Brightly Striped

The weather has been pretty gloomy here in Pittsburgh this week so I thought I'd wear something bright:

Is it a lot of look?  Yes.  Do I look like I should be riding on a rainbow-maned horse named Starlight with my Sprite best friend, Twink?  Probably also yes.  But, I love this look.


Nothing combats the gloom and doom of stormy spring days like a brightly striped sweater and an even more brightly colored skirt:

Cardigan: Lands' End  Skirt: Ann Taylor
Belt: Old Navy (similar)   Sandals: Camper (similar)

Trust me folks, there's nothing better.  Sure, you may look like you abandoned the Color Kids and got a grown up job in an office.  But, it'll still make you smile.



Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

A Spot of Leopard

Today's outfit is plum, navy, orchid, and a spot of leopard:

I thought about plum shoes, but I really like the contrast of the animal print with the berry tones:

Also, it's fun to say I'm wearing "a spot of leopard":

Jacket: thrifted  Blouse: LOFT (similar)
Pants: LOFT  Belt: LOFT (similar)  Shoes: Nine West (similar)

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Diplomacy

My skirt is navy, not black:

Why does this matter?  Because, the Pittsburgh Penguins, whose colors are black and gold, are currently in the middle of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  This means that most of Pittsburgh is very involved in rooting for the Penguins right now.

And that means that when you wear buttercup and dark navy to the office, the dark navy is mistaken for black and you are cheered for wearing black and gold.  Even when you're not.



But, you smile and say that you are anyway:

Cardigan: Target  Belt: LOFT (similar)
Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar)  Shoes: Kork-Ease (similar)

Because although that sounds like lying, I'm pretty sure it's called diplomacy.



Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Better Shiny Than Sorry

I have a lot of cropped pants in my closet.  And a lot of stripes.  So, I figured I'd wear them together:

With a little bit of shine to keep my neutral outfit from being too boring:

Just kidding.  There is no way a waist this high is boring.  It's just flat out glorious.  And stripes aren't boring either.  They're classic.  And awesome.



But, still, you can't go wrong with a little shine:

Shirt: old LOFT (similar)  Pants: Ann Taylor
Necklace: Piperlime (similar)  Belt: LOFT (similar)  Sandals: Isola 'Lisinda'

Because, you know what they say, "Better shiny than sorry."  And if they don't say that, they should.



Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Five for Friday: Green Flash

For my last Five for Friday, I did a color, I love, Fiesta!  For today's version, I decided to do a color that I'm still on the fence about, Green Flash.

And, I have to say, I am newly on the fence about this color.  When the new Pantone colors were first announced, I was firmly on Team Oh-Hell-No about Green Flash.  But, it's growing on me and might even be something I try in one of the below pieces:

1. Saint Laurent "Classic 11" Sunglasses - I love, love, love the idea of sunnies mirrored with green flash lenses.  This pair is definitely on the steep side, but they're also awesome and would look fabulous with an all-white look.

2. Saucony Originals Jazz O Classic Retro Running Shoe - Athleisure continues to be a trend that many people enjoy.  It's not my personal favorite, but even I have to admit there is something charmingly retro about these bright sneaks.

3. Bindya Houndstooth Print Scarf - This is probably my favorite deployment of green flash; mixed with other bright colors on a black background.  And as I've always said, a lightweight scarf is perfect for an air-conditioned summer office.

4. Vintage Kay Windsor Summer Dress - Do you love Green Flash?  Well, then, this pick is for you.  Go all in with a vintage dress from Etsy vendor AldaWild.

5.  Topshop "Matisse" Floral Print Shorts - I love these shorts.  Love the print (again, Green Flash and other brights on a black background), love the cut, love the 80s feel.  Love.


So, Reader Friends, how do you feel about Green Flash?  On board?  On the fence?  Or on Team Oh-Hell-No?


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Because They Go With Everything

I'm wearing those blue pants again:

Why?  Well, mostly because they're blue, but also because I think they really might truly go with everything.



I mean, I've worn them with peach, with a dark floral print and today with whatever color this is.

Scarf: thrifted silk (similar)  Sweater: LOFT (similar)
Pants: Gap (similar)  Shoes: v. old Corso Como (similar)

And I added some additional color with the scarf:

I'm telling you, Folks.  Blue pants.  Because they go with everything.



Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Pleats, Stripes and Brights

I thrifted this vintage pleated skirt the other day and couldn't wait to wear it:

Happily, the weather cooperated and I was able to pair it with a striped tee and colorful flats instead of tights and boots:

I mean, it's not that I don't love my tights and boots.  I do.  But these flats are just so much fun:

So bright flats it is:

Tee: Old Navy (similar)  Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar)
Earrings: local Portland craftsman (similar)  Shoes: Via Spiga "Pallas 2" Flats

And pleats.  And stripes.  All the good things.



Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

It's Not Red, It's Fiesta!

My sweater is not red:

It's Fiesta!!  At least that's what Pantone says.  And I'm not going to argue because calling this sweater Fiesta (!) makes this outfit sound more interesting than it probably is.



Which isn't to say it's boring.  The combination of fiesta (!) and olive is a fairly interesting one.  And the non-matching-but-totally-going scarf is fun:

But, it's mostly the sweater:

Sweater: LOFT  Scarf: secondhand (similar)
Pants: Gap   Shoes: Steve Madden 'Eleanorr' Flats

Because, well, Fiesta!



Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Aubergine and Ice

Ice blue, that is:

Now, we did have actual ice, and snow, over the weekend, but today is warmer.  Not actually warm, mind you, which is why I'm back in tights, but warmer for sure:

Warm enough for me to at least make the effort to incorporate a spring-y color like this ice blue into my outfit:

Even though it's April, we haven't had much in the way of spring weather here yet in Pittsburgh so I'm defaulting to my darker winter colors.  I mean, I want to wear pretty spring things but did I mention that it snowed on Friday?


Still, today's mix of aubergine and ice blue felt like a successful way to incorporate more spring-like colors into my still winter-y wardrobe:

Jacket: Gap (similar)  Blouse: LOFT (similar)
Skirt: Lands' End (similar) Boots: Franco Sarto "Eminent"

What about you, Reader Friends?  Are you well into spring or are you still mixing spring and winter pieces?


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Wind in the Florals

I'm back to another vintage floral dress dress today:

And the weather is back to wind.

Thankfully, I'm also back to tights, or this would have been an unpleasant photo session indeed.  As it was, I barely managed to keep from flashing the school children walking by.  I might look calm and collected in the photos above, but this is what it really looked like today:

At least until the wind died down a bit and I was able to get something a bit better:

Dress: thrifted vintage  Cardigan: thrifted vintage
Belt: thrifted (similar)  Boots: gifted (similar)

And then it started raining and I had to give up entirely.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Floral and Chambray

This may be my ideal Spring outfit:

Wrinkled-but-still-cute vintage dress?  Check.

Chambray blazer?  Check.

Caramel-colored boots?  Check.


Also, not for nothing, but I think this chambray blazer may be my wardrobe's jean jacket:

By which I mean the piece I will throw over any- and everything all season long.  I can't do regular denim jackets.  They make me look like a box.  And not like a cute little jewelry box with a ballerina inside.  No.  Like a denim box that a refrigerator was shipped in that now makes an awesome fort.  That kind of box.


But, the chambray blazer?  This I can do:

Blazer: LOFT (this season's version)
Dress: thrifted vintage (similar)  Boots: Enzo Angiolini "Colston"

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

What's Up, Buttercup?

Today I'm wearing, yep, you guessed it, buttercup:

It's one of the Pantone colors for this spring and one I think is perfect for the season.  I love yellow in the spring and summer and buttercup is such a sunny yellow, it's hard not to smile when you see it.



One thing I particularly like about yellow is that it pairs well with darker neutrals, like my olive skirt and riding boots:

Blouse: Gap (similar)  Cardigan: Target
Skirt: LOFT (similar)  Boots: gifted (similar)

But, it will also pair well with lighter neutrals like white and khaki once we get closer to summer.  I don't know about you, Reader Friends, but I just love a versatile bright.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Going Wide

As I mentioned on my post over at Already Pretty last Sunday, one trend I'm super excited for this season is wide-leg pants.  I've been thrifting culottes for years, but it's still nice to see a bigger selection of wide legs in the regular retail world.  Wide legs like this pair here:

I love these pants.  I know they aren't very flattering and that the cropped length with the high waist is an unusual silhouette, but I like that about them.


That's right; I like that they aren't very flattering.  Because, some days, I don't care to have my figure flattered.  Some days, I just like to wear weird shit.  You know, to confound the natives.


Now, is this outfit actually that weird?  I don't think so.  I think what it actually is, is very specific.  The silhouette of the pants, the cut of the shoes, the blobby print of the blouse:

Yes, blobby is the technical term.


And yes, it it all makes for a very specific look.  And yes, sometimes the natives mistake specific for weird.  And no, I don't care.

Blouse: LOFT (similar)  Pants: Ann Taylor
Belt: v. old Macy's (similar)  Shoes: Summit White Mountain "Brinley"

Because, I'll tell you what, Reader Friends.  I am here for the wide-leg silhouette.  One hundred percent.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey