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

Pretty Dress, Awkward Photos

My dress is pretty.  My photos are awkward:

In my defense, it started to rain when we were taking these which made me sort of hunch-y, but damn, yeah, that's awkward.

The dress really is pretty though, see?

 

 I love a bold floral and the bits of orange in this one make me very happy indeed.

Also making me happy?  The fact that aside from the bracelet (Nordstrom), everything in this outfit was thrifted (dress, shoes, belt) or gifted (necklace).

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Cobalt Midi

I know for some, the inclination in summer is to wear as little clothing as possible.  And, as the temperatures climb into the 90s here in Oregon, I definitely understand.  And others swear that maxis are good, especially for air conditioning and I understand that too.

But, personally, I�ve found myself drawn to full, swooshy midi-skirts, like this cobalt one:

 

Skirt: Thrifted vintage   Tee: Gap   Sandals: White Mountain via Macys

 

I think it�s the swooshy-ness (shut up, Microsoft, it is too a word) of the skirt that makes it so lovely for summer:

 

Or, it could be the pockets:

 

Because pockets are a gosh darned delight all year long. 

Whether it�s the swooshy-ness or the pockets or something else, I don�t know.  What I do know is that I love a good midi-skirt for the summer months.

What about you, Reader Friends?  What length are your summer hemlines?

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

SIA: Woman of Substance

Today, I am linking up to Salazar's blog, 14 Shades of Grey, for this week's SIA Challenge.  As soon as I saw the piece Salazar chose, I knew I had to participate:

Woman of Substance - Octavio Ocampo

In spite of all the blue in the piece, I was drawn most to the combination of cream, green and orange-y yellows.  So, those are the colors I used in my outfit:

For this outfit, I paired my green, knit pencil skirt (vintage via Vintage by the Pound) with a cream blouse (LOFT), yellow sandals (Franco Sarto via Nordstrom Rack) and a yellow necklace (LOFT).  I also added a leopard belt because, well, I'm sure the artist meant to put of leopard in the inspiration piece.  Probably.

?

All in all, I loved the inspiration piece and I love my resultant outfit:

To see everyone else's inspired looks, please stop by 14 Shades of Grey and take a peek.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Neon Peach Redux

Y'all, neon peach is my jam:

Gap dress (exact dress, different color), Ella Moss sandals via Piperlime & Target belt (similar)

It's really not surprising that I would love this color so much as it's also the name of the fictional all-girls 80s cover band with which I jam.  And, peach preserves are my favorite type of jam.  (Man, English is a weird language).

Today I wore my neon peach with turquoise and a bit of cobalt:

And, because neon peach is, unsurprisingly, I guess, a highly visible color, I'm linked up to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

On Repeat

Once again, I am wearing a dress.  And sandals.  I seem to have this combination on repeat this summer:

Thrifted Dress (similar), Enzo Angolini sandals (similar) via Nordstrom Rack & LOFT necklace

Tomorrow I will also probably wear a dress and sandals.  Sometimes I like to wear separates with my sandals, just to shake things up, but it's usually a dress.  I did manage a necklace this time though:

I know, I know; that's pretty fancy for a Monday.  I guess that's just how I roll.

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Bright and Stripe-y

My shoes are bright and my dress is stripe-y:

Old Navy dress (no longer available) (similar) and Tommy Hilfiger sandals via Piperlime (exact)

I think my dress is perfectly stripe-y and my shoes are perfectly bright, but Ferge thinks my shoes are too bright:

Image via Piperlime

Nonsense.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Peplumesque

I am wearing a striped top once again today but, more importantly, it's also peplumesque:

Well, it's not really.  But I belted it into a peplumesque shape and I think it kind of works:

I haven't been too keen on the peplum trend because I haven't been able to find one I like.  I realized the other day (while watching Pretty in Pink, no less) that many of today's peplums are just too limp for my tastes.  I prefer a stiffer fabric.  And belting this vintage silk jacket was pert near perfect.  It could stand to be a little longer and even a little more stiff, but it'll do in a pinch.

Because I was adding volume at the waist, I tried to keep the bottom of my outfit sleek with a cinnamon-colored knit skirt (Jones New York via Goodwill).  I finished the look with my neon necklace (Target) and abstract print sandals:

 Seychelles Women's Mum T-Strap Sandal

Image via Amazon.com

What about you, Reader Friends?  Are you fans of the peplum trend?

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

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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

June Wears Leopard

I feel a bit like June Cleaver in this dress.  Of course, in my version, June wears leopard:

But, just a touch; like a leopard belt.  Just enough to prove she�s edgy and can do more than make meatloaf.

Of course, I don�t make meatloaf, or anything really, and I didn�t add the belt for edginess.  I added it because I�ve decided that pairing leopard with polka dots is my thing.  Well, one of my things.  Other things that are my thing include pairing leopard with green, owning too many coats and gesturing a LOT when I talk.  

Here�s an example of that last thing:

I think I was demonstrating that my hair was slightly better now.  Maybe.

This is actually what the majority of my photos look like on any given day.  I�m always flailing about with my hands or using them to demonstrate just how small something is.

But, I digress.  So, yes, today I did my thing and wore my polka dot dress (Coldwater Creek, thrifted) and I did pair it with a leopard belt (thrifted?).  I also added yellow platforms (Franco Sarto �Fylan� via Nordstrom Rack) and some bangles:

Is it the most fashion-forward outfit ever?  No.  But, it makes me feel as though I could slap an apron on and make something if need be.  Therefore, it gets full points for inducing delusions of domestic grandeur.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Speaking of Black and Brown

As many of you pointed out in the comments yesterday, one of the easiest ways to wear black and brown together is to wear leopard print.  I�m a huge fan of leopard print, believing it to be a neutral that pairs well with a variety of other neutrals as well as with color.  Like blue:

I have to admit, I am super-excited about this skirt.  I�ve been looking to thrift a leopard print skirt for ages, but they�re usually mini-skirts or pencil skirts and I needed something knee-length and full.  And then, about a month ago, I found this skirt and it�s perfect.

It has a high-waist, which I love, and, of course, the full skirt that I need to ride my bike.  It�s also a nice, lightweight cotton so I can wear it all year long.  Today I paired the skirt (Jones New York, thrifted) with a blue blouse (Old Navy (also, yes, I have this blouse in three different colors)), a studded, corset belt (v. old, JC Penney) and black, platform sandals (BP Shoes via Nordstrom Rack).   But, I can�t wait to start pairing it with tights and sweaters like my girl Ana did with her leopard print skirt yesterday.  I plan on pairing it with more black, charcoal gray and maybe some burgundy (or oxblood, if you must).  

Do you wear leopard?  If so, what is your favorite pairing?

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

Gracey