I’ve Got This: Midi Skirts

As a tall person, I LOVE that midi skirts are a thing now.  I’ve been squirreling them away since last fall which makes them yet another on trend item for this fall about which I can say “I’ve got this.”  Today, I’ve “got” a vintage, blue midi:

Because the skirt (thrifted) is pretty lightweight, especially for our increasing cold weather, I layered it over footless tights and over-the-knee socks (Nordstrom), and added a wool v-neck sweater (thrifted) and faux-lace boots (Kenneth Cole Reaction via Nordstrom).  I like it, but think that it needs a belt. 

This is one of those outfits that is ridiculously comfortable and therefore bamboozled me into believing that it looked good.  And, lest you think I don’t bother with a mirror and depend solely on how an outfit feels, it’s also one of those outfits that looked fine, good even, in the mirror but photographed schlumpy.  But, not irredeemably schlumpy; I’ll try it with a belt next time and I think that’ll do the trick.

Today’s Takeaways?  When in doubt, belt it.  And, if your socks pull your regular tights down, try wearing socks over footless tights – my footless tights haven’t budged an inch today.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

No Offense to the Dromedaries of the World

No offense to the dromedaries of the world, but I’ve realized that camel is not for me.  It makes me look washed out and sad.  But caramel, caramel is a color that makes me happy.  I mean, look how happy I am in this caramel sweater:

I thrifted it last weekend with my friend, Alex, and can you believe that she was skeptical when I pulled it from the racks?  I know it looks like a plain brown sweater, but it’s not.  It’s caramel and I plan on wearing the heck out of it this fall and winter.  Starting today, where I paired the sweater (Land’s End, thrifted) with a cream crocheted skirt (vintage, thrifted), black tights, black booties (Nine West via Piperlime) and a black silk tie (Brooks Brothers, thrifted).

Today’s Takeaway?  Camel = sad but caramel = happy.  And, of course, a jaunty bow never hurts.

Also, because today is Thursday and I like parties, I’ve linked up over at Spunky Chateau for the Thursday’s Are for Thrifter’s Link Party.  Stop by and join the fun!

Gracey

P.S. Here is a close-up of the knit of the skirt just in case you were curious:

Common Sense vs. Fashion Sense

My common sense (and my friend Ferge) tells me that this skirt and top don’t work together:

But, my fashion sense insists that they do, even if I can’t explain exactly why.  I mean, even I can objectively look at this floral skirt (via Ross) and this ocelot print top (via Nordstrom) and recognize that no matter how cute the booties (Miz Mooz via Nordstrom) or how awesome the earrings (wood, via Alberta Street vendor) those pieces don’t seem right together.

And while I realize that it doesn’t seem right (and perhaps it’s not), it feels right.  At least to me.  And, as I’m the one wearing it, I’d say that’s all that matters.  It’s like this pattern-mixing outfit from this summer – I recognize that it’s not for everyone, but darn it, I really like it.  Which means I have confidence in it and I’m able to wear it like I mean it and I'd say that makes all the difference in the world.

Today’s Takeaway?  Wear what you like and you’ll have the confidence to wear it like you mean it.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

All the Sense in the World

As many of you know, I have often written about my confusion over the place of short-sleeved sweaters in the world.  And yet, add just a little more sleeve and all of a sudden I can’t get enough.  That’s right, folks, short sleeve sweaters confuse me but three-quarter sleeved sweaters make all the sense in the world:

I wore one yesterday, I’m wearing one today and I’ll probably wear one tomorrow.  Today’s is a cropped navy and white striped sweater (Boston Proper, thrifted) that I layered over a black dress (Target).  I added my other Born boots (Nordstrom), a couple of bracelets (local artist and Macy’s), pink drop earrings (Alberta Street vendor) and a fuchsia scarf (v. old, Macy’s).

I think my love of three-quarter sleeved items, sweaters and otherwise, is a holdover from my high school days when nobody carried “tall” clothing for women and I was forced to either push my too-short sleeves up or buy three-quarter sleeved tops.  Now quite a few places carry “tall” clothes, but I still like a good three-quarter sleeve for nostalgia’s sake.

Today's Takeaway?  If you want to try one of the season's cropped sweaters without showing skin or having the wind get fresh with you, try layering one over a dress.  It adds more coverage and more coverage, if you know what I mean.

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

Gracey

Goldenrod

Goldenrod is one of my favorite colors to wear for fall:

It’s richer and easier to wear than mustard (not that that stops me from wearing mustard) and looks good paired with fall neutrals like brown, gray and even black.  Today I paired this goldenrod blouse (Gap) with Real Straight jeans (Gap), a thrifted belt and thrifted loafers.  I probably should have added a bracelet or two but didn’t think of it until I got to work and rolled up my sleeves.

I know a lot of people don’t feel like they look good in yellow and bright yellow can be difficult to wear, but I think goldenrod is rich enough that it can be flattering to a lot of skin tones.  And while it looks good with a lot of neutrals, I think it’ll also look good with some non-neutrals.  For example, I’m planning on trying it with burgundy, with red-orange and with turquoise this fall.  And I suspect that it’ll work with all of them.

Today’s Takeaway?  Afraid of yellow?  Try goldenrod – it’s (probably) versatile and flattering.

Gracey

Blue Makes All the Difference

As you all know, I love orange and think it goes with everything (which it totally does) but even I’m hesitant to pair it with black for fear of looking Halloween-y.  Today, however, paired black with orange and did so fearlessly because I also tempered the look with blue:

I got the idea for this color combination from Jill at Good Life for Less.  And I was thrilled because it gives me even more ways to wear the orange in my wardrobe.  For today, I paired a black jersey dress (v. old) with my orange beaded necklace (street fair vendor) and a bright blue cardigan (v. old).  I added cognac accessories in the way of a braided belt (thrifted) and espadrille wedges (Corso Como via Piperlime). 

And I loved it.  I think the blue cardigan really does make all the difference in the world to this outfit.  But, the fact that the necklace is more of a red-orange instead of a bright orange also helps keep the look out of Halloween territory.

Today’s Takeaway?  You can pair orange with black; just keep the orange muted and add some blue.

What do you think, folks?  Do you think you might give this color combo a try?

Happy Thursday!

Gracey

Short Sleeve Sweater Season

As I’ve mentioned before, short sleeve sweaters have always seemed sort of ridiculous to me, but I’m also inexplicably drawn to them.  One of the reasons they strike me as ridiculous is because if it’s cold enough to warrant a sweater, isn’t it also cold enough to warrant sleeves?  As it turns out, the answer is “not always.”  There are days in late spring and early fall where short sleeved sweaters are just right.  And today was just such a day:

It didn’t rain and it wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t warm either.  Essentially, it was the perfect weather for a midi-skirt (thrifted, vintage) sans tights and a sweater (thrifted) sans sleeves.  I added light gold flats (Kenneth Cole Reaction, v. old) to help extend my leg line, a metallic cuff (thrifted) because that’s what I do and some earrings (gifted) because I remembered today.  The skirt was just long enough, and the sweater was just sweater-y enough to keep me from getting too cold on my ride in, but both pieces were also light enough to keep me from getting over-heated.

Today’s Takeaway?  Short sleeve sweaters aren’t wholly ridiculous, just sort of.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Another Day, Another Day Dress

Having come late, summer seems to be lingering here in the Pacific Northwest.  We had a little rain but for the past week it’s been in the low to mid-80s.  Not that I’m complaining; the warm, but not hot, weather is perfect for my collection of day dresses.  Like this one:

Day dresses are the best.  They’re easy (possibly lazy, but whatever), they fit my broad shoulders, they don’t aggravate my thighs, they often have pockets (pockets!) and they’re easy to ride my bike in.  I love them.  Today I paired a day dress (Karin Stevens, thrifted) with platform sandals (MRKT via DSW), a thin belt (Gap), a watch, a bracelet and pink drop earrings.

Why pink earrings?  Because I wanted to.  Or, if you prefer, because they match my pink toenails and therefore because they help to bookend my outfit.  But, really, it was just because I wanted to.

Today’s Takeaway?  You can make up any reason you’d like for wearing what you do, but the best reason is because you want to.

Happy Thursday, Everyone!

Gracey

P.S. I know some of you asked about the collar on yesterday’s dress.  The dress buttons up the left-side of the chest at an angle.  I don’t button it all the way up and I fold the extra fabric down which creates the sort of v-neck-on-an-angle you saw.

 

Baby Got (Button) Back

I love tops and dresses that button up the back.  Like this blouse today:

I don't know why this pose is so awkward, but it makes me giggle.

I even left the top button halfway unbuttoned to prove they were real buttons and not trompe l’oeil buttons.  Well, I'm pretending that's what happened. I actually had no idea it was half undone until we took the pictures, just like I didn’t realize the seam on my skirt was crooked.  Seriously, it’s a wonder I can even dress myself at all.

But, dress myself I did.  And this is what I wore:

My oft-worn skirt is thrifted vintage and so is the blouse.  I added blue and white earrings (gifted), a blue and white bracelet (local craftsman) and burgundy shoes.  The shoes are Naya “Jada” (via Nordstrom) and are ridiculously comfortable.  I bought them during the Nordstrom anniversary sale this summer and have been waiting to wear them.  I worried a bit that they were too old-fashioned, but I really like them, even with this vintage-heavy outfit.  I also worried about breaking them in, but although they rubbed a little on the back of my left heel (which I remedied with the miracle that is Dr. Scholl’s Moleskin) they are otherwise perfect.

Also, the top looks like polka dots, but it's a micro-floral:

One more also; I wanted to let you all know that I got the job I interviewed for last week.  I start in two weeks and even though I’m devastated to be leaving my friends in my current unit, I’m very excited about the new opportunity.

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

Gracey

Just a Tad Longer

I adore this dress, I do.  But, I do also wish it were just a tad longer:

Although it hides the worst of my stings and scratches, you can still see that my ankles are scratched and bordering on furry.  I paired the dress (Eight Sixty via Nordstrom) with pewter sandals (Lovely People via Ideeli), a thin brown belt (Gap), wooden earrings (Last Thursday vendor) and a watch, a bangle and a bracelet. 

It was my hope that people would be too distracted by the different patterns on the dress and it’s overall awesomeness to notice that I appear to be wearing fur anklets.  Fur anklets aside, this is probably the easiest way I’ve found to wear mixed patterns – having them mixed for you in a garment takes all of the guesswork out of it.

Today’s Takeaway?  If you have patternmixophobia, try a piece that has the different patterns already mixed for you; it’s an easy way to get started.

Happy Thursday, Everyone!  I am actually out of the office tomorrow, so I’ll say Happy
Weekend now as well!

Gracey