....I go from sweaty to freezing twelve times...and I still have to look nice....and then...." (My life is really hard.  And, I sound really smart when I talk)

Rhett: "I dunno...Why don't you just wear that Wolf Tooth skirt?"

 shirt: TJ Maxx    skirt: Target     shoes: Urban Outfitters 

(and, yes I have two pair of T-strap black shoes)

So, I took Rhett's suggestion.  I wore my houndstooth skirt.....I mean, Wolf's Tooth skirt.  At least he caught on to the "tooth"part, right?

My question today has nothing to do with how you feel about houndstooth because no matter what any of you say, I will love houndstooth 'til the day I die.

But, If you remember, I struggle wearing stark white.  After I put this outfit on I wondered if I could wear a stark white top with a skirt that has cream in the pattern.  I was already late for school so I couldn't debate back and forth or try to accessorize it to make it better.  But what do you think? Can you wear stark white with cream?   

Reader Submission

Monica and I have never met Corinne in person, but we've e-met and we e-like her a lot. Corinne writes a great style blog and was kind enough to pop over here for us to get a little glance. Here's Corinne:

Hi Lovelies! 

Corinne here from The Lookbook.

How very nice to meet you.

This is my cute husband Jake. 

Over at The Lookbook we tend to write about  

love, life, and {predominantly} fashion. 

And lately... We're craving arm candy.

Not just a bracelet, or two, but some serious arm candy. 

But we have a need-to-know question for you...

{More so, I have a question because thankfully, husband doesn't wear bracelets.}

How much is too much when it comes to layering bracelets?

I am a minimalist when it comes to jewelry. 

I typically wear 1-2 key statement pieces, and leave the rest bare. 

So bracelets... Wow, big adjustment for me.

Is this much too much? 

And if you want to read about what our darling duplex ladies are craving today...
Come check out The Lookbook. 
Oh, and if like what you see, hit that pretty little follow button.
You know we would love that. Even more than we love arm candy.
xo Corinne

Do you have a style question? email us at ask the duplex@gmail.com

and just like that the 80's are back

I have a serious weakness for thrift store dresses. I realize that I look kind of like an 80's mom here, but they are so comfortable with that elastic waste and never more than $6.99, how can I resist? This is the latest one I found and I can't decide if I should hem it about 2-3". I mean still to my knee, but I hate when things hit me mid calf. Would you hem it?

Dress: Thrift Store Belt: Forever 21 Shoes:?

 I realize the shoes are not helping my 80's mom look, but I couldn't go out barefoot and nothing else I had worked. I'm considering getting some type of summer sandal/cute wedge. Have you found any cute sandals or wedges anywhere lately for a good price?

Chambray?

I've really avoided this chambray shirt stuff for a while.  Whenever I see one I'm immediately transported back to the early 1990s when my family decided to wear matching shirts for our family picture.  

 How could you forget such a classic family photo?  And how is my side pony tail actually larger than my face?

I tried to re-create my side pony but I couldn't get it as big.

 Anyways, back to the chambray shirt.

 I have been against chambray shirts for the past little while.  It's just so hard to wear it when I all I see when I put it on is a large curly side ponytail and buck teeth.  But then I found one at Sam's Club for 9 bucks and I thought I'd give it a whirl.

 Today my question is twofold.

1. How do you feel about this chambray shirt stuff?  
2. What in the world do you wear a chambray shirt with?

Shirt: Sam's Club Skirt: JCPenney Shoes: TJ Maxx

By the way, thanks for your help with the polka dot skirts I asked about here. After much deliberation and some sleepless nights, I decided to keep the Polka Pleats.  

Pleats, check.

First off, one of my virtual roommates gave me the idea to do a little twist in my pony, and here we have it. How I didn't think to do this very simple thing on my own, uhhh, I don't know?

So I found this skirt in the back of my storage closet and realized that I put it back there 3 years ago because I couldn't figure out what top to put with it. Well, I pulled it out today and paired it with a top that works decently, but I can't figure out anything else to pair with it. What other top could I put with this skirt? I feel fine about this shirt, but I'd like to have a few options. Also, pleats from my bellybutton to my knees is kind of a lot, so when I pair it with a print it looks a little funny.

Skirt: Marshalls? Belt: um from 2002 Shirt: Old Navy Shoes: TJ Maxx

So problem #2 is that I also have this skirt in a butter yellow (I don't know how that happened)... and I reallllly can't think of what to wear it with. What color belt? shirt? shoes? I need some help mixing and matching. I realize that a picture of the yellow skirt might help, but I couldn't go outside topless and I really have no clue what to wear with it.

A Little Princess

Recently I was talking with a friend about how she was a tomboy when she was little. I  found that I could not relate to this at all.  I laughed to myself as I thought about how I always was the furthest thing from a tomboy...even after following three older brothers around forever.  As a child, I spent hours  playing with barbies and dolls, playing house, and best of all- playing dress up.  I loved bows, lipstick, nail polish, ruffles, lace, and anything girly.

As I was thinking about this, I looked down at my outfit and saw pink, ruffles, high heels, and a large heart.  Yikes.  I guess some things never change.

I found this pink, ruffly number at TJ MAXX for 5 bucks and for some reason I felt like I needed it.  Because, like I said, I am a sucker for anything girly.

 Everything but necklace: TJ Maxx      Necklace: F21

I feel like there was a time when shrugs (isn't that what they're called, or are they called boleros?) were definitely in style.  But I fear that that time may have passed. Are these little crop jackets things out?

PS- We put these full body pics and style questions on the internet because we really want to know the answers.  DO NOT hesitate to say what you're really thinking.  

READER SUBMISSION

Remember when there was a beautiful accessory/headband website that took the internet by storm? Old Soul, New Heart ring a bell? Shea was the mastermind behind that. She is about as creative and stylish as they come. Neither of us have ever been roommates with Shea, but Monica slept on her couch for 5 weeks, and my sister once proclaimed her "the greatest roommate of all time".  Don't you kind of wish she could be your roommate? Here's Shea:

All buttoned up.

Recently, I've noticed that all the cool kids are buttoning their shirts to the top. And while I'm no cool kid, I do like to test out a fashion trend here and there. So here I am trying my own version of geek-chic. 

I tried to downplay the nerdiness with a sparkly necklace and platform wedges, but does it work? Or should I give my neck some breathing room and just undo the top button already?

Shirt: J.Crew. Necklace: J.Crew via eBay. Jeans: Nordstrom. Shoes: Nordstrom. Watch: Nixon. Bracelets: J.Crew/friendship bracelet from Mexico.