Embroidery, Tassels, and a Ram

This outfit has everything:

Embroidery.

Tassels.

And a ram:

All of which make it, possibly, the perfect fall outfit:

Dress: LOFT (similar) Ram belt: secondhand vintage  
Scarf: Nordstrom Rack (similar here and here)
Boots: Bettye Bettye Muller (save, splurge, bigger splurge)

Or at least perfect for what's supposed to be a rainy, not-too-cold fall day.



Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Five for Friday: Fiesta!

Of course, today's Five for Friday had to be all about my favorite Pantone color for this Spring, Fiesta!  I love this orange-y red hue and think it's perfect for the season.  And retailers seem to think so as well; there are a LOT of Fiesta pieces on the market right now.


Here are five of my favorites:

1. J. Crew Peacock Diamond Scarf - I love lightweight scarves for Spring and even wear them into Summer to battle the air conditioning at work.  This one will work with everything from a chambray shirtdress to a white tee.

2. Madewell "Transport" Fringe Tote - Totes just seem like the easiest, best, least fussy option for a summer bag.  This one is roomy and has handles long enough to throw over your shoulder, but short enough to carry in your hand.  Basically, it's perfect.

3. Bettye by Bettye Muller "Buzz" Sandals - I don't know what it is about Bettye Muller, but she totally has my number when it comes to shoes.  I love the walk-able block heel and the amazing print on these.  They're a bit of a splurge, but one I will probably make.

4. L. Erickson "Grace" Crystal Stud Earrings - I am a huge proponent of big ol' stud earrings and think this pair is the perfect way to add a little Fiesta to a look.

5. eShakti Crepe Midi Skirt - So, Fiesta and Navy?  A match made in heaven.  As is demonstrated on this fabulous eShakti skirt.  Not in the market for a skirt?  This print is also available on their Allison dress and this belted dress.


How about you, Reader Friends?  Are you feeling this color as much as I am?


xoxo,

Gracey

Literary Stylings #25 - Mislaid

For today's LitSty look, I was inspired by the book Mislaid, by Nell Zink:

I chose this book because it was one of my favorites from last month.  I had never read Zink before, but am now a huge fan.  She takes what are definitely sensitive subjects, like homosexuality in the 50s and 60s and race relations in the 60s and 70s and passing (!) for black (!) in the south (!) and writes about them with both pathos and humor.

The main character of the book is Peggy, who realized in high school that she loved women and wanted to love women.  She began dressing in masculine clothing and went to a liberal all-girls school.  However, at that school, she ends up having an affair.  With a professor.  With a homosexual, male professor.  Neither of them being experience with birth control, Peggy ends up pregnant.  And she and Lee, her professor, end up married.

Peggy eventually flees her marriage with her young daughter and in an attempt to hide them both, decides to pass as black.  In the South.  In the 60s.  Again, somehow, Zink manages to handle all of these issues deftly and often amusingly.  It's such a well written book, I recommend it to everyone.


As for my outfit, I wore a vintage dress layered over pants to demonstrate the duality of Peggy's position as both a lesbian and a wife and mother:

I chose this specific dress because although it's printed with roses, they're scribbled roses so it's not too sweet:

All in all, I'm not 100% sure this outfit makes sense in real life, but it made sense to me for this book.  And I was surprisingly comfortable wearing it.

Dress: vintage thrifted  Pants: LOFT
Turtleneck: hinge via Nordstrom  Shoes: Bettye by Bettye Muller

And now it's your turn; link your looks up below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

The Longline Vest

I love plum with navy.  (Okay, fine, I love everything with navy).  But, I wanted an extra layer because, well, it's cold.  So, I added this longline vest:

I think the ash gray offsets the jewel tones of the pants and sweater nicely:

But, mostly, I just have a thing for longline vests this season.  They'll never fully replace my beloved sweater vests in my heart, but they're definitely a welcome addition to my wardrobe.



They just make layering so easy:

Vest: Topshop via Nordstrom (sold out, similar here)  Sweater: Gap
  Pants: Gap  Watch: gifted Fossil Q Grant  Shoes: Bettye Bettye Muller (similar)

And for my money, easy is good. Especially in winter when I want to call in just because it's cold.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

A Good One

I am not wearing this today.  It's way, way too cold to wear this today.  No, I wore this outfit last week when it was close to 70:

Yes, that's right.  Almost 70 degrees in Pennsylvania.  In December.



Rather than complain, I took the opportunity to wear one of my new dresses:

Well, it's thrifted, so it's not new-new.  But, it's new to me and I'm rather fond of it.



I just think the print is so lovely:

I mean, you know how I feel about a dark floral:

Dress: handmade, thrifted  Hat: Nordstrom (similar)
Tights: Spanx  Flats: Bettye Muller (similar)

And this one is a good one.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Duck, Duck, Grid

Gah.  Okay. Fine.  They're swans, not ducks:

But, "swan, swan, grid" doesn't even remotely sound like a thing and duck, duck, grid is fun.  So, duck, duck, grid it is:

And, whatever you call it, I think it's a fun play on black and white:

Blouse: Target (similar in navy)  Skirt: LOFT (similar pencil skirt)
Tights: Assets via Target (similar)  Shoes: Bettye Muller (similar)

Classic, but with a twist.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Fall Floral

I love a dark floral for fall, and this floral sweater from LOFT is perfect:

I love the large scale print and the colors are gorgeous:

Although the weekend was freezing (no, really, it dropped to 28 last night), it's warming up again so a three-quarter sleeve sweater, velvet scarf and culottes are just warm enough:

I'm trying to wear my culottes and cropped pants for as long as I can this fall because, tights or not, I don't see them working for winter.


Which is too bad, because I do love me some culottes:

Sweater: LOFT  Scarf: thrifted
Culottes: thrifted (similar)  Shoes: Bettye Muller Bettye (similar)

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Dot, Dot, Swan

I've decided that dots and swans were meant to be:

Skirt: Macy's (similar) (similar)  Blouse: Target
Cardigan: Modcloth  Shoes: Bettye by Bettye Muller (similar)

I mean, really, what goes better with a bunch of dots than a bunch of swans?

That's just some swan-y, dotty goodness right there.


And throw in a mustard cardigan?  Shoot.  It really, truly doesn't get any better.

Dots and swans, Folks.  Dots and swans are where it's at.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Borrowed from the Boys

I don't wear a lot of menswear-inspired looks because it's not really my thing.  And then I saw these shoes:

Bettye by Bettye Muller "Quote" Flats

And I was like, dammit, Annie Hall, here I come!

Sweater: Gap  Jeans: Gap (self-frayed)  Shoes: Bettye by Bettye Muller

As you can see, I didn't quite make it to Annie Hall-levels of androgyny.  But my look is definitely borrowed from the boys; I paired the shoes with an oversized sweater & frayed jeans.  I'll definitely wear the shoes in the future with skirts and tights, but, today, I wanted to pay homage to their awesome manliness.

So manly.  So cute.


Happy Friday, All!  Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Gracey