Not Burgundy and Red

Today's outfit looks like burgundy and red:

But, it's not.  I mean, yes, the skirt is red, but the sweater is not burgundy.  It's actually a blend of navy and red:

A blend that, from far away looks like burgundy.

Sweater: Banana Republic Skirt: thrifted vintage
Tights: Spanx  Boots: Splendid (similar)

Color is fun.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Teeth

I thrifted the best t-shirt a couple of months ago but it took me forever to wear it.  It's just so good, I wasn't sure what to wear with it.  But, I finally figured it out:

And yes, it did take me forever to figure out what goes best with teeth is... more teeth:

I know, right?  Shark tooth + houndstooth = obviously awesome:

At least in my book.

Seriously, I loved this outfit.  The tee makes me unreasonably happy, as does the randomly-fringed 80s skirt:

Put them together and this outfit is the whole reason I shop at second-hand stores; I can get an outfit I love for about $10.  Which is why I'm linking up with Citizen Rosebud for #SECONDHANDFIRST.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Similar shark tee (here or here)

Similar skirt (sadly w/o the fringe)

Splendid Lucas boots

Similar moto (similar moto vest)

Pencil Midi & A Bomber

Today's post was inspired by Angie's post on midi pencil skirts & bombers on You Look Fab the other day.  I think I was most inspired by this idea because I actually own a pencil midi and a bomber jacket and I figured I may as well wear them together.  So I did:

As you can see, my bomber "jacket" is actually a cardigan:

But that put this look more into my comfort zone.  I can't image I'd get as much use from, say, a satin or leather bomber jacket.  And, I honestly think the silhouette is what matters with this look, not the fabrication.

And I think I got the silhouette right:

The shoes might be a bit heavy, but I'm obsessed with these darned Splendid boots and plan on wearing them whenever possible until it gets up to about 80.  You've been warned.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Topshop pencil midi skirt

Similar bomber jacket (here or here)

Similar star print tee

Exact Splendid ankle boots

A Midi and A Moto

I've never been able to figure out how the girls on Pinterest are able to pair a midi, a moto and a pair of ankle boots without looking both stumpy and wide.  Of course, not knowing how to do something doesn't stop me from trying.  Case in point:

I'm fairly certain it has something to do with the ratio of shaft height to heel height on the boots.  Also probably a factor is the length of the dress in relation to the boots.  But, I have no idea what those ratios should be.  That being said, I do think this is probably my most successful attempt at the look:

Dress: c/o MarketPlace: Handwork of India   Jacket: Kenneth Cole NY   Boots: Splendid

And to be honest, what I think makes it successful, if, indeed it is, is the dress.  This dress is beautiful.  It's the perfect color and the print is gorgeous:

It's part of the MarketPlace: Handwork of India Spring Collection and I love it.  I love the fit and I love that it's actually a midi, even on my tall self.  I was actually concerned that it wouldn't be, but I think the length is perfect.  And, of course, like all MarketPlace items, it is hand-printed, hand-embroidered and its manufacturing helps provide jobs and training to female artisans in India.

So, yeah, I'm honestly not sure I'm pulling off a midi and a moto; all I'm really sure about is that I will be wearing the heck out of this dress from here until next fall.

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

MarketPlace: Handwork of India "Malwa" dress

Similar mixed media moto (here or here)

Splendid ankle boots

Foxxxy Anubis and No Waist

I am not anti-belt by any means.  I love belts; I have a ton of them.  But, that doesn't mean that I always want to wear one.  I mean, I know I have a waist (of sorts), do I really need to define it everyday?  I'm sincerely hoping the answer to that is no, because today's outfit features my Foxxxy Anubis brooch and no waist:

After one glorious week of sunshine, Oregon is back to it's rainy ways and I'm back to black.  And tights.

Skirt & Top: Thrifted  Blouse: Gap  Pin & Earrings: Vintage  Boots: Splendid

 But, I tried to bright up my black with a heart-print top and switched out my standard black tights for blue.  And, of course, nothing says spring like a Foxxxy Anubis brooch:

Totally spring-like.

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Orange You Glad You Have a Friend Like Ally?

Well, I am.  Because Ally, who blogs over at Shybiker, is the one who sent me this beautiful orange scarf:

As you can see, it's the perfect shade of orange.  It's not pumpkin orange, which is fine in a pinch, no, it's a lovely, luminescent coral orange.  And it's the perfect orange to pair with this skirt:

This vintage skirt remains one of my all-time favorite thrift store finds.  I love the delightful stretchy, possibly double-knit fabrication.  I love the crazy print.  And I love that the colors include the same lovely orange as the scarf Ally gave me:

And that's just one of the many reasons I'm glad to have a friend like Ally.  Thanks, Ally!


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey


Oh, I almost forgot.  I am linking up to Visible Monday today over at Not Dead Yet Style.  You should too!

T3: Under The Poppy’s Lovers' Eye

For Thoughtful Third Thursday (T3), we are supposed to create an outfit based on a quote or synopsis of a book we’re reading.  I’m deviating from that a little bit in that my outfit is based not on a quote or synopsis from the book, but on something I learned about from the book.  Oh, and it’s not a book I’m currently reading, either; I actually finished it a couple of days ago.

That being said, the book is Under the Poppy, by Kathe Koja, and it was confusing as hell for me.  I’m honestly still not sure what it was about or what happened.  Things I do know: The Poppy is a whorehouse, there was a lot of confusing wartime intrigue, and the Madame of the whorehouse wore blue lovers' eye brooch.  That brooch was given to her by her brother, who got it from his sugar mama and it eventually ended up with the lead whore although I’m not sure how.

Anyway, it was that brooch that inspired today’s outfit:

Yes, those are eyes on my blouse.

The blouse, obviously, represents the brooch.  And the red belt represents the fact that a lot of people were killed, usually by a knife, in this book.  The rest is just there because coming to work in nothing more than a blouse and a belt is seriously frowned upon.

Prior to reading this book, I had never heard of lovers' eye jewelry.  But, according to Wikipedia, they are “Georgian miniatures, normally watercolor on ivory, depicting the eye or eyes of a spouse, loved one or child.”  The fad started in the late 1700s and the pieces “were often worn as bracelets, brooches, pendants or rings with richly decorated frames.”  

Here are some examples of lovers' eye jewelry:

image via charcoalalley.com

Personally, I find those pretty darned creepy, but delightfully so.  Just like I find this vintage eye-print blouse creepy, but delightfully so:

Seriously, I love this thing.  When I found it in the thrift store, I snatched it up like someone would try to steal it from me.  I'm starting to think that's not true; I may be the only one who would want this.  But, that's okay too!

Happy Thursday, All!  And thank you so much to My Closet Catalogue for hosting Third Thursday Threads!

Gracey

P.S., if you want, you can get a custom made lovers' eye for yourself or your loved one at this Etsy shop!

Pink and Plum

The easiest way I've found to pair printed items with something in a color is to use the color palette in the prints themselves.  For example, today's houndstooth cardigan is hot pink and plum:

So I paired it with my plum skirt:

Cardigan: Target  Skirt: Thrifted  Belt: LOFT  Boots: Splendid

I think a lot of people default to pairing prints with black, or with jeans, instead of with color because they aren't sure what color to pull out of the printed piece.  It's not that deep; just pick a color and it'll be fine.  I could have easily paired this cardigan with a hot pink skirt, but I don't have a hot pink skirt, I have a plum skirt, so that's what I wore:

And see?  It turned out fine.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

The Sweater Skirt Conundrum

I like sweater skirts because they allow a sleeker silhouette while still allowing me the ability to ride my bike or take the stairs or otherwise move in other-than-baby steps.  But I'll be damned if they don't show every single lump, bump and wrinkle!  It's a conundrum, I tell you, a conundrum.

And, apparently, between the tucked shirt, the tights, the slip for extra warmth/modesty and my body's natural contours, I have a lot of lumps, bumps and wrinkles going on:

Shirt: LOFT  Skirt: Thrifted  Boots: Splendid  Tights: SPANX

Which is too bad, because I otherwise really liked this outfit.  I love the combination of the cinnamon-colored skirt with the striped shirt.  And I love the combination of the black/aqua/coral necklace with this look:

BaubleBar necklace

I think the black plays nicely with the shirt, but that the coral also plays nicely with the skirt, being shades of orange and all.

So, I guess what I'm saying is that even with the lumps, bumps and wrinkles, I still love sweater skirts and I'd totally wear this outfit again.

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Dots and Spots

All though I am a well-known fan of mixing leopard and stripes, I've found that polka dots also work really, really well with leopard spots.  Case in point:

For some, this combination may even work better than leopard and stripes because there is less disparity between the two prints, making the combination less jarring to the eye:

Polka dots: Thrifted Foxcroft   Leopard Spots: Target   Necklace: Juicy Couture

If you're trying pattern mixing for the first time, or prefer a harmonious mix as opposed to a clashing mix, leopard and polka dots, in a neutral color palette, may just do the trick.

I, personally, rather love it:

Top: Thrifted Foxcroft   Dress: Target  Belt: LOFT  Boots: Splendid

That isn't to say I'm giving up my old standard of leopard and stripes, but this was a successful departure for me and one I'd definitely like to try again.

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Shop the Look

Similar dress (here & here)

Similar top

Exact Splendid ankle boots

Similar necklace