Flowers

This dress is covered in flowers:

And is, therefore, the perfect dress to link up with Mis Papelicos for this week's Share-In-Style Link Party.

Because, as you probably guessed, the theme is flowers:

I actually own a lot (no, really, A LOT) of floral dresses, but this one is the most summery.  And it has pockets:

So, yeah, it's basically the best.

The dress is thrifted and I paired it with a thrifted belt, thrifted shoes and a cameo I bought at a rummage sale:

The brooch is etched on the back: Dick Puckett, 1958.  I guess that's the maker?  If so, I'd like to thank Mr. Puckett for making such a lovely piece.

And I'd like to thank Mis Papelicos for hosting this fabulous, flower-filled link party!

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

That Old Fall Feeling

It’s, finally, starting to feel like fall here in Oregon.  The mornings are getting chillier and I’m almost to the point of wearing a light sweater for the ride in.  Honestly, though, that could just be because I want to wear sweaters; they are all I’ve been thrifting lately.  Sadly, it’s still not sweater weather, but it is totally “subdued, fall-like color weather” so I dressed accordingly:

Yes, I do wear this dress all year long (because those are the best dresses) but I like it the most for fall.  The flowers have a delightful mossy, pile of leaves look to them and, for me, nothing says fall like moss and piles of leaves.  And mushrooms.  But, I digress.  Today I paired the dress (vintage) with a light gold belt (thrifted?) and shoes (Kenneth Cole Reaction, v. old).  I also added my new cameo and garnet earrings (via Deepwood Vintage Fair) and a vintage cameo bracelet.

The stones are rough-cut, low-grade garnet.

As much as I like this dress with the flats, I’d much rather be wearing it with boots.  I miss my boots, y’all.  They’re all on deck, freshly waterproofed and just waiting in the wings.  I swear, as soon as the temperature drops below 80, I’m breaking them out.  And probably the sweaters too.  Basically, you should expect me to look overheated and uncomfortable in my photos for the next couple of weeks.

What about you, Dear Reader Friends?  What are you looking forward to wearing this fall?

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

Gracey

Bonus Footage: Gracey at the Wedding

Last Friday I left work early to attend a wedding in the country.   It was an absolutely gorgeous setting, surrounded by vineyards, hazelnut orchards (Are they orchards if they’re nuts?) and wildflower borders.  It was a casual affair, so I wore separates:

Specifically, I wore a vintage floral skirt (thrifted) that I paired with a cream, bow blouse (Old Navy).  I added a skinny belt (Gap), pewter sandals (Lovely People) and a burgundy eelskin clutch (vintage, thrifted).  I also added a cameo bracelet, vintage lion earrings and a heart necklace, because it was a wedding after all.

I apologize for not getting better outfit shots, but I did get some photos of the glorious scenery.  Here is the aforementioned vineyard:

The hazelnut orchard is back behind the tables and wildflower border:

And here is a close up of the wildflower border:

I love that they used flowers instead of fences.  I feel like that should be a T-shirt: Flowers, Not Fences.  Anyway, it was a wonderful wedding and both the setting and the weather were just perfect.

Happy Friday, Everyone!  And have a great weekend!

Gracey

One of These Things is not like the Others

Warning: This is a wordy post, but if you stick with me, I promise a Star Wars reference…  You in?  Fabulous.  Let the words commence.

So, I am usually pretty comfortable with my body.  I know I’ve anthropomorphized my thighs into militant rebels, but, in truth, they’re pretty great.  And I do have a bit of a tummy, but, like Bruce Willis’ girlfriend in Pulp Fiction, I think a bit of a potbelly is kind of sexy.  I used to be, as a boy in third grade said to me, “like Main Street, no curves” but now I’m more like Mulholand and outside the occasional freak out, like when my HMO says I’m fat, I’m comfortable being curvier.  Usually.

