False Promises...

... is what this blog should be called. Once again, I overcommitted myself and didn't have the access to a camera (remember, I broke mine in February) that I thought I would. 


I hope next week will be better. I'd like to finish the posts on 1) the pieces I've recently acquired for the summer and 2) my DIY T-shirt scarf, and add a recap of my weekend trip to Seattle (I leave tomorrow).


Wish me luck, lovely ladies! Thanks for continuing to read, despite my blog being a hot mess most of the time. I'm off to find a narwhal in Seattle.

Wish List: Ikat, You Kat

I used to never understand why people got so giddy about ikat prints, but over time, I've developed quite a fondness obsession for them. The same thing happened with red wine and bleu cheese, so I think this means I'm finally becoming an adult.

I've gathered some of my most favorite ikat pieces from this season. Collectively, this is my most expensive wish list to date, but I will brag on the Forever 21 skirt, which is priced less than $20. And as soon as the J.Crew scarf goes on sale, it's all mine.

Idiria Ikat Dress

[Photo source: jcrew.com]

Weekend MaxMara Faiti Ikat Maxi Skirt

[Photo source: saksfifthavenue.com]

Pleated Ikat Skirt

[Photo source: forever21.com]

Printed Scarf

[Photo source: jcrew.com]

Ikat Stretch Beaded Belt

[Photo source: bananarepublic.com]

What are you willing to pay for your wish list items?

Form-Fitting Office Wear for $29

I got so jazzed when I first posted my $20 outfit, that I have been trying to challenge myself throughout the summer to come up with other outfits that cost less than 30 dollars. (See my second one here.) I wore this ensemble to work at the beginning of the summer and found it to be an interesting spin on form-fitting office wear.

[I apologize for the dark shadows near my feet. And my oh-so-obvious wrinkled shirt.

And all the other shortcomings of this photo. ]

I originally purchased this shirt off the clearance rack at Old Navy to wear on my 23rd birthday. I'm no math whiz, but considering how long ago my 23rd birthday occurred and how cheap it was when I bought it, I'm going to guess that the price per wear on this gem is nearing the 12-cent mark.

The pants were an impulse purchase one night at J.Crew (I used my employee discount, but even if I hadn't, they would have only cost $15), which makes them the best impulse purchase of my life, because they aren't gum or a double cheeseburger.

The belt is a basic brown belt but has some woven detailing in the back. (It's my mullet belt – business in the front, party in the back.) The shoes are secondhand, which may be as unsanitary as not wearing shoes at all, but they frown on that at the office.

What I'm Wearing
Balloon-Sleeved White Blouse (Old Navy) – $8
Green City Fit Roll-Up Pants (J. Crew) – $7.50
Nude Heels (Unknown brand, Plato's Closet) – $8
Brown Woven Wide Belt (Forever XXI) – $4.80
Total – $ 28.30

Bread and Butter

All work and no play makes me a dull blogger. As anticipated, summer has been quite a busy season for me at the office, but I'm finally back and ready to post, post, post! Unfortunately, I have not been feeling so inspired lately in the morning, and as a result, I have worn a simple uniform of jeans and a thin blouse on the regular. It's my bread and butter outfit, so to speak, as it's only one step above receiving some kind of public indecency violation in the neighborhood.

 I really should plan my outfits the night before. How many of you do that?

[Most days have been void of any accessories, as well.]

What I'm Wearing
Blue Silk Cutout Top (Pitaya)
Wide Leg Editor Trousers (Express)
Green Leather Belt (J.Crew)
LC Lauren Conrad Black Platform Pumps (Kohl's)

Daisies and Chains du Jour
Tuesday: Another $20 Fashion post
Wednesday: My ikat wishlist
Thursday: My latest acquisitions
Friday: A DIY T-shirt scarf

Blog ya' later, gals!

The 122nd Most Important Day of My Life

In September, I got a new job at the same company I've worked for since I graduated college. From that point, I've been preparing for an event – or rather a summer's worth of work and events – that all came into fruition in late May.

There are super-special events in any gal's life – such as the day you get kissed for the first time, or the day of your senior prom – and days that you have little control over but ones that forever change your life – such as when a sibling is born – that matter so much. Then you grow up and get a job, and your important days now involve things that happen at work.

I took a guess and figured that the day when all my efforts at work came into play was the 122nd most important day of my life ... approximately. Lucky for me, my office is extremely casual. So I wore a sundress.

[I love the lace detail around the neck area,

because it means I don't have to wear a necklace.]

What I'm Wearing
Orange Floral Sweetheart Dress (Forever XXI)
Jackie Cardigan in Cerise (J.Crew)
Guess Tan Cork Wedges (DSW) 
Green Woven Belt (Forever XXI)
Gold Merona Boyfriend Watch (Target)

In other news, congratulations to LyddieGal of Chic on the Cheap, who won the Banana Republic tassel necklace giveaway!

LyddieGal, shoot me an e-mail at daisiesnchains@gmail.com to let me know where I can send your gift!

The Weird and Wonderful of Mad-Town

A week ago, I mentioned I was taking a trip to Madison, WI (P.S. don't forget to enter that giveaway!), and I finally have some photos from the long weekend I spent there with the fella. 

Oh, and fun fact: the locals refer to Madison as "Mad-Town," which made me feel kind of gangster when I said it and think of a bad block of property on a Monopoly board. (You know no one is ever psyched to buy Mediterranean Avenue.)

[The amazing squinting twins in front of the Capitol building.]

[The tortoise may have beaten the hare, but I'll never win a marathon

with my famous six-inch strides.]

[The fella (yellow hat) comes in strong as a 4:15 pacer!]

[Fella poses after the race at the start line. What a rebel!

And don't worry, kids. That's not beer he's drinking. It's apple juice.]

[Is it a polar bear? Is it Jenn? Hard to tell...]

What I'm Wearing (First Two Photos)

Denim Leggings (Express)

Striped Boatneck Shirt (J.Crew)

Green Anorak (J.Crew)

Floral Print Fringe Scarf (Madewell)

Black Xhiliration Flats (Target)

What I'm Wearing (Last Photo)

Wooden Polar Bear Cutout (Henry Vilas Zoo)

For pete's sake, enter to win a Banana Republic tassel necklace by 11:59 p.m. CST tonight! I'll announce the winner on Monday. Until then, have a great weekend, chickadees!

These Are My (Fashion) Confessions

Usher started it, and I'll keep it going. We have all confessions, people! Here are my confessions ... fashion-related, that is.

[Confession: I take my own photos. I know, it's shocking news.]

1) Save for a jacket I bought for my fella (from columbia.com), I have never made an online purchase to buy clothes.

2) I once bought a Liz Lange shirt at Target before I realized it was maternity clothing.

3) Even after I realized the Liz Lange brand was a maternity line (see #2), I still went back to Target to buy the same shirt in a different color.

4) The striped boatneck shirt I included in my 30 for 30 challenge – and still wear at least a few times a month – has a HUGE hole in the armpit area ... on both sleeves.

5) I always wear my denim leggings to race expos. When surrounded by 95-lb professional marathoners, I'll do whatever it takes to appear as thin as possible. It's like I'm a magician!

6) I can't say "jeggings." It's just too weird a word. That's why I always refer to them as denim leggings (see #5).

7) I work at a J.Crew store in Austin. It's a simple part-time job, but now you may better understand how and why I wear their clothes so often.

8) I have never spent more than $75 on shoes. Shoes have very rarely sent my heart a-flutter the way a dress or skirt does. Plus, my feet and I have a love-hate relationship, where I hate them and they hate me, but we both love socks.

Writing all these out has given me a few ideas on blog posts to come later! In the meantime, what are your confessions?

Don't forget to enter the Banana Republic tassel necklace giveaway! There's still time!

Weekend Style for $29

As much as I wanted to recap my weekend in Madison, WI, before I posted about anything else, the photos are being held hostage on the fella's camera – which he's still using for his blog (check it out here!) – so that summary will come later this week.

What I will say is that Madison was great, despite the weather being nearly as hot as Austin's. On days like that, I reach for easy, breezy (literally, ha!), thin cotton dresses and rompers. When I put this ensemble together, I once again realized the total outfit was worth less than $30. I hit the jackpot (figuratively, ha!). I'm here all night, folks!

[After the race, it was difficult to walk in anything but flats.]

What I'm Wearing

Black Floral Jumper (Forever XXI) – $7.80

Purple Patent Leather Skinny Belt (J.Crew) – $10
Mossimo Purple Suede Loafers (Target) – $9
Tortoise Shell Glasses (Forever XXI) – $2
Total – $28.80

In other news, don't forget to enter to win a tassel necklace from Banana Republic by Friday night!