Summer Sweaters and Arctic Offices

I am fed up with the air conditioning at work.  It's so cold in my office that I was forced to wear a sweater to work today:

A sweater!  At the end of June!  I know!


Because, apparently, once the air goes on at work, they can't (won't?) adjust it.  So, on days like today when it was neither warm enough nor humid enough to justify blasting the air conditioner, they do it anyway.  So, in order to survive my Arctic office, I've learned that summer sweaters are not only a real thing, but a sometimes necessary thing.


I paired today's summer sweater with diamond-print pants and leopard flats:

Crap, but white is hard to photograph.  Well, trust me, those are black diamonds on my pants, not gray blobs.



And trust me that a sweater was more than called for today:

Sweater: LOFT (similar) Earrings: Mata Traders
Pants: Gap  Flats: Nine West (similar)

More than called for.



Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Wednesday Ends in Y

I've decided to limit my print mixing to those days that end in "Y".  Happily, today is just such a day and I'm taking advantage of that fact by mixing some prints:

This time it's palm and stripes:

Palm and stripes and t-strap sandals:

Skirt: LOFT (similar short) (similar midi)  Blouse: LOFT (same blouse, different print)            Sandals: Camper (similar)

Because today is Wednesday and Wednesday ends in "Y."


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Layered Prints

I'm wearing layered prints today:

Now, you're probably looking at this and thinking, "Really, Gracey?  A turtleneck and a sweater?  In April?"


To which I'd reply, "Yes, because snow":

That's right, snow.  And quite a bit too.  We had a dusting on Sunday, some people got some Tuesday night, and now this.  And I think it's supposed to snow tomorrow as well.


So, yeah.  Snow.  And layered prints:

Stripes: Old Navy (similar)  Sweater: Vila via ASOS
Belt: J. Crew  Pants: Gap  Boots: Franco Sarto "Eminent"

Because, well, snow.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

The Spring Version

I first wore this outfit last Fall:

Today I'm wearing the Spring version:

Well, the almost-Spring version.  I'm still not convinced it's actually Spring and so will keep laying like my life depends on it.


Because, as you likely noticed, the Spring version of this outfit is just the Fall version with some added layers.  But, that's okay because in this case, added layers mean added colors:

I mean, if there was anything the Fall version of this look was missing was more colors, right?

Skirt & Top: H&M  Cardigan: LOFT
Scarf: La Fiorentina  Belt: thrifted  Boots: v. old Kenneth Cole Reaction

Right.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Winter Patriot

The colors of this outfit are probably more suited for July than January, but the layers are way, way too hot for July in Pittsburgh:

They're perfect for January though.  The sweater is surprising warm and the skirt, being the thickest polyester the 70s have to offer, is also very warm.


And, of course, stripes are perfect for every season:

Especially double stripes:

Yep, double stripes and patriotic colors; perfect for a cold January day:

Jacket: LOFT  Tee: LOFT (similar)
Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar) Tights: Spanx  Boots: Franco Sarto "Eminent"

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Duck, Duck, Grid

Gah.  Okay. Fine.  They're swans, not ducks:

But, "swan, swan, grid" doesn't even remotely sound like a thing and duck, duck, grid is fun.  So, duck, duck, grid it is:

And, whatever you call it, I think it's a fun play on black and white:

Blouse: Target (similar in navy)  Skirt: LOFT (similar pencil skirt)
Tights: Assets via Target (similar)  Shoes: Bettye Muller (similar)

Classic, but with a twist.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Pattern Play

One thing that has been both frustrating and amusing about getting a new job is that I have a new set of people I get to explain my outfits to.

This outfit required quite a bit of explanation:

First I tried to tell them that mixing patterns was okay.  They were not convinced.



Then I tried convince them that this mix especially made good sense.  I mean, look at this:

Could any two prints go any better?!!!



And yes, I said go.  I know this outfit doesn't match:

But, I'll be gosh-darned if it doesn't go.  Apparently though, "going" isn't a concept my new co-works are ready to embrace yet.



That's okay.  I'll just keep mixing my prints and eventually they'll agree that the mixes make sense.

Top: H&M (similar) (similar)  Skirt: H&M (similar)
Belt: thrifted (similar)  Boots: v. old Steve Madden (similar)

Maybe.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Knotted

I've never really been successful in my attempts to knot my belts in a stylish, cute manner.  Knowing when I'm beat, I decided to try a pre-knotted belt:

And I'm so glad I did.  Now I don't have to worry about the knot laying correctly or the belt flipping up.  This belt lays perfectly:

And just happens to pair wonderfully with my sandals:

Top: Nordstrom (similar)  Skirt: thrifted
Belt: LOFT (similar below)  Sandals: Kork-Ease (similar)

I'm not a big advocate of matchy-matchy accessorizing, but even I have to admit that this belt and these sandals look fantastic together:

And not too shabby with the skirt either.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Shop Knotted Belts

Art Teacher Chic

I feel as though I'm a pair of Birkenstocks away from looking like an art teacher in this outfit:

Which isn't to say I don't like it.  I actually really like it.  It's sort of art teacher chic:

Clashing prints?  Check.

Skirt in an awkward length?  Check.


Oversized cardigan?  Check.

Birkenstocks?  Birkenstocks...?


Nope, not for me.  I went with heeled black sandals instead:

But, really, I think it's safe to say I otherwise nailed this:

Cardigan: LOFT  Tank: LOFT (similar)
Earrings: Mata Traders  Skirt: thrifted (similar)  Sandals: Isola

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Polka Dots and Polka Nots

Today I mixed polka dots with a micro-floral print that looks like polka dots, but it's not:

A print that is commonly known in the business as, polka nots:

See?  Polka nots, not polka dots.



And that's a black polka dot skirt, not navy:

I know, I know.  It's craziness:

Blouse: vintage, thrifted (similar) (similar)
Skirt: vintage, thrifted (see below) Sandals: Franco Sarto (similar)  

Craziness, polka dots and polka nots.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Shop Polka Dot Skirts