There are times, however, when I’m not as comfortable.  Last Saturday night was one of those times.  I’m not proud of it, but it is sometimes hard for me to maintain my confidence in my shape when I know I’m going to be around women of a completely different shape.  On Saturday night, we went to a party, but before that we had a “girl’s night” at a bar with a bunch of my friend Jenny’s friends.  Jenny is my height, but a few sizes smaller than I am.  And all of her friends are about a foot shorter and really quite petite.

Knowing I was going to be the only person built like I am, I felt like I could do one of two things; I could try to fit in by wearing what I knew everyone else would be wearing, or I could be myself.  There is definitely, I think, some appeal to wearing something similar to the people you’re with; it can help you feel like you’re part of the group.  But, for me, that never quite works.  I always feel like an impostor.

So, instead of trying to fit in, I chose to exaggerate my differentness.  They say to play to your strengths and to highlight your favorite part of your body, right?  Well, my favorite thing about my body is its size.  I love the fact that I’m tall and broad-shouldered and highly visible.  I know that my size draws attention to me and I figured if I'm going to be seen, I'm going to be seen:

To that end, I went for champagne and cream when I knew most everybody else would be in black.  I went for a longer skirt when I knew most everyone else would be in hoo-ha grazing hemlines.  And I went for a higher neck when I knew most everyone else would have cleavage.  I wore a vintage, champagne-colored dress paired with a cream, vintage fur vest (thrifted).  I added my animal print booties (80%20), a studded belt (Michael Michael Kors via Nordstrom) and ton of jewelry:

The earrings are vintage (Lil’ Gypsy Boutique) and the necklace is new (ModCloth).  The bangles and bracelets are a mix of vintage and new.


I also added a vintage (thrifted) gold clutch:

And I loved it.  I loved the fact that it wasn’t like anything anyone else was wearing and that even though it had next to no color, it was still me. Well, it was a little bit me, and a little bit Princess Leia, apparently.  True story, a guy at the party said I looked like Princess Leia.  I responded that I felt like Princess Leia, on Planet Hoth.  He said I was hot.  I laughed.  

Gracey

Put A Tassel On It

Turns out that I am a sucker for anything with a tassel on it.  Like this bracelet:

I got this bracelet and some tasseled carnelian earrings the last time I was at our local vintage store, Lil’ Gypsy.  And I’m kicking myself for passing up a tasseled lavaliere, but I think I’ll go back and see if it’s still there.  I’m telling you, folks, put a tassel on it and I’ll probably buy it.

Oh, I also wore clothes today:

Not nearly as exciting as the tasseled bracelet, to be sure, but probably more work appropriate than just the tasseled bracelet.  In addition to the bracelet I wore my black-and-gray twofer dress (Target) belted with a multi-colored cotton sash (thrifted), my purple-blue platform sandals (MRKT via DSW), turquoise bead necklace (rummaged) and vintage cameo bracelet.

I know my accessories look like a hodgepodge of colors, but although you can’t see it very well, the sash combines the black and gray of the dress with the purple of the shoes, the turquoise of the tasseled bracelet and necklace and the rose and cream of the cameo bracelet.  And in addition to be tied together with the belt, all of the accessories are similar in hue (or is it tone?) which helps unify the look without being matchy-matchy.

Today’s Takeaway?  Tassels rock.  That is all.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Pretty Shiny Copycat

Daily Outfit for Wednesday, April 20, 2011

I featured a look from Kristine of Pretty Shiny Sparkly on my blog earlier today, and here is my version of her outfit:

As soon as I saw Kristine’s post I knew it was something I wanted to try out myself with my new Gap trouser jeans (my whiny thighs having caused the ouster of my last pair).  Taking my cues directly from Kristine, I paired my jeans with a floral tank (Frenchi via Nordstrom), drape-y cardigan (Mossimo/Target), bright belt (Style & Co via Macy’s) and platforms (Franco Sarto via Nordstrom).   

Inspired by Kristine’s brilliant accessorizing, I even wore a little jewelry in the form of turquoise earrings (gifted) and a vintage cameo bracelet.

This outfit was amazingly comfortable.  I wish it had photographed better because I really do think it was flattering and is definitely something I would wear again.  And it’s a look that works for giants and non-giants alike!

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey