Five for Friday 7/31/15: Oak Buff

For today's Five for Friday, I thought I'd highlight another Pantone Fall 2015 color: Oak Buff:

I really like this color.  I'm not too big on camel, but this is a sort of mustard-y camel, so I'm on board.  I am especially on board for the mustard-y camel Oak Buff pieces below:

1. ASOS Sleeveless Jacket - I'd love this jacket layered over a silky long-sleeve blouse for fall.

2. Max Studio Wool Cardigan - This cardigan is both adorable and 100% Mr. Rogers approved.  

3. Donald J. Pliner Mules - I love everything about these shoes.  The color, the mixed texture and the menswear vibe all make me very, very happy.

4. Square Jacquard Scarf - If you don't love this color in large doses, this scarf has just enough in the trim.

5. Boden Audrey Skirt - A-line skirts are just the best.  They're flattering on most everyone and this color will be perfect paired with a sweater and tall boots.

What about you, Reader Friends?  What are your thoughts on Oak Buff?

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Glitter, Stripes and Culottes

As I'm sure you're all tired of hearing me say, I am a huge fan of culottes.  Especially big ol' wide-legged culottes like these ones:

And with a high waist?

I'm in culotte heaven.


I'm also in glitter-and-stripes heaven:

Glitter, stripes and culottes:

Top: vintage (horse option!)  Belt: thrifted vintage
Culottes: thrifted vintage (save, splurge)  Studs: Kate Spade New York
Sandals: Steve Madden (similar)

I'm just not sure it gets any better.


Happy Friday, All!

What I Read: July 2015

So, it was a very slow month reading-wise.  I blame the heat.  No, the humidity.  Actually, probably both; this weather here in PA just sucks the life out of you.

But, I did read two books and, I am happy to report that I loved them both.

The first book I read was The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt:

This book is absolutely fantastic.

The author just happened to arrive in Venice after their famous opera house, La Fenice, burned to the ground.  He spends time in Venice both trying to learn how the fire started, but also learns a lot about Venetian society.  And let me tell you folks, it is frickin' fascinating.  He speaks with artists and poets and wealthy expats and fifth-generation palazzo owners.  I had no idea that Venice was so interesting.  I mean, sure, I knew it looked nice, but it's really, really an interesting place.  Both internally, as well as externally.  I highly, highly recommend this book.


The second book I read, and loved, this month was Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk:

I'm a big Palahniuk fan and my favorite up until now, was Invisible Monsters (so good), but I think Lullaby might be my new favorite.  It's darkly funny, as his work often is, and weird (also a Palahniuk trait) and very good.

It's about an African culling song, which is, traditionally, a song sung to the old and/or infirm, to help them pass peacefully.  But, somehow, someone accidentally (?) included it in an anthology of "poems and rhymes from around the world" and people are reading it to their loved ones.  And it's up to a reporter, a real estate agent and two Wiccans to try to save the world.  Again, a great, great book.


Per usual, I'll have my Link Party up next Tuesday, just in case you read something you'd like to share sartorially.


Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Coral and Navy

Today's outfit is coral and navy:

With a little pink thrown in for good measure:

I don't usually wear a lot of pink, but it's a fun combination paired with my beloved stripes and a bright coral skirt:

Speaking of which, I got this skirt from Goodwill and am madly in love with the color and the length:

Tee: LOFT (similar)  Skirt: thrifted (similar)
Necklace: LOFT (save, splurge) Sandals: Camper via Nordstrom

Also, it's a heavy cotton jersey so it's comfortable like pajamas.  Win-win.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Printed and Vested

Eventually I'll stop wearing these olive sandals with everything:

But, not today, folks.  Not today.


Nope.  Today I'm wearing them with my new printed pants and a vest:

In my defense, they just seem to go with everything I'm wearing this summer.


I mean, just look how well they go with these pants:

Hmm.  Or maybe it's these pants that go with everything.  They're perfect with olive sandals and a navy vest:

Or is it the vest that goes with everything?

