Pleats, Stripes and Brights

I thrifted this vintage pleated skirt the other day and couldn't wait to wear it:

Happily, the weather cooperated and I was able to pair it with a striped tee and colorful flats instead of tights and boots:

I mean, it's not that I don't love my tights and boots.  I do.  But these flats are just so much fun:

So bright flats it is:

Tee: Old Navy (similar)  Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar)
Earrings: local Portland craftsman (similar)  Shoes: Via Spiga "Pallas 2" Flats

And pleats.  And stripes.  All the good things.



Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

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

Literary Stylings #20: Gentlemen & Players

As I said previously, Gentlemen & Players by Joanne Harris was my favorite book from last month:

I really, really want to tell you guys all about this book, but I also really don't want to give anything away, because it's such a great twist.  So, maybe just read it and we can talk about it later?


One thing I can say about the book though is that it's about a private school in England.  And that fact inspired today's makeshift schoolgirl outfit:

Now, I've never been to private school, or even known anyone that went to private school, but I am pretty confident that there is plaid involved.


So, I wore my plaid skirt, a white shirt, a lady-tie and ankle-strap flats:

Skirt: thrifted (similar) Top: Nordstrom
Tie: thrifted Brooks Brothers (similar)  Flats: Piperlime (similar)

I don't remember if they wore plaid in Gentlemen & Players, but they definitely wore ties, so yeah, nailed that.

I also wore a polka dot belt which was not inspired by the book.  I just like polka dot belts:

What about you, Reader Friends?  What did you read last month?  Anything inspiring?

If so, please add a link for your book-inspired outfits below:

An InLinkz Link-up

And if you didn't read anything inspiring, I recommend that you try Gentlemen & Players; you won't regret it!

Gracey

Blue Silk Blazer

The blue of this silk blazer is simply the best:

And I love how it looks paired with white jeans for spring:

Also, I totally recognize that I'm wearing a lot of black, white and blue lately.  But, blue is both my signature color and my Kryptonite, as I am powerless to resist it.


Especially pretty blue in the form of a silk blazer like this one:

Blazer: thrifted  Tee: LOFT (similar)
Jeans: Old Navy Sweetheart  Shoes: Old Navy (save, fair to middlin', splurge)

I'm only human after all (at least so far as you know).


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Hello Again, Yellow Again

I feel like I've been wearing a lot of yellow lately.

A review of the archives shows that I have, in fact, been wearing yellow a normal amount, but it sure feels like a lot.


Maybe because I always want to wear yellow.  Especially this cardigan.  I want to wear this cardigan every day:

Top: LOFT (similar)  Cardigan: Modcloth (size up)
Pants: Gap (similar)  Shoes: Hive & Honey (similar)

It's been the perfect transition piece for spring, brightening up my blues and grays:

So, yeah, you'll probably see this cardigan a few more times in the coming weeks

Because I just can't help myself.


How about you, Reader Friends?  Have you been wearing anything on repeat lately?


Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

A Little Going

The jewels on this sweatshirt do not match this skirt:

Top: LOFT  Skirt: thrifted vintage  Shoes: Old Navy (similar, similar)

But, the jewels on this sweatshirt go with this skirt:

LOFT Jeweled Sweatshirt

Why do they go?  Because the color of the jewels and the color of the skirt are in the same color family; that sort of burgundy/wine/claret color family.  They may not match, but being in the same family tricks the eye into thinking they match.  Or, close enough for government work.


Especially from far away:

See?


This trick is why you don't have to worry over much about whether or not what you're wearing matches.  The eye doesn't require a perfect match; it just requires a little going.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Flame On

I like to think of these flame-colored cords as my fall pants:

Because, as you can see, they are perfect for fall.


Can you wear flaming orange cords outside of fall?  Sure, I guess you could.  If for some reason you liked wearing fall pants in spring, you certainly could do that.


But, really, these are fall pants:

Top: LOFT   Pants: Target   Shoes: Old Navy

I like to pair my flame-colored fall pants with blue.  One, because there is very little I won't pair with blue.  And, two, because that color combination reminds me of the blue skies and orange leaves of fall.


