Optimistic Ankle Baring

After a wet, cold, rainy & sometimes snowy patch, I think Spring may finally be here.  In fact, I'm so optimistic about it, that I brought out my ankles:

As everyone knows, optimistic ankle baring is one of the first true signs of Spring.


I chose to bare my ankles with these bright blue pants:

I love these pants.  I bought them on a whim, because they were blue.  I was uncertain of how versatile they'd be, but I want to wear them with everything.  Do they go with everything?  Maybe, maybe not.  But I want to wear them with everything.


And they certainly go with this dark floral blouse:

Blouse: Nordstrom Rack  Belt: v.old Macys
Pants: Gap (similar) Shoes: Via Spiga "Nalo" Wedge

But, I'm pretty sure they'll go with a bunch of other stuff too.  In fact, I imagine we'll be seeing exposed ankles all season long.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Orange You Glad It's Spring?

I am.  Or, rather, I would be if it hadn't snowed yesterday and dropped below freezing last night.  I mean, it was so cold this morning that I was forced back into tights:

But, I can't complain too much because I paired those tights with my new orange skirt:

And a polka dot blouse:

Blouse: LOFT  Skirt: Ann Taylor
Blazer: Gap  Shoes: Via Spiga "Nalo"

Because orange and polka dots are two great things that look great together.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Hidden Magenta

I don't have a hidden agenda with this post:

But, I do have some hidden magenta:

Yep, I wore pretty magenta sandals with this, but you can't hardly see them unless I do stuff like this:

And when I do stuff like that, I sometimes fall over (as occurred in the right-hand photo above).


Also, no, my shoes don't "match" my jacket:

But they "go" fabulously:

They add a bit of interest, but aren't completely discordant.


Also, they're really tall, which I need with this dress because even in four-inch wedges, this dress is almost too long for me:

That's a nice, rare problem to have.

Dress: LOFT  Jacket: vintage, thrifted
Sandals: Cole Haan  Earrings: gifted (similar)

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Making Do

I don't own a denim jacket for the same reasons I didn't own a denim skirt before this one.  Because between the denim and my broad shoulders, I end up looking like a denim box.  And I'm usually okay with the decision not to look like a denim box.  But, once every two years or so, I end up wishing that I had a denim jacket because I am convinced it would be the perfect finishing piece for whatever I'm wearing.

This biennium, it was this outfit:

I don't know why, but this outfit just cried out for some denim.  I think it's the tiger.  Doesn't this face say "top me with denim" to you?

Yeah, it does to me too.


But, as you can see, I don't own a denim jacket so I had to make do with a denim shirt:

Tee: Bobeau (similar)   Skirt: Leith   Shirt: Caslon (similar)  Shoes: Madden Girl (similar, similar)

I wore it open and wondered if anyone would point out that it was not a jacket and therefore my jacket-like utilization was not okay:

And you know what?  No one did.  Possibly because they have better things to do but most likely because making do with a denim shirt works just fine.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

A Lot of Culottes

Just as Jessica Day rocks a lot of polka dots, I rock a lot of culottes:

Top: LOFT  Belt & Culottes: vintage, thrifted  Shoes: Madden Girl

These are my current favorites:

If I had my way, I'd wear culottes every day.  Every day, People.  It's that serious.  In fact, I had to be talked out of some blue satin culottes the other day.  And, to be honest, I'm not sure I have been talked out of them.  It's not that I need blue satin culottes, there probably isn't anyone that needs blue satin culottes, it's just that I love them.


And I love these:

I found them  at Goodwill the other day and practically begged them to fit over my hips.  Happily, they complied and we've been together ever since.  It's basically a match made in heaven.  They treat me right by fitting, having pockets and making all my culotte dreams come true.  And I treat them right by pairing them with stripes and lace up wedges:

Perfection.  Outfits like this are the exact reason I rock a lot of culottes.


Happy Monday, All!


Gracey

Get the Look

Safari So Good

The print on this dress delights me to no end:

 

I mean, what is more perfect for summer than a tropical safari print?  That’s right, nothing.

When I thrifted this dress the other day, I couldn’t wait to wear it.  I love the print, I love the cut and I love the pockets:

 

Pockets!!

