Printed Dress + Bright Cardigan

I have a feeling that this particular outfit formula of printed dress + bright cardigan will be one I wear quite a bit this fall:

It's easy, it's colorful and the layers are good for those fall days that start off chilly and then get warmer.



And this particular print is a delight:

It's practically upholstery, which is nice because if I outgrow it, I can make it into an awesome throw pillow.  Reduce, reuse, recycle, right?



In the meantime, however, I'll just settle for wearing it as an adorable dress:

Dress: eShakti (see similar below)
Cardigan: Modcloth  Earrings: Handmade (similar)  Flats: Old Navy (similar)

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Shop Tapestry Print Dresses

Pleats and Stripes

Two things I have a lot of: stripes and pleated skirts.  Sometimes I like to wear them together:

And sometimes I like to wear those pleats and stripes with vests and ankle boots:

Although lately it feels as though I'm wearing this vest with everything.  And now that fall is officially here, I am definitely going to start wearing ankle boots with everything.


Like with these pleats and stripes:

Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar) (similar)  Tee: Gap
Vest: Old Navy (similar)  Earrings: handmade (similar)  Boots: Sole Society "Romy"

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

9/25/15 Five for Friday: Dried Herb

Pantone calls this color "Dried Herb" but you and I both know that it's just olive.  Whatever they call it though, it's a great color and makes for some fabulous accessories.  Olive/Dried Herb accessories are the focus of today's Five for Friday:

1. La Fiorentina Silk Scarf: The tie-dye on this scarf is lovely and silk will help keep your neck warm all winter without being too bulky.

2. House of Harlow Five Station Necklace: Station necklaces are great, graphic pieces and this piece incorporates texture as well.  Win-win.

3. Sole Society "Hollie" Boots: I don't need more boots.  I really truly don't.  But, on the other hand, I don't have any olive boots so maybe I do need more boots.  Especially two-tone boots with a walkable heel.

4. J. Crew New Balance Sneakers: I don't do the whole athleisure trend, but I'm warming to the idea of cute sneakers.  And these are very cute; I love the mix of baby pink and olive.

5. Wool Felt Panama Hat: I am seriously considering a felt hat for this winter.  I'm not usually a hat person, but I need something to keep the snow off my glasses and it may as well be this cute hat.


What about you, Reader Friends?  How do you feel about olive accessories for fall?  Would you wear any of these?


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Feathered

This entire outfit was just an excuse to wear this scarf:

I just love the feather print:

It's vintage silk chiffon and I found it for two dollars in a tiny little thrift store in Oregon.



I also adore the color and how well it pairs with my blue shirt and black jeans:

Jeans: Old Navy Rockstar  Top: LOFT
Scarf: vintage (similar)  Belt: vintage  Sandals: Jeffrey Campbell (similar)

And, best of all, it allows me to wear a scarf even though it's still nearly 80 out here in Pittsburgh.  Hooray for fall!


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Scout Leader of Love

I feel like a scout leader in this outfit:

 Blouse: Old Navy  Cardigan: LOFT (similar)
 Skirt: vintage, thrifted (similar)  Sandals: Isola (similar)

But, not just any scout leader.  The hearts on my vintage Hallmark scarf make me feel like the scout leader of love:

Vintage Hallmark scarf, thrifted  

So, yeah, scout leader of love.  That's a thing right?

I think so.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Eyelet and Culottes

Figure flattery is not a very high priority for me when getting dressed, but lately it's been even lower on the list.  Instead I've been playing with proportion and volume.

Friday it was proportion, today it's volume:

And by volume, I mean these fabulously voluminous culottes:

Ordinarily, I'd wear them with something tucked or fitted; anything to define my waist.


But, the fact of the matter is, you don't always have to define your waist.  Sometimes it's okay to wear high-volume culottes and pair it with a cropped top:

And waist be damned.


It's also okay to add in some cage sandals because they're your favorite and you can't-stop-won't-stop wearing them:

Top: Banana Republic  Culottes: gifted vintage (similar)
Sandals: Steve Madden (similar)  Necklace: c/o Happiness Boutique  Earrings: Kate Spade New York

Trust me, it's okay.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

9/18/15 Five for Friday: Office-Friendly Fringe

I'm taking a break from the Pantone colors for Fall 2015 today.  Instead, I'm offering five office-friendly fringe pieces:

Depending on your office, fringe can be a hard sell.  Heck, if you're over the age of 22 and not drunk in a field at a music fest somewhere, fringe can be a hard sell.  But, I, personally, love it and am always on the lookout for fringed pieces that are also office friendly.  Like the sandals I'm wearing in today's earlier post.

And like these five pieces here:

1. Thakoon for DesignNation Houndstooth Fringe Cardigan:  This cardigan is a great mix of herringbone and houndstooth print with the added fun of fringe.  You know you need a cardigan for fall; you may as well make it a fun one!

2. Ann Taylor Skinny Fringe Scarf: Skinny scarves are very "in" this season and the combination of print and fringe makes this one special.

3. Rebecca Minkoff Fringe Y-Necklace: Y-necklaces are lovely pieces and the fringe adds great movement to this one.  Wear it over a turtleneck to break up any uniboob action that might be going on.  Unless that's your look, then you do you.  Always.

4. Delman "Sade" Pointy Toe Flats: The combination of blue snake finish and trim makes this sleek flat feel both stylish and a little subversive.  But, only a little, so you don't get fired for your "darned Slytherin shoes!"

5. LOFT Fringe Blanket Skirt: I love blanket skirts.  They totally remind me of the 90s and I'm delighted they're back.  This one is in the perfect combination of fall colors and comes in regular, petite and tall (yay!).


What about you, Reader Friends?  Do you like a little fringe for the office?


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Late Summer Layers

So, it turns out that yelling "boot season is here!" doesn't actually make it boot season.  I know, weird; I totally thought that would work too.

But, it didn't, so I'm back in sandals:

Not that I'm complaining; I love these sandals and am happy to get a little more wear out of them this year before boxing them up for the next  nine months:

Dress: Gap (similar)  Necklace: Modcloth (similar)
Vest: Old Navy (similar)  Sandals: Summit White Mountain

Still, I was awfully excited to wear some boots.  But, it's just too darned hot.


I did throw in some layers though:

So, take that, lingering heat!

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Olive, Cognac & Cream

Boot season is here!  Okay, not really.  Well, sort of.  In the mornings it's chilly, but then it gets hot and my feet sweat.  But, it's totally worth the sweaty feet to be back in boots.

And I thought that these boots, in particular, were a good pick for fall:

Their "fallen leaf" color brings a little autumn to the otherwise summery combination of olive, cream and turquoise.


And I had to wear the turquoise:

One, because I love this piece, and two, because I'm trying to wear all of my necklaces before I begin to default to scarves.  Because here in PA it's not just a month or two of scarves, it's like half a damn year.


But, for now, the weather is perfect for statement necklaces.  And boots, of course:

Top: Macys (similar) Necklace: LOFT (similar)
Skirt: Nordstrom (similar)  Boots: Steve Madden (similar)

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Knotted

I've never really been successful in my attempts to knot my belts in a stylish, cute manner.  Knowing when I'm beat, I decided to try a pre-knotted belt:

And I'm so glad I did.  Now I don't have to worry about the knot laying correctly or the belt flipping up.  This belt lays perfectly:

And just happens to pair wonderfully with my sandals:

Top: Nordstrom (similar)  Skirt: thrifted
Belt: LOFT (similar below)  Sandals: Kork-Ease (similar)

I'm not a big advocate of matchy-matchy accessorizing, but even I have to admit that this belt and these sandals look fantastic together:

And not too shabby with the skirt either.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Shop Knotted Belts

Jamberry Winner - Lucky Number One!!

Congratulations to... Linda!  According to the Random Number Generator, comment number one is our winner.

Linda, I know you said you don't do your nails either, but get ready to because you won!  Drop me an email at fashionforgiants (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll get you in touch with the Jamberry rep.

Thank you all for playing and congratulations again to Linda!

xoxo,

Gracey

9/11/15 Five for Friday: Cadmium Orange

When we first looked at the Pantone Fall 2015 colors, I wasn't really feeling Cadmium Orange.  I'm happy to say that today's Five for Friday changed my mind.

1. eShakti Plaid Shirtdress - I adore the chambray collar on this dress and think it'll be so cute this fall with a leather belt and riding boots.

2. MARC by Marc Jacobs Retro Sunglasses - These sunglasses are perfect for those sunny fall days.  The color is so fun and the shape is fantastic.

3. Gap Boatneck Tee - This is the piece that actually turned me around on Cadmium Orange.  I adore the stripes and the boatneck together.

4. Vince Camuto Bib Necklace - This is my pick for those who don't like orange.  Or believe that they can't wear orange near their faces.  The soft orange of this necklace is fabulous and extremely wearable.

5. Halogen Mini Mosaic Scarf - This scarf is great because it's an orange print, not solid orange, making it easier to wear.  And because it has the teeniest, tiniest, most adorable pom poms ever.  PP4L!  (Pom poms 4 Life)


What about you, Reader Friends?  Would you wear any of these pieces?  Or are you passing on Cadmium Orange this fall?


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Fringed and Tasseled

In retrospect, fringe and tassels in a single outfit might be overkill:

Or, it just might be awesome.  Personally, I'm voting for awesome.


I mean, what beats a vintage tasseled bag from the 80s?

Ordinarily, the answer would be nothing.  But add fringed sandals to that tasseled bag?

Retro-cheerleader-y fantastic-ness!  Seriously, there's something about this outfit that makes me feel like a cheerleader.  You know, in the days before their "outfits" consisted of crop tops and tiny skirts.


Although, I double that they used to wear fringed sandals to cheer.  They should have though; I love these sandals:

Tee: LOFT  Skirt: thrifted vintage  Earrings: thrifted vintage (similar)
Sandals: Summit by White Mountain (in brown too)  Bag: thrifted vintage (similar)

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Literary Stylings # 22: Transmission

As I said last week, I really, really enjoyed reading two books last month; Child 44 and Transmission.  However, I went with Transmission for my inspiration because Child 44 takes place during the Russian winter and it's entirely too hot to pull out the furs.


Transmission, on the other hand, takes place, at least for a bit, in India:

In fact, two of the main characters, Arjun, an American-bound computer geek, and Leela, Bollywood's latest "it girl" are Indian.  And even when these two leave their homelands to write code in America or make movies in Scotland, India is still referenced.


And that's what I tried to do with this outfit.  I tried to reference India:

Although, to be fair, the print on the dress isn't really Indian, but more Far Eastern:

Still, a girl does what she can when inspired by literature.  And what I could do was this:

Dress: thrifted (similar, similar plain)  Pants: LOFT (save, splurge)
Shoes: FRYE (similar)  Necklace: Sole Society (similar)

What about you, Reader Friends?  Were you sartorially inspired by any literature last month?  If so, please link your looks up below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey


P.S. If you haven't yet entered my Jamberry giveaway, you can do so here!