That Polka Dot Feeling

Daily Outfit: 1/12/2011

The Breakdown:

• Navy polka dot blouse - thrifted
• Brown boyfriend cardigan - Old Navy
• Trouser jeans - Banana Republic
• Burnt orange cashmere scarf - Nordstrom
• Cognac belt - Gap
• Cognac mary jane wedges - Corso Como - Piperlime

Today's outfit was inspired by this outfit of Kendi's on Kendi Everyday. Kendi and I are practically twins, no?  Well, maybe not exactly.  But, my outfit was inspired by hers.  I just chose to go with polka dots (I find them irresistible) and with a scarf instead instead of a necklace.  Oh, and the shoes are different, but, still Kendi's is the outfit I thought of when I put mine together.  To me the outfits feel similar.

That is usually what I do when I recreate an outfit that was inspired by someone or something else.  I go with a feeling.  I have just flat out copied outfits (you'll see one tomorrow), but usually it's a feeling that I'm trying to recreate.  I take what I liked (most) about the inspiration outfit (in this case, it was the navy and the brown together that appealed to me) and then I make them my own.  I add polka dots, or a scarf, or a different shoe.  That way my outfits still represent who I am.

What about you guys?  Do you guys ever take inspiration from the outfits of others? 

Gracey

Poofy sleeves and short pants

Daily Outfit, 1/11/2011

The Breakdown:

• Raspberry long-sleeve tee - Gap
• Olive cropped jacket - Old Navy
• Real Straight Jeans - Gap
• Leopard print scarf - ???
• Brown leather belt - thrifted
• Faux-lace up wedge boots - Kenneth Cole Reaction

The sleeves on this jacket aren't nearly as puffy in the pictures as I swear they are in real life.  All day today I caught glimpses of them out of the corner of my eye and imagined that I looked like a vaguely twee linebacker.  Now, looking at the pictures, they're not that bad.

I love wearing my jeans rolled up with these boots.  I think the laces (faux that they are) are the best part of these boots and I like to show them off.  These jeans are quite long, but if your jeans aren't as long, rolling them up and making them deliberately short to show of your shoes is a good trick for tall gals.  (I think it's a good trick for anyone really - Rad of The Cohabitating Closet shows it off here).  Do you guys do this at all?

Gracey

World Domination

Daily Outfit, 1/10/2011

The Breakdown:

• Red jersey dress - Banana Republic (v. old)
• Lace trim camisole - Old Navy
• Camel cardigan - United States Sweaters via Ross
• Cream "footless" tights - ??? (v. old)
• Brown, studded belt - MICHAEL Michael Kors via Nordstrom
• Brown riding boots - Born via Nordstrom

So.  About the tights.  They're not really footless tights.  Or at least they didn't start out that way.  I've had these tights for year and years and years, but I don't wear them that often because there is not a lot in my wardrobe that calls for cream-colored tights.  However, a few years ago, my thighs began their bid for world domination and these tights no longer fit.  They were suddenly too short, causing the crotch to hit me about mid-giant-thigh.  Have you ever had this happen?  It's not at all awesome.

Oh, it wasn't the tights' fault; they were being forced to deal with the now considerable girth of my thighs in addition to their not insignificant length.  I could have thrown them out (the tights, not the thighs), but I do wear them occasionally and would have hated to buy more just to wear every once in awhile.  So, I did what every frugal fashionista does.  I experimented.  I cut the toes out of these tights, just a straight across cut, and now they are footless tights that are perfect under boots.

You see?  Everyone is a winner!  I get to keep the tights and not have to spend money on new ones.  The tights still have a home.  And my thighs can continue their bid to recognized as a country by the UN.

Happy Monday!!

Gracey (and Dexter (he loves a good photo op))

WeeCap (Weekend Recap)

Friday

The Breakdown:

• Sleeveless sweater dress - Kersh via Ross Dress for Less (v. old)
• Blue long-sleeve tee - Old Navy
• Black INC leggings - Macy's
• Kenneth Cole trench coat - via Ideeli
• Multi-color cashmere infinity scarf - Nordstrom
• Black slouchy boots - Chinese Laundry

I didn't have to work on Friday, so I started my weekend early, heading to Portland to visit my fabulous friend, Jodee.  We did a little shopping and a lot of talking.  We also went out to eat and rented a movie (The Kids are Alright).  I had a marvelous time.

Saturday

The Breakdown:

• Grey bootcut jeans - Gap
• Olive long-sleeve tee - Gap
• Blue/olive short-sleeve cardigan - Kensie Pretty via Nordstrom
• Vintage silver/turquoise squash blossom necklace - via Lil' Gypsy
• Brown faux-lace up boots - Kenneth Cole Reaction 

After a delicious breakfast with Jodee Saturday morning, it was back down to Salem to meet up with Alex.  We intended to do a little shopping and then go see the Black Swan.  The best laid plans of mice and men, right?  We ended up shopping at Lil' Gypsy for three hours and missed the movie.  I think it was worth it though, because I found this fabulous necklace, which looked so good with my outfit that I wore it out of the store.


Sunday

The Breakdown:

• Blue/multi printed tunic - ????
• Black leggings - Hue via Nordstrom
• Grey boyfriend cardigan - Gap
• Royal blue scarf - H&M
• Black suede slouch boots - Naughty Monkey via Nordstrom

Today was a lazy day.  I wore this outfit out for coffee but was inside the rest of the day, so I tried to optimize the comfort level.  Which for me, anymore, usually involves leggings.

When leggings first hit the scene, I was skeptical.  Not about the comfort, per se.  I was skeptical that something that skintight would flatter my larger figure.  And then I learned how to style them in a way I was comfortable with.  Or I got over myself.  I think probably a combination of both.  Either way, I spend much of my weekends in leggings now and I haven't looked back.

What about you guys?  Were there any trends you were slow to embrace but then became a fan of?

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!

Gracey

Friday Fashion Focus: Vintage Pendleton Coat

This is a vintage men's Pendleton wool coat.  There are a lot of 'fashion rules' against wearing this coat.  Because it is a men's coat, there is no nipped in waist, it's broader through the shoulders and has bigger arms.  It doesn't flatter my figure at all.  So, I shouldn't wear this, right? 

Wrong.  Oh, sure, I can see the logic behind that statement, but I refute it.  I do usually opt for a more "lady-like" coat, one that is nipped in or belted at the waist, that "flatters my figure more."  But this coat is practical in a way that more 'ladylike' coats are not.  For me, it's sometimes hard to layer under the more close-fitting, possibly more flattering coats, that are made specifically for women.  In addition, I have broad shoulders (very broad, if I'm honest) and therefore I need broader shoulders in my clothes.  And the arms on this coat are more than long enough.  As a giant, that is a hard thing to find, especially in vintage items. 

Most importantly, however, is that I love this coat.  I love the faux-fur collar, the burnt sienna and blue color scheme and the leather-covered buttons.  I love how warm it is and I love that I can wear thick, wooly, warm sweaters underneath, and I love that it's not a run-of-the-mill coat - it's unique.

I think you should wear what you love and love what you wear.  I love this coat, and that's why I wear it.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Gracey