Good{will outlet} Friday #13 Inspired by Free People

Its Memorial Day weekend - time for sparklers, sprinklers and sunscreen.

I want to spend every moment I possibly can outside enjoying the sun and fresh air, just like I did as a kid on summer break.  With the sun setting later, there's more time for bike rides and water balloon fights.
I like this outfit from Free People because it embodies the hot, easy going style of those precious few months of summer, plus its pretty.
Free People people is one of my very favorite stores.  I absolutely love the relaxed, free spirited clothing and eclectic layers of jewelry and accessories.  Just like every outfit I write about, the shirt and shorts are from Goodwill Outlet Center, along with materials used to make the bracelets.  To make a few of your own, visit the links listed in my summer bracelet tutorial round up for directions.

Now, I realize that my shirt didn't turn out quite like the models, but that's what is so great about tie-dye; you add colors to the ball of cotton and rubber bands and its like a science experiment.  The design is a mystery until your shirt is unraveled and hung on a clothes line to dry, revealing your fashion masterpiece to the world.  Tie-dye is also a way to give new life to white clothing that has been washed often and become a little dull.  When I found this pretty white top at the Outlet Center, I really liked it, but it was very worn-looking.   After a tie-dye make over, I like it so much more.  The soft, lacy neckline makes it feel feminine and more grown up than the men's undershirts we dyed in school.

The shorts are especially exciting for me.  I'm usually not a fan of wearing shorts - and definitely not jean cut offs - but this pair changed everything.  Why didn't I think of this?  Denim cut offs + lace = lovely.  Lucky for me, those blue bins offer plenty of scraggly, unwanted jeans.  As soon as I had a great pair in my size, I dug around for some lace and ran home to "Frankenstein" them together.  If you want to make your own, I would suggest putting on the pants and pinning them along the line you plan to cut.  Be sure to pin the back of the jeans also to avoid making booty shorts (if you are 16, then go ahead, if you are 30, then not so much).  You can always take away more fabric to shorten them, but its not easy to add length.  To attach the lace, I flipped them inside-out.  I do not recommend using gathered lace, or the shorts will be frilly and very Shirley Temple-ish.  Again- if you are young, then go for it, but if you're old enough to have a child that dresses like Shirley Temple, then please don't.   I could not be happier with them.
The lace says, "hey, look at me, not Heather's pasty, pale thighs."

*These amazing photos were taken by by Molly Heaven-Hoyle. Contact her at mheavenhoyle@gmail.com