Best of all though, this dress provides the perfect frame for my new “Alegro” name necklace courtesy of Onecklace:

I actually love this necklace.  I wasn't sure that I would as I tend to go with heavier jewelry, but this delicate piece is perfect for summer.  And it’s honestly just really pretty.  I've worn it repeatedly since receiving it.

If you’re interested in an honestly pretty name necklace of your own, or earrings, or a bracelet or any of those with initials instead of your name, head on over to Onecklace.  They have a huge selection of beautiful items and you can get 10% of your order with the code GIANTS10.

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Somewhat similar dress(here, here or here)

Similar wedge sandals

Onecklace “Alegro” name necklace

Prim and Proper and Bright

At it's core, this outfit is prim and proper.  It's a pleated skirt, a sweater and cap-toe shoes.  But, that sweater?  Yeah, it's bright chartreuse:

I think it's fun to wear brights in an outfit like this.  Adding unexpected color to an otherwise classic silhouette is a good way to keep it feeling like me.

I did the same thing with my jewelry, wearing studs and a chunky necklace, but, once again, the studs are a bright chartreuse:

Necklace: LOFT   Earrings: Kate Spade NY

So, yes, this look is a bit prim and proper, but it's also bright, just the way I like it:

Sweater: Old Navy   Skirt: thrifted vintage  Shoes: Bandolio

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Get the Look

Chartreuse sweater (exact, similar)

Similar skirt

Similar cap-toe wedges (save, splurge)

Similar necklace

Exact Kate Spade NY studs

Botanical Shadows & Painterly Splotches

I do not know how better to describe the print on this blouse than botanical shadows and painterly splotches:

I mean, really.  What is that?  Yeah, I don't know either.

But, whatever the print on the blouse is, it pairs well with my dark skinny jeans and that's enough for me:

In addition to the blouse (Nordstrom) and the jeans (Banana Republic) I wore my neon link necklace (Target) and my cap toe wedges (bandolino via DSW). I wear these shoes and this necklace a lot with these jeans.  I think that's okay; some days it's nice not to have to think too hard.

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Spots, Dots & Par-rots

I'm wearing spots, dots and par-rots today:

I've often yammered on about how I love animal and green together because something something jungle.  I continued that "jungle theme" with my new (to me) parrot brooch:

So green.  And parrot-y.  (Not parody, parrot-y; if it were a parody of a parrot, it'd be Conan O'Brien in a parrot mask or something).

I found the brooch in my favorite local vintage shop, Lil' Gypsy Vintage, and thought it would be perfect with my animal spotted cardigan (Anne Taylor via Goodwill) and green dotted pants (LOFT).  I also added a vintage Monet bracelet (via Red Fox Vintage) and my cap toe wedges (Bandolino via DSW).

Yay!  Jungle!  Sort of!


Happy Thursday, Everyone!


Gracey

P.S. if you haven't entered my Shabby Apple giveaway, today is the last day to do so; don't forget!

Shop the Look:
Similar green dotted pants (Tall available)
Similar spotted cardigan
Similar cap toe shoes
Similar vintage parrot brooch

** Disclosure: Actions taken from the hyperlinks in this blog post may yield commission/compensation for the writer. Please see the Disclosure tab for more details.

Spring Remix

I wore this outfit earlier this year:

Today I remixed the look for spring:

I kept most of the pieces of the look intact, including the cropped pants (Vince Camuto via Nordstrom), the cap toe wedges (Bandolino via DSW) and the vintage coat (Maurice of Lansing via Goodwill).  But, instead of the turtleneck, I wore my new red, black and white graphic floral dress (Penelope in Red Rosie c/o Karina Dresses).

I love this dress.  Like my other Karina Dress, it's cut beautifully and the print makes me giddy:

I can't wait to remix it again for summer.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Shop the Look:

Karina Sleeveless Penelope dress
Similar black cropped pants
Similar peep-toe wedge heels
Similar red vintage jackets (here & here)

** Disclosure: Actions taken from the hyperlinks in this blog post may yield commission/compensation for the writer. Please see the Disclosure tab for more details.