Thrifty Wife Happy Life

Helping women love what they wear on a budget

Denim Skirt Fall Look

by Katie Haller

Hey guys! I’m so happy it’s Friday.  For some reason this week felt long, yet it seemed to go by quickly for me.  Which is always a good thing!  I have to say that I love putting together outfit posts together like this one.  If I could, I would spend all day, every day putting together new outfit posts and getting creative with my wardrobe.  In reality, I can’t spend all day, every day putting together outfits, so that’s why I can’t share everything I’d like to.  Luckily, I’ve had some extra time in the last couple of weekends to put together some fall outfits that I can’t wait to share. 

For today’s outfit post, I wanted to share this denim skirt that I found last spring at ThredUP.  It’s a mid-length raw hem skirt from Forever 21.  This skirt got me through my summer as an easy bottom to wear to work during the week.  I love this skirt so much, so I wanted to share a way to wear it this fall.  I’m a firm believer that clothes don’t have seasons.  You should be able to wear almost all your clothes for any season you want.  Everything besides heavy sweaters and boots in summer and sandals when it’s snowing…obviously.  It’s all about the way you style it that defines what season it is.  Since fall in Las Vegas is still pretty warm, I used fall neutral colors to style my denim skirt.  To pull them all together, I wore my favorite leopard clutch.  A pop of leopard always adds fall to any outfit.  Scroll down for all the details on this look. 

This look is 90% thrifted, so, unfortunately, you can’t find my exact look in stores, however, I’ve linked some affordable options for you below.

Shop the look

Denim Skirt- ThredUP- Forever 21 (Similar) || Top- Old Navy (Exact) || Cardigan- Savers- Old Navy (Similar) || Shoes- ThredUp- Brand unknown (Similar) || Clutch- ThredUP- H&M (Similar) || Necklace- Nordstrom (Exact) || Watch- Nordstrom Rack (Similar) || Earrings- Walmart (Similar)

Fun Ways to Accessorize with Socks this Fall

by Katie Haller

Temperatures here in Las Vegas are finally starting to cool down a bit and it’s getting me really excited!  I love all the accessories that come with the cooler weather.  Boots, scarves, hats and especially socks.  Socks are such a fun way to accessorize.  They are practical and also affordable.  I’ve always been a big fan of knee socks and thigh-high socks.


*This post is part of a collaboration with Chrissy’s Knee High Socks.  All opinions are 100% my own.  This post also contains affiliate links, which means by making a purchase through a link, I will make a commission for this blog.  Thank you for your support! 

There are 2 ways that I like to style my socks during the fall.  One way is with a dress or skirt and boots.  The other way is over leggings when lounging around the house.  These grey thigh high socks are absolutely perfect for styling both of those ways.  They are from Chrissy’s Knee High Socks.  They have a great selection of affordable knee high and thigh high socks, plus all their socks are made right here in the USA!!  Did I mention they are a Michigan company?  I always love supporting my home state!

Here are 2 ways that I will be wearing my thigh high socks this fall with my wardrobe.

Socks (EXACT) || Dress- (SIMILAR) || Jacket- (EXACT) || Boots (SIMILAR) || Purse- (SIMILAR) || Necklace- (EXACT) || Earrings (EXACT)

Socks (EXACT) || Shirt (EXACT) || Leggings (SIMILAR) || Earrings (EXACT)

I hope you will take a minute to check out Chrissy’s Knee Socks for some cozy ways to accessorize your outfits this fall.

Floral Fall Maxi Dress

by Katie Haller

It’s hard to believe that it’s already October.  I’m not sure what happened to September, but I’m okay with the month change. It’s finally cooling down in Las Vegas and feeling a little more like fall, not quite like a Michigan fall, but it looks like our hot 100 days are finally behind us.  

Fall has always been my favorite season to dress for.  The weather is perfect for wearing almost anything in my closet.  Everyone always gets really excited for boots, scarves, and sweaters during the fall.  I do too, but I also love wearing dresses in the fall.  I think with all the fun fall clothes everyone forgets about fall dresses.  I love a pretty fall floral prints on a flowy maxi dress during the fall.  That’s why I’m loving this navy floral ruffle trim maxi dress from PinkBlush.
When I saw this dress, I immediately was drawn to the print and style.  Most of my wardrobe is pretty casual and practical, but having a dress like this is the perfect way to spruce up my everyday momiform.  It’s the perfect dress for work, date night or church, and I’m not against wearing this dress on a day you just want to be a little more dressed up while you’re out running an errand.  I’m planning on wearing it on my teacher’s workday next week because I always find it safer to wear my clothes I love the most when the kids aren’t at school.  In a maxi dress like this, it gives the appearance that you tried to dress up, but really you feel like you are wearing pajamas.  I love that you can easily wear this dress on its own or you can layer it up with a denim jacket. 

Shop the Look
Dress- PinkBlush (Exact) || Shoes- ThredUP (Similar) || Jacket- Old Navy (Exact) Purse- Last Call Nemian Marcus (Similar) || Necklace- Nordstrom (Exact) || Earrings- Walmart (Similar) 

How to Make Your Momiform Pop!

by Katie Haller

Momiform is a hashtag that I use often on Instagram.  A “momiform” is basically your mom-uniform.  It’s what you wear every day as a mom.  It’s the mom-friendly fashion that you feel the most comfortable in.  It can be any kind of outfit from athleisure, to a simple dress.  I find the most common momiform involves a t-shirt, jeans and some sort of flat shoe, at least that’s my go-to momiform.  Today I want to help you transform a typical momiform and make it feel more fashionable to give you more confidence in your everyday style.
*This post contains affiliate links, which means by making a purchase through a link I will earn a commission for this blog.  Thank you for your support!

Above I have two looks.  The one on the left is simple.  There is nothing wrong with the look, but it’s a little boring.  It could be style up a little more.  The look on the right is an example of how you can easily style up the simple look.

1.) Accessorize

Adding a few accessories to any outfit is an easy way to make your outfit more fashionable.  I use to love big chunky necklaces, but now that I’m a mom I’m all about dainty light jewelry.  I typically wear a dainty gold necklace, with a watch or small bracelet and earrings.  My favorite new earrings are my leather earrings from Brinley & Co on Etsy.  I won them in a giveaway and I absolutely love them.  They are so lightweight and make it feel like I’m not even wearing any earrings.  Whoever invented leather earrings was either a mom or a teacher, because they are the perfect statement earrings for wearing around little kids.  I’ve also been loving accessorizing with a scarf or bandana.  I like to wear one in my hair or on my purse.  I like wearing it on my tote purse because it just dresses it up a little bit.

2.) Tuck or knot your tee

I am a huge t-shirt fan.  T-shirts are not what they used to be.  I love the loose fit.  They are perfect for hiding any mom imperfections you might have around your midriff.  I find that when you tuck in your t-shirt in the front of your pants or tie it in a little knot, it makes your outfit look complete.  I love the French tuck, a term I learned from watching Queer Eye.  I think it’s the perfect way to hide your tummy.  I’m also a big fan of knotting, if you’ve been following me on Instagram, I’m sure you’re already aware of how much I love to knot my tops.

3.) Layer

Fall is the perfect season for layers.  Adding a layer to your outfit is always nice for practical reasons and also just helps to make your outfit pop a little more.  I love to layer with a cardigan, denim jacket or a big trend right now are utility jackets.  Cardigans are my favorite for fall.  I love a good neutral color cardigan, but adding color is always fun.  Burnt orange, olive green, muster yellow and maroon colored cardigans are all great fall and winter colors to try out.

4.) Distressed denim or cuffing jeans

I love my distressed denim.  I don’t know why, but having wholes in your jeans gives them a totally different look.  I also love to cuff my jeans.  I’m only 5’1, so I have to cuff my jeans all the time.  I really like the look it gives to your jeans though.  I like being able to show off your ankle a little.  Plus it makes your shoes look better.


5.) Pointy flats

I wear flats most of the time.  I just love the look of a pair of ballet flats.  Lately, I’ve been loving pointy toe flats.  I think that wearing pointy-toed flats makes your outfit look more polished.  They are defiantly my favorite shoe trend at the moment.  I have 2 neutral color pointy-toed flats, but I have my eye on a leopard pair.  If you want to step it up a notch, I’d recommend trying out some loafers or mules. Those are super trendy right now and also very comfortable.

So there you have it!  Those are 5 easy ways to make your momiform pop.  What are your go-to mom outfits?

Graphic T-shirt Love with Top Crate

by Katie Haller

Who loves graphic tees?  I know I do!  They are so fun and trendy.  I love how you can wear them with almost anything.  They are perfect to wear when working out, running errands or just being lazy around the house. I feel like you can throw on a graphic tee with any bottoms and instantly have on a cute outfit without even trying.

