Hats, Flowers & Rabbit Deer Creatures

I don't like wearing hats.  I never know how to wear them or what to do with my hair.  And because my head is kind of small for a giant, they often don't fit me right and tend to blow off.  Even when it's not windy.  So, no.  Not a fan of hats.  But, I'm even less of a fan of sun damage.  So, I'm always looking for a sun hat that fits my wee head and protects my face.

Enter the roll-up visor from the Dorfman Pacific Scala Collection*:

This thing is brilliant.  First of all, it rolls up for slipping into a beach bag with ease, and because it's paper braid, it does so without wrinkling.  Speaking of wrinkling, I firmly believe the 5-inch peak, which offers the equivalent of SPF 50 protection, will help keep me from doing so as well.  And, it's adjustable, so it fits my tiny head perfectly.  The best part though?  I can wear a bun or a pony tail with it, because it's a visor, not a hat:

No more having to wear my hair down and getting all sweaty and angry.  And, it's perfect for laying in the sun (with sunscreen, of course) as well, because it doesn't continue all the way around.  It's just seriously altogether brilliant.  And reasonably priced as well; it retails for about $25.00.  You can find them, in multiple colors, from brights to neutrals, here.

This past weekend was beautiful here in Oregon, so I took my visor out on a test run to the farmer's market.  And it was perfect; it stayed put, even with the strong breeze, and I don't appear to be any more wrinkled.

Also perfect?  The market:

Purple Dutch iris

Blue Dutch Iris

Cascade Baking Company Bread

A red sedum for my nephew's collection.

The center of this thunder egg kind of looks like a leaping rabbit-deer-creature.  Kind of.

Dutch iris in zinc pails.

Potatoes.  I don't know.  I just like them.

So, in summary, this visor is awesome.  Farmer's markets are awesome.  They are awesome together.

Happy Tuesday, All!  Don't forget to enter my Shabby Apple Giveaway!

Gracey


*This sunhat was sent to me courtesy of Dorfman Pacific.  However, all of the opinions voiced in my review of the hat are mine and mine alone.

Buttons, Boots and Polka Nots

Today's outfit consists of buttons, boots and polka nots.  The polka nots are what brilliant reader, Aya, calls the pattern on my shirt (Eddie Bauer via Goodwill):

They look like polka dots, but they're not, so polka nots they are.  The buttons are on the skirt (thrifted via Goodwill) and the boots are my spring boots (Enzo Angolini "Saylem" via Nordstrom).  I told you that was a thing.

I love the button front on this skirt and, surprisingly, my thighs are okay with it too.  Usually button-front skirts tend to make my thighs Hulk out just to prove they can.  But, they stayed put today.  Thank goodness.

I also wore a woven belt (thrifted via Goodwill) and a lovely vintage apple pendant from Ally Hoot Vintage.  But, I forgot to get a close up.  You can see it here though.

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Gracey

Shop the Look:
Similar Eddie Bauer shirt (Tall & Plus available)
Similar button-front skirt
Exact Enzo Angolini "Saylem" boots
Exact apple pendant

** 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.

Bat-Wing Boobies

I love leopard print paired with floral print.  And I love leopard paired with blue.  So, pairing my leopard cardigan with this blue, floral dress is a combination that really probably should have occurred to me sooner.  But, better late than never, right?

I actually wasn�t sure the dress (vintage Anthony Richards) would work under the cardigan (Ann Taylor).  It has elbow-length sleeves and as much as I like a dress with sleeves, they aren�t always the easiest to layer.  At least not for me and my arms.  They tend to bunch and twist and generally make me angry.  But, I�m happy to say that I was not angry today; the cardigan is loose enough through the sleeves to fit easily over the sleeves of the dress.  

I also added my lighter-hued boots (Enzo Angolini "Saylem" via Nordstrom) because even though it�s been pouring rain, it still actually feels like spring here. 

That's right, I've decided these are my spring boots.  That I will wear year round.

Really, the only thing I wasn�t entirely happy about with this look was the belt (Old Navy).  I love the blue, but I think it�s too skinny.  The cardigan kept drooping over at the sides, giving me bat-wing boobies (you can see what I mean in the first two photos especially).  And nobody wants bat-wing boobies.  Probably.  I'm not going to claim to know everyone�s boob preferences.  So, suffice it to say that I don't want bat-wing boobies.

Happy Tuesday, All!  May it be free of strange breast shapes (unless, of course, that's your thing)!

Gracey

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.

Pre-Spring is in the Air

Although the air is marginally warmer here in Oregon, I don't think I'll be going bare-legged any time soon.  But, that doesn't mean I can't start to think about what I am going to wear when bare legs are possible.

Happily, retailers are encouraging that sort of thinking by tempting us with their Spring offerings.  Or, in the case of online retailer, eShakti, their Pre-Spring offerings.  And they are lovely. 

Here are some of my favorites from the eShakti Pre-Spring/Resort line.

For the Love of Buttons

Button Chambray Skirt

Metallic Button A-Line Dress

C'mon, Folks, They're Horses!

High Stepping Crepe Skirt

Horses!!!

Long Live Tangerine

Retro Style Poplin Dress

Sweet, But Not Saccharine

Heart-Embellished Crepe Dress

Hearts and buttons, ftw!

 

For When March is a Lion

Ruffled Military Style Chambray Jacket

Remember, eShakti carries up to size 36W now.  And you can always have a style altered for your longer (or shorter) arms, legs or what have you, for an additional $7.50.  And, right now, their Pre-Spring/Resort line is 30% off, but only until tomorrow.

Have any of you been looking at eShakti's Pre-Spring line?  What are your favorites?

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Spring in Oregon

So, it�s spring in Oregon, which doesn�t necessarily mean sun.  We have sun and then we don�t.  Spring in Oregon basically means the trees are blooming and then the rains are coming along and beating the snot out of those trees.  Seriously, I think there are more petals on the ground here than on the poor cherry trees.

This now-I�m-sunny-now-I�m-not weather can also be difficult to dress for.  I mean, it�s spring, I�d like to wear spring-like colors but it�s also raining and sometimes pouring.  Today�s outfit is my attempt at a compromise:

I wore a skirt because it dries quickly but a bright yellow skirt (Eileen Fisher, thrifted) because it isspring, after all.  I paired the skirt with a gray tee (Old Navy) and a black cardigan (Gap) because Oregon�s spring weather requires layers.  I added cuffed boots (Gap) so my toes don�t get wet (I hate wet toes), a silver necklace-as-bracelet and a silver, fringe necklace (as necklace, Jessica Simpson Collection via Macys).

Happy Thursday, All!  I hope your weather is less psychotic!

Gracey

FBFF for January 27th � New Trends

With Fashion Week just around the corner, most bloggers are beginning to focus on the upcoming trends for fall.  Luckily for me, Katy at Modly Chic catered to non-Fashion Week attendees this week and asked us about our feelings on current trends.  My fully thought out and not-at-all-slapdash answers to the questions are below.

1. For trends hitting the stores now, what are you coveting?

Tangerine, of course:

Pantone announced Tangerine Tango as the color of the year and I couldn�t be more excited.  It�s been well-documented on here how much I love orange and I think Tangerine Tango is an especially gorgeous shade.  I already have several pieces and have even already started wearing them:

Oddly enough, I'm also excited about printed pants:

From left: Robert Rodriguez, MARC by Marc Jacobs and Elizabeth and James

I say oddly enough because I�m aware that fashion gurus (and maybe even common sense) dictate that people with sizeable thighs shouldn�t draw attention to the size of their thighs with printed pants.  But, here�s the deal; one, I like a challenge and this will be my fashion challenge for this spring and summer.  And two, my thighs like attention; they figure if they can get public sympathy on their side, the UN is more likely to recognize them as an independent nation.

2.   How do your incorporate new trends into your wardrobe?

With as much panache and as little trouble as I can manage.  I�m usually light on the panache part, but I�m also light on the trouble part, so no complaints.  Mostly though, I�m just really careful about what pieces I choose to incorporate a new trend.  For example, with the printed pants, I�m not going to be looking for long, palazzo-style printed pants like the ones shown above.  I don�t think they�d work for my style and I�m not sure what shoes I�d pair with them.  No, I�ll be looking for cropped, printed pants that are still soft and flowy.  Soft dressing is another challenge that I�m looking to master this year so I�m trying to kill two birds with one stone.

3.  What trend are you seeing and not loving?

Mint green:

From left: Vera Wang, Jenny Packham, Vera Wang and Jenny Packham

Mint green just isn�t pretty to me.  I mean the clothes above are very, very pretty but the color itself is not pretty.  I associate it with hospitals and soapy-tasting mint-chocolate chip ice cream.  I don�t know.  Don�t ask.  And even though the models above appear to the average layperson to demonstrate that mint green looks good on everyone, I am convinced that it won�t look good on me.  Convinced, people! 

3.   Do you feel the pressure to constantly update your closet with the latest trends?

Goodness, no.  Which is probably the wrong answer for a blogger to give, but the latest trends don�t always appeal to me.  Or, if they appeal to me, they don�t always work for me.  Or, both.  Like mint green.  Mint green does not appeal to or work for me.

4.  Where do you find inspiration that takes the trend and makes it accessible to you and your personal taste?

My fellow style bloggers are a huge inspiration to me.  Especially those who take new trends and provide practical examples of how to wear them.  One limitation for me regarding new trends is that I can�t always wrap my mind around them.  Like, how would that look on someone who is not model thin and/or doesn�t have a Balenciaga budget?  I often get stuck in a rut of what I can wear or what looks good on me and can�t always see the potential in a new trend � seeing other bloggers wear something can help me see it in a new light.  Except mint green.  I�m not interested in seeing mint green in a new light.

I�m sure you all found this post very enlightening, or at the very least you learned to never, ever give me anything mint green for my birthday.  To see more enlightening posts/gift ideas, visit Modly Chic for a list of this week�s FBFF participants.

And have a wonderful weekend!

Gracey