In the Pink

Although I usually avoid wearing pink around Valentine's Day, I couldn't resist pairing my fuzzy pink jacket with my new sweater vest:

Jacket: Vintage, gifted  Vest: Nordstrom  Turtleneck: Gap
Skirt: Thrifted  Tights: SPANX  Boots: Naya (similar)

It's just so pink and fuzzy:

And the sweater vest is pretty cool too:

The open sides and the high/low hem make it both modern and versatile.  And because it's a mock turtleneck, I can layer it over a standard turtleneck.  So, you know, that's a win-win for my turtleneck-loving self.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Dark Red and Light Blue

Not too long ago, Angie wrote about the combination of dark red and light blue.  I was intrigued because they aren't two colors that I would ever put together.  But, I liked the idea of the combination and wanted to see if I could make it work for me.

So, instead of adding black accessories to this vintage dress, I added dark red:

And it turns out that that Angie knows what she's talking about because I loved this combination.  It was unexpected but perfect.


My blue is a bit of a darker blue than Angie shows in her ensemble, but I think the cornflower still works with the dark red:

Dress: thrifted vintage  Belt: thrifted  Shoes: Naya

And I think that's the point of trying a recommended look or color combination; someone makes the suggestion, but you make it your own.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Neutral Layers

As most of you know, I'm just not that into neutrals.  But, I love layers, texture and patterns which is why I think this outfit works for me:

The turtleneck  and boots add a bit of color, but otherwise, my outfit is dependent on layers, texture and patterns for interest.  The cream sweater has a non-standard stitch, the gray skirt is a diamond pattern and the gray tights are herringbone.

I even layered my necklaces:

So, yeah, even though this outfit is mainly neutrals, it still feels like me.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Similar skirt

Similar sweater

Exact Naya "Virtue" boots

Similar moss agate necklace

How It Works

My sister looked at today’s outfit and said “I don’t get it”:

I said, “What is there to get?  They’re both plaid.”

She responded with, “I don’t think that’s how it works.”

I responded by laughing really loudly and saying “That’s exactly how it works.”

The thing is, I honestly do think this outfit makes perfect sense.  I’ve had the skirt for a while but the sweater vest is a recent thrifted acquisition.  But, when I tried the vest on, my immediate* thought was that I would wear it with this skirt.  

For me, a plaid with a plaid is nothing but good, especially when the other rules of pattern mixing are followed; these pieces have a similar scale and they share a predominant color.

Vest: thrifted vintage   Skirt: thrifted vintage  Tights: Spanx  Belt: Gap, similar  Shoes: Naya "Jada", similar

Okay, so I guess both pieces being plaid isn’t what makes these pieces work together, but I still maintain that they do work.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

*Okay, that’s not entirely true.  My actual immediate thought when trying this vest on was “holy side-boob!” as it’s open basically to the waist.  But, my second thought was to pair it with this skirt.  I swear.

Some Damn Stylish Nuns

Today a co-worker told me that my shoes reminded her of the shoes the nuns at her school used to wear when she was younger.  I figure those must have been some damn stylish nuns, because I love these shoes:

Image via shoes.com

They are the Naya “Jada” pumps that I’ve been wearing for the past year.  Last year they were burgundy.  This year they are oxblood.  Such is the way of fashion.

Of course, I didn’t just wear shoes:

I also wore a pleated polka dot skirt (thrifted) and a mustard yellow blouse (Old Navy).  I added a leopard-print belt (via a disremembered source) because I’m obsessed with leopard and polka dots like blogger-friend Tracy is obsessed with leopard and stripes.  And I finished the look with a vintage bracelet (Monet via Red Fox Vintage) and drop earrings (Target, v. old).

Because my skirt is thrifted and the belt may be, I’ve linked up to Callie’s Thrifter Thursday over at Coffee and Cardigans. 

Happy Thursday, Everyone!

Gracey

Eclectic Jungle

Folks?  I think this might be one of my favorite outfits ever.  Ever:

I mean, sure, it’s a lot, but I think that’s part of what I like about it.  Well, that and the fact that it includes a lot of my favorite pieces.  Take the blouse, for example; it’s kitschy and it makes me ridiculously happy.  The skirt, in spite of it’s tricky length, is also one of my favorites.  And the blazer, which is new to my closet, was love at first sight.  It looks like polka dots in these photos, but they're actually diamonds:

And wearing these pieces all together?  I’m not sure it could get any better.  I especially like that I was able to winterize the blouse (vintage, thrifted) and this skirt (vintage, thrifted) with the addition of the blazer (vintage 80s Ann Taylor, thrifted).  I wore both the blouse and the skirt quite a few times last summer, but they’re very lightweight.  Adding the blazer and the tights (Spanx) definitely made them comfortable for winter.  And I added oxblood pumps (Naya “Jada” via Nordstrom), just because.

I also added my vintage lion earrings even though we all know lions don’t live in the jungle (they live in the Serengeti):

And some bangles:

Oh, and my owl belt snuck in there too, but I forgot to get a picture.

All in all, I’m not sure that this should work and I’m not even sure it did work, but I know I love it.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

That Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means

I was in the hallway at work today and a woman yelled “Happy V.D.” to her friend down the hall.  I started laughing, but what I really wanted to do was tell her that “that doesn’t mean what you think it means.”  And then, of course, my friends and I spent the rest of the day saying “Happy V.D.” to each other.

In other news, I wore some clothes today.  These clothes, in fact:

You may notice that I’m not wearing pink or red.  I know that today is the EBEW Pink and Red Challenge, but I purposely skipped it because pink and red together on Valentine’s Day is just too on-the-nose for my taste.  I went with blue(s) and burgundy instead.

