A Coat and A Smile

So, it's been very, very cold here in the mornings.  And I thought I could smile my way through it.  Because, as you know, smiling keeps you warm.  Except that no, it doesn't.  Smiling absolutely does not keep you warm.  I should know because I tried my best to smile my way to warmth for today's pictures:

I mean it, I tried my best:

But, it didn't work; by the end, my hands were freezing and I had a rather pained look on my face:

Top: Banana Republic (similar)  Scarf: TJ Maxx (similar)
Skirt: local boutique (similar) Boots: Michael Michael Kors (similar)

I guess it's time to retire the smile and break out the coats.  Or, you know, maybe try a coat *and* a smile.



Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Welcome to March

So, my co-worker, a native Pittsburgher and overwhelming optimist, assures me that Spring is almost here and it's going to be nice all week next week.  I am, understandably, I think, skeptical.  Why?  Because the past two days, it's been freezing and alternating between rain and snow.

Basically, I'm still wearing as many layers in March as I was in December and January:

Heck, maybe even more.


The good news is that I rather like this combination of pieces:

The bad news is that I'm getting real tired of the wind messing up my perfect pleats:

Stupid wind.


So, yeah, welcome to March:

Hat: Nordstrom (similar) Scarf: La Fiorentina via Bluefly  Sweater: LOFT (similar)
Wool Blazer: Gap (similar)  Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar)  Boots: Franco Sarto "Eminent"

And Happy Friday!

Gracey

Color Blocked

As much as I like this thrifted, color blocked sweater, I never wear it.  Because it is really, really hard for me to style with anything but jeans.  But, I think I may have finally figured it out with today's outfit:

Now, my jean wearing has been severely curtailed at my new job (boo!) but this sweater is wool and very, very warm so I feel like winter in Pittsburgh is it's time to shine.  So, eventually, I decided to try it with a suede skirt.


And I really do think it works:

Sweater: thrifted vintage (similar)  Skirt: thrifted vintage (similar)
Tights: WalMart  Boots: Michael Michael Kors (similar)

But, just in case it didn't, you can see that I added some fun, patterned tights to distract people from my sweater.



And I think that's the real takeaway here, Folks; when in doubt about your top, distract people with your legs.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

It's Not Terrible

I really like this outfit because it combines two of my favorite things; graphic prints and bright colors:

Or, rather a graphic print and a bright color, but you get the point.



Also, is there any color that looks better than red with black and white?

I think not.  I mean, all brights work with black and white.  And cobalt is pretty great with graphic prints, but even I, a life-long lover of cobalt, think that red is just the perfect compliment to graphic black and white.

Skirt: LOFT (similar)  Tunic: Banana Republic (similar)
Tights: SPANX  Boots: Franco Sarto "Eminent"

I guess what I'm saying is that red, well, it's not terrible.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Winter White, Winter Bright

Today I'm wearing winter white with winter bright(s):

Specifically, I paired a winter white sweater with a winter bright skirt, scarf and tights:

Sweater: Gap (similar)  Scarf: Nordstrom Rack
Skirt: upcycled Guatemalan dress  Tights: DKNY (similar)  Boots: Born "Sosie" (similar)

Because they pair well and they rhyme.  Win-win.



Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Advanced Layering

One thing I will say for Pennsylvania winters, they've forced me to up my layering game.  I now feel fully confident in saying that I've progressed to advanced layering.

This outfit is a perfect example of that:

It's a sweater dress layered over a turtleneck topped with a vintage plaid cardigan.  Oh, and there are tights and a slip under there as well.



Layers, Folks.  All the layers.

All the layers, made better with vintage plaid:

Dress: thrifted vintage  Turtleneck: Old Navy (similar)
Cardigan: thrifted vintage (similar save, splurge) Tights: Spanx  Boots: Franco Sarto "Eminent"

And pockets.  Pockets also make layers better.



Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

The Longline Vest

I love plum with navy.  (Okay, fine, I love everything with navy).  But, I wanted an extra layer because, well, it's cold.  So, I added this longline vest:

I think the ash gray offsets the jewel tones of the pants and sweater nicely:

But, mostly, I just have a thing for longline vests this season.  They'll never fully replace my beloved sweater vests in my heart, but they're definitely a welcome addition to my wardrobe.



They just make layering so easy:

Vest: Topshop via Nordstrom (sold out, similar here)  Sweater: Gap
  Pants: Gap  Watch: gifted Fossil Q Grant  Shoes: Bettye Bettye Muller (similar)

And for my money, easy is good. Especially in winter when I want to call in just because it's cold.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Non-Boring Neutrals

As you probably noticed from my last post, and the one before, I usually like to brighten up my winters with color.  I also like to brighten up my springs, summers and autumns with color.  But in winter, especially, neutrals can feel kind of boring to me.

