Putting On a Brave Face

I am having a rough month.  Yes, I know we’re only six days in, but December really isn’t working for me.  I tried cheering myself up with some hot pink:

And it almost worked.  But, that smile is pretty forced – this is how I really felt today:

Boo on the sad face.

It’s not the outfit’s fault though.  I actually really like the hot pink sweater (Talbots, thrifted) layered over the blue and navy dress (thrifted) with the blue tights (DKNY via Nordstrom) and tasseled booties (Seychelles via Nordstrom).  I’m just gloomy, is all. 

Although I wasn’t able to put on much of a brave face today, bear with me; I usually find my smile again after not too long.

I hope you’re all having a happier Tuesday than I,

Gracey

Take Four: Winter Coats from Coast to Coast

Today’s Take Four topic (ooh, alliteration) is Winter Coats.  This topic was a hard one for me because I have a lot of coats.  I mean A LOT.  I think it’s because when I find a coat that fits my broad shoulders and long arms, I feel compelled to buy it.  This lemon-yellow houndstooth was the latest coat I felt compelled to buy:

My friend Kathy called it a “grandma coat” and I suppose it is.  But, I absolutely adore it.  It’s handmade vintage (the tag says it’s “An Original By Miss Michael”), it’s houndstooth and it’s yellow.  It’s also thrifted and a bit fuzzy without being full-on-Muppet.  Oh, and it fits my broad shoulders and long arms.  What’s not to love?

Today I wore my vintage coat over a vintage dress:

Unlike the coat, the dress isn’t handmade and it’s also not conducive to riding a bike in (I drove today), but I rather like it.  I paired the dress (thrifted) with gray tights (Nordstrom), a thin belt (Gap) and my increasingly-ubiquitous burgundy pumps (Naya “Jada” via Nordstrom).  All in all, a little more body-con than I usually go, but I think it worked.

Enough about the outfit though, we’re here to talk about coats.  You’ve seen my coat, now may I suggest you take a look at what the other ladies of Take Four are rocking?  Visit Bekah at Matters of Merrymaking, Kelsey of Charming Pumpkin and Karla of Frugal Big Girl to see some fabulous winter coats and possible tomfoolery (I may have made that last part up but you’ll never know if you don’t stop by).

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Gracey

Good Advice, A Community and A Giveaway

Go Chic or Go Home.  It's good advice, no?  As it turns it out, it's also an online community of chic, fashion-lovers and for you, my lovely readers, it's also a giveaway.  My first giveaway, in fact.  But, we'll get to the giveaway in a minute, first let me tell you about Go Chic or Go Home.

Go Chic or Go Home is an online community of fashion-lovers that provides an opportunity to share, experiment with and explore fashion in a easy-going, welcoming environment.  The site has a variety of different features that let you do anything from uploading and remixing your wardrobe, to posting questions or advice for fellow members, to getting inspiration from fellow members. 

My absolute favorite feature on GCOGH is the Monocle.  It's an inspiration board to which members post outfits based on a theme.  It's a TON of inspiration all in one place.  The current theme is Boots and given my love of boots, you know I'm thrilled.

GCOGH has also paired with a number of  vendors to offer an online shop.  And you, Dear, Sweet Reader Friends, have the opportunity to win a $50 gift card to any one of GCOGH's vendor partners.  That's right, any one!  All you have to do is the following:

1. Follow Fashion for Giants (do it, it's fun).
2. Sign up for a Go Chic or Go Home account using this special invitation link (also super fun).
3. Poke around a bit on the site, maybe visit (fall in love with) the Monocle, and then tell me what you think in the comments.
4. In your comment, make sure you leave a valid email address; you can't win if you don't leave an email address.
5. Wait for next Monday when I'll announce the winner!

Also, this giveaway is open to all of my readers, including current GCOGH members and international readers.  For international readers, just make sure the vendor you choose the giftcard for ships internationally.  And for current GCOGH members, you just need to leave your email address in the comments.

And, finally, the giveaway is open until midnight, Pacific Standard Time, on December 10th.

Good Luck, All!

Gracey

I Made This Sweater

…into a cardigan.  Of course I didn’t make the sweater, that's pure lunacy.  Jones New York made the sweater.  But, I did make it into a cardigan:

I thrifted the sweater because of its vaguely Southwestern motif which is on trend for fall (“Southwestern” I mean, not “Vaguely Southwestern” although if the trend were “Vaguely Southwestern” it would be sort of awesome, right?) and because I thought I could make it work.  I couldn’t.  Between the cut (boxy) and the fringe (fringe-y) it wasn’t working for me.  So I decided to try to refashion it into a cardigan.  And it was really easy.  I just cut the sweater down the front, folded the raw edges under and zigzag stitched each side.  

And, frankly, I think it’s an improvement.  I feel like I’ve taken the sweater from being boxy and dated to being kitschy and amusing.  And if you follow my blog, you know I love the kitsch and I love to laugh.  In keeping with the vaguely Southwestern theme (and the kitsch), I paired the “cardigan” (Jones New York Sport, thrifted) with a chambray tunic (Old Navy), riding leggings (Vince Camuto via Nordstrom), riding boots (Born Crown “Sosie” via Nordstrom), a turquoise beaded necklace (rummaged) and silver and turquoise earrings (Mom-ed).

The earrings:

In closing, I'd like to say the following: one, please forgive the wrinkles.  It was just that type of day.  Two, making a cardigan out of a sweater is super easy; you should try it.  Three, Happy Friday, Everyone.  And four, of course, is..

Have a marvelous weekend, folks!

Gracey

The Mildly Pink Skirt

"Mildly pink" is how one of my coworkers referred to this skirt when she saw this outfit this morning.  I’m pretty sure she was joking:

I know that some might argue that I shouldn’t swath the largest part of my body in hot pink silk, but my thighs said it was okay.  They even said that after they secede (yes, I have secessionist thighs) and become their own country they might include hot pink on their national flag.  What can I say?  My thighs and I love a good, eye-searing hot pink.

This particular hot pink delight is actually a dress; a very 80s dress with a very 80s bodice that I’m still not sure what to do with.  Until I figure it out though, I thought I could wear the dress (thrifted) as a skirt.  So I layered it under a charcoal wool sweater (thrifted) and added opaque black tights (Spanx via Nordstrom) and black wedge booties (Nine West “Peekaboo” via Piperlime).  I have to say that really like this dress as a skirt, so perhaps I’ll take the bodice off altogether?  We’ll see.

Also, and I find this amusing, the dress has a rose pattern woven in:

So 80s, so hilarious, so pink

Finally, because it's Thursday, I'm linked up to Spunky Chateau's Thursdays are for Thrifters Link Party.  Are you a thrifter?  If so, you should definitely join in.

Happy Thursday, Everyone!

Gracey