Flow-y, But With Pants

A combination that I really, really love, but don't wear nearly enough, is the combination of a dress over pants:

It can just be such a hard look to get right.  The proportions can go wacky, and stumpifying, very quickly. (And, trust me, no one wants to look both wacky *and* stumpified.  One or the other, sure, why not?  But not both).  Still, as I said, it's a look I love and one I'll keep trying.


That being said, I rather like this iteration:

Turtleneck: Gap (similar)  Dress: thrifted vintage
Pants: Gap (similar)  Belt: thrifted vintage  Boots: Franco Sarto "Eminent"

I think wearing the dress partially open over the pants helps minimize any damage I'm doing with these proportions.  And even if it's not, I still like this version because it is great for swanning about without freezing my nethers. It's flow-y, but with pants.  So, you know, win-win.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

A Little Dress-on-Dress Action

I haven't been engaging in very creative layering lately.  I usually just add a cardigan to whatever I'm wearing to combat the office AC.  I'm not even sure that counts as layering.  But today's look totally counts:

No cardigans here, just layered dress:

Both dresses are thrifted, the bottom dress is vintage and the top dress is from the 90s, and has a great sketched floral print:

Now, I'll probably be back to layering with cardigans tomorrow, as I do love cardigans and hate AC, but, for today, I went with a little dress-on-dress action:

Black dress: thrifted vintage (see similar below)  Belt: thrifted vintage
Floral dress: thrifted (similar below)  Sandals: c/o LTS (similar)

And I'd probably do it again.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Layering Dresses

Welcome to March

So, my co-worker, a native Pittsburgher and overwhelming optimist, assures me that Spring is almost here and it's going to be nice all week next week.  I am, understandably, I think, skeptical.  Why?  Because the past two days, it's been freezing and alternating between rain and snow.

Basically, I'm still wearing as many layers in March as I was in December and January:

Heck, maybe even more.


The good news is that I rather like this combination of pieces:

The bad news is that I'm getting real tired of the wind messing up my perfect pleats:

Stupid wind.


So, yeah, welcome to March:

Hat: Nordstrom (similar) Scarf: La Fiorentina via Bluefly  Sweater: LOFT (similar)
Wool Blazer: Gap (similar)  Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar)  Boots: Franco Sarto "Eminent"

And Happy Friday!

Gracey

So Cowl Me Maybe

Cowls are great.  And double cowls are doubly great.

See?  Doubly great cowl-ness.



Of course, as much as I love the sweater, it's really the scarf that makes this look.  It's just so darned cool:

Skipjack Cowl from Victory Garden Yarn

I layered the two cowl pieces over a black midi dress and added some fringed boots:

Scarf: Victory Garden Yarn  Sweater: v. old thrifted (similar)
Dress: Gap (similar)  Boots: Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply (similar)  Earrings: vintage (similar)

All in all, I think all of the pieces made for a look that was both interesting and comfortable.  And, for my money, those are the best kinds of looks.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

The Longline Vest

I love plum with navy.  (Okay, fine, I love everything with navy).  But, I wanted an extra layer because, well, it's cold.  So, I added this longline vest:

I think the ash gray offsets the jewel tones of the pants and sweater nicely:

But, mostly, I just have a thing for longline vests this season.  They'll never fully replace my beloved sweater vests in my heart, but they're definitely a welcome addition to my wardrobe.



They just make layering so easy:

Vest: Topshop via Nordstrom (sold out, similar here)  Sweater: Gap
  Pants: Gap  Watch: gifted Fossil Q Grant  Shoes: Bettye Bettye Muller (similar)

And for my money, easy is good. Especially in winter when I want to call in just because it's cold.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

That Tapestry Dress

Now that it's gotten colder here in Western PA, I find myself wanting to wear this tapestry dress all the time:

I want to wear it layered under things.  And over things.  And, as is the case with today's look, both over and under things:

I just love the bright print on the black background:

And I love how warm it is.  It's a heavy, woven fabric, like, well, a tapestry.  Or, I guess, upholstery.



I don't think I'll be calling it my "upholstery dress" because it just doesn't sound as fancy:

Dress: eShakti (similar)  Top: LOFT  Blazer: thrifted Pendleton (similar) 
Earrings: Macy's  Tights: SPANX  Boots: Franco Sarto "Eminent"

Make no mistake, though, I would gladly take a side chair or some throw pillows in this fabric.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Just Enough

This outfit is striped and red.  And flared and leopard.  And there's a fox face in there.  Basically, there's a whole lot going on in this outfit:

But, I can't help it.  I love all off these pieces and I love them all together.


I mean, how great is my fox brooch with my striped shirt?

Pretty great, I'd say.


Also pretty great is the combination of the everything else with the rest of the everything else:

I guess what I'm saying is that I know this seems like too much, but for my personal aesthetic, it's just enough:

Jacket: thrifted vintage  Blouse: thrifted vintage (similar)
Brooch: vintage  Belt: v. old (similar)  Jeans: Gap  Boots: Franco Sarto "Eminent"

Yep, just enough.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Lions and Leggings and Stripes, Oh My!

One of the hardest things about moving to a colder climate, for me, has been maintaining my individual sense of style while still keeping warm.  Because, as much as I love skirts and dresses and tights, sometimes it's so darned cold that I just want to wear leggings.

Like today:

But, because I'm me, I'm not just wearing leggings.  I'm wearing lions and leggings and stripes (oh my!):

Because, the fact of the matter is, that adding lions and the phrase "oh my" makes everything better:

Stripes: Old Navy (similar)  Jacket: LOFT (similar)  Cowl: gifted (similar)
Brooch: thrifted vintage (exact)  Leggings: metrostyle  Boots: Born Crown (similar)

Try it, you'll see.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Stripes and Layers

I pulled out my fall/winter clothes last weekend and that's always fun because I find things I forgot that I even owned.  Like this dress:

It's a sort of shapeless cut and so not the most flattering to my figure, but layering a jacket over it helps that issue:

Dress: Old Navy (similar)  Jacket: LOFT (similar)
Scarf: LOFT (similar)  Boots: Born (similar) 

At least that's what they say.

Also, in case you're curious, no, my scarf doesn't match my dress:

But, it goes.  And, as we all know, that's all that matters.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Pleats and Stripes

Two things I have a lot of: stripes and pleated skirts.  Sometimes I like to wear them together:

And sometimes I like to wear those pleats and stripes with vests and ankle boots:

Although lately it feels as though I'm wearing this vest with everything.  And now that fall is officially here, I am definitely going to start wearing ankle boots with everything.


Like with these pleats and stripes:

Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar) (similar)  Tee: Gap
Vest: Old Navy (similar)  Earrings: handmade (similar)  Boots: Sole Society "Romy"

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Literary Stylings # 22: Transmission

As I said last week, I really, really enjoyed reading two books last month; Child 44 and Transmission.  However, I went with Transmission for my inspiration because Child 44 takes place during the Russian winter and it's entirely too hot to pull out the furs.


Transmission, on the other hand, takes place, at least for a bit, in India:

In fact, two of the main characters, Arjun, an American-bound computer geek, and Leela, Bollywood's latest "it girl" are Indian.  And even when these two leave their homelands to write code in America or make movies in Scotland, India is still referenced.


And that's what I tried to do with this outfit.  I tried to reference India:

Although, to be fair, the print on the dress isn't really Indian, but more Far Eastern:

Still, a girl does what she can when inspired by literature.  And what I could do was this:

Dress: thrifted (similar, similar plain)  Pants: LOFT (save, splurge)
Shoes: FRYE (similar)  Necklace: Sole Society (similar)

What about you, Reader Friends?  Were you sartorially inspired by any literature last month?  If so, please link your looks up below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey


P.S. If you haven't yet entered my Jamberry giveaway, you can do so here!