the time I was Kelly Kapowski

Posted on March 5, 2014 by themallorymanual

Top-Macys old similar here//Sweater-Sample Sale-similar here//Jeans-here//Shoes-old similar here// Bag-Tune in tomorrow to discuss!

I have always had a thing for Kelly Kapowski. As a brunette unwilling to ever lighten my hair, the role models were few and far between. Apparently our hair color makes us really exceptional side kicks ready to join any adventure but totally inadequate at hosting our own. Kelly was the freaking star and she was amazing and wonderful and she got the guy in the end and she taught me so many vital lessons during my youth (and occasionally on present day Saturday mornings when Joel and I are bored). And she did all of this as a brunette. And usually in a high waisted skirt and Keds. Or a matching floral crop top and denim. Or in light wash ripped jeans.

Which leads us to this little number in which i was apparently channeling her. The sweater and lace tank are such a cute combo. The shoes were a Top Shop find on their opening weekend in NYC-aka the worst day to enter Top Shop EVER. But these jeans… these jeans are rocking my whole world right now. I love them. I want to wear them every day. I have tried. I even tried to wear them to Joel’s hometown of Concordia, Missouri. It’s a lovely place. If you haven’t been I would suggest a drive through. It’s a small town meant for a Lifetime Movie. I am sure there are some Kapowski fans there, however, when i slipped these ripped up little beauties on Joel suggested I change. He didn’t think Concordia would understand the purchase of pre-destroyed jeans much less revel in their amazingness. Maybe next year.

So for now these jeans will be confined to Kansas City. And I will try to wear them only every other day. Until my floral crop top and matching denim arrives of course.

Mal

the time I lied…

Posted on March 3, 2014 by themallorymanual

Sweater-@jolly’s//Denim shirt-JC Penny-similar//T-shirt-Forever 21-old fun graphic t here//Camo Jeans-Gap-sold out-similar//Boots-Shoemint-old similar here//Bracelets-PuraVida-I want one of each!!!

I want to tell you all a story about this London Love t-shirt. I want to reminisce about the last time I was in London. I want to talk about the pop up vintage markets and Portobello market. I want to tell an amazing story about pouring over each and every booth of these markets and the things I found. I want to talk about the food I ate and the smells I smelled. I so badly want this shirt to be a memorial of an amazing adventure that Joel and I were so lucky to take. I want this t-shirt to have history and meaning and I want the story to be sparkly and captivating. I want to wear this shirt to dinner parties and evenings out where said story would be retold and the shirt would be worn as a badge of my fashion findings honor.

But that would all be a steaming pile of… well… lies. This shirt is from the overly produced racks of Forever 21. It is one of millions. It is as generic as they come. And for the first two weeks after I bought it I told Joel it was from a street vendor in London. I was shopping shamed. But I still love the shirt. And it still makes me think of the wonderful trips we have taken London. And it still makes me smile. Even if it is from Forever 21.

The real story of our last trip to London- I shopping choked. I found an amazing Cath Kidston bag, a perfect dress from Liberty of London featuring their famous tiny floral print, the most beautiful hand made leather jacket and an absolutely gorgeous cashmere capelet and with each find more outstanding and deserving of my shopping budget than the last I choked. I couldn’t pull the trigger and ended up coming home with nothing more than a pair of jeans from Primark (A European Forever 21) and regret. All the more reason to plan a trip back I suppose. Right Joel?

Mal

the time I wore jeans as sweatpants

Posted on February 11, 2014 by themallorymanual

Cardigan-Seen here//T-shirt-Target//Jeans-Seen here//Shoes-Toms

I work from home. Which means getting dressed for work in the morning sometimes means brushing my teeth and throwing on a sweatshirt over my jammies. This is not good. Actually this is down right bad. Also, when your husband calls you out for wearing the same Mount Gay Rum promotional t-shirt for 2.5 days straight its time to make some changes. Also, it’s time to do some laundry.

So for the last few days I have been really making an effort to get up and actually put on real clothes. Like the kind of clothes I could run out of my house if it were, say, on fire without contemplating a quick outfit change.

This jeans-oversized t-shirt-cardigan combo has become my go to uniform if you will. And when I really want to feel fancy I thrown on sparkly Toms-they are like the tuxedo of slip ons or holiday themed socks. Because who doesn’t love a holiday themed sock. And you want to know a secret, I feel like I get just a little bit more done. You know, being dressed for success and all.

Todays outfit was pretty cheap. And pretty cute. If I may say so myself. Plus, I have never slept in any of these articles of clothing.

Total cost of outfit: Cardigan-$4.99//V Neck-$14.99 (Boo for Full Price)//Jeans-$20

See you later alligators.

Mal

the time I had to go outside

Posted on February 6, 2014 by themallorymanual

Flannel-Target//Sweater-Target//Jeans-American Eagle//Boots-Born old//Parka-Lands End because that what this has come to…

So for those of you not residing in KC, we got some snow. Like a lot of snow. Like 10+ inches of snow. And no one had to go to work, or run errands or even leave their house. It was amazing. Like 2 straight Christmas Days. And then it ended. Apparently the streets are clear and the time has come for us to all re-enter the world. But the snow is not gone. And the temperatures are not warmer and I don’t wanna.

But I must. I think I am forgetting how to interact with the human race (outside of Joel and Harvey). And we are out of milk. And Chocolate Ale was delivered to my local grocer this morning. And Macy’s is having a sale. That I can’t even participate in. Because I am not shopping for 30 days. So I will focus on the Chocolate Ale. Yum.

