The Pet Leopard Lady Tie

As most of you know, I love me a good lady tie.  I find them amusing and cheeky and fun to wear.  And my latest lady tie find is no exception:

Is that not the most fabulous lady tie ever?  The print is pet leopards on chains with what I’m assuming are diamond collars.  

Yes.

I thrifted the tie this summer and have been waiting for it to get cold enough that extra fabric around my neck would be welcome and not make me a hot, sweaty mess.  And today, My Friends, is the day:

For the lady tie’s inaugural outing, I paired it with a mustard sweater (thrifted, similar), black skinny jeans (a.n.a via JC Penney) and riding boots (Born Crown “Sosie,” similar).

But, really, a pet leopard lady tie goes with everything.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

P.S. Don’t forget to enter my giveaway, here!

Sweater Weather

After a few weeks of unseasonably warm weather, sweater weather has finally arrived in Oregon.  So, I dressed accordingly:

Actually, I overdressed, as I do.  This sweater (thrifted) is alpaca and it's ridiculously warm.  Almost too warm actually.  But, I've been waiting for months to wear it and the weather finally dropped below sixty so I decided now was the time.

Also, it's the perfect excuse to wear orange and burgundy together:

Cashmere scarf: Nordstrom, similar  Skirt: thrifted, similar  Tights: Target  Boots: Born "Mabel"

Not that I need an excuse.  But, I do think it makes my friends and family feel better when I can point out that there is both orange and burgundy in the sweater so therefore the scarf and the tights totally make sense. Sometimes people need things to make sense.

Personally, I just like to wear orange.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Just Add Elephants

Absolutely no one, ever, has asked me for advice on how to wear head-to-toe black without it looking too severe or boring.  But, if they had, my answer would have been to just add elephants:

Corso Como "Lexy" - image via Nordstrom.com

Or any cute, graphic print; polka dots, wombats, whatever floats your boat.  This elephant skirt definitely floats my boat and makes this one of my favorite outfits, in spite of its lack of color.  

In addition to the pleated, elephantastic skirt (vintage Campus Casuals via Vintage by the Pound), I also wore a cashmere sweater (Nordstrom) layered over a lace-trim cami (Old Navy).  I finished the look with tights (SPANX Tight-End Tights via Nordstrom), a faux-croc belt (Macy’s) and wedge booties (Corso Como “Lexy” via Nordstrom).

If you’re not a fan of prints (I understand there are some of you out there), another way to liven up a black outfit is to mix textures.  For this look, I paired chiffon with cashmere, faux-croc, leather, lace, and whatever it is tights are made out of (Lycra?  I think Lycra).  Even if the skirt weren’t printed with tiny little elephants of joy, the different textures would still add interest and keep the outfit from looking flat.

But, really, your best bet is to just add elephants; they make everything better.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Shop the Look: 

I could not find an elephant print skirt anywhere on the internet, but I did find this cute, elephant print blouse

black cashmere sweater

Spanx Tight End Tights

Corso Como "Lexy" booties (on sale now at Nordstrom)

similar belt

** Disclosure: Actions taken from the hyperlinks in this blog post may yield commission/compensation for the writer. Please see the Disclosure tab for more details.

Black Skirt # 2 – The No-Brainer

I never had any doubts that I would keep this skirt:

February 13, 2012: with tights, boots, cashmere and animal

April 2, 2012: with tights, animal print booties & a cranberry duster

May 7, 2012: with animal, floral and more animal

May 30, 2012: with animal and neutrals

In fact, if I were to only have one black skirt in my closet (yes, I know it’s a ridiculous premise, but hear me out) I think it’d be this one.  It’s one of my favorite pieces, thrifted or otherwise.  I like the length, love the fact that it’s pleated and like that it plays well with both neutrals and colors.  Yes, keeping this one is a no-brainer for sure.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Violet, Mustard and Polka Dots

It’s still raining and I’m still wearing bright colors.  Today it’s violet and mustard.  Because those two colors totally go together.  See?:

 

I wore a violet skirt (thrifted) and a mustard cashmere sweater (thrifted).  And, because polka dots go with everything, I added some of those too with my blouse (Old Navy) and my umbrella (Target).  Okay, I actually added the polka dot blouse to tie in my black tights (Spanx) and wedge booties (Nine West “Peekaboo” via Piperlime), but they really do go with everything.

Also, did you all know that it’s finally Thursday?  Well, it is, and that means I’m linking up to the Thursday is for Thrifters Link Party over at Brass in Pocket. 

Happy Thursday, All!  Stay dry!

Gracey

At a Loss for Words

I’m pretty much at a loss for words regarding today’s outfit.  Not because it’s bad or anything, I just don’t have much to say about it.  So, I’m going to ramble on about some other things until I get tired.  First though, the clothes; this is a personal style blog after all:

See?  I wore a completely unsurprising combination of leggings (Ross), a tunic (Gap) and a sweater (wool, thrifted).  Even the addition of a cashmere scarf (Nordstrom) and riding boots (Vince Camuto via Nordstrom) isn’t that exciting.  But, it was warm and comfortable and these boots are finally (finally!) getting broken in.

Now, for the rambling.  First of all, I just finished the book “Iodine” by Haven Kimmel and I gotta tell you, folks, I just don’t know.  I think maybe it made me mad.  Has anyone else read it?  If so, let’s talk.

Second, The Walking Dead is back on AMC and I am thrilled.  I thought Sunday’s episode was good and I no longer think Rick is as ill-suited for the post-apocalyptic world as I originally thought he was.  I was sort of on Team Shane before, thinking his brutality was better suited for a world inhabited by the walking dead but now I think he might just be a sociopath.

Third, I have a super fun, totally awesome weekend planned.  I am going to be spending Saturday with my bestie Jodee and Sunday, I finally (finally!) get to meet Kelsey from Charming Pumpkin!!!  I anticipate shenanigans.

Fourth, it’s a three day weekend!!!!!  (The exclamation points indicate how very excited I am by the prospect of NOT coming to work on Monday).

Finally, Happy Friday, Everyone!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Gracey

Mustard and Leopard and Pleats (Oh my!)

So, I’m feeling much better.  I’m getting over both my sinus infection and my body image issues (my HMO said I was fat – I took it personally).  And as a result, I was able to put together an outfit that I love instead of one that just didn’t make me stabby:

I mean, what’s not to love?  Mustard, leopard and pleats?  All in one outfit?  Yes, please!

For this much loved outfit, I paired my mustard cashmere sweater (thrifted) with my new-to-me pleated skirt (thrifted) and added black and grey herringbone tights and cuffed boots (Gap).  At this point, the outfit felt a bit “private school” so I added a leopard-print scarf, tied into a bow, as both a wink and a nod to the private school idea.  And it kept me amused all day.

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Mustard and Plaid

I like my plaid like I like my hot dogs; with lots o’ mustard:

Not that the plaid itself has lots of mustard.  It doesn’t; it only has a thin yellow line, but I took that thin yellow line and ran with it.  As I do.

I paired the not-much-mustard plaid skirt (thrifted) with a mustard cashmere sweater (men’s, thrifted) and mustard tights (Hue via Macys).  I added riding boots (Born Crown “Sosie” via Nordstrom), a thin belt (Gap) and a blue, vintage cameo.  The cameo is inscribed on the back “Dick Puckett 1958” and I got it at a garage sale for five dollars, I think.  I wore it because I thought it helped to tie the sweater and skirt together a bit more; and also because it’s awesome.

Also awesome?  The fact that Thursday’s are for Thrifters and Meagan over at Spunky Chateau is continuing her link party.  Once again, much of my outfit is thrifted (or garage-saled) so I’m definitely linking up.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey