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! ❤