Summer Sweaters and Arctic Offices

I am fed up with the air conditioning at work.  It's so cold in my office that I was forced to wear a sweater to work today:

A sweater!  At the end of June!  I know!


Because, apparently, once the air goes on at work, they can't (won't?) adjust it.  So, on days like today when it was neither warm enough nor humid enough to justify blasting the air conditioner, they do it anyway.  So, in order to survive my Arctic office, I've learned that summer sweaters are not only a real thing, but a sometimes necessary thing.


I paired today's summer sweater with diamond-print pants and leopard flats:

Crap, but white is hard to photograph.  Well, trust me, those are black diamonds on my pants, not gray blobs.



And trust me that a sweater was more than called for today:

Sweater: LOFT (similar) Earrings: Mata Traders
Pants: Gap  Flats: Nine West (similar)

More than called for.



Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Polka Dots and Leopard Spots

For me, polka dots and leopard are one of the easiest combinations to do when I want to mix prints:

I mean, think about it.  Polka dots are round, leopard spots are round-ish:

Or blobby.  Amoeba-like?  Eh, whatever.



Look; the point is, either way, roundish or blobby, amoeba-like or whatever, leopard spots work with polka dots.

Dress: thrifted (similar)
Belt: Old Navy (similar)  Shoes: Kate Spade New York "Kayleigh"

They just do.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Five for Friday: Peach Echo

Now that it's finally, truly, summer, I am looking to wear more summery colors.  Colors like coral, or, as Pantone likes to call it, Peach Echo.  And I figured that I haven't done a Five for Friday post recently, so I thought I'd do one for Coral, I mean Peach Echo (but really, I mean Coral and I suspect Pantone does too).

Here my current five favorite Coral Peach Echo pieces for this summer:

1. Target Women's Floppy Hat - Hats are a great way to protect yourself from the sun.  And cute, striped, floppy hats are the best way to protect yourself from the sun.  That's science.

2. Wayf Blouson Midi Dress - Lightweight, gorgeous color, midi length, this dress has it all.  It would be perfect for a summer wedding.

3. Kate Spade New York Kensley Sandals - Neutral sandals with a coral heel?  Yes, please!  It's a bit spendy, but I think it's worth it.

4. Old Navy Mid-Rise Pixie Pants - These pants are fantastic for the office in the summer.  And, they are available in Tall as well as Regular and Petite sizes, so, yay!

5. Banana Republic Mixed Media Earrings - I have these in a navy/turquoise colorway and they are awesome in person.  They are big and bold and perfect for a summer date night!


What about you, Reader Friends?  What's your favorite Peach Echo piece?


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

High of Waist, Indeterminate of Color

Today's pants are both high of waist and indeterminate of color:

Sometimes they look terra cotta or maybe red ochre?

But at other times they look more brown:

Burnt sienna, maybe?  Rust?  Brick?  Ann Taylor calls the color "Modern Saddle" which, sure, I guess, why not?

Honestly, I'm not sure what color they are, but they are truly, delightfully high of waist:

Blouse: LOFT outlet (similar)
Pants: Ann Taylor  Sandals: Isola "Lisinda" 

And indeterminate of color.

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Wednesday Ends in Y

I've decided to limit my print mixing to those days that end in "Y".  Happily, today is just such a day and I'm taking advantage of that fact by mixing some prints:

This time it's palm and stripes:

Palm and stripes and t-strap sandals:

Skirt: LOFT (similar short) (similar midi)  Blouse: LOFT (same blouse, different print)            Sandals: Camper (similar)

Because today is Wednesday and Wednesday ends in "Y."


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

What Owl Dreams Are Made Of

Today's outfit features teeny, tiny gingham, polka dots and a wee little owl:

Here, you can see it better in the close up, especially the owl:

His name is Carl.  And he is thrilled to be a part of this pattern mix.



But, who can blame him?  I mean, it's tiny gingham and polka dots, Folks:

Blouse: Old Navy  Owl Belt: thrifted (similar in pink)
Skirt: thrifted vintage  Sandals: "Bali" c/o LTS

I have it on good authority that gingham and polka dots are what owl dreams are made of.



Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Pinwheels and Pleats

I'm wearing pinwheels and pleats today:

The pleats are courtesy of my vintage skirt and the pinwheels are courtesy of this a LOFT blouse:

Well, pinwheels or something like it.

I paired the red blouse and the white skirt with a blue belt and blue sandals:

I love to wear red, white and blue during the summer; it is a such a great, classic summer color combination.  But, it can also be a bit hard to wear this time of year without looking as though Betsy Ross is your tailor.

Blouse: LOFT (similar)  Belt: Old Navy (similar)
Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar)  Sandals: ZiGi girl (similar)

My advice?  Skip the flag print muscle tees and star print cut-offs, at least (especially?) for work.  No, save those pieces for the barbecue, and instead try a red and white printed piece with white and blue solids like I did.  Or, if you're feeling especially adventurous, even a red, white and blue printed piece. 

You can see some of my favorite seasonally-appropriate but also work-appropriate pieces below.  (Hover to see brands/prices).

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Pink, Orange & Pinkish-Orange

My skirt is orange.  It looks red in these pictures:

But, I swear, it's orange.



See?

Orange.



Although... that photo is a little misleading as well.  Because the skirt is not a true orange, it's a sort of reddish-orange, much like my shoes are a pinkish-orange:

Or, you know, coral.  Whatever.

Sweater: Nordstrom  Skirt: Ann Taylor (also similar)
Shoes: Lollipops (similar coral, sadly not studded)

You can call these colors whatever you'd like; I call them well-paired.



Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Blurry Black and White

What's black and white and blurry all over?  This dress in the wind:

That's right, the print on this dress is actually black and white, not blurry abstract gray:

But, this print proved to be extremely difficult to photograph, especially with all the darned wind.



Really though, it's rather pretty:

But, mostly, it's blurry:

Dress: thrifted vintage
Belt: second-hand vintage  Sandals: Isola

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Black, Navy and Marigold

So, I thought I was wearing a printed black blouse and a black skirt with my marigold cardigan:

At least that's what I thought until I stepped outside into the daylight and realized that my blouse was, in fact, navy:

I briefly considered changing and then remembered that black and navy together don't bother me.  In fact, I rather like black and blue together.  I figure if it's good enough for bruises thunderstorms, it's good enough for me.

Cardigan: Modcloth   Blouse: LOFT Outlet
Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar)  Sandals: Bali Sandals c/o LTS

And there you have it; the fascinating, and true, story of how I came to be wearing black, navy and marigold today.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Shirt Dresses Are Easy

It's true you know, shirt dresses are easy:

Kinda like Earth girls.



But, really, just add a belt and shoes and you're set:

Not that all shirt dresses (or aliens (have you seen Jeff Goldblum in that movie???)) are equal.  Some shirt dresses have pockets:

Dress: thrifted (similar sleeveless) (with sleeves)
Belt: thrifted (similar)  Sandals: Kork-Ease (similar)

In my opinion, pocketed shirt dresses are the best shirt dresses.  And Jeff Goldblum aliens are the sexiest best aliens.



Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey