budget,  fashion

Nativity Outfit

January 13, 2020 /

I do not typically buy the same piece of clothing in different colors apart from very basic pieces so as tanks, layering tees long and short sleeves. However, when my sister in law gave me two identical dresses in black and in purple, I knew that them being the same was not going to bore me but would give me even more incentive to wear them and style them in different ways.

Last week, I wore the black version of this Calvin Klein dress with a red peacoat jacket, a blanket scarf and caramel boots.

This past Tuesday, I wore the purple dress but with different toppers and accessories, totally changing the look.

This time, I added a long cardigan with bell sleeves (it was a double bell sleeve day), matching grey boots and some pretty earrings my husband gifted me a few earrings ago.

I tried a couple of options with my scarves (my favorites are the ones with tassels) and chose this matching purple scarf I found at Target a few years ago. As I am downsizing my closet I am really discovering what I really like to wear and what I am so so about: I have 2 scarves that are about to make it into the donation box!

Well, I look a little like a crazed person in this picture! I have been noticing that I squint a lot in my pictures but there needs to be a balance between wide eyed and squinty, lol! I am really taking stock of what I have this year and I am proud to say that I actually not have had any urges to buy anything this month. I know it is only the 13th of the month, but I do feel like my mindset has changed some.

That 2020 shopping with a purpose post I wrote a few weeks ago is helping me remember my goals for this year. As my children opened their presents on the 7th and as I notice what they are playing with and enjoying, I want to curb our consumerism and invest in things that allow us to enjoy activities together. What the boys are enjoying are their youth bow and arrows sets. They can be outdoors, learn safety rules and the art of taking turns (we have one target) and they are learning a new skill that I enjoy watching. Yes, I do want to look cute and put together but that does not mean I have to buy something new for my closet every month. Yes, I am enjoying a lot of my 2019 purchases and I love how cute I looked it certain outfits but what do I cherish the most from 2019? Really, our vacations and the small outdoor weekend outings (hiking and going down the river). These were the times we spent together as a family and a lot of that time was outdoors! Last week we invested in a couple of bikes for my husband and I and those bikes will give us another opportunities to have fun all together outdoors.

Knowing what makes me truly happy helps me make better and wiser decisions. And the money not spent on clothes can help me save! I truly have no idea how much money I spent on clothes last year and while it probably was not too excessive by most people’s standards, it is probably more than I would want to spend. So as I stated last week, I will keep track of my clothes spending this year. And you will see more outfits from my closet!

                                                              High Latitude Style Reader’s Fav Award Post Jan 23rd

                                                                         Top of the World Style weekly fashion linkup party at High Latitude Style @ http://www.highlatitudestyle.com

A bientôt!

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36 Comments

    • mimifce

      January 13, 2020 at 8:47 am

      It is pretty fun! I tried the boys’ bows! We just need some real targets but will get those at the beginning of month as birthday presents.

  • jodie filogomo

    January 13, 2020 at 11:27 am

    I don’t usually buy the same piece in different colors either but I can see where it’s so beneficial. Especially when you find something that you really like and really fits well!!
    Xoxo
    Jodie

  • Nikki | The Ginger Diaries

    January 14, 2020 at 7:35 am

    I absolutely love what you wrote about mindful consumerism here. It is so true! It’s something I have been doing for two years now and I can honestly say it’s the best decision I’ve made. We are saving up for build in wardrobes and I’m setting aside more now that I have stopped shopping. It has had a great impact on my personal style too! Not buying as much and even downsizing what I had has really helped me define my style and be more creative in my styling as well. Anyways, I wish you the best of luck with your mission for 2020! xo

    • mimifce

      January 14, 2020 at 4:19 pm

      That’s what has surprised this past month and part of December too. As I am buying less or not at all and as I have really cleaned up my closet of my so so items, I am feeling pretty creative!

    • mimifce

      January 14, 2020 at 4:18 pm

      Thanks, Kathrine. I am trying really hard and the longer I go without shopping the easier it is. I do have my little list but nothing I need right now.

  • Olga

    January 14, 2020 at 9:53 am

    Love the purple dress! My favorite color and those sleeves are just so pretty! The floral scarf adds even more charm to the dress.

  • Ashley

    January 14, 2020 at 12:10 pm

    I TOTALLY relate to the squinty-eyed appearance in photos! Haha, I do the same thing- I think my eyes are open, and then when I see the photos, I’m like, “Buuuuuut I’m squinting, how?” so I try and open ’em up wider and I definitely have more than a few shots where I look like you do in the last pic! 🙂 Regardless, you look chic + bundled!

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

    • undiversell

      January 18, 2020 at 6:13 am

      I like your post a lot. Seems we have the same goal for 2020. I started already Last years to reduce my consumption of clothes and want to sew as much as possible. If I buy something I will consider first if I need it really. Good luck for your goal. Warm regards Undine

      • mimifce

        January 18, 2020 at 8:10 am

        That is great that you sew. My best friend sews too and made me a really cool wrap cardigan when I visited her last summer. Wish she lived closer but it gives me a excuse to go back to France, lol! I am looking at a black puffer coat but going to go in store and then will wait for a great sale.

  • Mica

    January 14, 2020 at 3:39 pm

    Both dresses are lovely and it’s so nice when we can give new life to things people no longer want! my sister had a big wardrobe lcear out the other year and I still love everything I got from it – I ended up with so many new clothes! 🙂

    I agree it’s fun to shop my own wardrobe too! I’d really like to spend less this year but we will see how I go with that challenge, I’ve already spent a bit in the January sales, oops! haha!

    Hope that your week is off to a good start 🙂

    • mimifce

      January 14, 2020 at 4:15 pm

      Nice! I love when family or friend’s clothes fit me! So far so good: today I went into Target twice and did not look at clothes for me. I was there for my son and stuck to it!

  • Laura Bambrick

    January 15, 2020 at 12:05 am

    My hubby and I both have an ‘allowance’ each month that helps us keep track of our personal fun spending (including clothing). It helps keep things on track. Love your new dresses! The purple is especially pretty on you!

  • Darlene

    January 15, 2020 at 2:01 pm

    I love your perspective regarding investing in things and experiences that will benefit your boys. AND still look cute. One really does not have to buy new things every month–it’s all a question of how we style what we have and take advantage of everything in our closet. I enjoyed reading your post.

    xx Darlene

    • mimifce

      January 15, 2020 at 3:20 pm

      Thanks, Darlene! I do love to shop but I am really trying to curb that desire this year and save, save, save! And go on vacation lol!

  • jess jannenga

    January 15, 2020 at 7:13 pm

    Hi Mirielle!
    Ive “cooled it” a bit with shopping this month, as I am looking for a dresser for our bedroom. I dont have a big closet, so I need more storage space. I do think using money for trips and experiences is also important.
    Love both of your dresses and the purple is a great color on you. I love how you wore the grey duster with the bell-sleeved dress, how perfect was that! I am impressed with your blanket scarf, I cant see to tie mine correctly!
    thanks for linking!
    jess xx
    http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

    • mimifce

      January 16, 2020 at 6:58 am

      I do not tie my blanket scarf typically but put the triangle part in front and loop the end around my neck. It does work better with the scarf being cut in half and being less bulky.

    • mimifce

      January 16, 2020 at 2:16 pm

      Exactly! For us it is usually trying not to go overboard during the year so we can make vacations or outings happen. Thankfully my boys do not ask for the latest thing so it is not a struggle saying no to them.

  • Shelbee on the Edge

    January 18, 2020 at 10:06 am

    Mireille, these dresses are so great! I really love the purple color on you. And how fun are the bell sleeves. We need to start doing more outdoor activities as a family, but our winter weather is not very cooperative. I am ready for Spring! Archie has been interested in archery for a while now (go figure, I mean his name is Archer), but I can’t find a local place for lessons and I don’t know the first thing about it. Thanks for sharing and linking up.

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    • mimifce

      January 18, 2020 at 8:47 pm

      We got some compound bows on Amazon and also a regular bow for my almost six year old. They use them supervised in our yard since the arrows could be painful even if they are blunt. My 8 year old is really liking it. We need to get a real target but right now we are using a large box with a paper target on it. A bale of hay for the target would work too but nobody is selling them right now. I haven’t looked at lessons but it might be something for me to look into if he really shows an interest in it. Right now 2 of the boys do soccer in fall and spring so that is enough for me to drive them around.

    • mimifce

      January 20, 2020 at 8:54 am

      I am really working on it. I do not know how much I spent on clothes last year but I want to be a lot more conscious about it this year.