So Sunny, So Cold

Okay, I guess it's not really been cold here, maybe chilly.  But, it damn sure hasn't been warm and I've been forced into sweaters and coats even though it's nearly May.  Happily for me, I really like this coat:

Yes, it's more yellow, but it's also houndstooth:

And you really can't go wrong with vintage lemon yellow houndstooth:

It's just so perfect for spring.  Especially when paired with aqua skinnies and blue flats:

Coat: vintage  Sweater: LOFT (similar)
Jeans: Old Navy  Flats: Nine West (similar) (similar)

Yep, I highly recommend lemon yellow houndstooth to everyone for those sunny, chilly spring days.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Long Tall Coat

As most of you know, I've long been an advocate of thrifting everything I can possibly thrift.  I don't thrift undergarments or swimwear because I'm squeamish like that, but pretty much everything else is fair game, including coats.  But, there are pros and cons to thrifting coats.  Pros: they're inexpensive, the evening coats are in great shape due to minimal wear and you can find plum capes with plum mink collars.  Cons: they often have tissues, pills and the occasional "if I die my husband did it" notes in the pockets and, worst of all, they are not sized for modern giants.

While I love, love, love my thrifted coats (especially the aforementioned cape),  not a one of them works as a true winter coat for me.  They're either too fitted to wear anything but a leotard under (which is unfortunate because during the winter you need to wear more than a leotard!) or they're too short in the arms (and sometimes the torso too!).

Happily, Long Tall Sally is here to rescue us modern giants by offering true winter coats that truly fit.  This is the one they sent me:

Faux fur-lined parka c/o Long Tall Sally

I chose this coat for several reasons.  One, it's olive and I'm obsessed with olive this year.  Two, it has a hood; I love hoods to help keep the rain/snow off my glasses:

Three, it's long enough both in the arms and the torso to keep me fully covered and warm.  Four, this coat has a removable lining so I can wear it now when it's 34 degrees and later when it is, for some hellish reason, less than 34 degrees.


The best part about this coat though is that I ordered it in my regular size (US 14) and it's roomy enough that I can layer under it without feeling like Randy from A Christmas Story:

No way I won't be able to get up if a bully pushes me down.


Now, if you are really, really lucky, perhaps you'll find a Tall coat at a thrift store.  But, rather than hold out for that and possibly freezing to death due to winter leotard wearing, may I recommend Long Tall Sally?  They have a great collection of coats from true winter coats (here's mine (currently on sale!) and I love this one), as well coats for more mild winters (this one is fab and also on sale!) and great dress coats (my favorite).


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Drama! Polka Dots! 70s! Coats! Dresses!

I didn’t do a lot of thrifting this weekend, but the little bit I did do was fabulous.  I found two skirts for my sister and two coats for myself.  This is one of the coats:

Isn’t it adorable?!  I love the polka dots (of course) and the crazy, dramatic collar.  Not only is the coat (Mycra Pac via Goodwill) spotted and dramatic, it is also water-resistant, wrinkle-resistant and reversible!  And, you can find it here, but, be warned, it costs considerably more than the $12.99 I paid at Goodwill.

In addition to my new coat, I also wore this dress (vintage Coco of California, thrifted):

It’s sooooo 70s, I couldn’t resist pairing it with my also-very-70s Eye of Sauron belt (thrifted, Goodwill).  But, I did also add tights (SPANX via Nordstrom) and booties (Luxury Rebel “Yuma” via Piperlime) to try to modernize the look a bit.  Because I do wear a lot of vintage clothes I try to be careful not to look like an extra in a period piece and I usually do that with my shoes.  It’s hard to resist the urge to go full 70s though; if I’d had the right pair of heeled boots, I think I would have worn them.

What about you, Reader Friends?  Do you try to modernize your vintage or do you go full Foxy Brown?

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Gracey

Take Four: Winter Coats from Coast to Coast

Today’s Take Four topic (ooh, alliteration) is Winter Coats.  This topic was a hard one for me because I have a lot of coats.  I mean A LOT.  I think it’s because when I find a coat that fits my broad shoulders and long arms, I feel compelled to buy it.  This lemon-yellow houndstooth was the latest coat I felt compelled to buy:

My friend Kathy called it a “grandma coat” and I suppose it is.  But, I absolutely adore it.  It’s handmade vintage (the tag says it’s “An Original By Miss Michael”), it’s houndstooth and it’s yellow.  It’s also thrifted and a bit fuzzy without being full-on-Muppet.  Oh, and it fits my broad shoulders and long arms.  What’s not to love?

Today I wore my vintage coat over a vintage dress:

Unlike the coat, the dress isn’t handmade and it’s also not conducive to riding a bike in (I drove today), but I rather like it.  I paired the dress (thrifted) with gray tights (Nordstrom), a thin belt (Gap) and my increasingly-ubiquitous burgundy pumps (Naya “Jada” via Nordstrom).  All in all, a little more body-con than I usually go, but I think it worked.

Enough about the outfit though, we’re here to talk about coats.  You’ve seen my coat, now may I suggest you take a look at what the other ladies of Take Four are rocking?  Visit Bekah at Matters of Merrymaking, Kelsey of Charming Pumpkin and Karla of Frugal Big Girl to see some fabulous winter coats and possible tomfoolery (I may have made that last part up but you’ll never know if you don’t stop by).

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Gracey