You know what?  I've decided that everything goes with everything else and that's why this outfit works:

Vest: Topshop via Nordstrom (more colors)  Pants: LOFT
Necklace: Modcloth (similar)  Sandals: FRYE (similar, vegan)

Yep, that's the key.  Everything goes with everything.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

7/24/15 Five For Friday: Reflecting Pond

Yesterday, I shared Pantone's top trend colors for Fall 2015.  One of those colors, and one of my favorites, is Reflecting Pond:

So, I though it might be fun for today's Five for Friday to share some finds in this gorgeous hue:

1. Pleione Mixed Media V-Neck Tunic in Navy Dusk - Being as this is a tunic, it will probably be the perfect length for taller ladies.  And, if you're less tall, it's a great tunic in a great color.  And, it's currently on sale too!

2. Texture Stripe Infinity Scarf - I love, love, love the gradient hues on this scarf.  And it's also on sale!

3. ASOS Sundown Heels - As you can tell from my picks, I love the idea of a navy shoe.  This one, while not great for rain, is absolutely adorable.  I love the laces and the block heels.

4. Kate Spade New York Stud Earrings - I have a couple pairs of these earrings and they're perfect for colder weather.  They can be worn with scarves without snagging like dangling earrings sometimes do.

5. Sole Society Romy booties - I actually own these boots; I bought them last fall because I'm ahead of the curve like that.  And, therefore, I can attest that they are great.  Very comfortable and, apparently, right on trend.


What about you, Reader Friends?  Which pick is your favorite?



Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

All The Volume

I try to avoid tight-fitting clothes during the summer, especially here in Pittsburgh where the humidity is so high we have thunderstorms nearly every afternoon.  Instead, I reach for loose-fitting pieces like these cropped pants:

And instead of offsetting their volume with a fitted top, I chose to wear a loose-fitting top as well:

Pants: LOFT  Top: Anthro  Sandals: Kork-Ease

Because, sometimes, I like to wear all the volume.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Pantone Fall 2015

Below are the top 10 trend colors Pantone has selected for this fall:

They are: Cashmere Rose, Biscay Bay, Cadmium Orange, Amethyst Orchid, Oak Buff, Marsala, Desert Sage, Dried Herb, Reflecting Pond and Stormy Weather.

I'm pretty excited about most of the colors and am especially excited for Dried Herb because I'm pretty sure that's just another name for my beloved olive.

I mean, right?  That's totally olive.


I'm also excited for Reflecting Pond; it's a gorgeous navy.

And for Stormy Weather; it may seem boring to some, but I think it's a great gray and a fabulous neutral:

Oak Buff and Biscay Bay are my two other favorites out of the ten:

They'll be gorgeous paired with the olive, navy and gray neutrals.


As for the other colors, I don't imagine I'll be introducing them into my wardrobe this fall.  No, not even the orange.  I do love orange, but the Cadmium Orange is not my favorite.  At all:

On their site, Pantone explains that this color is meant to reference the 60s, and it does, but surely there was another color from that decade they could have referenced instead.  This is just not great for me.


I'm also taking a hard pass on the Desert Sage and the Marsala:

I'm just not a fan of "dusty" colors; I like more saturation

As for the Cashmere Rose and the Amethyst Orchid, they're not for me either:

I like the idea of them for Fall because they're unusual choices.  And I think they both pair especially well with navy, but I'm picky about my pinks and hardly wear any purple at all so I'm going to skip these two as well.

What about you, Reader Friends?  Which of these color trends will you be trying for Fall?

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Wrinkles and Rhinestones

Linen is great for summer; so light... so airy... so wrinkly:

Seriously.  Those wrinkles are just from bending over to buckle my sandals.  That's ridiculous.


Still, it is a nice cool fabric and it looks good with rhinestones:

And, people expect linen to be wrinkled, so they're probably not talking about you behind your back.  Or at least not to say anything other than "man, wrinkles and rhinestones are a fly combination":

Skirt: thrifted (similar) Top: Nordstrom (similar)
Necklace: BaubleBar (similar)
Lipstick: MAC Ruby Woo  Sandals: Seychelles

Fly.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Paisley and Navy

I like this dress for July because it still feels sort of patriotic, but also work appropriate:

Now, I'm not saying American flag cut-offs aren't work appropriate, but... American flag cut-offs probably aren't work appropriate.


A nice red paisley though?  You can probably get away with this at work:

Especially when paired with navy accessories:

See?  This outfit is both patriotic and totes work appropriate:

Dress: vintage, thrifted  Belt: Old Navy
Necklace: c/o Onecklace Earrings: gifted  Shoes: Camper

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

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