Snow Birds

So, it's still not snowing here in Pittsburgh, but it was snowing when I wore this outfit two weeks ago.  And since I've been rather lax about taking new outfit photos, you're getting these oldies but goodies:

I mean, you can't be too mad when I'm offering up double grid print and birds.


Yes, that's right, birds:

This scarf is covered with birds.  And I think it pairs perfectly with the black and white grid print.  And with the camel jacket.

Blouse: LOFT (similar)  Skirt: LOFT (similar)
Scarf: vintage thrifted  Jacket: thrifted J. Crew (similar)  Boots: Franco Sarto "Eminent"

Although... maybe it's the red-ness of the scarf that makes it perfect, as opposed to the bird-ness.  Eh, either way, I love this combination.


And, hopefully, next time I post, it'll be something more seasonally-appropriate.  Don't get your hopes up though; March is awfully early for Pittsburgh to give up on snowing.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

White Jean Wear-Ability

White jeans have a very limited window of wear-ability for me.  I can't wear them if it's raining or has rained in the past two days as any bit of moisture on the road gets flipped onto white jeans when I ride.  I also can't wear them during the suggested period of Memorial Day to Labor Day because it's too frickin' hot to wear jeans, of any color, during those months.  So, basically, my white jeans only come out a couple of times a year; when it's dry, but not too hot.

Like today:

Tee: LOFT  Jeans, Scarf & Belt: Old Navy  Sandals: Banana Republic

For today's look I paired my white jeans with a citron tee and an adorable hummingbird scarf because, as an Oregonian, I consider it my birthright to put a bird, any bird, on darned near everything.

And it's always worth it.  Always.

Outside of the weather cooperating, white jeans are pretty wearable for me.  I am prone to staining them, but a little OxyClean will usually take care of whatever foodstuffs I've dropped in my lap.  However, I've realized that for a lot of women, white jeans aren't that wearable, and not just because they like to partake in really, really messy burritos.  (Oh, wait, is that just me?  Okay then.)  

If you struggle with wearing white jeans, please, allow me to offer some completely unsolicited advice on the subject.

Look for a looser fit.  Some people advocate sizing up and if that works for you, that's definitely one way to get a looser fit.  Personally, I just bypassed the super-tight jeans for the more forgiving fit.  These are still a skinny cut, but it doesn't take third-party assistance to pull them on.

Look for thicker fabric.  A lot of the discomfort about white jeans is that you feel like everyone is seeing your everything.  If you go with a thicker jeans, that's less of an issue.

Wear nude panties.  Not white (not ever white).  Not hot pink.  Nude.  Even if your jeans have a sturdier fabrication, nude panties are best.

Pair with whatever you like.  Once you find the perfect pair of white jeans, you can wear them with whatever you like.  Any color, any print, any thing you want.  This is probably the best thing about white jeans, so have fun with it.

What about you, Reader Friends?  Do you wear white jeans?  If not, will the advice of a notorious burrito-dropper like myself change your mind?

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Old Navy Sweetheart jeans

LOFT sunwashed tee

Similar scarf (here or here)

Similar nude sandals

Snow Birds

It recently snowed a LOT here in Oregon.  As I've mentioned before, we don't get much snow, so it's kind of a big deal.  And this time was an even bigger deal as we got up to a foot of snow in some places!  In fact, we got so much snow that they not only closed the schools, they closed the state offices.

I, myself, left work early on Thursday, didn't bother even trying to make it in on Friday and Saturday I woke up to this:

I don't know why, but Saturday morning our trees were filled with birds.  With robins.  Fat, delightful, very cold robins:

Aren't they just too cute for words?!!

I felt horrible for them though; it was so cold.  I didn't know how to warm them up so I settled for clearing a space on the patio and putting down some raw pumpkin seeds and some millet.  They ate a bit and then a few hours later, they were all gone.

It was very strange having 60+ robins in our trees, but I am hopeful they made it someplace warm.

xoxo,

Gracey

Birdie Awesomeness

As an Oregonian, I am, of course, unable to resist anything that has a bird on it.  So this shirt?

Yeah, this shirt was destined to be mine.  Not only does it have birds on it, but it fits my long arms even though it’s not offered in “Tall”.  Those two qualities alone are reason enough to love this shirt.  But then you add the fact that it looks adorable layered under my apricot sweater and it is birdie awesomeness at its best.

In addition to the awesome bird button-down (Caslon via Nordstrom) and the apricot sweater (Worthington via Goodwill), I also wore flared jeans (Gap), camel wedges (Corso Como via Piperlime) and neon studs (Kate Spade NY via Nordstrom).  

 

Friend Ferge thinks the neon studs don’t make sense with this look.  She is wrong.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Shop the look:

Exact Caslon button-down (other prints also available)

Similar neon studs (save, spend)

Similar Gap flares (Tall available)

Similar apricot sweater (here, here and here)

Similar camel wedges

** Disclosure: Actions taken from the hyperlinks in this blog post may yield commission/compensation for the writer. Please see the Disclosure tab for more details.

Bonus Footage: Gracey Goes to the Opera

Last Saturday, I went to see Don Giovanni at the Portland Opera with my best group of girl friends, Alex, Jodi and Erica.  We went to dinner at Gracie's and dessert at The Driftwood Room, both in the Hotel DeLuxe, before the show, and it was delicious.  After we ate, we had to rush across town (I like to linger over my champagne cocktails) to the show, but we made it and saw a fabulously modern rendition of Don Giovanni.  It was my first opera and I'm hooked; I'll definitely be going back.

For my inaugural opera, I wore this:

I found this dress for under $10 at my now-defunct local Salvation Army.  As soon as I saw it, I knew I'd found my opera dress.  I paired my opera dress (vintage, tag says Styled by Linda Jane), with fishnets (Target), a vintage fur (also $10, at a garage sale), Franco Sarto pumps (via Nordstrom) and a vintage clutch and jewelry.

The earrings are vintage, via Ray's Ragtime, the bracelet is vintage, via Red Fox Vintage, I can't remember where the ring is from and the clutch is also vintage, also Salvation Army.

Alex also wore vintage:

She borrowed my vintage pleated dress, vintage clutch (thrifted) and belt (Target).  She is also wearing leopard heels (thrifted), opera-length bejeweled gloves (Lil' Gypsy vintage), her mother's prom fur (so cute!) and her grandmother's vintage jewelry.

This weekend, I'm (sadly) not doing anything so fancy.  I'm heading up to a football game at Portland State, looking for a button for my new vintage coat and going to the Chart House.  Even though I did go to school at PSU, I don't think I'm going to root for them.  Instead I'm going to root for myself to stay warm and dry.  Go Gracey!

Happy Saturday, All!

Gracey

A Faux-Mono & A Sartorial Superhero

I love turtlenecks.  They are one of my favorite layering pieces because they can be layered under almost anything, including bird-print faux-mono (faux kimono) blouses:

In fact, this faux-mono blouse was on the chopping block until I realized I could wear it (like most things) over a turtleneck.  And it’s a good thing, too.  This top is otherwise just so sheer and flow-y, I had no idea what to do with it.  But, today, I layered the top (Nordstrom) over a black turtleneck (Gap) and tied the flow-y bits behind me:

I also added a pleated skirt (vintage via Goodwill), black tights (SPANX Tight End Tights via Nordstrom) and black, wedge booties (Corso Como “Lexy” via Nordstrom).  And, et voila, another blouse saved from disuse, thanks to the intervention of a turtleneck.

Turtlenecks.  They’re totally the superheroes of the sartorial world.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

 

Shop The Look

Similar skirt

SPANX Tight End tights

Corso Como "Lexy" booties

Similar blouse

Gap turtleneck

 

** Disclosure: Actions taken from the hyperlinks in this blog post may yield commission/compensation for the writer. Please see the Disclosure tab for more details.

Bird is the Word

I’m actually surprised it took me as long as it did to put this outfit together:

I mean, really, what goes better together than birds and feathers?  Nothing, right?  Right.  So, yes, today I paired birds and feathers:

My dress (vintage, thrifted) provides the feather-print in this combo and the birds come from my ridiculously awesome scarf:

Those crazy birds.  What are they doing?!  I don't know, but I do know that I love this scarf and that I love it paired with this dress.  In addition to the birds and the feathers, I also wore a red belt (thrifted), ankle-strap flats (Hive & Honey via Piperlime) and a cuff (thrifted).

Because everything but the shoes is thrifted, I’m linked up to Callie’s Thrifter Thursday Link Party.  Are you a thrifty blogger?  If so, come by Coffee and Cardigans and join the fun.

And have a fabulous Thursday, Everyone!

Gracey

Oh, the hair.  I forgot.  I got my hair colored yesterday and my stylist also blew it out to better see the color.  As you may have noticed, I never wear my hair straight and don’t think I’ll keep this up for long (seriously, if it’s still straight tomorrow, it’ll be a Festivus Miracle).  It just doesn’t feel like me.  Happily though, my outfit feels 100% me, so I was able to smile through the pain.

Holidays = Giveaways: Karina Dresses Review and Giveaway

Somehow, with my admittedly sizeable closet, I managed to not own a little black dress.  Karina Dresses has remedied that oversight by sending me this little black dress:

Yes, it was cold.  See what I do for you, Dearest Readers?

And I love it.  It looks simple enough, but is surprisingly versatile.  Today I’m wearing a winterized work version of the dress with a wool Lauren Ralph Lauren jacket (thrifted), olive tights, riding boots (Born Crown “Sosie” via Nordstrom) and a bird-print scarf (thrifted):

But I could easily dress it up with a statement necklace, or a brooch or three at the waist or shoulder, or a colorful shoe or some major earrings.  And, in the summer, it’ll work wonderfully with a metallic sandal and an arm full of bangles.

I think it’s the cut that makes this dress so versatile.  It has a flattering v-neck, waist-enhancing waistband and a thigh-approved full skirt.  I also like that it’s sleeveless, but still offers enough coverage so my bra straps aren’t tempted to run amok.  And I love the length – its one that would work for any age, any body and any height. 

Little black dresses aren’t all that Karina Dresses makes though.  They offer this particular dress (the Marissa) in several prints and colors and even offer it with sleeves.  They also offer several other dress styles in a variety of prints and colors.  And, because the dresses are made from limited edition fabrics, the prints change regularly so their customers can always find new options in their favorite style.  I love that.

There is a lot to love about Karina Dresses though.  I love that they’re a small, American company based in Brooklyn and that they produce all of their dresses on site.  I love that their dresses are targeted towards women of all ages, all ethnicities, all aesthetics and all body types (they carry up to size 20 in some styles).  And I love their fabulous fabric – it’s a microfiber blend with 4-way stretch that is machine-washable and never needs ironing; which, as a lazy gal, I truly appreciate.

And I think you’ll appreciate Karina Dresses as well.  Which is why I’ve teamed up with them to offer one reader a free dress and the rest of my beloved readers $30.00 off the purchase of a Karina Dresses dress. 

To enter the giveaway for the free dress, just do the following:

1.      Stop by Karina Dresses and peruse their wares.

2.      Visit the Karina Dresses Facebook page and “like” it.

3.      Leave me a comment letting me know which style of a Karina Dresses dress you’d choose and your email address so I can contact you if you win.

This giveaway will close on midnight, PST on December 29^th.  Which gives you a couple of weeks to enter.  Just don’t forget!

And, to get $30.00 off the purchase of any full price Karina Dresses dress, just visit Karina Dresses here and enter this code PANG30 when you check out.  Also, Karina Dresses is offering FREE SHIPPING for the entire month of December! 

That’s right, a giveaway, $30.00 off and free shipping.  You’re welcome, folks.  You’re welcome.

Happy Thursday, Everyone!

Gracey