Kiss, Kiss

After Friday's all black challenge, I felt a return to color was in order:

I'm not saying this is better than head-to-toe black, but it's definitely more me.  I'm, somehow, more comfortable in an indigo dress and bright red, kiss print scarf than I am in black on black on black.

That's probably due to the kiss print scarf.  Kiss print scarves make everything better:

Tasha "Hot Kiss" Scarf via Nordstrom

Or, at the very least, they make me smile.

And it's not as if I'm banishing black from my wardrobe all together.  No, I just prefer it in smaller doses, like tights and a belt with an otherwise colorful look:

Dress: thrifted  Belt: Nine West, similar  Scarf: Tasha via Nordstrom  Booties: Nine West, similar

What about you, Reader Friends?  Are you more comfortable in color or in neutrals?

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

A Pop of Adorable

This outfit is all about the shoes.  These shoes:

They are Via Spiga and I was lucky enough to find them in my size at my local Goodwill and yes, those are hearts.  Also, they are friggin’ adorable.

I paired those adorable shoes with some polka dots because, well, of course:

That's lint, not lonely people glitter. ;-)

The polka dot tunic is Foxcroft  (similar) and is also thrifted.  Although the tunic is navy, I paired it with black pants (Vera Wang Simply Vera via Kohls) because, frankly I like black and navy together.  And I also really wanted to let the shoes pop. 

Which I think they do:

In fact, they’re a pop of color and a pop of adorable.  Win-win!

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Literary Stylings # 4 - Obvious Orange

Quick confession.  This dress:

... has nothing to do with this book:

The author and her fellow inmates didn't wear orange, they wore khaki.  Most prisoners nowadays don't wear orange.  They wear head-to-toe khaki or denim and only wear orange when they're being transported.  Because the bright color makes the inmates easier to locate if they try to escape.

But, obviously there was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity to wear orange.  Especially in a fruit print:

Fruit also has nothing to do with this book.  Except, wait... yes, the author ate as much fresh fruits and vegetables as was available to her in an attempt to counteract all the starch our penal system feeds prisoners.

So, there we go.  My fruit dress represents the author's attempt to stay healthy during her prison stay!  Yay, me!

And now it's your turn; you can link up below:

Happy Tuesday, All! Gracey

When Squirrels Attack: Part Deux

For some reason, squirrels hate me.  I don't know if they think I'm a tree and are trying to nest in my admittedly nest-able hair, or what.  But, today, this happened:

What caused such look of terror on my normally smiling face?

Well, I'll tell you.  What happened was I got attacked by this little, blood-thirsty killer:

Notice the straightened tail for maximum aerodynamic attack speed.

First he rushed me from the right, then tried to sneak back up on me from the left.  You can see in this next picture he tries to pretend he's minding his own business, but he is totally eye-ballin' me:

Sneaky little bastard.

But, enough about the killer squirrel.  Let's talk about the clothes.  This is what I wore:

 

Isn't that blouse fun?!!  I love it.  It's bright and colorful and I think the large-scale print is pretty cool.  To balance the delightful brightness of the blouse (thrifted) I decided to wear dark bottoms.  And to balance the wide-leg of the pants (Banana Republic) I decided to wear platform sandals (Franco Sarto via Nordstrom Rack).  I finished the look with black accessories.

Happy Thursday, Everyone!  Watch out for killer squirrels!

Gracey

Seven Wardrobe Workhorses

The other day, Lucky ran a piece with their recommendations for nine wardrobe workhorses.  That got me to thinking about the workhorses in my closet and what I’d recommend.  Turns out that I don’t have nine, I have seven, but like the Seven Samurai, they get the job done.

1 – A Striped Top

Clockwise from top: J. Crew via Net-a-Porter, J.Crew, Madewell & Pim & Larkin via Piperlime

I love striped tops.  I have several and I wear all of them all of the time.  Striped tops are great because they manage to be classic without being dated.  They also look good in every color on every build.  And they’re very versatile; they can go dressy or casual and they play well both with solids and other prints.   Whether the stripes are horizontal, vertical or diagonal, wide or thin, variegated or uniform, a striped top is a must-have.

2 – Dark Pants

L to R: Ann Taylor, Vince Camuto and Gap

You all know that I love my colorful pants.  And my printed pants.  And my colorfully printed pants.  But, the fact of the matter is that I reach for my dark wash skinny jeans more than any other pair of pants, except for maybe black leggings.  Fun pants are, yes, fun, but dark pants are more versatile and are universally flattering.

3 – A Solid Dress

L to R: eShakti, Banana Republic & Old Navy

I am a printed dress junkie, but even I have to admit that they can be a bit difficult to style at times.  A solid dress, however, is so very, very easy.  They’re easy to accessorize and with the right accessories, easy to take from night to day.  So, whether you choose the always classic little black dress, an au courant little white dress or a little colored dress, a solid dress will serve you well.

4 – A Blazer

L to R: Gap, Aqua Girls via Bloomingdales & Target

I have not always been on Team Blazer.  I was a card-carrying member of the Culver City Cardigans (not a real thing) for years because I could never find a blazer that worked with my broad shoulders.  But, little by little I’ve built up my blazer wardrobe and I don’t regret it.  Yes cardigans are comfortable, but blazers can be just as comfortable and have the added bonus of looking a little sharper.  And blazers aren’t all stuffy and staid; you don’t have to get a black blazer if you think it’s too boring.  A white one is equally versatile and printed and colored blazers are a great choice; they'll work well with those solid dresses.

5 – A Printed Piece

L to R: Old Navy, Sir Alistair Rai via Piperlime & Gap

Some people are not comfortable wearing prints.  Even though I’m not one of those people, I understand it.  Prints can be a little too “hey, look at me!” for some people’s tastes.  I get it.  I do.  But, I still recommend a printed piece as a wardrobe workhorse.  It doesn’t have to be a big piece either; a printed shoe is always fun. And scarves are easy ways to incorporate a print into your look.  Or, maybe a printed shell or a belt.  Choose the piece you like and use it to add some oomph to your solid basics or even wear it with your striped top.

6 – A Colored Piece

Tinley Road studs, Alexis Bittar bangles, Nordstrom scarf, Kate Spade "Della" sunglasses, Gap belt, Nine West "Ambitious" pumps, Mar Y Sol "Opal" clutch and Tinley Road bangle

Just as some people aren’t comfortable in prints, I know that some people are also not comfortable in color.  And, again, I get it.  But I still maintain that color can make you happy as long as you’re wearing a color that, well, makes you happy.  So, find a color you love and buy something in that color.  As with the printed piece, it doesn’t have to be anything major.  That coral dress above isn’t for everyone, even people who like coral.  But, a bit of color in a shoe, a clutch, a belt, a scarf, a ring, anything, can add a little zing to your outfit and a little joy to your life.

7 – Comfortable Shoes

I know this seems like an obvious inclusion on this list, but hear me out.  Everyone should have a pair of comfortable shoes in their closet that are not tennis shoes, not flip flops and not slippers.  Notice I didn’t say a pair of comfortable heels.  No.  I don’t care if you wear heels or flats or something in between, as long as they’re comfortable.  And I do mean comfortable; you should be able to stand, walk and, if need be, run from zombies in these shoes.  And yes, boots are an option. My go-to pair of comfort shoes are my Born Crown riding boots and I’d be lost without them.

So, what about you, Reader Friends?  What are your wardrobe workhorses?

Gracey


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Botanical Shadows & Painterly Splotches

I do not know how better to describe the print on this blouse than botanical shadows and painterly splotches:

I mean, really.  What is that?  Yeah, I don't know either.

But, whatever the print on the blouse is, it pairs well with my dark skinny jeans and that's enough for me:

In addition to the blouse (Nordstrom) and the jeans (Banana Republic) I wore my neon link necklace (Target) and my cap toe wedges (bandolino via DSW). I wear these shoes and this necklace a lot with these jeans.  I think that's okay; some days it's nice not to have to think too hard.

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

What I Learned at Blogwarts: Layering

So, it turns out that Blogwarts is totally a real thing and they let me audit a class on layering.  Since many of you indicated on Wednesday’s post that you also have trouble layering dresses and blouses, so I thought I’d share what I learned.

Let’s talk first about the dress.

It should be a heavier-weight fabric.  I, personally, prefer ponte, a tightly-woven and therefore, heavier knit.

It should not be skin tight.  Especially in your curvier areas.  As I mentioned Wednesday, I went with a fit and flare dress because it gave me extra room around the thighs which is where I need it.

It should be structured (but not tight).  A more structured silhouette will help keep the look sleek.  A fit and flare dress, for example, will look sleeker layered over a blouse than a sack dress.

Now for the blouse.

Unlike the dress, the blouse should be lightweight.  Sheer blouses are very good for layering because they add very little bulk, especially under a heavier knit.

Like the dress, the blouse should be fitted.  This is especially important if the blouse is not sheer; a fitted blouse will help keep the bulk down.  Gap has some very cute fitted/shrunken boyfriend button-downs that I think would work.  They are available in Tall as well.

I also love the Caslon shirts from Nordstrom for this concept.  They don’t come in “Tall” but tend to have long-enough sleeves and are well-fitted.

For some suggestions on what to layer how, I created some Polyvore sets, all featuring the Mossimo Fit and Flare Ponte Knit dress from Target which is the same dress I wore in my post Wednesday.

Mossimo dress, Ruche "Giselle" Pleated Necktie blouse &Lulu's d'Orsay flats

Mossimo dress, Modcloth "First Class Cabin" blouse & "Both Feet on the Playground" flats

Mossimo dress, Nordstrom Caslon shirt, Sole Society booties

A couple more tips.

If you can't find a bow blouse you like, you can always add a lady-tie to your look.

Belts are your friends; a wide belt, especially, can help keep the volume down.

And, if you're still not looking as sleek as you like, try this trick from Franziska at Franish; she's a genius.


So, what do you think, Reader Friends?  Would you try any of these looks?


Happy Friday, Everyone!

Gracey


** 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.

Coral, Coral, Coral

I really love myself some coral.  Obviously:

Coral yesterday, coral today.  Coral, coral, coral.

I also, apparently, really love the combination of those pants with those shoes.  Heh.  Well, what can I say, I can’t be creative all the time.  Or, even most of the time, if I’m honest.

But, I digress.  I was talking about my apparent obsession with coral.  In spite of what it looks like, I'm not actually obsessed with coral.  But it is one of my favorite colors and I do wear it quite a bit.  I especially like this particular coral (blouse via Old Navy) and peach (vintage blazer via Goodwill) color combination.  Worn today with dark skinny jeans (Banana Republic), a barely seen leopard belt (v. old) and cap toe wedges (bandolino via DSW).  Oh, and a long necklace (thrifted via Goodwill).

And, because at least two items in this look are thrifted, I’m linking up to Thrifter Thursday over at Coffee and Cardigans.  I’m pretty proud of myself for remembering to do this as I’ve forgotten for weeks.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Shop the Look:
Similar single-pocket blouse
Similar peach blazer (up to size 16)
Exact Banana Republic skinnies (tall up to size 16)
Similar long necklace
Similar leopard 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.
 

2013 Color of the Year: Emerald

Although I swear I’d heard a rumor that the Pantone Color of the Year for 2013 was going to be a rather boring blue, it is, in fact, Emerald.  Pantone 17-5641 Emerald to be exact:

While I’m happy it wasn’t a boring blue (seriously, does anyone else remember hearing that?) I’m actually not all that thrilled with this year’s color of the year.  I think it’s beautiful, I think it’ll look good on pretty much everyone and it’s certainly not boring, but in general, emerald just isn’t my thing. 

But, dedicated online shopper that I am, I was still able to find some things I like in this bright emerald:

Infinity Scarf:

Image via marianavail Etsy shop

Cowl-like scarves are having a moment.  Get this one in emerald and you're doubly on trend.

 

MEK Skinny Leg Jeans:

Image via Nieman Marcus Last Call

I love green pants.  I don't have any, but not for lack of trying.  I'd totally wear these.

MIA "Vena" Ballet Flat:

Image via Amazon.com

If I do buy anything in this shade it would probably be shoes and I like the simple shape (and the price) of these flats.

Halogen "Dash" Scarf:

Image via Nordstrom.com

I love the navy, aqua and terra cotta with the emerald.

I definitely wear any of those pieces, but if I had my druthers, I’d prefer dark emerald to bright emerald. 

Here are some things I like in dark emerald:

Oregon Ducks Helmets:

Go Ducks!

I just put this in so I could brag on the fact that we won the Fiesta Bowl this year.  And because the helmets are pretty.

Pour La Victoire "Ravel" Ankle Boot:

Image via Amazon.com

I adore differently colored heels on shoes; I think they're so fun.

Ilaria Ranieri Pumps:

Image via yoox.com

Although I'd certainly wear the bright emerald flats above, my heart belongs to dark emerald pumps like these.

A & Ro Gabby Chevron Print Cardi:

Image via Piperlime

I actually own this cardigan and although the shape is weird and the buttons are superfluous, I really rather like it.

Treesje Crossbody "Breeze" Mini Bag:

Image via Bloomingdales.com

I don't carry small bags (where do you keep your book?) but I am mildly obsessed with, and so would make an exception for, this one.

What about you, Reader Friends?  What are your thoughts on emerald?  Bright?  Dark?  Not at all?

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

** 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.

When Squirrels Attack

Yesterday, I was outside taking my pictures, when I was attacked by this squirrel:

That’s right, that little beady-eyed, venom-fanged menace tried to kill me.

He snuck up on me along the retaining wall, and when I screamed and ran away, he rushed me:

If you look closely, you can see the shank he has hidden in his tail.

Witnesses believe I was targeted because the squirrel didn’t like my outfit: 

I think that’s ridiculous because my outfit was awesome, but maybe he didn’t like the combination of burgundy cords (Banana Republic, here), lemon yellow sweater (Gap, here) and cherry red belt (Macys, similar here).  Or maybe he hates houndstooth (Old Navy via Goodwill, similar here). 

Whatever the reason for the attack, I think we can all agree that the squirrel is a menace to society and needs to be stopped.  

So, please take a good look at that horrifying face of evil, and if you see that razor-clawed ninja squirrel, please perform a citizen’s arrest.  We must keep the world safe for the children.  But, be careful.  He’s both fluffy and dangerous.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

** 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.