So, I thought I was wearing a printed black blouse and a black skirt with my marigold cardigan:
At least that's what I thought until I stepped outside into the daylight and realized that my blouse was, in fact, navy:
I briefly considered changing and then remembered that black and navy together don't bother me. In fact, I rather like black and blue together. I figure if it's good enough for bruises thunderstorms, it's good enough for me.
After a wet, cold, rainy & sometimes snowy patch, I think Spring may finally be here. In fact, I'm so optimistic about it, that I brought out my ankles:
As everyone knows, optimistic ankle baring is one of the first true signs of Spring.
I chose to bare my ankles with these bright blue pants:
I love these pants. I bought them on a whim, because they were blue. I was uncertain of how versatile they'd be, but I want to wear them with everything. Do they go with everything? Maybe, maybe not. But I want to wear them with everything.
And they certainly go with this dark floral blouse:
So, the other day I ordered a floral blouse from Nordstrom Rack. Soon after, I was in Sephora, which out here is housed in a JC Penney, and I spotted what looked like the same floral print.
And it was the same print, just on a different scale and in skirt form. So, of course, I immediately purchased said skirt and promptly wore both pieces together:
See? Same print, different scale:
Also, studded boots.
Because I figure that if you happen to find two items in the same print but a different scale, you're practically obligated to wear them together:
Blouse: Wayf via Nordstrom Rack Skirt: JC Penney
Turtleneck: Gap Tights: SPANX Boots: Ash (similar save, splurge)
Right? Right.
Now, unfortunately, I can't find either the top or the skirt online, but I've picked some coordinating pieces below that I think would be pretty great together.
I love the large scale print and the colors are gorgeous:
Although the weekend was freezing (no, really, it dropped to 28 last night), it's warming up again so a three-quarter sleeve sweater, velvet scarf and culottes are just warm enough:
I'm trying to wear my culottes and cropped pants for as long as I can this fall because, tights or not, I don't see them working for winter.
Which is too bad, because I do love me some culottes:
I'm still in tights and booties, but they're open-weave tights and completely impractical booties. And I'm still in a black skirt, but I paired it with a floral print and a pink jacket.
I figure the floral sweater is a good middle ground for early spring. It's a floral, but it's also a sweater. And even though it's a dark floral, the little pops of pink tie in nicely with my pink jacket.
Basically, this outfit lets me feel a little like spring, but without freezing to death:
I think that's the core logic behind any good spring outfit; spring-y and no frostbite.
In between the rains, we've been blessed with some really gorgeous days here in Oregon. I took the opportunity on one of those days to go bootless. Choosing instead my favorite animal print flats:
Dress & Belt: vintage, thrifted Shoes: Nine West
These flats are some of my very favorite shoes and really, if it didn't rain like the dickens here all fall and winter, they would be all-season shoes for me.
This time around, I paired them with a dark, fall-appropriate floral dress:
All of my dark floral dresses are thrifted, and this one is no exception. They are one of the easiest items to find in secondhand stores and a great way to wear floral through autumn and winter.
I especially love the mix of bright pink and black on this dress:
It's fall-appropriate without being gloomy. And it's the perfect fit with the leopard flats.
Honestly, even if you're "not really into" animal print, I recommend a pair of animal print shoes. They're fun, they're exceeding versatile and I promise that they won't lead to head-to-toe leopard velour. Unless, of course, you want them to.
I know a lot of people wear black through summer and somehow manage to do so without dissolving into a puddle of sweat, but I am not one of those people. Therefore, I tend to avoid wearing black during the warmer months. That is, unless I thrift an irresistible skirt that manages to be both black and summery all at once:
What makes this skirt irresistible to me? Well, although the print is kind of strange, I also find it oddly compelling:
Also, although it is nice and lightweight and therefore totally summer-appropriate (totally), I think the weird print will work well into fall as well. I'd like to do better about having pieces that are good for multiple seasons.
And, last, but certainly not least, this skirt lends itself to being paired with both black and brown and I'll be darned if I don't love mixed neutrals:
