How to Wear Black & White x 2 (+ Stripes!)

One of my favorite things to do when dressing for the day is pick a “central” piece to my outfit and dress myself around it.

It’s like choosing a house and then figuring out how you’re going to decorate the inside. Planning your outfit is the same deal: Lay the foundation, and the details will come!

Monday was a crazy day of meetings in Philadelphia and meeting with some of my friends there after having so.much.fun styling at the Philly Swap.

I needed a look that could be created around a good ole’ pair of walking shoes … i.e. my JUST THRIFTED cowboy boots! I thrifted a pair of black these-boots-are-made-for-walking pair in Maryland when I hit up the Virgin Freefest last weekend.

How much were they? Originally, $7.99. But thanks to the thrift store’s half off day … they came to a whooping $4.

Score? SCORE!

So thanks to my new thrifted obsession, I wanted none other than to wear these darlings while visiting Philly and bearing the elements of a rainy day.

Keep reading to see how I paired ’em with black & white x 2 … plus, B&W stripes straight from the 80s!

xx, SD

The Look: Black & White x 2 … plus stripes!

The Head Scarf: SDV thrift find

The Black Cotton Vest: Swap Score by H&M, thanks to Alejandra at Always Order Dessert

The Lace Onesie a la Madonna: Closet clean-out from Long Island

The Skirt: Closet clean-out from Long Island

The Cowboy Boots: Thank you, Maryland thrifting experience!

The Necklace: Punk Rock Flea Market circa 2007, with my girl Darla’s ring attached

Cowboy boots! Thrifting tip for shoes: Always look in the men’s section! Men’s shoes generally rock for girls, too. Just a sizing note: Whatever your size is in women’s, remove 1.5 sizes from that. I’m a size 10 women’s, so I’m an 8.5 men’s!

The black vest from H&M … and the white onesie from a closet clean-out … and the B&W striped skirt!

Plus a handmade necklace paired with a ring given to me by a good friend … HINT: Don’t want to wear a ring, but still think it’s pretty enough to rock? Add it to a pre-existing necklace like I did above! Everyone will think you bought it as such, or compliment you on such a great idea!

The last [and arguably most important element!] — my head scarf! Here, I paired two into one for the splash of color this oh-so-black-and-white outfit needed.