But, not these neutrals:

The different textures (suede! leather! fuzzy-wuzzy!) keep the outfit interesting:

And, frankly, the different textures also help keep it warm.



I mean, say what you will about Pennsylvania winters (no, really, I say bad things about it all the time, it's okay, everyone does), but they do provide opportunities to wear fun things like suede and layered sweaters:

Turtleneck sweater: Gap (similar)  Fuzzy sweater: vintage, thrifted
Skirt: thrifted (cute faux version)  Tights: HUE  Boots: MICHAEL Michael Kors (similar)

Things like non-boring neutrals.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Coatigan

No, not "that coat again."  Coatigan.  It's a cross between a coat and a cardigan:

This particular coatigan is from LOFT and I love the forest green color:

And I love how warm it is.  In fact, it's frankly too warm to wear unless it's freezing out.  Happily, it's been freezing out this week so I was able to pull it out of my closet where it had been languishing since this fall.



I layered it over a thrifted sweater dress which was, in turn, layered over a turtleneck and ponte pants:

Coatigan: LOFT (similar)  Dress: thrifted (similar)  Pants: Gap (similar)
 Hat: Nordstrom (similar)  Scarf: Target (similar) Boots: Born Crown (similar)

Yeah, I'll definitely be wearing this coatigan.  Again.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

More Mustard

I believe I need more mustard in my life.  Or, at least more pieces of mustard clothing.  More pieces like this vintage sweater vest:

Why more mustard?  Because it goes with everything, of course.  Take this outfit for example; I paired mustard with burgundy and navy.

And it works:

You want to know why?  Because mustard goes with everything.  

Or, at the very least, it goes with burgundy and navy:

Vest: vintage thrifted  Top: Banana Republic (similar)
Pants: Gap  Boots: Born Crown "Sosie" (similar)

But, I'm pretty sure it really does go with everything else as well.  And, if I had more mustard in my closet, I could work to prove that hypothesis thereby making the world safe for mustard lovers everywhere.  Or, something like that.

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

New Year, New Cape

I think it's best to start a new year in something dramatic.  Like a cape:

It lets people know that you're not afraid to bring the drama to the office.  Belting your cape with a seriously studded belt also helps to hammer that point home:

Still not enough drama for you?  Try swanning about in your cape.  Nothing says drama like some swanning.  And trust me, in this Long Tall Sally cape, you can't help but swan:

The fabric drapes so beautifully and flows so nicely when you walk.  It's wind-in-the-cape instead of wind-in-the-hair, but I still feel like Tyra would be proud.


Seriously, Folks.  Capes.  I think they might become a thing:

Cape: c/o LTS  Turtleneck: Gap (similar)
Skirt: thrifted (similar) Belt: MICHAEL Michael Kors (similar)
Boots: Born Crown "Sosie" (similar)

At least I hope so.


Happy Monday, All!  And Happy New Year!

Gracey

Bright Tights

Sometimes I like to wear super-bright tights:

Even if only a sliver of the tights is visible, like in this outfit, it makes me happy to know that I have neon legs.



Because, with hot pink tights like these, a sliver is all you really need:

Just enough to make you happy.



I mean, sure, they also serve the purpose of picking up some pink in my sweater and therefore tying everything together:

 

Sweater: v. old Gap (similar)  Skirt: Land's End (similar)
Tights: HUE (similar)  Boots: Born Crown "Sosie" (similar)

But, I think we all know that I'm really just wearing them because they make me smile.


Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Big Tassels Are the Best Tassels

It's finally thawing out here in Western Pennsylvania, but on Friday, it was cold.  Cold and clear, but so very cold.  So, once again, I was in layers:

You can always tell when I get well and truly tired of winter because my layers get more and more fanciful.  I mean leggings and a striped shirt with a jacket make perfect sense, but then I went and threw a sleeveless denim dress on top of the whole thing.

Jacket: Nordstrom (similar)  Dress: thrifted (similar)
Tee: Gap  Leggings: c/o metrostyle  Boots: Born Crown (similar)  

But, it was actually a pretty great combination.  The dress helped to keep my legs warmer than just leggings alone would.


Also helping to keep me warm is my big tasseled scarf:

Cap: Nordstrom  Scarf: Bluefly

Big tassels are the best tassels, I think.


Happy Monday, All!

Gracey