Knotted

As you know, I love me a striped shirt; I even recommended them in my wardrobe workhorses post.  And this vertically striped shirt is definitely one of my favorites.  So, I was pretty excited to find another way to wear it; knotted at the bottom:

It's pretty over-sized so I usually wear it tucked, but today I undid the last button and tied it up.  I like that it alters the shape of the shirt into something more interesting than a straight-across hem.  

In addition to the striped shirt (vintage, thrifted), I am also wearing another of my recommended wardrobe workhorses; dark pants.  In this case, a pair of black twill skinnies (Simply Vera Vera Wang via Kohl's (similar here)).  I added a neutral statement necklace (c/o Maurice's) but colorful shoes (Nine West via TJ Maxx).

And I don't mean to be smug, but I'm pretty sure this outfit totally justifies the inclusion of these items on my list. 

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Short Pants, Tall Shoes

I'm really feeling this combination of loose, short pants, preferably printed and high-waisted, paired with a shorter top and tall shoes:

I might need to tweak the pieces a bit, but I feel like this is a silhouette I'll be wearing a lot this summer.  I guess it could use a bit more definition at the waist, but I don't know that I really want it.  I am trying to figure out how to wear looser pieces.  And even though this isn't quite right, I think it's the direction I want to go.

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

The Buffallamagator

I apologize for my absence yesterday.  I was out with a nasty head cold and was too exhausted to come to work.

I am still exhausted, but I went ahead and got dressed and came to work anyway.  

That may have been a mistake:

As you can see, my sartorial woes continue.  The concept was rust, leopard & cream, but I’m not sure the pieces are right.  To me, it almost looks like I’m in one of those children’s books where you line up the different animal parts, making things like a buffallamagator (buffalo-llama-alligator) or an elebratamus (elephant-cobra-hippopotamus).  

I mean, the rust cords (Christopher Blue “Angel Skinny” via Nordstrom Rack) make sense with the animal print flats (Nine West “Kicheya).  And they make sense with the cream sweater (MINKPINK "Golden Rule Jumper" via Piperlime).  But, I’m not sure the sweater makes sense with the shoes, even with the addition of the black metal lace necklace (Old Navy) to tie the two together.  

So, the top of the outfit works.  The middle of the outfit works.  And the bottom of the outfit works.  But, all together?  Buffallamagator.

Oh, well, what can I say, I’m sick.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Shop the Look:

Christopher Blue “Angel Skinny” Cords

Nine West "Kicheya" Flats

MINKPINK Sweater

Similar metal lace 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.

Jumping the Gun

It was less than 80 degrees here in Oregon today, so I wore boots and a scarf:

Yes, I’m jumping the gun a bit for fall, but, unlike the Olympics, I think bloggers get two false starts, so I won’t be disqualified when fall actually arrives.  Besides, it’s still kind of summery because my dress (vintage, thrifted) is sleeveless, the infinity scarf (Plato’s Closet) is lightweight, and the boots (Steve Madden) are lighter colored.

Make no mistake though, I am ready for fall.  I’ve been Pinning fall outfits like crazy on my Fall Ready Already board, I’ve been longingly petting my riding boots and I’ve already started planning fall outfits.  All of this in spite of the fact that summer came late to Oregon; but, apparently two weeks of 90+ degree weather is all I need to be over summer.

How about you, Reader Friends?  Are you ready for fall?

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

Gracey

Feeling My Way

You will probably not be surprised to learn that I have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to dressing myself.  I mean, I’ve figured out buttons and zippers pretty well, but figuring out what combination of items to button or zipper onto my body is a struggle.  For example, I’m just wearing a dress today, but went through three or four iterations of accessories before landing on this:

The dress (Target) actually used to have a greige skirt (you can see it here), but I dyed it because I don’t like greige.  The accessories I finally settled on are a tri-color belt (thrifted), red-orange beaded necklace (street fair) and leopard peep-toe mini wedges.  But, seriously, it was a struggle even though the dress just pulls on!

I don’t know why selecting clothes is so much work for me.  I don’t know if it’s because my closet is too big (possibly), or maybe it’s too small (less probable).  Or, maybe it’s because I don’t have a clearly defined style.  I think if I just decided that “boho chic” was my thing and didn’t purchase or wear anything that didn’t meet that aesthetic that getting dressed might be easier.  Instead I have Personal Style ADD, dressing one day in all neutrals and the next in three different patterns and four different colors.  For example, here are last week’s looks (note the lack of a cohesive theme):

Now, I don’t think any of you who read my blog are under the delusion that you’re reading the blog of a fabulously put together blogger.  But, if you are, I apologize for bursting your bubble.  In truth, I’m just feeling my way along, tossing a bunch of stuff on the bed and seeing what sticks.  For those of you who suspected that was my preferred methodology, you were right, and I appreciate you sticking around in spite of that.

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

Gracey

Lavender, Lemon and a Bee Attack

Y’all, I was totally attacked by a bee today.  Okay, he was probably just flying by, but I reacted like it was an attack by ducking and squealing and then laughing.  You know; as one does:

Not to worry though, I got it together enough to take pictures.  Sort of:

Like yesterday’s color combination of tomato and violet, today’s combination is one I’ve wanted to try for sometime.  Specifically, since the EBEW Pastels Challenge in which my lovely friend, Ana of She’s Addicted to Clothes, paired lavender and yellow.

My lavender and lemon pairing involves a thrifted lavender eyelet dress and a lemon-yellow cardigan (Target).  I added a multi-colored belt (thrifted) which allowed me to sneak in navy platform sandals (MRKT via DSW) and rust red earrings because I like to ground my pastels with non-pastels.

Is there a word for non-pastels?  I'm sure there is.  Does anyone know what it is?

Happy Wednesday, All!  Watch out for bees!

Gracey

Simple, Yet Effective

If I were to describe my style, I wouldn’t use the phrase “simple, yet effective.”  No, I enjoy my bells and whistles (and tassels and prints) way too much for that.  I would, however, use “simple, yet effective” to describe this outfit:

You know what wasn't simple (or particularly effective)?  Getting these pictures taken.  My sister took them and first I got photo-bombed by our porch cat, Elizabeth Swan:

And then my sister took pictures of me explaining things:

No one knows what I was explaining.  Something tiny, clearly.

So, yes, the outfit is simple, but I don't think it's boring.  Sure, it’s just jeans and a blouse, but these jeans are awesome (Banana Republic) and the blouse (Gap) incorporates color, print and a wee little almost-peplum.  I added a rust-orange beaded necklace, because orange and purple totally make sense, wedge booties (Nine West via Piperlime) and a vintage bracelet.

Truthfully, I don’t know howI’d describe my style.  Probably something like “Color, Color, Color, Print, Print, Print.”  Yeah, that sounds about right.

What about you, Reader Friends?  How would you describe your style?

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

P.S. A porch cat is a cat that moves onto your porch and has kittens.

Captain Casual

Today is my Friday so I’m in total Captain Casual mode today:

In lieu of a cape, I’m wearing this blazer.  What’s that?  You don’t think a blazer is casual?  Well, this one is; it’s made of sweatshirt material.  How’s that for a disguise?  Nice, right? 

I paired the blazer (J. Crew Outlet) with a cream and gold striped tunic (Banana Republic) and skinny jeans (Macys), which I tucked into riding boots (Born Crown “Sosie” via Nordstrom).  I added a scarf (Target), forgot earrings and there you have it, Captain Casual.

Happy Thursday, All!  Have a wonderful weekend!!

Gracey

Wednesday Colors on a Friday

Alternately Titled: I’m Not Unoriginal, I’m Just Cold

Although, I will say that it’s not as cold as yesterday.  We had rain instead of snow and ice last night, so that’s something.  I am, however, wearing pretty much the same color combination as I wore on Wednesday:

In my defense, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is a saying for a reason.  And, in my opinion, the combination of burgundy, olive and rust ain’t broke.  Besides which, today’s burgundy and olive are different shades than Wednesday’s and surely that counts for something.  (It is okay if I call you Shirley, right?)

Today I layered a deep olive dolman-sleeve sweater (a.n.a/JC Penney) over a deep burgundy turtleneck (Gap) and a tan striped tunic (Old Navy).  I added skinny jeans tucked into riding boots (Born Crown “Sosie”) and a rust-hued paisley scarf (Target).

Okay, yes, fine, you caught me.  I’m a little unoriginal; these are the same boots and scarf as Wednesday.

Also, this is a picture from today of me looking sly.  It cracks me up so I thought I’d leave you with it:

And with wishes for a wonderful weekend, of course!

Gracey

Rust, Plum and Wrinkles

Do you all remember all the way back to last Friday when I mentioned that my office doesn’t have a dress code but that I still try to keep my casual outfits for Fridays?  Well, the key word there is try.  Some days a girl just wants to wear jeans.  Today was such a day:

As it turns out, today was also one of those days when a girl just didn’t want to iron.  The result?  Rust, plum and wrinkles. 

Curious how to achieve this look on your own?  Pair a clean-but-wrinkled plum and rust polka dot tee (Gap) with wide-leg jeans (Gap) and a clean-but-wrinkled cardigan (Old Navy).  Add cognac booties (Nine West via TJ Maxx), a rust colored scarf (Nordstrom) and coral and Peruvian jade earrings (Crafty Wonderland purchase).  And there you have it; rust, plum and wrinkles.  Easy peasy.

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!  I’ll see you all tomorrow with less wrinkles and more hair-brushing (probably).

Gracey