Summer Maxi

People swear that maxi skirts and dresses still keep you cool in hot weather.  I was skeptical (so much fabric!) but, I thought I'd give it a try today:

I paired my black maxi (Target (similar, tall available)) with a black and white striped tee (Old Navy (similar)) and brightly colored sandals (Ella Moss via Piperlime (similar color)).

I also added a braided belt (thrifted) and a vintage squash blossom necklace:

Via Lil' Gypsy Vintage (similar here)

And, I have to admit, wearing a maxi was pretty okay for most of the day.  Right up until I got on my bike to ride home.  Riding a bike in a maxi skirt is never great.  Riding a bike in a maxi skirt in 90+ weather is even less great. But, I will say that the maxi was a great choice for the air conditioned office; my legs often get chilled and they didn't at all today.

So, the final verdict?  Maxi's are pretty great for summer, as long as you're not trying to ride a bike in them:

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

The Silk Obsession

Over the past year or so, I’ve become obsessed with silk.  It started with a couple of silk blouses from Banana Republic and has resulted in my thrifting four silk tees, two tanks, a halter, four more blouses and a dress.  This is one of the silk tees:

This one makes me happy because it’s so very 80s and we all know I have an irrational fondness for the 80s.  But, c’mon, how can this print in these colors not make you happy?

I paired today’s happy silk tee (thrifted) with black cropped pants (Banana Republic), ankle-wrap wedges (Very Volatile via Nordstrom) and a turquoise-colored bead necklace (rummaged).  The tee really does make me happy and these pants are definitely a keeper.  I want to keep the shoes, but they are several seasons old now and the linen straps are beginning to fray.  I’ll try to repair them, but if not, they’ll be added to the list of items I need to replace.  (Because no shoe wardrobe is complete without ankle-wrap wedges). 

I will try to get through the rest of my seasonally-appropriate thrifted silk items within the next couple weeks, which should put me on track for finishing this expedition by August 1.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Floral, Repeat Aqua and Red

I’ve been wearing a lot of separates lately in an attempt to get through my closet, and the Land of Nosh Opping, more quickly.  Unfortunately, I’ve not been great about wearing different separates, which pretty much defeats the purpose.  But, I can’t help it, this sweater goes with everything.  Well, two things at least; my floral pantsand this floral skirt:

Sorry for the fuzzy picture; I have no idea what happened.

Looking at these pictures, I realized that this is a super matchy-matchy outfit for me.  As you may have noticed, matching isn’t really my thing, but I like this because aqua and red are on opposite sides of the color wheel so I feel like I’m still the sartorial rebel I pretend to be in my head.  Today’s rebellious outfit consists of a vintage floral skirt (Jantzen, thrifted), my apparent favorite aqua sweater (Target) and red cork-soled wedges (Nordstrom).

From this outfit, I’ll be keeping the skirt and the sweater (of course) but I’m going to get rid of the shoes.  I think they’re cute, but I don’t ever wear them because the strap slips down my heel when I walk and it drives me crazy.  Sorry cute red wedges, but you’re gone.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

A New Record

I’m wearing pants two days in a row.  I think that may be a new record for me:

Today’s pants are cropped, floral Ralph Lauren (thrifted) with a crazy-high waist that makes me suspect that they may be from the late 80s or early 90s.  I paired them with an aqua sweater (Target) and yellow peep-toe mini-wedges (Me Too via Nordstrom).

Unlike yesterday’s actual pants, these cropped, colorful print pants are NOT perfectly serviceable and so will most likely not be cut from the team.  Also unlike yesterday's pants, I like these ones.  Really, the only reason I haven’t worn them before (I’ve had them about a month) is because they’re tough for me to style.  I don’t really do pastels, and we’ve established that I don’t really do pants, so pastel pants are quite a conundrum for me.

I think this outfit worked though and I have a couple more ideas so I’ve decided that thesepants shall stay.  For now.

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Gracey

Coral Pop

So, apparently I really do love a high-waist, regardless of whether they love me or not (it’s a tumultuous relationship, to say the least).  I’m wearing one again today, this time in skirt form:

Last time I wore this skirt and sweater together, the lovely and fabulous Jodi, of Day2DayWear, suggested a pop of pink.  I didn’t have a pop of pink but I do have a pop of coral, which is a pinky-orange and so is practically the same thing, right?  True pink or pinky-orange, Jodi was right, I love the added color.

The coral pop comes both from my belt (Steve Madden via Ross) and my coral-and-Peruvian-jade earrings (2010 Crafty Wonderland purchase).  And I really do love the coral with both the aqua sweater (Target 2011) and the blue skirt (vintage, thrifted).  I also added a camel Mary Jane wedge (Corso Como via Piperlime) and a few bracelets.

Today’s Takeaway?  Everything is better with orange, be it pinky-orange, tangerine or traffic cone.  Trust me, I have a blog.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

P.S. Thank you all for your kind words about my photos yesterday; I’m still all out of sorts but am taking the ostrich route to recovery.  It’s only a problem if you don’t like sand in your ears.

Call it Coral

Or tangerine.  Or just plain orange.  Whatever you call it, the color of this cardigan makes me happy:

And, as I’m still sick and work has gotten completely insane, I need all the happy I can get.  I also need all the inspiration I can get, which is why I basically copied this outfit from Angie over at Fashion Me Blog.  Because that’s just how I roll.

Based on Angie’s look, I layered a bright cardigan (Target) over a striped, long-sleeve tee (Gap) with skinny jeans (Gap Always Skinny), lace-up booties (Nine West via TJ Maxx) and a multi-colored scarf (Nordstrom).  Over all, I was a very happy copycat in this outfit.

And now for some rambling…

One.  Dear Writers, etc, of The Walking Dead: Really?  You guys are changing the rules now?  It’s not that I mind that you’re changing the rules; I just need you to be consistent about it.  Why Shane and Randall, but not Dale?  Hmmm?  I’m assuming you’re going to tie it all together in the season finale, but it you don’t, please know that I shall be very put out.

Two.  I’m going prom dress shopping for 80s prom this weekend with my friend Alex and I’m super excited!  I’m hoping to score something with a giant butt-bow.

Three.  Have a good weekend, everyone.  And if you’re going out for St. Patrick’s Day, be safe.

Finally, Happy Friday, All!

Gracey