Maximum Swanning

It was very, very cold here today.  But, rather than complain, I decided to layer:

Specifically, I layered my LTS cape over a striped shirt and belted the whole thing with a studded belt:

All paired with a vintage skirt, tights and riding boots:

Cape: c/o Long Tall Sally  (similar)  Shirt: Gap
Belt: old Michael Michael Kors  Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar)  Boots: gifted (similar)

So, no, no complaining from me today.  Just maximum swanning.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Small Victories

Remember last week when I said it was so hot that I basically had to wear summer dresses every day? Well, that is no longer true.  I mean, I'm still wearing summer dresses:

But now it's because it's warm enough that I *get* to wear summer dresses every day; I'm no longer being forced into it by unreasonable levels of humidity.



Today's particular summer dress is a floral shirtdress (because of course):

I paired it with a pre-knotted belt because when I try to knot belts on my own, they don't look remotely right:

I also wore my increasingly ubiquitous lace-up sandals and bright green earrings:

Dress: thrifted  Earrings: Kate Spade New York
Belt: LOFT (similar here & here)  Sandals: Dune London via Nordstrom

To recap, it's gone from stupidly hot to pleasantly warm and I didn't have to try to knot my own belt.  These are small victories, but I'll take them.



Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Bold Floral

It's been so hot lately, I've been essentially living in summer dresses, with a cardigan for work, of course.  Today's summer dress is a bright, bold floral:

Paired with red shoes because, as it turns out, I love red shoes:

And I think they're especially good with a bold floral:

Dress: vintage  Belt: thrifted (similar)  Shoes: Fidji via Shoes.com

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Shop Bold Floral Dresses

Five for Friday: Green Flash

For my last Five for Friday, I did a color, I love, Fiesta!  For today's version, I decided to do a color that I'm still on the fence about, Green Flash.

And, I have to say, I am newly on the fence about this color.  When the new Pantone colors were first announced, I was firmly on Team Oh-Hell-No about Green Flash.  But, it's growing on me and might even be something I try in one of the below pieces:

1. Saint Laurent "Classic 11" Sunglasses - I love, love, love the idea of sunnies mirrored with green flash lenses.  This pair is definitely on the steep side, but they're also awesome and would look fabulous with an all-white look.

2. Saucony Originals Jazz O Classic Retro Running Shoe - Athleisure continues to be a trend that many people enjoy.  It's not my personal favorite, but even I have to admit there is something charmingly retro about these bright sneaks.

3. Bindya Houndstooth Print Scarf - This is probably my favorite deployment of green flash; mixed with other bright colors on a black background.  And as I've always said, a lightweight scarf is perfect for an air-conditioned summer office.

4. Vintage Kay Windsor Summer Dress - Do you love Green Flash?  Well, then, this pick is for you.  Go all in with a vintage dress from Etsy vendor AldaWild.

5.  Topshop "Matisse" Floral Print Shorts - I love these shorts.  Love the print (again, Green Flash and other brights on a black background), love the cut, love the 80s feel.  Love.


So, Reader Friends, how do you feel about Green Flash?  On board?  On the fence?  Or on Team Oh-Hell-No?


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Shoe Review: LTS "Bali" Block Heel Sandals

These are my new sandals, courtesy of Long Tall Sally:

LTS "Bali" Block Heel Sandals

And, I have to tell you, they are perfect.  I know they don't look like much, just a simple leather sandals with a low block heel, but these are, hands-down, the most comfortable sandals I've ever worn.  I've worn them several times already with nary an ache or a blister.

As thrilled as I am with the comfort aspect of these sandals, what I like best is that they don't make my large feet look even larger.  Perfectly flat sandals can often make feet look bigger, which, at a size 10, is not something I need.  The slight, oh-so-walkable heel on these sandals keep my feet from looking even bigger.

Additionally, thin straps on sandals can make toes look long, which, again, can make your feet look bigger.  The front strap on these sandals is just wide enough to keep my toes from looking too long.  And, the ankles straps cross at the perfect place on my leg so I'm not sacrificing any of my well-earned (okay, genetically gifted) height.

This last bit is important to me not because I'm afraid of looking shorter, but because I wear a lot of clothes that are proportionally challenging which can be stumpifying.  Like my beloved midi dresses and skirts as well as my new go-to, wide leg crops.  The strap placement on these makes them perfect for all my potentially leg-shortening looks.


Like these cropped pants:

Tunic: LOFT  Pants: Old Navy
Scarf: thrifted (similar save, splurge)  Shoes: "Bali" Sandals c/o LTS

See?  Perfect.  Because of the strap placement, I'm still showing "enough" ankle that I don't end up a victim of what I like to call "The Crisco Effect" (i.e. artificial shortening).



In addition to my crops and the Bali sandals, I'm also wearing a striped tunic and a thrifted scarf:

Not for nothing, but white-on-white is a tricky as black-on-black.  I think this only works because the tunic is slightly sheer.  Otherwise it's totally a mismatched mess.



But even then, it wouldn't have been a total loss because, you know, cute sandals:

Just one of, I might add, several very cute pairs of shoes introduced as part of Long Tall Sally's "If the Shoe Fits" campaign.  As I'm sure most of you know, LTS specializes in cute, wearable, stylish shoes for women who wear sizes 10 to 15.  Sizes that, at most other retailers, can be impossible to find.  If you are large of foot, I strongly recommend you stop by Long Tall Sally for your spring footwear needs.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Blue Green

I was trying to figure out if these pants are blue or green:

And then I realized that the answer is "yes."


So, I paired them with some blue and some green and some blue green:

Shirt: Gap  Blazer: LOFT (this year's version)
Pants: LOFT  Scarf: gifted (similar)  Boots: Ivanka Trump (similar)

Because what else would you wear with yes-colored pants?


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Wind in the Florals

I'm back to another vintage floral dress dress today:

And the weather is back to wind.

Thankfully, I'm also back to tights, or this would have been an unpleasant photo session indeed.  As it was, I barely managed to keep from flashing the school children walking by.  I might look calm and collected in the photos above, but this is what it really looked like today:

At least until the wind died down a bit and I was able to get something a bit better:

Dress: thrifted vintage  Cardigan: thrifted vintage
Belt: thrifted (similar)  Boots: gifted (similar)

And then it started raining and I had to give up entirely.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Floral and Chambray

This may be my ideal Spring outfit:

Wrinkled-but-still-cute vintage dress?  Check.

Chambray blazer?  Check.

Caramel-colored boots?  Check.


Also, not for nothing, but I think this chambray blazer may be my wardrobe's jean jacket:

By which I mean the piece I will throw over any- and everything all season long.  I can't do regular denim jackets.  They make me look like a box.  And not like a cute little jewelry box with a ballerina inside.  No.  Like a denim box that a refrigerator was shipped in that now makes an awesome fort.  That kind of box.


But, the chambray blazer?  This I can do:

Blazer: LOFT (this season's version)
Dress: thrifted vintage (similar)  Boots: Enzo Angiolini "Colston"

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Literary Stylings #24: The Library at Mount Char

Let me just start by saying that this is a fantastic book:

The Library at Mount Char, by Scott Hawkins

That being said, I don't think this is a book for everyone, in part because it was very different.  It wasn't like anything I had ever read before and I'm not even sure what genre it's supposed to be in.  One reviewer calls it "modern day hidden world fantasy" and that's a pretty good explanation.  Frankly, you can call it whatever you want, I just call it fantastic.

It takes place in an inter-dimensional (sort of) library (sort of) accessed through a house in a Virginia suburb.  There are twelve "librarians" in this library.  They were all selected by a man they call "Father" to study different disciplines at the library.  The main character, Carolyn, studies languages; all of the languages, living, dead, human and otherwise.  Other librarians specialize in war, medicine, travelling the lands of the dead and the animal kingdoms, among other disciplines.

When the story opens, Father is missing and the librarians are trying to figure out where he is and if he's even still alive.  In trying to do this, they have to venture out of the library into America for the first time since they entered the library as children.  Because they aren't familiar with America and it's social mores, they end up dressing rather peculiarly.  David, for example, the librarian of war, runs around covered in blood and naked except for a purple tutu.  And Michael, the librarian of animals, just runs around naked.

