first day of fall

//top: kohl's / dress: target / tights: jcp / oxfords: thrifted//

It's almost impossible to believe that just last week we were having temperatures in the 80s, and now the weather seems simply freezing! It's funny how cold 60° feels after getting used to constant 80° weather, when in the early spring months, 60° feels like summer and t-shirt weather. I won't complain, though--I love layering and the whole feel of fall. Fall is exciting to me, for so many reasons. Still...I think my mind is still a bit muddled about how to dress for the change in weather. For example, as I type this, I'm huddled beneath a pile of blankets (though I'm blaming this on a cold that refuses to go away completely). 

Anyway, on to the outfit! I had picked out Sunday's outfit on Saturday night, and was not planning on layering or wearing tights, since Saturday had ended up quite warm, but Sunday morning was freezing! So I hastily switched around my outfit and ended up with this. I didn't even check what it looked like before rushing out the door, but I think I'm pretty happy how it turned out. I'm slightly in love with the fun print on this dress that I found on the Target clearance rack a couple weeks back, and I think it will be a great layering piece in the fall, even though I think it was meant to be a summer dress. 

I hope you all are doing well and that y'all had a great start to your fall!

Guest Post by Amanda of Two Tickets

Hey everyone! Today I have a special guest post to share with you all. I'd like you all to meet Amanda--she has an amazing etsy store called Two Tickets (definitely go check it out! I'm sure you'll be blown away!), and I invited her over to the blog today to talk to you about her Kickstarter project which involves some pretty amazing purses. ~Vicki

Hey Everyone!

Wow!! This is so cool!

I am happy to have gotten the opportunity to be a guest blogger for Decked Out in Ruffles! 

I was so excited because it's a first for me to be a guest blogger and I love firsts!

But let me introduce myself. My name is Amanda and I am the Designer and Owner of Two Tickets.

My Story:

My story starts, with a toaster, a rocking chair, and a backpack.

That's the cliffs notes version of my story. The long one is that I have loved making things ever since I was little when my mom taught me how to sew.  Besides that, I was always drawing, sewing, painting or doing something crafty.  So there was no looking back when I decided to attend Savannah College of Art and Design. In 2004 I graduated with a B.F.A in Textiles. Following graduation I moved to NYC where I lived and worked with a small family run clothing design house.  This background is why I decided to launch my own line of luxury accessories for women.

My Vision:

Two Tickets was started in part because I believe in the power of fashion. Both personally and on a social level.  The idea of individual style and finding one's voice through fashion is one I've always loved.  I see dressing as self expression and the ultimate form of personal creative freedom.  I think that when you feel good then others feel good and the energy of joy and happiness spreads. I don't think of fashion as frivolous or shallow.  In fact, it's just the opposite. 

My Inspiration:

It's no secret that I love vintage.  My main insparation always comes from that place.  I have combined that with my love of permanence.  The idea that things that hold up and can be treasured over their life time then handed down and re-used really appeals to me.  Which is why I like to work with leather a lot. It lasts.  These days "quick fashion" is only made to look good for a couple of months or a year.  Manufacturers are counting on the trend passing before the item itself wears out.  I think us girls who really love style are looking to find something that they can use and keep as a staple in their wardrobe.  I love the idea of re-discovering items in your own closet and finding new ways to wear them and enjoy them. That is why I have worked hard over the past 4 years to develop a line of bags that are multi-functional, versatile and classic. 

My Future:

In order to create a future for my brand I have embarked on a new kind of project. I am sure lots of you have heard about Kickstarter, the incredibly cool fund-raising website that has helped many artists, designers, and dreamers realize their creative projects.  So I am excited to share with you my project!

(embed video here)

I have created limited edition rewards for the $12 to $40 backers and there is a super special reward for the $130 +and up backers!

The big deal about my Project is that I need to sell more than I've ever sold before!

In order to help me achieve this I am actually pre-selling my Spring 2014 collection for below my wholesale cost.  The great thing is that I am bypassing the middleman and going straight to the customer.

This is the great thing about Kickstarter. You will be able to buy directly from me, the designer. This is a great money-saver because you don't have to pay the retail mark-up price!

My Dream:

I hope to see Two Tickets brand grow and evolve. I also hope that 30 or 40 years from now I see a woman wearing a bag I designed down the street and she bought it at a thrift store, flea market, or estate sale. That's really what it's all about, for me.

I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Coco Chanel:

"Fashion fades, only style remains the same."

You can find me me on Etsy! www.twotickets.etsy.com

OR

And keep up with me on Facebook! www.facebook.com/2tickets

Cheers!

Amanda

The Picnic Skirt

//sweater, wedges, belt, purse: thrifted / cami: forever21 / skirt: made by me / bracelet: gift//

Gingham skirts usually remind me of two things--picnic blankets or Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Despite that, I've fallen completely in love with this print, and I've been collecting yards of it in different colors for my sewing stash. This was one of the first things I made with it, and I'm sort of in love with it. It's amazingly versatile and it also had the fun retro vibe that I love. I've lately been loving it with mustard colors, like this yellow sweater. The texture of  the sweater is a fun juxtaposition with the gingham print, and it's also perfect for a cooler day, like the church potluck that I wore this outfit to. I originally thought of this as more of a summer skirt, but I think it will work as a good transition into early fall...I'm excited to come up with more ways to style it in the next couple of weeks!

I hope you all are having a wonderful day! ❤



adventuring on the island

A couple weeks ago, my aunt and I went adventuring over on Whidbey Island. We hiked around Rosario Beach for about two to three miles on an easy, though interesting trail that started at the beach, climbed up into a high, rocky area, and wound down to another beach. It was a good hike, and though I had initially been dreading it, it reminded me how much I love hiking. Out walking on a quiet trail is one of the best places to think and ponder, which I find both invigorating and relaxing. There, my thoughts wandered with little interruption.

Afterwards, we drove home along the island, and stopped off at a few viewpoints and wandered old Fort Casey for a bit before catching the late ferry back to Seattle. We met John Lennon's double at one of the viewpoints (same hair, same glasses even!), and encountered some deer at the fort, which was really exciting. I've seen deer many, many times before in the past, but I don't think I've ever seen deer so close. My aunt kept talking to them as she was snapping photos, and they weren't even bothered.

 I had a good time, and one of these days I'd really like to go back to the fort--as it was getting late (and COLD!), we didn't spend much time there, but it seemed like a really fun area to explore.

Have you had any fun adventures lately?

the classic pencil skirt {kosher casual review}

//pencil skirt: c/o kosher casual / cardigan, tank top, wedges, belt: thrifted//

I was thrilled when Kosher Casual contacted me several weeks ago asking if I would like to review one of their products. They are a Israel-based company focused on creating modest clothing that's fashionable and modern, but still modest. For my review, I selected their pencil skirt in navy blue. As a pear-shaped gal, I've been on the lookout for a pencil skirt that fits well and looks cute and classy without putting every single curve on display. I ordered a size medium based on my measurements (though I probably should have ordered the small, because I think it would have fit better in the waist...), and received it fairly quickly for a package coming all the way from Israel. And I really like it! I love that it has both side and back pockets, and is made from a sturdy, but not too heavy material. I also love that it has an adjustable waist, which came in handy when the waist was slightly too big. And although the waist was a little big, the rest of the fit was great. I really recommend the company as a whole, if you're on the lookout for modest clothing or even if you're just looking for nice quality basics at reasonable prices.


Have a happy hump day!

the museum of flight

Hey everyone! I have an actual post for you all today! I feel like I haven't blogged in forever, and I'm so behind on reading my favorite blogs. I'll have to catch up on that soon! Anyway, the main reason for my absence has been that my family has been on vacation, and also the fact that I've been too lazy to weed through and edit photos. But anyways! On to the actual subject of the post, which is the Boeing Museum of Flight in Seattle. Last week we had a sort of family staycation where we did a bunch of things in and around Seattle. We went to Bainbridge Island, did a bunch of shopping, saw a movie, and went to the Museum of Flight. It's a pretty amazing museum, and pretty huge, too. I love seeing all the old planes and their colors and designs. It's so neat to me, and so inspiring to be surrounded by all that history...and the exhibits are pretty awe-inspiring themselves. If you're ever in the Seattle area, I highly recommend checking out the museum!

I hope you all are having a great week! I also want to welcome all of my new readers and say "Hi!" to y'all, and a big thanks for following along! I'm so glad to have you all here. 

$150 Fall Into Place Giveaway

Amy / Dani / Janelle / Jenn / Katie / Nathalie / Sara / Seun / Tiffany / Vicki

These lovely ladies have teamed up with me to present Style Honestly’s First Annual “Fall
Into Place” Giveaway!

Fall is a time where the colors change and the desire to shop grows stronger. Who wouldn't want a little extra pocket change to help with the shopping!?

Just because we love our readers so much, we wanted to offer the opportunity for you to win
a little extra from us!

This giveaway is open to all and ends 9/11 at 11:59 PM. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway