Subdued

My friend looked at this outfit and said I looked �subdued�:

 Yes, this shirt was considered subdued: 

I mean, it doesn't light up or anything, but subdued?  Really?

Which kind of makes me wonder what people think about my style.  I mean, I must dress like a complete lunatic for a wildly printed blouse (vintage via Goodwill) paired with animal print booties (80%20 via Piperlime) to be considered subdued.  Or maybe the black skirt (Goodwill) and tights (Spanx via Nordstrom) do actually work to subdue the mixed prints (not my intention).  Or, maybe, just maybe, my friend is the lunatic.  Yeah, I�m going with that.

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

Gracey

Mauve and Mock Dots

This blouse looks like polka dots from far away, but is actually a teeny, tiny floral print:

I love polka dots, but I love the idea of mock dots too.  In fact, I like pretty much everything about this blouse.  The only reason I don�t wear it more often is that it�s fairly short.  I know, I know, crop tops are in.  But, I can pretty much guarantee you that the bare midriff trend is not one I�ll be participating in.  You�re welcome for that.  Also, midriff is a weird word.

In order to avoid baring my midriff (sadly, repeated use doesn�t make it less weird) today, I paired the top (thrifted) with my mauve skirt (vintage, thrifted).  This skirt was originally a rather awkward length, so I hemmed it above the knee which allowed me to wear these ankle strap flats (Hive and Honey via Piperlime) that I can�t seem to stop wearing now that I�ve rescued them from The Giants Closet.  I also added a vintage Sarah Coventry double pendant necklace (via Red Fox Vintage).

Because this top works well with skirts with a higher waist and I have quite a few of those, I�d say it�s definitely a keeper.  And so is this particular skirt; it�s actually proven to be a pretty good closet workhorse for me, especially now that it's shorter.

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

Gracey

Camp Counselor

I borrowed the idea for this color combination from Delayed Missives:

 

But, the decision to dress like a camp counselor at an aggressively feminist all-girls summer camp is all me.  You're welcome.   

To achieve this look, I paired a vintage Levi�s work skirt with a vintage neon pink camp shirt (thrifted).  I added sturdy navy platform sandals (MRKT via DSW) and a couple of bracelets.  I left my whistle at home though.  Oh, well, next time. 

Even though I already own a neon pink blouse, I think I want to keep this one as well; if only because the other neon blouse doesn�t have pockets or jaunty rolled sleeves.  And I think I�m going to keep this skirt also; it�ll be great for wearing with sweaters for the fall and winter.

Happy Monday, Everyone!  Don't forget to enter my Shabby Apple Giveaway!

Gracey

Ladies Who Lunch, and Mix Patterns, in Funky Town

This outfit felt a little �ladies who lunch� to me.  Well, a little �ladies who lunch and mix patterns�:

Which I�m pretty sure isn�t a thing but maybe should be because it�s kind of an amusing concept.  I like the idea of taking a rather serious piece, such as this silk-lined checkered jacket (vintage, thrifted with Kelsey) and pairing it with a semi-serious piece such as this polka dot bow blouse (Old Navy) because together, they�re a little less serious, a little more funky. 

I also wore my mauve skirt (vintage, thrifted), black tights (Spanx) and black wedge booties (Nine West �Peekaboo� via Piperlime).  Again, the skirt could be a little staid, but the tights and booties help steer the outfit towards Funky Town.  Even if it just stops for a fill up and some beef jerky at the Funky Town Gas n� Save.

What about you, Dear Readers?  Do you like to lunch in Funky Town or do you live there year round?

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Animal and Floral

After a long weekend spent thrifting (of course), sleeping (my favorite) and watching movies (Never Let Me Go (depressing, just like the book) and Hunger Games (more below)), I had to come back to work today.  I wore these clothes:

I don�t know why, but in my mind there are few things that go better together than animal print and floral.  Maybe because the combination is a bit jungle-y and jungle-y is totally a thing?  I don�t know, but I do love to pair the two.  Today�s pairing is a floral silk blouse (vintage, thrifted) layered under an animal print cardigan (Target).  I belted it with my owl belt (Ross) and added a black skirt (Calvin Klein via Ideeli), patterned tights (Assets via Target) and black booties (BC Footwear �Swear�).

Happily, I think I may be able to go without tights fairly soon.  Friday and Saturday were both gorgeous, yesterday was a bit chilly and rainy, but today isn�t too bad.  It�s not that I don�t love tights; I do, that�s why I have so many pairs.  But, I�m definitely ready to be done with them.

Now, back to The Hunger Games; I thought it was great, not because it followed the book exceptionally closely, but because the filmmakers were so smart in the imagery they used, especially when showing the outlying districts.  District 12 was practically Depression-era America, right down to the clothes.  And I found the Reaping registration to be evocative of the registration of several groups from Communist China to Nazi Germany to WWII-era America.  I felt that these images, along with the colorless clothes of the outlying districts compared to the colorful and over-the-top outfits of the Capitol served the filmmakers very well in making their point.

Did anyone else watch the movie this weekend?  If so, what did you think?

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

A Floral Moment

The always lovely Stacey from Gray Skies (whom you should absolutely read if you don�t already) said she was �having a floral moment� last week.  And I thought, �well, what about me?  I like florals, I want to have a floral moment too.�  And then I remembered that I don�t actually like florals that much because they�re often too pastel for my tastes.  And then I found this vintage skirt:

And, et voila, I was having a floral moment of my own.  I found the skirt while I was thrifting with Kelsey (Hi, Kelsey!) and took it home, hemmed it, washed it and had to wear it right away (as one does).  I decided to pair it with a black v-neck sweater (Hinge via Nordstrom), a cream bow blouse (Old Navy), red tights (DKNY via Nordstrom) and brown, lace-up booties (Nine West via TJ Maxx).

Why that combination?  This photo doesn�t show it very well, but the skirt is actually pinkish-red, black and brown:

So I wore the black sweater to pick up the black, the brown booties to pick up the brown, the red tights because I finally own some and the bow blouse to keep the top from looking too dark in connection with the tights and booties.  And, frankly, I love it.  Even though this skirt is not remotely good for riding a bike in, it�s a floral I can do and do happily so you�ll definitely be seeing it again.

How about you all, do you have floral moments?

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

Gracey

Sweatshirt. Blazer.

This blazer is genius.  It�s a blazer that�s made of sweatshirt material.  Which makes it� what?  A swazer? Blazeshirt? Sweatzer?  Bleatshirt?  I don�t know, but I know I like it:

It is crazy comfortable and I sort of feel like I�m getting one over because I�m basically wearing jeans (Gap Real Straight) and a sweatshirt (J. Crew) to work today.  Sure I added a blouse (Old Navy), wedge boots (Kenneth Cole Reaction, v. old) and a red scarf, but that doesn�t change the fact that it�s still just jeans and a sweatshirt.  That�s right, folks, I�m totally sticking it to The Man today.  You�re witnessing antibiotic-induced rebellion at it�s finest. 

Happy Friday, Everyone!  And have a wonderful weekend!

Gracey