Literary Stylings # 2: City of Dark Magic

Hello, and welcome to the second ever Literary Stylings Link Party and All-Around Good Time!  Today, I’m wearing a look inspired by the book City of Dark Magic, by Magnus Flyte:



Image via www.goodreads.com

As I've mentioned before, this wasn’t my favorite book that I read in July (it was, in fact, sort of terrible) but I was inspired by the descriptions of Prague at night:

Skirt: thrifted Ralph Lauren  Blouse: LOFT  Wedges: Matiko via Ideeli

 

And I tried to channel that in my look, what with the dark colors and the added sparkle of my accessories:



 

The photo above is supposed to be showing a close up of my accessories, but, mostly, I am just laughing my fool head off.  As I do.  I would, however, like to point out that I attached a rhinestone brooch to my necklace, a la Carrie at Petal by Petal and was super proud of myself.

Anyway, back to my outfit.  This is totally Prague at night, no? 

Dark.  Magical.  Yep.  Totally.

And now for your literary stylings!  Bloggers, you can link to your literature-inspired look here:

 

And, don’t forget, if you’re not a blogger, you can post your literature-inspired look on the Fashion for Giants Facebook page!

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

 
P.S. For those curious about City of Dark Magic, it’s not very good at all.  It’s kind of all over the place and there are ridiculous amounts of ridiculous, gratuitous sex.  And not even good sex, just silly, pointless sex.  So much so that it ruins the book.  Not that the book was above being ruined otherwise; the copious sex scenes are not the only parts of the story that are poorly written.

Lucky Lamb

This outfit was directly inspired by an outfit that I saw in Lucky Magazine a couple of months ago.  And by a trick of Catherine’s at Not Dressed as Lamb:

A couple of months ago, Lucky suggested pairing a super-full skirt with a turtleneck layered under a printed shirt.  I knew immediately that I wanted to try to recreate the look but didn’t have a suitable skirt.  And then, a couple of weeks later, I found this skirt so I thought I’d give it a whirl:

And I love how it turned out.  In spite of it’s awkward length, this skirt has become one of my favorites to wear and today’s outfit is no exception.  I paired the skirt (Ralph Lauren via Goodwill) with a burgundy turtleneck (Gap) layered under a houndstooth shirt (vintage via Vintage by the Pound).  I also added a tie belt (DIY with belts from St. Vincent de Paul), tights (Hue via Nordstrom Rack), booties (Nine West Darsy) and a neon necklace (Target).

Although I do love the skirt, I was a bit iffy about the shirt.  It’s vintage and therefore has an appropriately crazy collar.  Which is where Catherine’s trick comes in; in this post here, she pins the collar of a shirt into a stand-up collar.  I did something similar with today’s shirt.  My collar wasn’t robust enough to pin behind my neck, so I folded the collar inside the shirt and used a stick pin to keep in place, creating a sort of mandarin collar:

And I think it worked.

So, thank you, Lucky.  And thank you, Catherine.  Also, a special thanks to my friend, Jeanne from I Dream of...{by Jeanne}.  She was with me when I bought this shirt and swore I could rock it.  Best enabler ever.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Harlequin and Hearts

I learned a lot from wearing this outfit today:

 

One, in spite of the neutral color palette, this outfit attracts a lot of attention.  From whispers of “look at those shoes” as I passed by, to concern that I was interviewing for a different job.  

Two, I am apparently considered by my peers to be more fashionable than professional; today’s outfit was described as “professional-fashionable” as opposed to my “usual fashionable-fashionable.”  I’ll take it.

Three, when worn over black tights, these shoes kind of look like the wedge high-top sneakers I’ve been trying to avoid.  Heh.

Four, this skirt is not great for bike riding.  It’s so full that the wind kept catching it and I looked like a giant crow or bat trying to ride a bike.  And, with my black coat, I also felt a little witchy.  My friends are always threatening to drive behind me blasting the Wicked Witch’s theme from The Wizard of Oz.  Today would have been a great day for that.

All that for what’s basically a very simple outfit.  It’s a harlequin sweater vest (vintage J. G. Hook via Goodwill) layered over a black turtleneck (Gap) with a black skirt (Ralph Lauren via Goodwill), black tights (Hue via Nordstrom Rack) and Matiko “Ella” wedges (Ideeli).  I also added a belt (vintage brass), earrings (gifted) and the titular hearts in the form of a heart necklace from ModCloth ( v. old).

And I think I liked it.  I think it’s unusual but I also think it’s kind of cool.  But, honestly, I don’t know; I’m having the hardest time dressing myself lately. 

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

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