In the Pink

I usually tend to avoid pastels, but this week I've worn what is essentially baby blue, pastel peach and now pale pink:

I don't know why I'm avoiding my usual bright colors; but I can't say that I dislike it.

This outfit, especially, is one of my favorites.  The silhouette, in spite of the more fitted skirt, is flattering as heck:

Skirt & Top: thrifted  Sandals: Steve Madden

And who am I to argue with my figure being flattered, even if it's being flattered by baby pink:

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Leopard and Lace

This is the most basic of outfits:

The thing is, by this time of year any creativity I have in regards to my summer clothes is completely exhausted and I'm just waiting for it to be cold enough to layer.

So, today, it's just pants, a shirt and flats:

Top: Marshall's  Pants: LOFT  Shoes: Nine West

Basic.  But, not boring.  The pants add a bit of color, the lace top adds a bit of texture and the leopard flats add a bit of fun.  I like to think that this outfit is proof that even the most basic outfit doesn't have to be boring.

Or, another way to put it: when it doubt, wear leopard and lace.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Jolly Blue Giant

I'm dressed like the Jolly Blue Giant today:

Jeans: Gap (similar)  Tee: LOFT (similar)  Sandals: Kork-Ease

In retrospect, perhaps the combination of double light-wash denim & four-inch heels wasn't a good idea.  Except that I like this outfit.


I know that you're supposed to mix shades of denim when you do double denim, but I've been feeling pretty matchy-matchy lately.  Obviously:

But, hey, if being matchy-matchy is a crime, lock me up; I'm already wearing my prison blues.


Actually, I was hoping the layered necklaces kept this outfit from looking too institutional:

I'm not sure if I was successful in that endeavor but I am pretty sure I don't care.  Seriously, I know this outfit is reminiscent of prison, of scrubs, of Britney & Justin at the VMAs, all of it, but I'd still wear it again.


Matchy-matchy for the win:

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Words, Glorious Words

Every once in awhile as a blogger, you get invitations to review some pretty cool stuff from some pretty cool companies.  Uncommon Goods is just such a company.  They're headquartered in Brooklyn, New York and specialize in featuring designs and handcrafted gifts that are created in harmony with the environment "without harm to animals or people."  The result is that they pay their lowest-paid seasonal works starting at 50% above minimum wage, half of what they sell is made by hand and "about one-third of their collection incorporates recycled and/or upcycled materials."  And, they also donate $1 of every purchase to various non-profits.

As you'd expect, Uncommon Goods has some wonderful, and uncommon, stuff.  And they have a lot of them to choose from; you can find unique gifts for nearly anyone, including some wonderful personalized gifts, here, as well as some stupid cute baby gifts, here.  I, being a scarf fanatic that cannot wait for fall, went straight for their gorgeous of collection of scarves.

The scarf I chose is the Literary Scarf, in Alice in Wonderland, and it's wonderful.  It's printed with the White Rabbit and The Doormouse as well as passages from the book:

They also offer Jane Eyre, Dorian Gray & Wuthering heights; you can see them all here.


As soon as I received my scarf, I squealed and then immediately planned to wear it with my Library Stamp tee from Out of Print clothing.  The result?  The wordiest outfit I've ever worn:

Scarf: Uncommon Goods  Tee: Out of Print Clothing  Skirt: LOFT  Sandals: Moorea Seal

And, possibly, the nerdiest.  And I love it.

I actually wore it last Friday when I was still battling my summer cold.  (Brief aside: summer colds are the dumbest colds; who gets a cold when it's 85 out?!).  I need to be cozy and comfortable and this outfit did the trick.

It was honestly like wearing pajamas.  Delightfully nerdy pajamas.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Drop It Like It's Hot

I'm not usually a fan of drop-waist dresses as they tend to hug my tummy more closely than I am comfortable with.  But, then eShakti went and made a drop-waist dress and it was so cute that I hemmed and I hawed and then I bought it:

And I'm glad I did because I just love it; I love the flouncy hem, and the color and the abstract print. And I went up a size so that it skims my belly instead of trying to get all handsy with it.

I honestly think that sizing up made all the difference in the world; I was completely comfortable in this all day:

Dress: eShakti  Vest: Old Navy  Sandals: Jeffrey Campbell

I paired it with a cargo vest for a cooler morning and come fall and winter will add more and more layers.

I'm trying to get better about buying clothes that can be worn all year long, especially if I buy them retail and not at a thrift store. And I think this dress is perfect for that.  It's great for summer and think it'll be great in the dead of winter layered with tights, boots and a blazer.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Back in Black

The temperature finally dropped some here in Oregon and I was like "yes, I'm wearing black.  And layers.  I'm wearing black layers!" because apparently I'm overly ready for fall.  Not that this outfit is remotely fall-like:

But, it is black and it's layers and I was thrilled to be wearing it.

