Color Blocked

As much as I like this thrifted, color blocked sweater, I never wear it.  Because it is really, really hard for me to style with anything but jeans.  But, I think I may have finally figured it out with today's outfit:

Now, my jean wearing has been severely curtailed at my new job (boo!) but this sweater is wool and very, very warm so I feel like winter in Pittsburgh is it's time to shine.  So, eventually, I decided to try it with a suede skirt.


And I really do think it works:

Sweater: thrifted vintage (similar)  Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar)
Tights: WalMart  Boots: Michael Michael Kors (similar)

But, just in case it didn't, you can see that I added some fun, patterned tights to distract people from my sweater.



And I think that's the real takeaway here, Folks; when in doubt about your top, distract people with your legs.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Black, White and Wine

This week's Work Your Closet Style Challenge over at Putting Me Together is to wear a dress.  And I was like, done and done:

Dress: vintage, thrifted (similar)  Tights: Target (similar)
Belt: vintage, thrifted  Boots: Nine West (similar)

Sure it's cold and snowy here in Pennsylvania, but I'll be darned if that keeps me from wearing one of my beloved dresses.

Nope, I just pulled out a sweater dress, added tights and ankle boots and et voila, Gracey's wearing a dress:

In this case, a vintage dress that I actually thrifted here in Pennsylvania.  I made them strip it right off the mannequin!  But, can you blame me?  The striped top is pretty cool:

 So, heck yeah  I'm wearing a dress.  And I'm linking up to Putting Me Together.



Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

The Sweater Coat

This sweater coat is one of the pieces I was most excited to wear in cold Pennsylvania:

Sweater Coat: thrifted vintage  Jeans: Old Navy
Boots: Born Crown (similar)

And I was right to be excited.  This thing is cozy as heck; probably because it's basically a full-body sweater.  It's also colorful, color blocked and from my favorite 80s brand, I.B. Diffusion.  Never heard of I.B. Diffusion?  That's okay, I can help.  Here is one of their fabulous ads:


I.B. Diffusion Fall 1986 from Steve Weiss on Vimeo.


Amazing, right?  Yeah, the company that made that ad also made my sweater:

MICHAEL Michael Kors belt via Nordstrom (similar)

Yes, I know.  I am a lucky, lucky girl.


Happy Monday, 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

Whither the Kitsch?

The other day Sally wore an outfit where she said she was dressed for "almost herself."  I know exactly what she means.  This outfit is almost me, but not quite:

Target tunic-dress & leggings, Nordstrom cardigan, Macy's belt & thrifted boots.

It's me in that it involves bright colors, worn together.  And leggings; I love leggings darn it.  And boots.  I'm all about the boots.  But, it's still not quite me.

I think it's because there is nothing fun or particularly interesting about this outfit.  (That's right; I think I'm more interesting than this.  I said it).  It's also really drape-y.  I think I'm more comfortable in slightly more structured items with some fun to them.  I was physically comfortable in this, but it doesn't speak to my fun-loving, kitschy soul.  Whither the kitsch, Gracey, whither the kitsch?

Don't worry.  I'll probably get it together by next week.  Probably.

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

When Squirrels Attack

Yesterday, I was outside taking my pictures, when I was attacked by this squirrel:

That’s right, that little beady-eyed, venom-fanged menace tried to kill me.

He snuck up on me along the retaining wall, and when I screamed and ran away, he rushed me:

If you look closely, you can see the shank he has hidden in his tail.

Witnesses believe I was targeted because the squirrel didn’t like my outfit: 

I think that’s ridiculous because my outfit was awesome, but maybe he didn’t like the combination of burgundy cords (Banana Republic, here), lemon yellow sweater (Gap, here) and cherry red belt (Macys, similar here).  Or maybe he hates houndstooth (Old Navy via Goodwill, similar here). 

Whatever the reason for the attack, I think we can all agree that the squirrel is a menace to society and needs to be stopped.  

So, please take a good look at that horrifying face of evil, and if you see that razor-clawed ninja squirrel, please perform a citizen’s arrest.  We must keep the world safe for the children.  But, be careful.  He’s both fluffy and dangerous.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

** 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.

I Like Bright Pants and I Cannot Lie

Like these:

These cords (Merona, Target) come in other, less insanely bright colors, but as soon as I saw them, I knew I was going to get the flame orange pair.  My head tried to argue that a navy or tan pair would be more versatile and therefore more practical, but my heart yelled ‘practical clothes are for sissies’ and grabbed this pair.

And, really, they’ve turned out to be more versatile than I’d first thought.  So far, I’ve worn them with bright blue and houndstooth (here) and today I’m wearing them with peach (thrifted sweater) and black (thrifted Brooks Brothers silk tie and Hive and Honey flats).  If that’s not versatility, I don’t know what is.  Of course, the best part is not that I am able to wear these pants with multiple outfits, but that they’re outfits I love.  Which is why, Dearest Reader Friends, I like bright pants and don’t bother to lie about it.

Happy Friday, All!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Gracey

Autumnal

I’m convinced that this is the perfect autumnal outfit, in spite of the fact that it’s made up of brights:

(Exact Merona Cords, Similar Sweater, Similar Shoes)

And they are some BRIGHT brights too.  But, I like the flame-orange cords (Target) with the electric blue sweater (Nordstrom, thrifted).  It could even be argued that I toned the look down a bit with houndstooth shoes (Old Navy, thrifted) if, you know, you consider houndstooth to be toned down.  If you don’t, well, then, yeah…

Really though, even with the bright brights and not-exactly-neutral houndstooth, this outfit feels like fall to me.  I think I feel that way in part because it consists of cords and a sweater, which I think we can all agree is a classic fall outfit.  And, while I understand that these may not be classic fall colors, I think they’re fall-like in their own way.  For me, they evoke images of turning leaves, pumpkin patches and the blue fall sky before the rains come.

Of course, I could just be convinced this outfit feels like fall because today finally felt like fall.  It was actually quite chilly on the ride in and I may have to break out the mittens before the week is up.  So exciting!

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

** 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.

Lemon and Rose

This is one of my favorite color combinations to wear, but I have no idea why:

It doesn’t seem like rose and lemon would pair well together, and, for all I know, they don’t.  But, I like them together and I like wearing them together.  At least I think I do.  I do have to admit, however, that as I’m nearing the end of my Nosh Opping expedition, I may be putting together some ridiculous combinations just so I get everything worn and can shop again.

I don’t think that’s the case today, but it very well could be.  Whatever the reason, I paired a rose-colored skirt (thrifted) with a lemon yellow blouse (Old Navy).  I added a thin black belt (Steve Madden via Ross) and my previously orphaned ankle-strap flats (Hive & Honey “Yvonna” via Piperlime).  I think I probably could have added a black statement necklace except that I don’t have a black statement necklace because I don’t really wear statement necklaces.  Except that I’ve decided maybe I do which I guess means I’ll need to buy one for next time.

Future shopping plans aside, I do like this outfit and I’m definitely keeping both of these pieces.

And that’s it for me.  It’s been a long, exhausting week, but it should be a good weekend.  Tomorrow I’m going to the Jazz Festival in Cathedral Park and if her voice is healed, I’ll be watching Florence + the Machine at Edgefield.  I’m especially excited for both of these events because the combination of venue and music should be spectacular.

Have a wonderful weekend, Everyone!

Gracey