In any means dressing for this kind of cold is challenging. Especially when you are taking pictures of yourself and showing them to the ~~world~~ interwebs. And even more so when you have limited your very vast wardrobe to a much smaller and less expensive set of clothes. But I faced the windchill and fashion won and I didn’t even have to use any animal prints.

The sweater and flannel were both Target sale rack finds and the skinnies were purchased on an American Eagle super sale just for this project. However, these jeans are so stinkin comfortable and fit so nicely that I may have to revisit their jean department. (You know, in 26 days) Watch out tweens: 30 year olds everywhere are going to storm American Eagles in search of these super soft, stretchy and oh-so-affordable jeans.

Total Cost: Flannel-$13//Sweater-$11//Denim-$20

Stay warm and fabulous. Until tomorrow darlings.

Mal

the time I shopped forever

Posted on February 4, 2014 by themallorymanual

Long sleeve top-Target-similar//Sweatshirt-Target-exact//Jeans-Target-exact//Umbrella-Target-exact//Booties-Shoemint seen here

Ok, so its time to get real. Not “Real World” real but real life real. I, Mallory Kirsten Lutz Kammeyer am a perpetual shopper. You might be thinking at this point-What in the heck is a perpetual shopper? Well it’s me. I have always had a ‘see-want-buy’ mentality. Ok, to be fair I have had a ‘see-want-buy-oh and throw in the ankle boots and that fabulous tank top oh and I didn’t even see that pair of boot socks, I have to have them-mentatlity. And usually I throw in a blazer for good measure (read more about my compulsive blazer purchasing here-is there a support group for that?)

So, after a long talk with my mom (and loads of encouragement from Joel) we decided i should not only go on a spending diet but work to make a $300 wardrobe last me 30 days with no repeat outfits. Easy right-holy smokes so not easy. For the last 2 months I have scoured the sale racks or Target, Macy’s, TJ Maxx and beyond in search of really amazing (and cheap!) pieces to add to my ‘$300 dollar 30 day’ collection. I went, I shopped smart (and didn’t impulse buy) and for the next 30 days here I will be showing you what I have come up with. Oh and I won’t shop. Promise. 😉

This first outfit is entirely from Target-because I love Target, its a magical place. The sweatshirt was a left over from fall that I got for 11 dollars. HELLO! The shirt underneath is amazing and at $14.99 full price you just can’t hardly beat it (but right now it is on sale for 11 too so I guess you can beat it). I love the way they look layered up and if it weren’t for the snow today here in KC I would have thrown them on with a fabulous little skater skirt that you will be seeing more of this month. The jeans are Mossimo-boyfriend jeans. I once had a pair of Mossimo overall shorts. I wore them incessantly for years and years, well beyond both the age and time of overalls had passed me by… Anyway, Boyfriend jeans are my best friend. They are cozy, they look stylish and they kinda feel like sweats.

Total cost of this outfit: $56. Only because I bought full price denim…

Ok, darlings, let’s see what tomorrow brings-on a budget.

Mal

the time I didn’t want to get dressed…

Posted on January 24, 2014 by themallorymanual

Flannel Tunic- old boutique find-similar// Puffer-Old Navy//Tights-Spanx// Boots-seen here and here// Sunnies-Raybans

You know the days when you wake up and you have to be somewhere and you wonder if you could get away with a pajama pant and a thermal top and an Ugg slipper as long as your hair and make up are done? I tried it once. Apparently people notice. Which was kind of rude.

This outfit was my answer to the “I am absolutely not getting dressed today” temper tantrum. Flannel Tunic (that looks suspiciously like a pajama top, hmmm)-check, fleece lined puffer vest-check, motorcycle boots that I have worn literally every single day for the last two weeks because OMG it needs to be spring so my feet can breath-check.

Some days I wish I were Harvey (the handsome devil running around the in the pics above), he just rolls off his Tempurpedic doggie bed each morning, gets his belly scrubbed by his humans, throws on his favorite, fanciest bowtie and goes about his day. Oh, and EVERYONE is impressed.

Until then, I suppose my oversized flannel shirt will have to do…

What is your go to-I don’t want to wear anything but I have to-outfit?

Until the next outfit,

Mal

the time I wore a blazer

Posted on January 23, 2014 by themallorymanual

Blazer-H&M old–similar// Dress-Forever 21 old-similar// Tights-Spanx// Boots-Steve Madden seen here// Red Scarf-street vendor NYC-similar// Red bangles-Charming Charlies old-similar

Sometimes I walk into a store and buy a blazer. I have no idea why. I am SO NOT a girl who wears a blazer. I think they make me look like a child playing dress up. They don’t allow for many activities what with them being so restrictive in the arms. They make me look so businessy. Yet, somehow I see them and want them in my closet.

This little plaid number called to me on one of my first trips to H&M years ago. With its adorable elbow patches and great neutral palette I thought FOR SURE I would find a home for it in my repertoire. FALSE. I have literally never worn it. Not once. I have tried it on. I have worked outfits around it. And yet every time I decide it’s just too serious for my liking.

That is until I put it over my little $8 leopard print dress. I mean if leopard print can’t save a plaid blazer with elbow patches nothing will. I promise you.

But I think it may have worked. I might even wear it again. Maybe. But really probably not. I mean unless I have to go to a job interview or court or something.

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