30DFC Day 9 // Jewelry Box

As a part of Mini Penny's blog birthday, I'm taking a look back at one of my first series — The 30 Day Fashion Challenge. Check back every day for a look at how big of a difference three years can make!

After all this time, I'm still using the same jewelry box that I had three years ago. In fact, I've owned this box for nearly ten years (whoa!). An ex gave it to me. I have no idea what its origins are, but it's a great size and has a mirror built into the lid.




Beyond my jewelry box, though, I like to hang all of my necklaces. I use a little shelf with wall hooks on it that I got from the thrift store! And rings — well, this amazing Apollo dish that I got from the thrift store. Earrings? Well, how about a Grand Canyon wooden box that I got ...at the thrift store.

I do have various little catch all dishes around my apartment for when I come home and strip off my rings and necklaces. Rather than throw them on a table, they end up in a catchall where I normally retrieve them the next day.

I love seeing how others store their necklaces, since that can sometimes be the trickiest jewelry piece to find a solution for. Feel free to share a photo in the comments!

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Be sure to compare the 30DFC // Jewelry Box of Jeans post from 2011!

30DFC Day 8 // Newest Purchase

As a part of Mini Penny's blog birthday, I'm taking a look back at one of my first series — The 30 Day Fashion Challenge. Check back every day for a look at how big of a difference three years can make!

I've been pretty good this winter. Any purchases I made have been relatively small. Case in point, these earrings. Since I've cut my hair short, I've developed a mild obsession over "ugly" earrings. It's been a little harder than I imagined to find ones that I really like, which is probably really good for my wallet.


This snake earring is one of my favorites!

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Be sure to compare the 30DFC // Newest Purchase post from 2011!

30DFC Day 7 // March Wishlist

As a part of Mini Penny's blog birthday, I'm taking a look back at one of my first series — The 30 Day Fashion Challenge. Check back every day for a look at how big of a difference three years can make!

Three years ago I touted that I really wanted a pair Jeffrey Campbells. Like, I really wanted Jeffreys. Those days have come and gone — and my Litas were worn a hundred times and then passed onto a new owner via a Shop My Closet sale — and I still love my Jeffreys. However, my focus has been towards more unique items when it comes to wish lists. Shoes are always in the line up, of course. They've just gotten a little "uglier."

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade, Sephora // Milani Nail Laquer in Sugar High, Walgreens // Endless Summer Dress and Get Social Earrings, NastyGal // Subtlety Stated Ear Cuff, Forever21 // Velvet Lip in Raven, Topshop // Wide Glider Bangle, Madewell // Sterling Derby Flat, Matt Bernson // Outsider Pants in Black, NeedSupply

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Be sure to compare the 30DFC // Wishlist post from 2011!

Birthday Sale!

As mentioned, mid-March will mark Mini Penny's third blog birthday. To celebrate, I'm having a birthday sale for my Vintage and Shop My Closet stores! You can get 25% off everything on everything in the stores when you use the code BIRTHDAY3 at checkout! And I mean everything — even the Dusty Rose Vintage Capsule Collection (wink).

The sale lasts now through 3/15! Free shipping on all US apparel orders.

Shop My Closet
Shop Mini Penny Vintage

Items are shipped out the Wednesday after the order is placed.

March Color Palette

Truth time: I'm not a fan of kelly green. Ya know, that Crayola grassy green color that you see making retail rotations around this time of year. I think a lot of it has to do with my proximity to college campuses during my adult years — the closer it gets to St. Patrick's Day, the more dudes you see walking around in harshly saturated green tees.

But March does mean one thing — spring. And spring for me brings out my love of pastels. Pastel and seafoam greens are some of my favorite hues, and what a better way to break away from the Kiss Me, I'm a Civilian tees than to incorporate just a hint of mint into your life.

Strap Top in Mint, NeedSupply // Magical Thinking Industrial Chair, Urban Outfitters // Remixed Heirloom Studs, Forever21 //  Mint Chevron Stitch Ankle Sock, Topshop // Vintage camera // Deborah Lippmann Nail Color in Mermaid's Dream, Beauty.com // Sport Watch, Juicy Couture // Hough Pump, Jeffrey Campbell // Sage Floppy Fedora Hat, Free People // Stila Smudge Stick Eyeliner, Sephora

30DFC Day 6 // Favorite Movie Wardrobe

As a part of Mini Penny's blog birthday, I'm taking a look back at one of my first series — The 30 Day Fashion Challenge. Check back every day for a look at how big of a difference three years can make!

Almost every week I share some of my favorite movie fashion through my Silver Screen Style feature. It's tough for me to pick a favorite. But the other day I was watching a great movie and decided that the main character's look was going to by my spring 2014 inspiration — Johnny Depp in Cry Baby. Serious babe status.


Cheerful Circle Dress, Modcloth // Linen Crewneck Tee, Madewell // Faux Leather Biker Jacket, Topshop // Teardrop face tattoo // Korman Moto Boot, Jeffrey Campbell // Faded Cobalt Slim Boyfriend Denim, Madewell


Patent Plasmas Pump, Guess // Moto Gingham Pencil Skirt, Topshop // Profesh Opinion Dress, Modcloth // Pink Gingham Check Crop, New Look // NARS Lipstick in Red Lizard, Sephora // White Lace Ankle Sock, Dorothy Perkins // Underground Velvet Pant, NastyGal // Comb, Mason Pearson // Sydney Striped Scarf, My Habit // Priviledged Ruthless Spiked Flat, NastyGal


I mean... can we just... oof.

Three years ago I noted that my favorite movie wardrobe was Manhattan. Diane Keaton's signature style is still to this day one of my favorite looks.

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Be sure to compare the 30DFC // Favorite Movie Wardrobe post from 2011!

30DFC Day 5 // Favorite Glasses

As a part of Mini Penny's blog birthday, I'm taking a look back at one of my first series — The 30 Day Fashion Challenge. Check back every day for a look at how big of a difference three years can make!

I decided to change this one a bit also. Instead of posting about my favorite accessories, I am choosing to focus on my favorite glasses! I have a lot of glasses, but my last two acquisitions are easily my favorites. The first are a pair of Radio glasses by Cheap Monday. I picked these up at the Nasty Gal sample sale for five dollars. And my second favorite are these crazy gold Leeloo Cat Eye Glasses from Urban Outfitters.



I'm really digging the updated cat eye style for spring:

Circle Cat Eye Glasses, Vans // Half Moon Magic Sunglasses, Le Specs // Love Story Shades, Nasty Gal // Fleur Shades, Quay // Cosmic Love Shades, Shakuhachi // Round Polka Dot Sunglasses, Forever 21

What is your favorite style of sunglasses?

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Be sure to compare the 30DFC // Favorite Accessories post from 2011!

A Frozen Lake on Film

Yesterday was a pretty great [almost] free day. I think the only thing we spent money on was the film and developing we did. We started the day with some amazing Fat Tuesday Banana Cream Pie at Bang Bang thanks to Popular Pays. We had already planned a museum free day and for me to give him some tips on shooting film — I let him borrow one of my Minolta SLRs and I packed up my Holga 135 and we hit the road. Check out a couple of my favorite shots below.



That last image of the train was actually his. I thought it was pretty good considering this was his first time shooting with an SLR! And of course, I snapped a few iPhone photos for a quick(er) fix:









Shoes c/o Nike Chicago

It's so much fun shooting with film and I want to get into the habit of doing it more often. Even though I sold a lot of cameras from my collection recently, I have a lot of different fun ones floating around that I need to dust off. It felt great getting out by the lake and seeing the (hopefully) last bit of winter!

30DFC Day 4 // My Makeup

As a part of Mini Penny's blog birthday, I'm taking a look back at one of my first series — The 30 Day Fashion Challenge. Check back every day for a look at how big of a difference three years can make!

It's pretty crazy how much my makeup collection has grown over the past three years. I blame subscription boxes and eDivv! ;) I still have an affinity for lipsticks and liquid eyeliner though, as you saw on my Daily Face post a last week.


I absolutely love this vintage glass. I use it to store all of my makeup brushes and pencils. What's your favorite part of you makeup collection?

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Be sure to compare the 30DFC // Cosmetics Bag post from 2011!

30DFC Day 3 // Top Fashion Tip

As a part of Mini Penny's blog birthday, I'm taking a look back at one of my first series — The 30 Day Fashion Challenge. Check back every day for a look at how big of a difference three years can make!

Three years ago I noted that my biggest fashion tip was confidence. And three years later, I stand by this.

I've grown a bit of a thick skin over the years — plenty of people comment on my weight or my hair or my eyebrows or my outfits. So after three years I do still believe confidence is key, but I approach it in a totally different light.

Three years ago I fell more inline with the "I'm going to wear what I want... whatever" mentality. And it was all about me. But now, through learning about fashion and social issues and acceptances, I try to approach my fashion confidence from the perspective of we.

A few weeks ago, I got a Facebook message from my niece. She's around fifteen. The photo was of her sitting in a chair at the salon with pink hair. Hot pink. Apparently she had been showing the stylist "Aunt Jessie's Hair." Like, how rad is that? My niece then told me that people were looking at her funny in public (she lives in a small Ohio town like the one I grew up in). My advice to her? Own it. Do you. And she does. I get Snapchats from her every few days of her and her friends at school. And sure enough, she has this long, amazing hot pink hair. So cool.

I think I've mentioned this before on Twitter — I don't 'get' it when people feel the need to post negative comments on social media in regards to other peoples' clothing (also ...in real life). If I'm scrolling through Instagram and some is wearing something that I might not be into, I don't take time out of my day to tell them that they look bad. I appreciate it for what it is and keep scrolling. Do you know how intimidating it can be to post selfies? Why cut other people down when you could just... be nice?

Anyway, my point is, confidence is more than just about me wearing whatever I want. It's me wearing what I want, how I want, and setting an example for my niece or my followers or whomever that they can do the same. And by appreciating and learning from people who are different than me (so many of you have opened my eyes about acceptance of sizes, genders, colors, and ages in fashion), I've learned to hold my head up high with the rest of you. And damn, if I want to run out of the house in sneakers, leggings, and an oversized sweater, I'll do it with pride.

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Be sure to compare the 30DFC // Top Fashion Tip post from 2011!