*This post is part of a collaboration with Top Crate.  As always my opinions are 100% my own.  This post also includes affiliate links.  By making a purchase through a link, I will make a commission for this blog. Thank you for your support! 

 I was recently contacted by Top Crate to see if I wanted to try out some of their t-shirts.  I don’t say yes to every opportunity that comes my way, but when I saw their selection of graphic tees, I immediately said yes.  Top Crate has a graphic T-shirt for everyone.  From holiday theme shirts to food theme shirts, they have them all.  You can never have enough graphic tee’s and that’s why Top Crate is perfect for graphic t-shirt lovers.  They have a subscription box that you can sign up for.  You will receive a box every month with 2 t-shirts that fit your personality and lifestyle.  You can choose to sign up for 3 months, 6 months or 1 year.  I always love a company that gives back, so I was happy to see that for every subscription box, Top Crate donates a T-shirt to a local women’s shelter.  You can read more about Top Crate HERE! 

I easily found 2 shirts at Top Crate that fit my personality and lifestyle.  The first one is the Mom Life shirt.  This shirt says it all.  I decided to were it with a “mom life” outfit.  This is my new errand running outfit for fall.

T-shirt (EXACT) || Jacket (EXACT) || Leggings (SIMILAR) || Shoes (EXACT)

My next t-shirt is from Top Crate’s Fall collection.  Thankful and Blessed.  I think this shirt is the perfect shirt to wear around Thanksgiving.  I can’t wait to pair it with a cute plaid button-down as the weather cools off.  One thing I forgot to mention about these T-shirts is how comfortable the material is.  The shirts are nice quality, lightweight and they fit perfectly.  I went with a small and it fits very true to size.

T-shirt (EXACT) || Jeans (SIMILAR) || Shoes (SIMILAR) || Bracelet (EXACT) || Earrings (SIMILAR) 
I’m so excited for all of you, because Top Crate wants to share one of their T-shirts with you!  You can go to my Instagram post HERE, and enter to win the Thankful and Blessed T-shirt that I’m wearing above.  It’s really easy to enter, so I hope you will take a minute and enter!
Shop my closet



Why I Love Thrifting my Jeans

by Katie Haller

Hey guys!  Today I want to let you in on a little secret of mine.  For about the last year, I have been obsessed with thrifting my jeans. To me, jeans are like shoes and purses, you can never have too many.  There are just so many styles and colors to choose from and you can wear jeans with EVERYTHING!!  What is not to love about a great pair of denim bottoms?  I’m always amazed by the prices that people will spend on a pair of jeans.  I get it, some jeans are too perfect to pass up, but owning 10 or more pairs of $80 or more jeans seems a little much to me.

In the past, I’ve bought a lot of my jeans on clearance racks and I’ve often had to comprise comfort and quality for a good price.  Ever since I started thrifting my jeans, I’ve been able to spend less and find great quality brands.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means by making a purchase through a link, I will earn a commission for this blog.  Thank you for your support!

So here are my 3 reasons why I love thrifting my jeans…

1.) You can buy name brands, like Levi’s, American Eagle and Abercrombie, but you don’t have to pay the name brand price.  They still have the same quality, they are just worn, which sometimes when you’re talking about jeans, worn is best.  Recently I’ve bought a pair of Hollister, Abercrombie and American Eagle jeans for under $5 and I honestly can’t tell the difference between mine and the brand new ones in the store.

2.) You can alter your thrifted jeans to fit your style and not worry about messing them up.  I love to distress my jeans myself.  I like to take a picture of a pair of jeans I like from the store and then I try to recreate the distressed look myself.  The jeans I’m wearing above were a Savers find of Abercrombie jeans.  I was inspired by the Free People jeans HERE to create the bigger holes in the knees.

3.) They are guilt-free! Being a preschool teacher and a mom of a 2-year-old, expensive clothes don’t fit my lifestyle.  I love that I can wear my thrifted jeans to work and if one of the preschoolers walks past me with a paintbrush to the butt, it’s no big deal.

Here are some of the jeans that I’ve thrifted over the last year.  I tried to put the brand and the store they were thrifted from.

 Old Navy- Savers

 Hollister- Goodwill

Abercrombie- Savers

H&M- Goodwill

So there you have it.  Those are 3 things I love about thrifting jeans.  Have you ever tried thrifting for jeans?  I challenge you to find a local thrift store in your area and look in the jean section.  You have to give yourself plenty of time to look through the racks and try on all the jeans, but if you stick with it, I know you will find something that will fit your style. 

Happy Shopping!!

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