Not least because I love the sort of boho chic vibe of the duster (actually just a button-front dress worn open) and the necklace:

Boho chic is one of those aesthetics that I love but that I don't do very well.  I'm afraid I'm a little more straight-laced than the  style requires.

Still, I think this is pretty close.  Or at least as close as I'm probably going to get:

And I'll take that.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Pom Pom Peplum

Now, I know it might seem odd to have a favorite trim, but I do.  It's pom poms, followed closely by rick-rack.  Given my love for pom pom trim, this eShakti blouse was essentially destined to be mine:

Cutest damned peplum ever, right?   I mean.  Pom poms, people.  Pom. Poms.

Seriously, I know it's kind of ridiculous, but it's mostly awesome and it makes me so very happy:

And I got it on sale, so it's even better!  Unfortunately, it looks as though this particular blouse is sold out, but this one is awfully similar and one could easily add the pom poms.

My only concern with this top is that it's pretty sheer.  Especially the lace panels up the sides, but I think it worked okay layered over a white tank that wasn't too much shorter than the blouse itself.  I also wore micro-check pants from Gap and Nine West leopard print flats:

Because leopard and pom poms were meant to go together.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Go With the Flow

I'm just going with the flow in this outfit:

It probably has the least structure of anything I've ever worn.  The pants are draped and pleated (and possibly doing unkind things to my crotch).  The top is made of a loose-fitting silky fabric.  And the vest is also draped.

The only place there is any real structure are the shoes; the shoes are sort of structured:

Sort of, I guess.


But, really, this outfit is a flow-y, drape-y free-for-all.  A flow-for-all if you will:

I blame the vest.  This thing, while lovely, doesn't have any real structure at all.  Especially from the back:

It's just chiffon drape in the back.  Which, awesomely, looks like a cape when one is riding one's bike.  You know, if one's into that sort of thing.

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

 Get the Look

Marika Magic

A couple of weeks ago, I received these workout pants from the fine folks at Marika:

They are the Marika Magic Slimming Capri Legging and they are fabulous.  One might even go so far as to say they are magic.

I have worn these leggings for piloxing, pilates and for doing squats, jumping jacks and everything in between, and they've been fabulous.  They are nice and opaque, they have slimming power mesh lining that holds you in but doesn't squish you so they are comfortable, and most importantly, they have stayed put; no tugging them up as I'm doing lunges.  I haven't worn them running because no one has chased me, but I have full confidence they'd stay put then as well.

And, they're worth the money.  I'm a fairly frugal person; I do a lot of thrift shopping and rarely buy something full price.  My splurges are generally limited to handbags and sometimes shoes or an item I can't live without.  I don't believe in splurging on workout clothes because I'm just going to sweat, a lot, all over them.  But, thanks to Marika, I've had a change of heart.  Yes, their workout clothes are more expensive than, say, Walmart, but they last a heck of a lot longer.  I received my first pair of Marika leggings two years ago, and they're still going strong.  Marika leggings are also more flattering, more comfortable and they don't droop or sag.  Again, totally worth the money.

If you're looking to upgrade your workout wear, I strongly recommend Marika.  And through August 31st, you can get 30% off your entire purchase at marika.com by using the code MM30.  Trust me, folks, you will not be disappointed.

Gracey

Flowers

This dress is covered in flowers:

And is, therefore, the perfect dress to link up with Mis Papelicos for this week's Share-In-Style Link Party.

Because, as you probably guessed, the theme is flowers:

I actually own a lot (no, really, A LOT) of floral dresses, but this one is the most summery.  And it has pockets:

So, yeah, it's basically the best.

The dress is thrifted and I paired it with a thrifted belt, thrifted shoes and a cameo I bought at a rummage sale:

The brooch is etched on the back: Dick Puckett, 1958.  I guess that's the maker?  If so, I'd like to thank Mr. Puckett for making such a lovely piece.

And I'd like to thank Mis Papelicos for hosting this fabulous, flower-filled link party!

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Literary Stylings #13: Spy Game

As I mentioned on Saturday, I only finished one book in July, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy:

It was a pretty good book and I thought it made for an easy Literary Stylings.  I mean, it's one book, it's about spies; just dress like a spy, right?

Well, the truth of the matter is that it's too damned hot to dress like a spy.  I mean, can you imagine wearing a trench with a turned up collar and a fedora in August?  Ugh.  No.

And then I remembered my sleeveless trench and, et voila, problem solved:

Even these sleeveless layers were pretty warm, but I liked the color combination of the navy, rust and gray:

Although, now that I think about it, I guess I could maybe have gone the Tailor-of-Panama-spy route and worn something like a guayabera & a Panama hat.  But, no, that's a different John Le Carre book and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy takes place in London, not the tropics.

So, really a trench coat (and rust heels) were my only choice:

What about you, Reader Friends?  What did you read in July?  And did it spark any outfit ideas?  If so, please share your looks below:

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look