Five for Fall - Animals

As much as I complained about summer taking it's sweet time getting here, when it got here, it was hot, hot, hot and now I'm ready for fall.  I'm ready to get back to wearing my beloved scarves.  I'm ready to get back to wearing layers.  And I'm ready to get back to fall fashion.

Here is the first of the five trends I'm excited for this fall...

Animals

I have to admit that I was not always a big proponent of clothing with animals on them.  Animal print, sure, but a print of animals?  Not so much.  To my tastes, clothes with animals on them can look a bit twee.  Case in point:

Personally, pieces like those just aren't my style and are the reason I'm generally so lukewarm on this trend.  Happily, haters of twee have options.  Animals can be found on all sorts of pieces at all sorts of price points, and range from the ridiculously twee to sophisticated pieces that add a touch of whimsy, not a touch of Pampers.

Here are some of my favorites and while some of them are darned cute, none of them are cutesy:

And, while you generally see animals on intarsia sweaters, scarves are a great way to try the trend as well:

Whatever your taste in this trend, there are a few things you can do to keep from looking juvenile, unless of course that's your thing, then I totally support you.  No judgement here.  But, if it's not your thing and you are a giant who knows you're too tall to be twee, here are some tips to keep your animal-inclusive outfits from heading into twee territory:

1. Don't do baby animals.  A tiger is cool, a baby tiger is cutesy.
2. Limit the color.  I know, I know, this, coming from me.  But, that rooster sweater?  That's an amazing sweater with a leather skirt or jeans.  With matching burgundy cords, it's a Geranimals-for-Grown-Ups outfit.
3. If you wear it with a mini, which is totally cute, please don't do knee socks and Mary Janes and pigtails.

What about you, Reader Friends?  Are you fans of the animal trend?  How do you like to wear it?

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Meet Carlene

As most of you know, I am frequently startled attacked by the killer squirrels that live in the trees around my office building.  But, I have never been as startled as I was the other day when I met Carlene.

This is Carlene:

She is a baby possum that may in fact be a boy.  I'm still going to call her Carlene because if I were a possum, Carlene would be the name I would choose for myself.

This was my face when I realized Carlene was in the tree behind me:

As you can see, I tried to smile through the fear, but I was terrified that Carlene would decide I was a tree and try to climb me.

She didn't, which is why I'm here to tell the story, but it was touch and go for a bit.  Okay, not really.  I think Carlene actually just fell asleep in the tree.  It was odd that she was awake mid-day so I'm not surprised she was more interested in sleeping than in whatever I was doing.

Happy Sunday, All!

Gracey