Showing posts with label Outfits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Outfits. Show all posts

Thrift Flip: I Turned a Skirt Into a Dress

Friday, July 24, 2020

Dress: Goodwill Thrift Flip  |  Shoes: Wallmart (old)  |  Jacket: c/o Madewell  |  Purse: Thrifted (Fossil)

I made a dress out of a skirt!!! This project was seriously soooo much fun and I am so happy with how it turned out. If you know me, you know that I LOVE thrifting and that most of what I wear is thrifted, but recently I have been trying to stretch myself creatively, especially when it comes to thrifting and so I have decided to start doing "Thrift Flip" projects!
Basically a "Thrift Flip" project is thrifting a piece and then flipping it to be something else or a different style (I have a swimsuit thrift flip coming soon). I decided to start with an easy project after finding this skirt (see "before" above) at Goodwill (see my Thrift Haul HERE). I got this skirt because I loved how unique it was, it reminded me of something that I would find at Anthropologie or Freepeople and because it was 3 sizes larger than my typical size, I knew I would have plenty of fabric to work with and decided to turn it into a dress. 
The design process was super easy, I just removed a section of the skirt, while making sure to leave enough fabric to sill fit my waist for the skirt, and then turned the removed section into the bodice and straps. I filmed the whole design/thrift flip process so if you want to see how I did it or try a project like this for yourself, you can check it out on my YouTube & watch below:


Have you ever Thrift Flipped something?

- Madison

Minnie Muse is 4 + What I've Learned As a BLogger

Monday, October 23, 2017

**Photos by my bestie Elizabeth**
Skirt: Thrifted
Top: Faded Glory
Boots: Target
6 years ago my dream was to start a blog. I dreampt of creating a place to share my thoughts, my love for fashion and style, and tidbits of my life. One fall 4 years ago that dream became a reality, and I have LOVED every minute of it!
 I remember when I first discovered that there was such as thing as "fashion blogs" and I would spend hours pouring over posts, getting inspiration, finding people who had similar styles as me, and dreaming of one day being just like them. While 4 years really isn't all that long ago (I was just starting college) it seems like so much has happened between then and now, especially with Minnie Muse. 

As a blogger, growth is part of the process. You find yourself through the journey of creating, designing, and publishing a blog, posts, outfits, etc. You change, your style changes, and you find who you are (or at least that was the case for me). Blogging has always been my outlet.....my place to reach an audience I never knew I could have the power to reach! A place to connect, inspire, and meet darling, creative, and dear souls who inspire me with their words, style, and joy of life. 

I have always said this on Minnie Muse, but IT IS YOU....THE READERS who make what I do worth it and make me want to keep creating. 

With all my gushy thoughts out of the way its time to celebrate, because Minnie Muse is 4 years old!!! And with that I thought it would be fun to share some of the random, odd, amazing, and important things I have learned over the years, because since starting a blog it has been a journey of learning and discovery every day!

  1. Blogging is time consuming....whoever thought you could just take pictures and post them on a blog was mistaken.....there have been many a time that I have stayed up well past my beadtime editing pictures, writing posts, and creating content (because I am a full time student and part time blogger). The whole phrase "student/teacher by day and blogger by night" is 100% my life!
  2. Blogging connects you with the sweetest and dearest internet friends! I can't begin to tell you all of the lovely people I have come to know through blogging....many of them people I have never even met in person, yet I feel that we all share a bond because of our common interests. These dear ladies are people who encourage each other (and me), leave comments on things we like that the other person is doing or wearing, and we all share a common passion. I have had the pleasure of meeting a couple of those darling souls in real life (such a treat), but even those who I only know over a screen, I still feel as though we are close friends:)
  3. Don't let my seeminly put together life fool you....my posts might feature me in skirts and dresses with curly hair and a full face of makeup, but what you don't see is me writing those posts, sitting on my bed in an oversized tshirt, yoga pants, no makeup, and a messy bun. Behind the scenes it isn't as glamorous as what is pictured in front of the camera. 
  4. Being a blogger you learn that the parts about yourself that you are often most "insecure about" are sometimes the very things that people compliment you on! Now, let me be clear to state that I am not a blogger because I need praise and compliments (in fact I am horrible & awkward at taking compliments) but sometimes the posts where I was just not feeling 100% or the pictures where I was actually having a bad breakout (partially covered by makeup) are most often the pictures people say sweet things about and it makes you realize that the insecurities don't really matter.....you are perfect just the way you are:)
  5. COFFEE is my creative juice! Seriously, you will very rarely find me writing a post without a cup of coffee (in a cute mug mind you) close by! 
  6. It can be lonely! While I do have blogging friends online and daily am inspired by other bloggers, being a blogger myself can be quite a solitary job.....the terms "me myself and I" and "party of one" are VERY REAL as a blogger! Sure...I am an introvert and LOVE to be alone, but sometimes I just want someone (IRL) who understands my dreams and passions and shares in those same things. Plus Texas isn't your biggest fashion blogger hub, so a lot of my favorite bloggers live in other states. 
  7. I have learned that I create high expectations for myself that are sometimes impossible to reach and when I don't accomplish them I feel as though I have let people down. I set expectations for myself & the blog in regards to posts I want to do, videos I want to shoot, or the number of times I create something new for the blog in a week, but LIFE HAPPENS 99.9% of the time and the things I WANT don't (hardly ever) happen and I have to accept that its life.....and life isn't perfect.....and that people will understand....and that at the end of the day I am not here to please other people because if that were the case I would fail every time! 
  8. The comparison game is real & relevant! Okay, so I really am not one to compare myself to others, but as a blogger it is sometimes hard seeing others who are able to blog full time, etc. and not be able to do that or feel like its able to be accomplished. 
  9. It's a ONE WOMAN show most of the time! A number of fashion bloggers hire photographers or have husbands or boyfriends who are photographers or learn to take their pictures for them (still holding out that the guy I meet one day with be one of those #instagramboyfriends turned husband) which gives them more freedom in pictures, locations, etc. I on the other hand just have a tripod, self timer, and remote, so my visions are not always a reality and taking pictures of yourself with a tripod can be awkward, especially when there are people around. 
  10. It's kind of a full time job I don't get paid for! When I am not in college classes, teaching, spending time with my family, traveling, or studying I am probably blogging. More recently blogging has become a weekend gig, but often times in the past I would spend a part of every day taking pictures, editing, writing, or styling outfits for the blog, so yes.....it can easily become a full time / part time job that you don't get paid for.....except in creativity:) 
  11. For the modest at heart (me) being a blogger tends to get you recognized more frequently by your craft. People will mention that they read my latest post or love the pictures I take, saw my latest YouTube video, etc. My mom is always telling people I have a blog which is always weird for me to hear, but if my style defines me as a blogger I guess that's okay? Friends, acquantances, and family now know I am a blogger and as someone who shares more of herself on the blog than with people in real life that gives people a glimpse of me that they probably wouldn't always get to see. 
  12. I am becoming one of those #basic bloggers who plans her outfits around the places I go and chooses accessories based on what I wear for shoots (insert embaraced monkey emoji). You will constantly see my sister roll her eyes when I walk out of my room in an outfit & my mom will ask if I chose it because it matched the place we were going ("Um....no mom I didn't...JK....LOL")
  13. At the end of the day it is about sharing and connecting! It is sharing about the things you love, opening up about yourself, sharing your passions, and connecting with others who share those same things or understand what you are saying. The blogsphere creates a community of like minded souls who truly listen, share and encourage each other and I love every one of them for it! 

Some of My Favorite Post From This Year:

From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU!!!! Here's to many more years of Minnie Muse and the adventure that await us!!!


Is there anything you would like to see me share on the blog?
What should I do more of?
What is one thing you enjoy about Minnie Muse?


-Madison 

Cigarette Pants & Head Scarves

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Pants: Thrifted
Sweater: Vintage Thrifted
Purse: Thrifted (H&M)
Shoes: Payless (very old)
Scarf: Vintage
Ear Rings: Palais Roayal
Watch: Sam Moon
**Pictures by me**

I have come to realize MOST of the looks I share with you all on the blog are centered around skirts or dresses, and granted, while I wear skirts and dressed 90% of the time, there are many times that I do wear pants (and it's usually on those days that people do a double take of me). Therefore, I thought I would share this fun 1960's Cigarette pants inspired look with you all. 

I tend to be someone who creates an outfit based off one particular piece of clothing or an accessory (anyone else do this). I will typically find a new piece at the thrift store or pull a piece out of my closet and from there I start pulling other clothes, accessories, and jewelry that I feel tell the story the original piece of clothing is telling.  Therefore, this look was created after I found this sweater at Goodwill and picked up this scarf at a local antique store. 

I have always thought that pale baby blue is one of the prettiest colors (also its the Cinderella color so...) and when I found this 60's style sweater at Goodwill I knew that it would be a perfect additon to my closet. After settling on this sweater I continued the 60's theme by pulling in this fabulous striped scarf to use in my hair (which happens to be a super easy and fun vintage hairstyle). I completed the look by grabbing my brown cigarette pants, which seemed like the perfect piece to pull the entire look together. I finished this off by slipping on a pair of ballet flats and grabbing my new favorite thrifted H&M purse. 

The finished look turned out to be one of my new favorite combos. Somehow I always forget how simple and classic capri pants are and I need to start wearing them more! I also forgot how much I LOVE the 60's......well, the pants and sweaters, and pearls, and scarves, because let's be honest....with my legs all of the dresses are shirts (#tallgirlproblems)....

Are you a fan of 60's fashion?
What do you think about the Cigarette Pants style?

-Madison

Growth

Monday, September 5, 2016

Jumper: Made
Shirt: Thrifted
Shoes: Thrifted
Necklace: Vintage

Well, it sure has taken long enough for me to get these pictures up on the blog, but considering that Fall is right around the corner this shoot seems like the perfect way to say farewell to summer. Today is Labor Day after all, which in itself seems to close the doors on summer fashion (goodbye whites) and usher in a new season of styles and colors. While I can't wait for the crisp fall weather to get here (yay for fall colors and sweaters), I can't help but think back to all of the lovely memories from this summer! This shoot particularly was a great memory because I had been dreaming of shooting at our local plant nursery for the longest time. Thankfully I persuaded two of my friends to come with me for a photo shoot day (just so happened to be right before I headed back to college) and boy did we get some lovely shots! Definitely a day to remember. 

With all that being said, and considering that I am completely surrounded by the loveliest plants in all of these pictures, it makes me think about "GROWTH." While growth definitely makes me think about all of the beauty in nature that I am surrounded by every day, it also makes me think about growth in my own life. Whenever I think about growth, so many thing pop into my mind such as beauty, new beginnings, lessons, and letting go. Specifically for me, I think about the amount of growth that I have done over the course of this current semester (even though we are only a week and a half into school). 

College itself has been all about growth for me, as I have had to trust God with areas of my life that were hard to trust him with and have faith that his plans were better than my own! I truly believe that the only way you will grow in life is when you learn to let go. However, letting go is one of the hardest things to do. Nevertheless, when we learn to let go we learn that it can be one of the most rewarding things because when we let go of our own desires we open ourselves up for God's greater plan in our life, and when we do that we grow in ways we would never have imagined! When I reflect back on the growth in my life I can't help but think back to a quote from Elisabeth Elliott which reads:

“There is no ongoing spiritual life without this process of letting go. At the precise point where we refuse, growth stops. If we hold tightly to anything given to us, unwilling to let it go when the time comes to let it go or unwilling to allow it to be used as the Giver means it to be used, we stunt the growth of the soul." 

We have to learn to let go in life in order to grow! After all, trees let go and loose their leaves so that they can grow new ones when spring comes.......sometimes we have to be willing to let go of our leaves too, so that new ones can grow. Growth is soooooo important in our lives, because without it we would never learn what we are capable of and even more so, what God is capable of in our life!

Have you experienced any growth in your life recently?
What do you think about letting go and growth?

-Madison

// Throw Back Thursday // Outfits Edition

Thursday, August 27, 2015


Skirt: Minnie's Menagerie//Shirt: Minnie's Menagerie//Necklace:Vintage//Shoes:Target
With wifi at a dead standstill in my dorm room this post is up later than anticipated. Thankfully though, I had typed this post up before my connections died and thus was off to the campus coffee shop after Chemistry this morning to wrap up this post while enjoying a chocolate chip bagel with peanut butter and a warm Mocha.....ah the joys and trials of technology and college life:) 
Since I have not taken any outfit pictures this week (and because I have been getting settled back into college) I thought I would do another TBT post, since I haven't done one in awhile. On that note, I was going through my pictures and decided it would be fun to share some outfit pictures that I never did share on the blog (because they were taken before I started a blog) and so here are a vast array of outfit pictures of me from when I was 16 to my high school graduation (crazy to think it has been that long). 
I realized that when I first got into wearing vintage I used to wear my hair in victory rolls, curls, and scarves all the time. Evidently I have become a little lazy (understatement) when it comes to doing my hair up in a vintage style, and I really need to get back into styling my hair more vintage. Anyways, lets talk a little bit about these outfits! 
The first set was one of my favorite ensembles when I first started wearing vintage. This was actually the outfit I wore to my first day of class when I started dual credit. I can confidently say that I was being true to myself and have pretty much kept that up:)
Sweater Set: Thrifted//Skirt: Thrifted//Tights: Ballet//Shoes: Grandmas
Now this outfit is one of my faves! I actually don't think I have worn this combination in about 2 years. However, it is another one of those ensembles that looked all out vintage from my hair down to my shoes and that is probably why I love it so much. The more I look at my hair the more I miss those victory rolls...I need to bring these back in my hairstyles!
Sweater: Thrifted//Skirt:Thrifted//Belt:Vintage//Shoes:Swing Dance Shoes
Furthermore when your dad comes from an old country town you have to go take pictures after church when you are visiting for the weekend. However, as much as I could go on about the perfect brick walls for picture taking I will just talk a little about this ensemble before I move on. I love the combination of red, white, and black that this ensemble combines but my favorite part is the shoes. These are actually dancing shoes that I got on my birthday while at the annual Square Dance Hoedown. Lets just say they are SUPER comfortable and perfect for a 1950's or 1940's look (hopefully they will hit the blog in a real post sometime soon). 
Dress: Thrifted//Sweater: Mom's//Necklace:Thrifted//Scarf: Vintage
Next, is one of the outfits I wore for my senior pictures. I decided to take pictures in ensembles from my favorite eras....thus this one was for the 1950's. I wore a fun lime green dress that I had refashioned to be my size. Of course if you are going to visit your local old fashioned soda fountain during the photo shoot you just throw on a few more colors, grab a milkshake, and snap a few pictures while you are at it. 
Blouse: Minnie's Menagerie// Jacket: Thrifted//Skirt: Minnie's Menagerie
//Hat: Vintage//Gloves:Vintage//Purse:Vintage
Last but not least, is my 1940's look that I chose for senior photos. Sadly, this isn't an outfit that I would wear on a regular basis, but when doing a 1940's photo shoot this works perfectly! I have always loved this polka-dot blouse that was my Granny Minnie's. And I must not forget about the hat, which by the way has only been worn in these photos, but I don't think that I could pull it off any other time :)

Well....I guess that is all for now. I hope to get back into the swing of things for blogging amidst my collage schedule and venturing out on campus with my camera and trypod. Let us hope that next week will prove more fruitful as for coming out with an original post!! Until next week:)

Do you like TBT posts?

Which outfit is your favorite?

P.S. Check out this weeks post on STANDOUTgirl Here









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