Pinwheels and Pleats

I'm wearing pinwheels and pleats today:

The pleats are courtesy of my vintage skirt and the pinwheels are courtesy of this a LOFT blouse:

Well, pinwheels or something like it.

I paired the red blouse and the white skirt with a blue belt and blue sandals:

I love to wear red, white and blue during the summer; it is a such a great, classic summer color combination.  But, it can also be a bit hard to wear this time of year without looking as though Betsy Ross is your tailor.

Blouse: LOFT (similar)  Belt: Old Navy (similar)
Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar)  Sandals: ZiGi girl (similar)

My advice?  Skip the flag print muscle tees and star print cut-offs, at least (especially?) for work.  No, save those pieces for the barbecue, and instead try a red and white printed piece with white and blue solids like I did.  Or, if you're feeling especially adventurous, even a red, white and blue printed piece. 

You can see some of my favorite seasonally-appropriate but also work-appropriate pieces below.  (Hover to see brands/prices).

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Well-Placed Medallions

As it turns out, my co-worker was right and it's actually pretty nice here so far this week.  However, I still have some outfits I wore during colder weather that I haven't posted.  So today you're getting an outfit from last week featuring a vintage scarf-print blouse:

Specifically, a vintage scarf-print blouse with some well-placed medallions:

I like to think the designer was trying to make a point that a top doesn't have to be low-cut to draw attention to the girls.  Or they just like medallion covered tatas.  Who knows?  The 80s were a crazy time.


Boob-enhancing pattern and all, I still love this blouse.  Scarf-print blouses just make me happy.  They're so over the top and sometimes boob-tastic, but still fun:

Top: thrifted vintage  Skirt: sold out LOFT (similar)
Tights: Assets (similar)  Boots: Franco Sarto "Eminent"

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Pleated and Printed

This dress has everything a gal could ask for in a vintage dress.  It's both pleated and printed:

What, exactly, it's printed with, I can't say.  It's some sort of random, 60s print:

But, that random 60s print works well with modern neutrals.


Modern neutrals like this faux leather moto and the suede boots:

Dress: thrifted vintage (similar)
Moto: Guess via Nordstrom Rack (similar)  Boots: Circa Joan & David (similar)

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Printed Dress + Bright Cardigan

I have a feeling that this particular outfit formula of printed dress + bright cardigan will be one I wear quite a bit this fall:

It's easy, it's colorful and the layers are good for those fall days that start off chilly and then get warmer.



And this particular print is a delight:

It's practically upholstery, which is nice because if I outgrow it, I can make it into an awesome throw pillow.  Reduce, reuse, recycle, right?



In the meantime, however, I'll just settle for wearing it as an adorable dress:

Dress: eShakti (see similar below)
Cardigan: Modcloth  Earrings: Handmade (similar)  Flats: Old Navy (similar)

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Shop Tapestry Print Dresses

Chambray, Olive and Magenta

I'm wearing magenta again, but out in the open this time.

No hidden magenta here, just this fun, pleated skirt, out in the open:

I found it in Goodwill the other day and thought it would be perfect with these olive Frye sandals:

I finished the look off with a knotted chambray shirt:

Top: Nordstrom (similar on sale)  Skirt: thrifted (similar, similar, similar)
Sandals: FRYE via Amazon (exact on sale, similar save, similar splurge)

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Donuts, Not Layers

Although I love layers, I don't always feel like I do them well.  It can be hard with my build to wear a layered look without adding bulk.  Especially around the midsection where everything converges (shirt, sweater, waistband).  But, I think I nailed it with this look:

I wish the pictures were better, but it was pouring the day I wore this because, well, Oregon.  But, really, this is probably my most successful attempt at layering ever.  I even layered my collar with a necklace!

Yeah, this is definitely my best layering ever.



I mean, just look:

Top: c/o Foxcroft (similar) Skirt: Thrifted  Sweater: Piperlime
Necklace: Macys  Tights: SPANX  Boots: Born Crown

The only bulk around that midsection there is due to donuts (I really like the chocolate cake kind), not due to layers.

Donuts, Folks, not layers.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Drop It Like It's Hot

I'm not usually a fan of drop-waist dresses as they tend to hug my tummy more closely than I am comfortable with.  But, then eShakti went and made a drop-waist dress and it was so cute that I hemmed and I hawed and then I bought it:

And I'm glad I did because I just love it; I love the flouncy hem, and the color and the abstract print. And I went up a size so that it skims my belly instead of trying to get all handsy with it.

I honestly think that sizing up made all the difference in the world; I was completely comfortable in this all day:

Dress: eShakti  Vest: Old Navy  Sandals: Jeffrey Campbell

I paired it with a cargo vest for a cooler morning and come fall and winter will add more and more layers.

I'm trying to get better about buying clothes that can be worn all year long, especially if I buy them retail and not at a thrift store. And I think this dress is perfect for that.  It's great for summer and think it'll be great in the dead of winter layered with tights, boots and a blazer.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Accidental Professional

A co-worker said I looked professional in this look:

I assured her that it was an accident.

It's not as if I set out to look unprofessional, but as I've mentioned before, there is no real dress code where I work.  Occasionally HR sends out an email asking people not to wear cut-offs and tube tops to work, but basically, anything goes.  That's why my work outfits include such items as shark jaw tees and eye print blouses, because as long as it's not an eye print tube top, no one cares.

Speaking of eye print, the print on this dress looks a little like eyes doesn't it?

As you can see it's not an eye print:

But, I like it even better now that I realize it's eye-adjacent.  I have a sincere and unapologetic affinity for eye prints.

And for this dress.  I received it from the fine folks at eShakti last year and realized that I don't wear it enough.  Which is silly because the print is great and so is the cut:

It's probably one of the more flattering dresses I own.

It even looks good when I'm freaking out over how good Snowpiercer is:

Seriously.  Watch that movie, you won't regret it.

Pro Tip: wearing a classically professional silhouette in a fun print will fool people into thinking you're a professional.

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Amazing, Fabulous, Perfect

I received this amazing, fabulous, perfect skirt as a gift from the amazing, fabulous, perfect Dawn at Suitcase Vignettes and, more recently, the Etsy shop, Tea Stained Lace:

It is one of the coolest vintage pieces I've ever seen, much less had the pleasure to own and I can't thank Dawn enough for sending it my way.

Here is a close up of the print on the skirt:

I have no idea what is being portrayed on this skirt, but I love the dark and moody colors and the little bits of red.  

Little bits of red that I picked up with my shiny red belt:

Seriously.  Love.

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey