Flow-y, But With Pants

A combination that I really, really love, but don't wear nearly enough, is the combination of a dress over pants:

It can just be such a hard look to get right.  The proportions can go wacky, and stumpifying, very quickly. (And, trust me, no one wants to look both wacky *and* stumpified.  One or the other, sure, why not?  But not both).  Still, as I said, it's a look I love and one I'll keep trying.


That being said, I rather like this iteration:

Turtleneck: Gap (similar)  Dress: thrifted vintage
Pants: Gap (similar)  Belt: thrifted vintage  Boots: Franco Sarto "Eminent"

I think wearing the dress partially open over the pants helps minimize any damage I'm doing with these proportions.  And even if it's not, I still like this version because it is great for swanning about without freezing my nethers. It's flow-y, but with pants.  So, you know, win-win.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

A Whole Lotta Denim

My initial thought when I first got this dress was, "Whoa, that's a whole lotta denim":

My second thought was, "Ooh, snaps.  I love snaps."  My third was, "Crap, I hope my thighs don't take those snaps as a sign to make a run for it."


And my fourth thought was, "That'll be so cute paired with cognac boots."  And it was:

It was also cute with a floral-print wool scarf:

Was it still a whole lotta denim?

Dress: Gap  Scarf: thrifted vintage
Belt: thrifted vintage  Boots: v. old Steve Madden (similar save, splurge)

Yes, but that's okay, because the snaps stayed snapped, my thighs stayed put, and the dress looks cute with cognac boots and a colorful scarf.



Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Unseasonably Warm

So, yesterday it rained.  Kind of a lot.  But today, today was unseasonably warm.  Like in the 80s unseasonably warm.  Happily, I hadn't put away my summer stuff yet, so I got one more day in a flowy skirt:

I paired said flow-y skirt with a patterned top that in no way matches.  But it goes:

Probably.



I even snuck in some sandals:

Blouse: LOFT  Skirt, Belt & Shoes: thrifted

Because, as you may have heard, it was unseasonable warm here today.



Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

A Good Combination of Things

I don't know if it's the heat or my general discontent (I still miss Oregon), but getting dressed has been difficult for me as of late.  This face demonstrates how I feel about most of my clothes lately:

But, I have to say that I actually like today's outfit:

I mean, double pockets, so yeah.  But, also because it seems, to me, to be a good combination of things.



For example, the combination of the dress with the oxidized belt:

That's a good combination.  As is the combination of the dress with the cardigan.



And the dress with the sandals:

Dress: thrifted (similar) Cardigan: LOFT (similar)
Earrings: gifted (similar)  Belt: vintage  Sandals: Dune London "Ivanna"

Yes, I'd say that it's an all-around good combination of things.



Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

A Skirt, Of Sorts

This outfit is NOT a lot of things.  For example, this is not a crop top:

And that's not my bare midriff covered with surprise tattoos.  No, that is a flesh-colored belt covered with embroidery.  (Ugh. Flesh-colored belt is not a phrase I ever thought I'd write, but there you have it).


Gross as that phrase is, the embroidery is actually rather nice:

And looks less skin-like up close, I think (I hope).



In addition to not wearing a crop top, I am also not wearing a skirt:

Not that you can really tell in this picture, but I swear to you, these are culottes.  Or, a split skirt, if you will.



Of course, if we call it a split skirt, then I guess I *am* wearing a skirt:

Blouse: LOFT  Split Skirt: thrifted (similar save, splurge)
Belt: Fossil (similar)  Sandals: Isola (similar)

Of sorts.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Blushing Rose Quartz Linen

I can't remember what this color is called this year:

Is it still blush?  In Spring 2013 Pantone called it Linen.  This Spring, they called it Rose Quartz.



I've decided to split the difference and call it Blushing Rose Quartz Linen:

Yes.  Blushing Rose Quartz Linen, paired with cream and leopard:

Cardigan: thrifted (similar)  Blouse: LOFT (similar)
Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar)  Sandals: Kate Spade New York

That totally explains this look.



Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Polka Dots and Leopard Spots

For me, polka dots and leopard are one of the easiest combinations to do when I want to mix prints:

I mean, think about it.  Polka dots are round, leopard spots are round-ish:

Or blobby.  Amoeba-like?  Eh, whatever.



Look; the point is, either way, roundish or blobby, amoeba-like or whatever, leopard spots work with polka dots.

Dress: thrifted (similar)
Belt: Old Navy (similar)  Shoes: Kate Spade New York "Kayleigh"

They just do.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

What Owl Dreams Are Made Of

Today's outfit features teeny, tiny gingham, polka dots and a wee little owl:

Here, you can see it better in the close up, especially the owl:

His name is Carl.  And he is thrilled to be a part of this pattern mix.



But, who can blame him?  I mean, it's tiny gingham and polka dots, Folks:

Blouse: Old Navy  Owl Belt: thrifted (similar in pink)
Skirt: thrifted vintage  Sandals: "Bali" c/o LTS

I have it on good authority that gingham and polka dots are what owl dreams are made of.



Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Blurry Black and White

What's black and white and blurry all over?  This dress in the wind:

That's right, the print on this dress is actually black and white, not blurry abstract gray:

But, this print proved to be extremely difficult to photograph, especially with all the darned wind.



Really though, it's rather pretty:

But, mostly, it's blurry:

Dress: thrifted vintage
Belt: second-hand vintage  Sandals: Isola

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Shirt Dresses Are Easy

It's true you know, shirt dresses are easy:

Kinda like Earth girls.



But, really, just add a belt and shoes and you're set:

Not that all shirt dresses (or aliens (have you seen Jeff Goldblum in that movie???)) are equal.  Some shirt dresses have pockets:

Dress: thrifted (similar sleeveless) (with sleeves)
Belt: thrifted (similar)  Sandals: Kork-Ease (similar)

In my opinion, pocketed shirt dresses are the best shirt dresses.  And Jeff Goldblum aliens are the sexiest best aliens.



Happy Thursday, 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

Snow Birds

So, it's still not snowing here in Pittsburgh, but it was snowing when I wore this outfit two weeks ago.  And since I've been rather lax about taking new outfit photos, you're getting these oldies but goodies:

I mean, you can't be too mad when I'm offering up double grid print and birds.


Yes, that's right, birds:

This scarf is covered with birds.  And I think it pairs perfectly with the black and white grid print.  And with the camel jacket.

Blouse: LOFT (similar)  Skirt: LOFT (similar)
Scarf: vintage thrifted  Jacket: thrifted J. Crew (similar)  Boots: Franco Sarto "Eminent"

Although... maybe it's the red-ness of the scarf that makes it perfect, as opposed to the bird-ness.  Eh, either way, I love this combination.


And, hopefully, next time I post, it'll be something more seasonally-appropriate.  Don't get your hopes up though; March is awfully early for Pittsburgh to give up on snowing.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Literary Stylings #25 - Mislaid

For today's LitSty look, I was inspired by the book Mislaid, by Nell Zink:

I chose this book because it was one of my favorites from last month.  I had never read Zink before, but am now a huge fan.  She takes what are definitely sensitive subjects, like homosexuality in the 50s and 60s and race relations in the 60s and 70s and passing (!) for black (!) in the south (!) and writes about them with both pathos and humor.

The main character of the book is Peggy, who realized in high school that she loved women and wanted to love women.  She began dressing in masculine clothing and went to a liberal all-girls school.  However, at that school, she ends up having an affair.  With a professor.  With a homosexual, male professor.  Neither of them being experience with birth control, Peggy ends up pregnant.  And she and Lee, her professor, end up married.

Peggy eventually flees her marriage with her young daughter and in an attempt to hide them both, decides to pass as black.  In the South.  In the 60s.  Again, somehow, Zink manages to handle all of these issues deftly and often amusingly.  It's such a well written book, I recommend it to everyone.


As for my outfit, I wore a vintage dress layered over pants to demonstrate the duality of Peggy's position as both a lesbian and a wife and mother:

I chose this specific dress because although it's printed with roses, they're scribbled roses so it's not too sweet:

All in all, I'm not 100% sure this outfit makes sense in real life, but it made sense to me for this book.  And I was surprisingly comfortable wearing it.

Dress: vintage thrifted  Pants: LOFT
Turtleneck: hinge via Nordstrom  Shoes: Bettye by Bettye Muller

And now it's your turn; link your looks up below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey