Double Denim Redux

So, I'm trying double denim again.  The first time I tried double denim I looked like a postal service worker.  No, I'm not linking to it; just imagine my smiling face on your local postal carrier and you've got the gist.  The last time I looked like a cowgirl.  Well, technically a rancher's widow who was trying to get her cattle to market so the ranch didn't go under.  You can see that one here, or just imagine Barbara Stanwyck's character in Big Valley.  (Also, just as an aside, Barbara Stanwyck as Stella Dallas is one of my favorite performances ever; I love that movie).

I think today's attempt at double denim was at least marginally better:

Jeans and Top: Old Navy, Sandals: Jeffrey Campbell via Nordstrom

Short necklace: BaubleBar, Long Necklace: Jessica Simpson via Macy's

But, mostly I think double denim is one of those trends I just don't have it in me to do.  I mean, this looks fine and all but I'm probably not going to commit a felony so I can wear double denim all my live long days.

What about you, Reader Friends?  Are there any trends you've tried and decided they weren't for you?

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Shop the Look:
Old Navy Rockstar jeans (tall available)
Similar chambray tunic
Similar sandals
BaubleBar Cobra Triad necklace (if you're not a member, you can use this invitation code: 20210652)
Similar fringe necklace

** 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.

Rock of Ages

If you follow me on Instagram (button in sidebar if you're interested), you know that I went to watch Rock of Ages on Saturday night.  This is what I wore:

I was trying for more rocker-/Desperately-Seeking-Susan-80s this time around.  To be honest, I was a bit worried it was more hooker-80s than rocker-80s but I think it was okay.  It was definitely well out of my comfort zone, but it was fun too.

Luckily for me, I have awesome friends and family, so they dressed up too and we all got photobombed by the waitstaff at El Gaucho.  Because they are both attentive and hilarious:

L to R: The awesome ladies from El Gaucho, me & my tummy, one of my moms, my sister and Alex.

We had an awesome time and if you haven't seen the show, I highly recommend it.  It's fun and funny and they encourage singing along!  And if you ever get the opportunity, eat at El Gaucho; the food is as amazing as the staff.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Emerald & Animal

I know I came out as being anti-emerald when it was announced as the Pantone 2013 Color of the Year.  But, I don't hate it (mint, I hate).  I just don't love it.  Which is why this emerald silk blouse doesn't get much wear:

In addition to my poor orphaned blouse (Oscar de la Renta via Salvation Army), I wore skinny jeans (Old Navy "Rockstar" mid-rise), animal print booties (80%20 via Piperlime), a cuff (Macy's) and a necklace (Nordstrom).

I don't know why I don't wear this blouse.  All I can say is that green is just not a color I gravitate towards. What about you, Reader Friends?  Are there any colors you just don't wear?  Do you actually have rational reasons for not wearing them?

Happy Thursday, Everyone!

Gracey

Shop the Look:
Similar emerald blouse
Exact skinny jeans (Tall available)
Similar animal print booties
Similar collar necklace (BaubleBar invite)
Similar patterned cuff

** 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.

For the Birds: Inspiration Monday

For those of you who don't know, the lovely ladies of Two Birds have a link-up every Monday of looks inspired by celebrity outfits.  This is January Jones and she is today's inspiration:

january jones

I don't usually participate in Inspiration Monday because I forget and/or don't have the right pieces and am not creative enough to make it work with the pieces I do have.  Today though, I had everything I needed; leather, denim and lace.  Oh, and bitchface:

Okay, it's not the epic bitchface of January Jones, it's more like the suggestion of bitchface or like I'm thinking really hard, but it's the best I could do on the face.

And this was the best I could do on the clothes:

Instead of being all sad-faced that I didn't have similar pieces, I used the pieces I had in similar fabrics.  My lace (sans the black bra (next time though, next time)) is my lace sweatshirt (Macy's).  My denim is jeans (Old Navy Mid-Waist Rockstar Skinnies) instead of a jacket.  And my leather is just the boots (Luxury Rebel via Piperlime) instead of pants and boots.

And, frankly, I think I nailed it:

I'm the one on the right.  I know, it's confusing.

Happy Monday, All!  And thank you to Two Birds for hosting and January Jones for inspiring!

Gracey

Spring Suede

For the past year or so, fashion magazines have been trying to convince me that summer leather is not only a thing, but that it’s a good thing.  And perhaps, for others, it is.  But, not for me.  I am a heavy glistener, by which I mean I sweat a lot.  Add to that the fact that I sweat even more because I ride my bike to work and I can imagine only a few things more uncomfortable than wearing leather in the summer.  But, even though I unequivocally refuse to attempt summer leather, I’m willing to compromise with spring suede:

Because I’m all about compromise.  Okay, not really.  But, I like to try everything once.  And, I’m glad I did; because I think it worked in my favor here:

The suede skirt (Valerie Stevens via Goodwill) paired with the denim top (Caslon via Nordstrom) were perfect for today’s in-between weather. I also added a bib necklace (Nordstrom), my vintage ram-buckle belt and my new spring boots (Corso Como “Seminole” via Piperlime).

Image via Piperlime

 

So, yes, spring suede I’ll do, but summer leather is still a “no” for me.  What about you, Reader Friends?  Are you summer leather wearers?

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

Gracey

Shop the Look:

Similar suede skirt (eBay has lots of options)

Similar chambray shirt (tall available)

Corso Como “Seminole” boots

Vintage ram belt buckle

Similar bib necklace

 

Basic Blue and an Animal Print Shoe

Mostly because I like rhyming:

And pattern mixing.  Which I guess means this look isn’t really basicblue: 

But, honestly, in spite of the mixed print blouse (Banana Republic) paired with the polka dot blazer (Pendleton “Country Sophisticates, thrifted) and the animal print shoes (80%20 via Piperlime) this feels like a very basic outfit to me.  I mean, it's just jeans (Banana Republic), blouse and blazer, but it doesn't feel boring.  

Thank goodness for pattern-mixing.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Double Denim and Rose Gold

The weather is supposed to warm up to 44 degrees today so I thought I’d give denim another shot.  A double dose this time, with some rose gold:

As of this writing it is still only 34 degrees and I am cold.  Because denim is cold.  I don’t know how cowboys do it.  But, hopefully for the ride home my combination of a denim shirt (Caslon via Nordstrom), polka dot skinnies (Wit & Wisdom via Nordstrom), rose gold sweater (Remain via Nordstrom) and boots (Enzo Angolini “Saylem” via Nordstrom) will be warm enough.  It certainly wasn’t this morning.

Heh.  I just realized that everything in this outfit is from Nordstrom.  Well, everything except the earrings:

They are 80s cloisonné and are from my mom.  Thanks, Mom!

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Shop the Look:

Similar Wit & Wisdom polka dot skinnies

Similar denim shirt

Similar coated rose gold sweater

Enzo Angolini “Saylem” boots

I couldn't find any cloisonné earrings like mine, but there are tons on Etsy (like these, these and these)

** 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.

Double Denim Rides Again

Get it?  Because I’m in double denim and a riding jacket.  You’re welcome.

Corny puns aside, I feel like a cattle baron’s widow in this outfit.  Like my husband was killed by outlaws and I have to manage our ranch and our 30,000 head of cattle myself.  This is what I’d wear in Abilene to negotiate a selling price for this year’s cattle:

Because, really, nothing says “shrewd negotiator” like a denim shirt (Caslon via Nordstrom) and denim skirt (thrifted) paired with a riding jacket (Ralph Lauren, thrifted).  I also added a studded belt (Michael Michael Kors via Nordstrom), goldenrod tights (Nordstrom), riding boots (Born Crown “Sosie” via Nordstrom), garnet-and-cameo earrings & an equestrian scarf (Echo, thrifted).

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

Gracey

 

Ambitious

I think today’s outfit was a little ambitious:

It hurts to smile...

...but I fought through the pain to provide you all with this goofy look.

I don’t mean sartorially ambitious (obviously), I mean it’s too ambitious for my current physical capabilities.

It took me at least 10 minutes to struggle into these tights (DKNY via Nordstrom) today.  And my sister not only had to hook my bra for me, she had to tuck my shirt (Halogen via Nordstrom) into my houndstooth pencil skirt (thrifted) for me.  I was able to put on my sweater vest (vintage, thrifted) and studded belt (Michael Michael Kors via Nordstrom) all by myself but needed her help to pad the bruise on my ankle before I could put on my boots (Born Crown “Sosie” via Nordstrom).

I think I’m going to have to go a bit simpler for the rest of the week, if only for my sister’s sake.

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Speaking of Fall

In the comments for yesterday’s post, blogger-friend Nicoasked me what was on my wish list for fall.  Even though I’m the first to admit that I certainly don’t need any clothes for fall (or any other season), I do have a fall wish list.  And it’s huge.  I started keeping lists of “holes” in my closet as a way to help control my shopping.  Because, as my Nosh Opping Expedition showed, left to my own devices, I will continue to buy black skirts even though I already own five.  So, I figured a list, which did not include a black skirt, would help keep me on track.

It hasn’t.  I mean, sure, I haven’t purchased another black skirt since the Great Purge of 2012, but I’ve purchased other items that aren’t on my list.  In fact, I think I purchase more things that are not on my list than are.  Because I have no discipline.  There it is.  I said it.  I’m undisciplined.

So, what does this undisciplined giant want for fall?  Well, here are some items from my list:

·         Rust skinnies (skinny is best for tucking into boots)

·         Burgundy skinnies (ditto)

·         Mustard skinnies (my mustard skinnies were purged due to size issues)

·         Gingham shirt (I don’t wear a lot of gingham, but I feel like I want to start)

·         Bold striped l/s tee or sweater (for wearing under a blazer)

·         Heeled loafers (it took me awhile but I’m finally firmly on board with these)

·         Green pumps (Callie from Coffee & Cardigans has a pair that prompted this addition to the list)

·         Cap toe flats (I’m slightly obsessed with cap toes)

Really, though, those are only some of the items I have listed; my wish list in its entirety is ridiculously big.  Why is it so big when I freely admit that I don’t really need more clothes?  Well, because I figured if I put every possible thing on my wish list, then when I bought something I could say it’s on the list.  Yes, it is a little like cheating, isn't it?

But, enough of that nonsense, let's take a look at what I've purchased for fall so far, shall we? 

A rose-gold sweater (not on the list):

Remain Metallic Sweater - image via Nordstrom

I couldn't find the rose-gold version of this sweater online, but that's the one I bought and I love it.  Ostensibly I bought it because metallics are big for fall and that was supposed to excuse the fact that I didn't have a metallic anything on my list.  Mostly though, I just really like shiny stuff.

A denim shirt (actually on the list):

Caslon Long-Sleeve Shirt - Image via Nordstrom

I've been looking, unsuccessfully, for a denim shirt for ages.  I finally found this one and it's perfect.  It's cut close to the body and although the model has the sleeves pushed up, it is long sleeve and the sleeves are actually long enough for my giant self. 

Polka dot skinnies (not on the list):

Wit and Wisdom - Image via Nordstrom

I'm pretty sure my not having polka dot skinnies on my list was just an oversight.  I mean, really.  Also, yes, I do plan on wearing these with my denim shirt.

Cap toe wedges (actually on the list):

Bandolino "Tijah" Cap Toe Wedge - Image via DSW

I wasn't kidding about being obsessed with cap toe shoes.  And I adore the color combination on this pair.

So, I guess I’m not totallyundisciplined.  I’m half disciplined.  And I don’t know about you, but that feels like progress to me.  Now if I can just continue to resist the lure of black skirts…

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey