Black, White and Bright

Most everyone agrees that black and white are a classic combination.  But, to my eye, black pants and a white blazer can read less "classic style" and more "classic waiter."  To avoid being asked for water refills, I added some navy and a bright scarf to my look:

And, it seems to have worked; not a single person asked me for today's specials.



As is often the case with my outfits, the scarf is the best thing about this look:

It's vintage, silk Vena and it is, of course, thrifted.  I couldn't resist the colors or the mix of graphic patterns.



The navy shirt though; I'm not sure that was necessary:

You can hardly tell it's navy and I'm skeptical that it's bringing anything to the outfit.  I think a black shirt would probably have been fine.  Huh, I wonder if I thought this was a black shirt?  Hell, probably.


Oh, and although you can't tell from the above photos, I am also wearing shoes:

Blazer: Banana Republic (similar)  Pants: LOFT
Top: Gap (similar)  Scarf: vintage Vena  Shoes: DSW (similar pump) (similar flat)

Cap toe wedge pumps, to be exact.  Remember when cap toes were all the rage?  Are they no longer?  Do we care?  I have to say, I don't think I do.  How about you?


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Prim and Proper and Bright

At it's core, this outfit is prim and proper.  It's a pleated skirt, a sweater and cap-toe shoes.  But, that sweater?  Yeah, it's bright chartreuse:

I think it's fun to wear brights in an outfit like this.  Adding unexpected color to an otherwise classic silhouette is a good way to keep it feeling like me.

I did the same thing with my jewelry, wearing studs and a chunky necklace, but, once again, the studs are a bright chartreuse:

Necklace: LOFT   Earrings: Kate Spade NY

So, yes, this look is a bit prim and proper, but it's also bright, just the way I like it:

Sweater: Old Navy   Skirt: thrifted vintage  Shoes: Bandolio

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Chartreuse sweater (exact, similar)

Similar skirt

Similar cap-toe wedges (save, splurge)

Similar necklace

Exact Kate Spade NY studs

Botanical Shadows & Painterly Splotches

I do not know how better to describe the print on this blouse than botanical shadows and painterly splotches:

I mean, really.  What is that?  Yeah, I don't know either.

But, whatever the print on the blouse is, it pairs well with my dark skinny jeans and that's enough for me:

In addition to the blouse (Nordstrom) and the jeans (Banana Republic) I wore my neon link necklace (Target) and my cap toe wedges (bandolino via DSW). I wear these shoes and this necklace a lot with these jeans.  I think that's okay; some days it's nice not to have to think too hard.

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Spots, Dots & Par-rots

I'm wearing spots, dots and par-rots today:

I've often yammered on about how I love animal and green together because something something jungle.  I continued that "jungle theme" with my new (to me) parrot brooch:

So green.  And parrot-y.  (Not parody, parrot-y; if it were a parody of a parrot, it'd be Conan O'Brien in a parrot mask or something).

I found the brooch in my favorite local vintage shop, Lil' Gypsy Vintage, and thought it would be perfect with my animal spotted cardigan (Anne Taylor via Goodwill) and green dotted pants (LOFT).  I also added a vintage Monet bracelet (via Red Fox Vintage) and my cap toe wedges (Bandolino via DSW).

Yay!  Jungle!  Sort of!


Happy Thursday, Everyone!


Gracey

P.S. if you haven't entered my Shabby Apple giveaway, today is the last day to do so; don't forget!

Shop the Look:
Similar green dotted pants (Tall available)
Similar spotted cardigan
Similar cap toe shoes
Similar vintage parrot brooch

** 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.

Coral, Coral, Coral

I really love myself some coral.  Obviously:

Coral yesterday, coral today.  Coral, coral, coral.

I also, apparently, really love the combination of those pants with those shoes.  Heh.  Well, what can I say, I can’t be creative all the time.  Or, even most of the time, if I’m honest.

But, I digress.  I was talking about my apparent obsession with coral.  In spite of what it looks like, I'm not actually obsessed with coral.  But it is one of my favorite colors and I do wear it quite a bit.  I especially like this particular coral (blouse via Old Navy) and peach (vintage blazer via Goodwill) color combination.  Worn today with dark skinny jeans (Banana Republic), a barely seen leopard belt (v. old) and cap toe wedges (bandolino via DSW).  Oh, and a long necklace (thrifted via Goodwill).

And, because at least two items in this look are thrifted, I’m linking up to Thrifter Thursday over at Coffee and Cardigans.  I’m pretty proud of myself for remembering to do this as I’ve forgotten for weeks.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Shop the Look:
Similar single-pocket blouse
Similar peach blazer (up to size 16)
Exact Banana Republic skinnies (tall up to size 16)
Similar long necklace
Similar leopard belt

** 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.
 

Spring Remix

I wore this outfit earlier this year:

Today I remixed the look for spring:

I kept most of the pieces of the look intact, including the cropped pants (Vince Camuto via Nordstrom), the cap toe wedges (Bandolino via DSW) and the vintage coat (Maurice of Lansing via Goodwill).  But, instead of the turtleneck, I wore my new red, black and white graphic floral dress (Penelope in Red Rosie c/o Karina Dresses).

I love this dress.  Like my other Karina Dress, it's cut beautifully and the print makes me giddy:

I can't wait to remix it again for summer.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Shop the Look:

Karina Sleeveless Penelope dress
Similar black cropped pants
Similar peep-toe wedge heels
Similar red vintage jackets (here & here)

** 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.

Classic

I apologize for my unexpected absence yesterday.  Like a Hollywood starlet, I was suffering from exhaustion.  Although, in my case, “exhaustion” is not a euphemism for an eating disorder (obviously).  I was just really, really tired.  I had a long weekend full of high school basketball state championship games, birthday parties and pre-dawn trips to the airport.  And on top of the week I had last week, it was a bit much and I needed rest.  

So, rest I did, but I’m back now.  And I’m wearing clothes.  And those clothes are pretty classic:

Even though I don’t have the most classic aesthetic, I still really like this look.  I think probably because it contains neon (necklace via Target) and cap toe shoes (Bandolino via DSW).  I’m pretty convinced that neon goes with everything and cap toe shoes are the best shoes since riding boots.  I also love these jeans (Banana Republic Skinny) and this blouse (thrifted via Value Village). 

  

I have to say, I think it’s hard to go wrong with stripes.  They are classic, but they’re also fun.  Win-win.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Shop the Look:

Exact BR Skinnies (they’re on backorder right now, but they’re totally worth the wait)

Similar blouse

Cap toe pumps

Neon yellow link necklace

** 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.

Pinspiration: Bright Jacket, Black Base

Today I wore a bright red jacket layered over a black base:

I love this look, but I can’t take any credit for it.  I copied it directly from a Pin of J’sEveryday Fashion.

Pinspiration:

Image via J's Everyday Fashion

Me:

See?  Practically twins. 

I knew I wanted to recreate this look as soon as I saw it.  Not because it’s particularly ground-breaking; black and red are very classic.  No, for me, this look had extra appeal in the form of the cap-toe shoes.  They’re a classic in their own right, but I wouldn’t have thought to pair the two.  The cap-toes make this feel fresh.  At least to my eye.  And made it something I wanted to try.

For my recreation of this look, I layered a red, vintage coat (Maurice via Goodwill), because somehow I don’t have a red blazer, over black ankle pants (Vince Camuto via Nordstrom) and a black turtleneck sweater (Hinge via Nordstrom).  My cap-toe shoes are Bandolino wedges (via DSW) and I also added a vintage necklace (Sarah Coventry via Red Fox Vintage) and vintage earrings.

Also, because it's Monday and there is nothing shy about this look, I'm linked up to Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style.

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Gracey

Speaking of Fall

In the comments for yesterday’s post, blogger-friend Nico asked me what was on my wish list for fall.  Even though I’m the first to admit that I certainly don’t need any clothes for fall (or any other season), I do have a fall wish list.  And it’s huge.  I started keeping lists of “holes” in my closet as a way to help control my shopping.  Because, as my Nosh Opping Expedition showed, left to my own devices, I will continue to buy black skirts even though I already own five.  So, I figured a list, which did not include a black skirt, would help keep me on track.

It hasn’t.  I mean, sure, I haven’t purchased another black skirt since the Great Purge of 2012, but I’ve purchased other items that aren’t on my list.  In fact, I think I purchase more things that are not on my list than are.  Because I have no discipline.  There it is.  I said it.  I’m undisciplined.

So, what does this undisciplined giant want for fall?  Well, here are some items from my list:

·         Rust skinnies (skinny is best for tucking into boots)

·         Burgundy skinnies (ditto)

·         Mustard skinnies (my mustard skinnies were purged due to size issues)

·         Gingham shirt (I don’t wear a lot of gingham, but I feel like I want to start)

·         Bold striped l/s tee or sweater (for wearing under a blazer)

·         Heeled loafers (it took me awhile but I’m finally firmly on board with these)

·         Green pumps (Callie from Coffee & Cardigans has a pair that prompted this addition to the list)

·         Cap toe flats (I’m slightly obsessed with cap toes)

Really, though, those are only some of the items I have listed; my wish list in its entirety is ridiculously big.  Why is it so big when I freely admit that I don’t really need more clothes?  Well, because I figured if I put every possible thing on my wish list, then when I bought something I could say it’s on the list.  Yes, it is a little like cheating, isn't it?

But, enough of that nonsense, let's take a look at what I've purchased for fall so far, shall we? 

A rose-gold sweater (not on the list):

Remain Metallic Sweater - image via Nordstrom

I couldn't find the rose-gold version of this sweater online, but that's the one I bought and I love it.  Ostensibly I bought it because metallics are big for fall and that was supposed to excuse the fact that I didn't have a metallic anything on my list.  Mostly though, I just really like shiny stuff.

A denim shirt (actually on the list):

Caslon Long-Sleeve Shirt - Image via Nordstrom

I've been looking, unsuccessfully, for a denim shirt for ages.  I finally found this one and it's perfect.  It's cut close to the body and although the model has the sleeves pushed up, it is long sleeve and the sleeves are actually long enough for my giant self. 

Polka dot skinnies (not on the list):

Wit and Wisdom - Image via Nordstrom

I'm pretty sure my not having polka dot skinnies on my list was just an oversight.  I mean, really.  Also, yes, I do plan on wearing these with my denim shirt.

Cap toe wedges (actually on the list):

Bandolino "Tijah" Cap Toe Wedge - Image via DSW

I wasn't kidding about being obsessed with cap toe shoes.  And I adore the color combination on this pair.

So, I guess I’m not totally undisciplined.  I’m half disciplined.  And I don’t know about you, but that feels like progress to me.  Now if I can just continue to resist the lure of black skirts…

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey