Waking Up a Winter Wardrobe

The other day, Angie, of You Look Fab, listed her four ways to liven up a winter wardrobe and it got me to thinking about how I like to wake up my winter wardrobe.  Especially now when the days tend to be short, dark and cold.

Sparkle and Shine

A couple of years ago I was firmly against daytime shine.  I liked to save my sequins for special occasions and couldn�t figure out how to incorporate them into my every day wardrobe.  This winter I�m all about daytime shine; incorporating sequins, rhinestones and metallic into my every day looks.  Whether you wear a little, or a lot, daytime shine is a great way to beat the winter blahs.

Nine West "Darbie" boots

Gap tee

Gap glitter belt

Brights

Angie advocated bright coats and accessories in her list, but I�m advocating brights in general.  I love wearing brightly colored pants, sweaters and yes, accessories, during the winter.  Even when it�s freezing out, brights bring a smile to my face.

Banana Republic Blue Bow Skirt
Gap legging cords
 Banana Republic colorblock scarf

Texture 

This time a year, you�re probably wearing a lot of knits.  I know I am.  And I know that can get boring.  But, if you look for texturally interesting pieces, it can alleviate some of that boredom.  Honeycomb, cable knit and popcorn stitching can all add interest to basic knit pieces.  Fuzzy sweaters are also a great option in a delightfully 80s way.

Eyelash Plaid Cardigan

Echo open stitch infinity scarf

Kyi Kyi Pom Pom Hat

New Neutrals

Black is a very present neutral in my winter wardrobe.  But, I also like to mix things up with new neutrals.  This year I�ve been wearing a lot of navy and gray but I also think camel, cream or even olive could work as a winter neutral.  

 Gap legging cords

Leith infinity scarf
Banana Republic Plaid Fringe Scarf

What about you, Reader Friends?  How do you wake up your winter wardrobe?

xoxo,

Gracey

Brights for Fall

For some reason super-saturated bright colors feel like fall to me.  Most people tend to start pulling out their browns, tans and rusts but I start pulling out brightly colored pieces like this dress:

 Hmm.  It looks a bit muted in those pictures, but it really is quite bright:

 
See?  Lovely and bright.

I found it last weekend on a quick jaunt through Goodwill and couldn't wait to wear it.  Happily it's warm enough to do so without having to layer so I paired it with my Born riding boots and added a belt (thrifted) and hot pink studs (Kate Spade New York).

Also, for those of you who felt like you were being watched as you read this, I think it might be my boobs:

I didn't realize it until we took the photos, but that particular design element makes it appear as though my boobs have eyes.  And that they are watching you.

You're welcome?

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

What Really Goes On

Most of my readers are used to seeing me look like this in photos:

I�m usually smiling, because I like smiling, but also because I think blogging is fun.  I�m usually front to camera because I like to clearly show the outfit I�m wearing.  And I usually have my arms at my sides or have a hand on a hip because I can�t ever figure out what else to do with my hands.  (Moment of clarity: I bet that�s why bloggers carry clutches.  Now I get it.) 

But, I think I owe it to you, Dearest Reader Friends, to show you what the other 40 pictures that I don�tpost look like.  To show you what really goes on.  Which, more often than not, is stuff like this:

I am pretty much always talking and often gesticulating.  In the above photo I�m demonstrating how it was so cold this morning that I had to break the ice on my horse�s trough.  I don�t have a horse.

And this:

And, in that photo I am expressing confusion over my friend, Ferge�s, confusion about today�s color combination. 

I think flame cords (Target) and a lavender button-down (Gap via Goodwill) make perfect sense.  Ferge does not.  At least she didn�t criticize the houndstooth shoes (Old Navy via Goodwill) though.  But, really, who would criticize houndstooth shoes?  They so very clearly go with everything.

ETA: Although I don't consider my pants confusing, I'll admit that they're bright, so I've linked up to Visible Monday over at Not Dead Yet Style, hosted, as always, by the lovely Patti.

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Gracey

Shop the Look:

Exact Target cords

Similar lavender shirt

Similar houndstooth flats (now on sale)  

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It Just Makes Good Sense

I know a lot of people move towards more somber, drab colors in fall and winter, but I like to continue to wear my brights:

 

One, because brightly colored clothes make me happy and after much deliberation, I�ve decided that�s my aesthetic.  Happy.  Two, because it just makes good sense.  For example, if you�re caught in a freak snow storm, would you rather be wearing gray or a bright color?  The correct answer is, of course, a bright color.  So the search party can find you.

Today�s bright color is turquoise and is brought to you by my sweater (Nordstrom, thrifted) and the stripes on my skirt (Target).  I also wore leggings (Target) and fold-over boots (Chinese Laundry via Piperlime).  Also, yes, my skirt is navy and my leggings are black.  That�s just the way I roll.

Happy Friday, Everyone!  Enjoy your weekend!  And, remember, brightly colored clothes make you easier to rescue!

Gracey

Shop The Look

Similar turquoise sweater

Similar skirt

Target leggings

Similar fold-over boots

 

 

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I Like Bright Pants and I Cannot Lie

Like these:

These cords (Merona, Target) come in other, less insanely bright colors, but as soon as I saw them, I knew I was going to get the flame orange pair.  My head tried to argue that a navy or tan pair would be more versatile and therefore more practical, but my heart yelled �practical clothes are for sissies� and grabbed this pair.

And, really, they�ve turned out to be more versatile than I�d first thought.  So far, I�ve worn them with bright blue and houndstooth (here) and today I�m wearing them with peach (thrifted sweater) and black (thrifted Brooks Brothers silk tie and Hive and Honey flats).  If that�s not versatility, I don�t know what is.  Of course, the best part is not that I am able to wear these pants with multiple outfits, but that they�re outfits I love.  Which is why, Dearest Reader Friends, I like bright pants and don�t bother to lie about it.

Happy Friday, All!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Gracey

Autumnal

I�m convinced that this is the perfect autumnal outfit, in spite of the fact that it�s made up of brights:

(Exact Merona Cords, Similar Sweater, Similar Shoes)

And they are some BRIGHT brights too.  But, I like the flame-orange cords (Target) with the electric blue sweater (Nordstrom, thrifted).  It could even be argued that I toned the look down a bit with houndstooth shoes (Old Navy, thrifted) if, you know, you consider houndstooth to be toned down.  If you don�t, well, then, yeah�

Really though, even with the bright brights and not-exactly-neutral houndstooth, this outfit feels like fall to me.  I think I feel that way in part because it consists of cords and a sweater, which I think we can all agree is a classic fall outfit.  And, while I understand that these may not be classic fall colors, I think they�re fall-like in their own way.  For me, they evoke images of turning leaves, pumpkin patches and the blue fall sky before the rains come.

Of course, I could just be convinced this outfit feels like fall because today finally felt like fall.  It was actually quite chilly on the ride in and I may have to break out the mittens before the week is up.  So exciting!

Happy Tuesday, 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.