Today I paired them with blue leopard; because blue leopard is awesome:

Especially with flame-colored cords:

Happy Monday, All!  Or, I should say Happy Visible Monday because I'm finally linking up with Patti!

xoxo,

Gracey

Shop the Shoes

The Big Maybe

For me, this outfit is a big maybe:

Cardigan: ModCloth  Pants: Kohls  Dress: Target  Shoes: Old Navy

I mean, it has all the elements I love.  It has leopard, it has mustard, it has pointy toes, and it has a vintage piece:

I think it's a sweater clip, but they're pins so who knows?

But, even with all that good stuff, I'm just not sure it's enough.  I suspect this problem is with the proportions.  I think the idea is there, but the dress is slightly too long.  Or, maybe the pants are slightly too short.  Or, maybe, just maybe, the shoes are slightly too flat.

I don't know which maybe is the culprit; perhaps the problem is that they all add up into one big maybe.  And that's too bad, because I actually really liked this outfit.  Being as it has all of the stuff I like in one place and all:

But, looking at the photos, I see it's just not quite right.  Instead of a yes, it's just a maybe.  Oh, well.  It happens.

What about you, Reader Friends?  Have you worn any maybes lately?

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Blue Collar

Everyone is always talking about the versatility of a white button-front shirt.  And I agree, they're great.  But, also great?  A blue button-front shirt:

In fact, I may even prefer a blue shirt to white.  Think about it:

They're less sheer than white button-front shirts.

If you have blue hair, they match your hair.

And, they look great with tomato red midi skirts:

Okay, yes, a white shirt would work with this outfit too.  But, would it be as interesting?  I say no.  I think a white shirt with a bright skirt is expected, but blue?  Who expects blue?  No one, that's who.

Shirt: Gap  Skirt: Thrifted  Belt: Target  Shoes: Old Navy

My advice?  Choose blue.  It meets all of your modesty/hair matching/surprise pairing needs.


Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

May Flowers

April showers bring May flowers, right?  Well, we're currently having some May showers, but I still wore some flowers:

Sweater: Vintage   Dress as skirt: Old Navy  Flats: Piperlime

I am obsessed with this vintage sweater.  It is pink and embroidered and possibly twee as hell, but I love it.

I just think the embroidered flowers are fabulous:

And I like it paired with the black and white stripes, they may just save it from being twee as hell.  But, I'm not sure I like it paired with these black and white stripes.  I think the proportions may be slightly off.  The sweater either needs to be shorter or the skirt longer (or both?):

I think I'll pair it again with stripes next time, but with a midi and see if that fixes the issue.

Happy Monday, All!  And don't forget to link up here tomorrow for Literary Stylings!

Gracey

Literary Stylings # 3: Valeria's Last Stand

As I mentioned before, one of the mere three books I read last month was a weird-and-not-in-the-good-way book called Valeria's Last Stand, by author Marc Fitten:

I guess it was supposed to be a comedy, but I don't see how making every single character in the town hateful was funny.  I don't know, maybe I missed the point.  Has anyone else read this book?  If you haven't, I don't recommend it, but if you have, can you explain it to me, using small words, please, in the comments?

Enough about the book though.  Well, maybe a bit more.  There is a lot of talk of produce in the book as the titular character, Valeria, grows the best produce in town and constantly reminds everyone of the fact (seriously, she is horrible).  There is also a lot of talk about color, the color of the fruits and vegetables, especially peppers and turnips, but also of the crockery made by the local potter.

Well, when I saw this dress in Goodwill a couple of weeks ago, the colors instantly reminded me of the colors in the book:

And the chaotic print reminded me of the muddy, chaotic prose of the book:

Happily for me, crazy, chaotic print on a dress makes me much happier that crazy, chaotic writing.  Seriously, that book made me feel like this:

Pretty sure that was the look on my face the entire time I was reading it.

But, it did inspire me to buy this awesome dress, which I paired with a braided belt (also via Goodwill) and ankle strap flats (Hive & Honey via Piperlime) and a chunky necklace:

I chose this particular necklace because the large beads are actually clay, you know, like a potter uses and there is a potter in the book.  Also, it's pepper-colored and peppers play a large role in the book so I wore it.

Because, even though the book was terrible, it really did inspire this entire look.

And now, it's your turn.  You can link your literature-inspired looks below: 

 

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey