Day 3: White Heat

So, here�s the deal.  Last week Oregon�s weather was sort of crummy.  I complained and now it�s mid-90s.  I�m not saying that Mother Nature�s trying to punish me, but 95 in September feels a little vindictive.  Anywho, it�s hot.  Stupid hot.  Too hot for clothes, but public nudity is frowned upon (What�s that?  It�s illegal?  Good to know.), so I wore this:

I just couldn�t possibly manage anything more than a simple white dress (Bar III via Macys) and sandals (Enzo Angolini, similar) in this heat.  Heck, I couldn�t even manage a necklace!  But, that doesn�t mean I didn�t accessorize.  No, I used some brooches (similar fruit, similar blue, exact bee) in a cluster at my waist and some studs on my wrist (Nordstrom) to add some interest and a little color.

Hopefully it will cool off some tomorrow because I only have one simple white dress in my Perfect 10 and public nudity will most likely still be illegal.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Like A Pro

I've always wondered how other bloggers were able to layer button-up blouses under their dresses without looking lumpy.  Was  it a trick of the light?  Did they have the assistance of birds & mice to make it work?  Was there some sort of Hogwarts for Bloggers, a Blogwarts if you will, that taught them how to perform this bit of magic?

Turns out the answer to all of those is no (well, Blogwarts is a maybe).  Turns out that all you have to do is find the right dress and the right blouse and, et voila, you've layered like a Blogwarts-trained pro.  This weekend, I found the right dress:

Target dress, Gap blouse, Born boots & vintage brooch

And I layered it over the right blouse:

I also added my vintage lion pin because, as I told you, I'm into big cats right now:

So, what makes this the right dress (for me)?  Well, it's a ponte knit, which means it's a heavier knit, which makes for smoother layering than a thin knit.  It's also a looser fit, which means there is room under it to add a blouse.  And, it has a flared skirt which gives extra room around my hips, which is where I need it most. 

And the blouse?  What makes it so great?  Well, it's very lightweight, practically sheer, which allows it to fit smoothly under the dress.  Also, it's mustard (hooray) and has a bow (double hooray). 

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

Gracey

Shop the Look:
Exact Mossimo Fit & Flare Dress (Plus also available)
Similar bow blouse
Similar Born riding boots
Exact vintage lion pin

** 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.

Short and Fruity

It's true.  This dress is short.  And fruity.  But, I love it so:

I got the dress from the Albany Antique Mall (they have a pretty great vintage clothing section) the weekend before last and immediately fell in love with the print.  Yes, it is shorter than I would usually wear without some volume to offset the shortness, but it is a great print and the high neck is fun.  Oh, and it looks fabulous with my Lynne Pin:

And I think it will also look fabulous with tights and a turtleneck in the winter; that way I won't have to worry so much about the length.  Or lack there of.  As it was, I drove in to work today to insure I didn't flash any of the middle school students I ride past every morning. 

In addition to the pin (gifted from Lynne because she is the best ever), I also added a thin belt (Macy's) and pointed toe boots (Luxury Rebel via Piperlime) to the look:

I think the boots somehow served to both modernize the look and recall the dress' sixties origins at the same time.  Which was totally my intention, as far as you know.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Spots, Dots & Par-rots

I'm wearing spots, dots and par-rots today:

I've often yammered on about how I love animal and green together because something something jungle.  I continued that "jungle theme" with my new (to me) parrot brooch:

So green.  And parrot-y.  (Not parody, parrot-y; if it were a parody of a parrot, it'd be Conan O'Brien in a parrot mask or something).

I found the brooch in my favorite local vintage shop, Lil' Gypsy Vintage, and thought it would be perfect with my animal spotted cardigan (Anne Taylor via Goodwill) and green dotted pants (LOFT).  I also added a vintage Monet bracelet (via Red Fox Vintage) and my cap toe wedges (Bandolino via DSW).

Yay!  Jungle!  Sort of!


Happy Thursday, Everyone!


Gracey

P.S. if you haven't entered my Shabby Apple giveaway, today is the last day to do so; don't forget!

Shop the Look:
Similar green dotted pants (Tall available)
Similar spotted cardigan
Similar cap toe shoes
Similar vintage parrot brooch

** 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.

Poppies, Not Polka Dots

From far away, this shirt looks as if it�s printed with polka dots:

But, they�re poppies, not polka dots: 

Actually, maybe they�re not poppies.  I don�t know.  So, let�s just ignore the maybe-poppies and talk about the brooch cluster; it�s spring-themed!  See; there are flowers and an insect and a sort-of-nest.  Because nothing says spring like a sort-of-nest. 

I paired the not-polka-dot button-down (Eddie Bauer via Goodwill) and the brooch cluster (flowers via Goodwill, others via Lil Gypsy Vintage) with a marigold sweater vest (vintage Anne Klein II via Goodwill).  I love the red and blue print of the shirt with the golden color of the sweater vest.  I finished the look with dark skinnies (bandolino via Macys) and riding boots (Born Crown �Sosie� via Nordstrom).

As much as I would have loved to celebrate the fact that Spring has officially arrived with pastels and lightweight fabrics, it�s too cold here in Oregon for all that.  I had to make do with brights and a brooch cluster. 

Happy Thursday, All!  And Happy Spring!

Gracey

Whoops!  I almost forgot; my shirt, vest and brooches are all recycled fashion finds so I'm linked up to Recycled Fashion's link party today!

Shop the Look:

Similar button-down shirt

Similar dark skinny jeans (Tall ankle length)

Similar Born boots

Similar vintage sweater vest

Similar brooches (flowers, insect and nest)

** 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.

A Different Kind of Pinspiration

This outfit was inspired not by Pinterest, but by the pins on this outfit of the, well, fabulous, April, over at Knocked Up Fabulous:

Instead of a bright blue skirt (I think I packed mine for winter) I paired my cream sweater (thrifted, Goodwill) with my mocha-colored skirt (thrifted, Goodwill).  I also added black tights (Spanx via Nordstrom), belt (thrifted, Goodwill) and boots (thrifted, Goodwill) and an infinity scarf (Steve Madden via Macys).

And, of course, I added a vintage brooch cluster (all via Lil' Gypsy Vintage):

I like how the scarf ties in the black boots and tights and love the little pop of red from the floral brooch.  This is definitely something I'd wear again; perhaps next time with my blue skirt if I can remember where I put it.

Happy Wednesday, All!  And Happy New Year!

Gracey