Carolyn, having spent more time in America than the others has a better concept of how to dress herself.  But, because they were all chosen as children, she doesn't necessarily have a better concept of how to dress herself as an adult.  Therefore her chosen outfit is a Christmas sweater and gold bike shorts.  Obviously Carolyn is my inspiration for today's Literary Styling what with the other options being nudity and tutus.


Now, I don't have gold bike shorts (I know, I too am surprised) or a Christmas sweater, but I do have a snow sweater:

And I figure camel and gold are in the same color family so I paired it with my camel skirt:

Snow Sweater: vintage Ralph Lauren (similar here, here, and here)
Skirt: sold out LOFT (similar here, similar longer version)  Tights: Target  Boots: Born "Sosie" (similar)

I added the white tights because white tights always feel a bit young to me.  And since Carolyn was a young child when she was taken to study at the library, I figured white tights fit the theme.  I mean, I know my 9-year old self would love this outfit.


But, enough about me and The Library at Mount Char.  What about you, Reader Friends?  What did you read last month?  Did it inspire you sartorially?  If so, please link up below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Coatigan

No, not "that coat again."  Coatigan.  It's a cross between a coat and a cardigan:

This particular coatigan is from LOFT and I love the forest green color:

And I love how warm it is.  In fact, it's frankly too warm to wear unless it's freezing out.  Happily, it's been freezing out this week so I was able to pull it out of my closet where it had been languishing since this fall.



I layered it over a thrifted sweater dress which was, in turn, layered over a turtleneck and ponte pants:

Coatigan: LOFT (similar)  Dress: thrifted (similar)  Pants: Gap (similar)
 Hat: Nordstrom (similar)  Scarf: Target (similar) Boots: Born Crown (similar)

Yeah, I'll definitely be wearing this coatigan.  Again.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

New Year, New Cape

I think it's best to start a new year in something dramatic.  Like a cape:

It lets people know that you're not afraid to bring the drama to the office.  Belting your cape with a seriously studded belt also helps to hammer that point home:

Still not enough drama for you?  Try swanning about in your cape.  Nothing says drama like some swanning.  And trust me, in this Long Tall Sally cape, you can't help but swan:

The fabric drapes so beautifully and flows so nicely when you walk.  It's wind-in-the-cape instead of wind-in-the-hair, but I still feel like Tyra would be proud.


Seriously, Folks.  Capes.  I think they might become a thing:

Cape: c/o LTS  Turtleneck: Gap (similar)
Skirt: thrifted (similar) Belt: MICHAEL Michael Kors (similar)
Boots: Born Crown "Sosie" (similar)

At least I hope so.


Happy Monday, All!  And Happy New Year!

Gracey

A Good One

I am not wearing this today.  It's way, way too cold to wear this today.  No, I wore this outfit last week when it was close to 70:

Yes, that's right.  Almost 70 degrees in Pennsylvania.  In December.



Rather than complain, I took the opportunity to wear one of my new dresses:

Well, it's thrifted, so it's not new-new.  But, it's new to me and I'm rather fond of it.



I just think the print is so lovely:

I mean, you know how I feel about a dark floral:

Dress: handmade, thrifted  Hat: Nordstrom (similar)
Tights: Spanx  Flats: Bettye Muller (similar)

And this one is a good one.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

All Bright, All Right

Alternately titled: Rainbow Brite, Madeleine Albright and Bright Here, Bright Now


As you probably guessed, I am wearing some bright colors today:

In fact, I may be wearing all the bright colors today.


I blame this skirt:

I mean, with a skirt like that, how can I pair it with anything but a bright, bright blouse?

I'm not complaining though.  All bright really is all right in my book:

Blouse: LOFT (similar)  Belt: thrifted  Shoes: Corso Como (similar)
Skirt: thrifted & upcyled Peruvian dress (mini option, black & white option, orange option)

Happy Monday, All!


Gracey