I’ve paired this day dress (vintage Karin Stevens, thrifted) with this cardigan (a.n.a via JC Penney) and belt (Gap) before, but with my riding boots.  Today I added teal tights (Hue) and burgundy shoes (Naya “Jada” via Nordstrom) instead.  And I love it.  I wasn’t sure about the burgundy shoes, but I think they definitely work.  And we can pretend I wore them in the spirit of Valentine’s Day (I didn’t).

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!  And Happy V.D!!

Gracey

Take Four: Winter Coats from Coast to Coast

Today’s Take Four topic (ooh, alliteration) is Winter Coats.  This topic was a hard one for me because I have a lot of coats.  I mean A LOT.  I think it’s because when I find a coat that fits my broad shoulders and long arms, I feel compelled to buy it.  This lemon-yellow houndstooth was the latest coat I felt compelled to buy:

My friend Kathy called it a “grandma coat” and I suppose it is.  But, I absolutely adore it.  It’s handmade vintage (the tag says it’s “An Original By Miss Michael”), it’s houndstooth and it’s yellow.  It’s also thrifted and a bit fuzzy without being full-on-Muppet.  Oh, and it fits my broad shoulders and long arms.  What’s not to love?

Today I wore my vintage coat over a vintage dress:

Unlike the coat, the dress isn’t handmade and it’s also not conducive to riding a bike in (I drove today), but I rather like it.  I paired the dress (thrifted) with gray tights (Nordstrom), a thin belt (Gap) and my increasingly-ubiquitous burgundy pumps (Naya “Jada” via Nordstrom).  All in all, a little more body-con than I usually go, but I think it worked.

Enough about the outfit though, we’re here to talk about coats.  You’ve seen my coat, now may I suggest you take a look at what the other ladies of Take Four are rocking?  Visit Bekah at Matters of Merrymaking, Kelsey of Charming Pumpkin and Karla of Frugal Big Girl to see some fabulous winter coats and possible tomfoolery (I may have made that last part up but you’ll never know if you don’t stop by).

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Gracey

Another Fall Floral

At the risk of appearing to be a one-trick pony, I’m wearing another fall floral today:

Today's fall floral is less bold than yesterday’s, but remains one of my favorite dresses to remix.  The bits of color throughout the dress lend themselves to several color combinations.  Today I picked up on the burgundy, olive and tan tones in the dress (vintage) with olive tights (Hue), burgundy shoes (Naya “Jada” via Nordstrom) and a tan cardigan (Old Navy).  I added a thin belt (Gap) and fully intended to add earrings but that didn’t happen.  I did wear my hair in a side pony though, so you’re welcome for that.

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

Gracey

P.S. Side ponies are totally coming back.  Probably.

I’ve Got This: Houndstooth

Houndstooth reminds me of the late 80s/early 90s; specifically, it reminds me of a pair of houndstooth stirrup pants from Victoria’s Secret that I coveted with all my heart.  That association makes me a little hesitant to embrace this fall’s houndstooth trend, but, as it turns out, it’s still something I’ve got in my closet:

I actually have a couple of houndstooth pieces in my closet and have for a couple of years now, but, don’t worry, no stirrup pants.  In fact, both pieces are skirts, one A-line and one pencil and today I wore the houndstooth pencil skirt:

I paired the skirt (thrifted) with a teal top (Nordstrom) under a men’s cranberry cardigan (vintage Jantzen, thrifted), a black faux-croc belt (INC via Macy’s), black tights (Spanx “Tight End Tights” via Nordstrom) and burgundy shoes (Naya “Jada” via Nordstrom).  Full disclosure: I copied this color scheme from Katha Strophe, whose blog, Kathastrophal, I’ve just started reading, but she said it was okay.

Also, it’s Thursday and I think we all know what that means.  That’s right, today is the Spunky Chateau Thurday’s are for Thrifters Link Party.  And, of course, I’m still linked up to the 260 Days, No Repeats “I’ve Got This” challenge.  Basically, it’s a pretty link-tastic day.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Brown and Blue and an Untied Shoe

Sometimes I like to rhyme for no reason.  And sometimes I don’t figure out that my shoe is untied until after I take my pictures.  Both of those things happened here today:

The picture taking process was a rather distracted mess today so neither Ferge nor I noticed that my shoe was untied.  I do love these shoes, but satiny ribbon maybe isn’t the best for staying tied.  I’m still going to wear the heck out of them though, so perhaps a double knot is in order.  Untied or (k)not, I liked these shoes with this outfit.  I think the burgundy of the shoes (Naya “Jada” via Nordstrom) works well with my flared trouser jeans (Gap) and olive-brown sweater (ana via JC Penney) which I layered over a sheer blue and white blouse (Gap). 

In other news, the rain has returned to Oregon so I’m having to put in work to get dressed in the morning.  I ride my bike year round, including when it rains, and choosing an outfit gets exponentially more difficult the colder and wetter it gets.  Even when it’s cold out, I get fairly warm riding my bike, so I have to try to dress warmly, but not so warmly that I’m a hot, sweaty mess by the time I reach the office.  And although I try to dodge rain showers as much as possible, if I know I’m going to be stuck riding in the rain I try to wear clothes that dry quickly.  I’m telling you folks, I’m already missing the easy days of summer when I could just throw on whatever and ride in.

What about you all?  What time of year is most difficult for you, wardrobe-wise?

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Gracey