Why Not Try: Oxblood?

This fall, why not try oxblood?  Sure, it�s the most unappealing sounding trend since underwear as outerwear, but it�s actually quite nice.  So, what is oxblood?  Oxblood is a deep, reddish brown hue similar to burgundy:

Pantone Oxblood Swatch - Image via Amazon.com

And it is a huge color trend for fall. Personally, I love oxblood for fall because unlike some trends (again, underwear as outerwear comes to mind), I think this one is extremely wearable.  It�s also versatile, easy to find, and easy to thrift.  

Take, for example, these oxblood (yes, I�ve referred to them in the past as burgundy, but I guess this year we�re calling them oxblood; just go with it) �nun shoes� (Naya �Jada� via Nordstrom): 

Image via Shoes.com

I bought them last fall and I wear them all the time.  I wear them most often with gray and black because they add just the right bit of color.  But, you don�t have to go dark; oxblood also looks fabulous with blush, cream and teal.  Most recently, I paired it with bright yellow and navy blue:

In addition to being versatile, oxblood really is easy to find, both in retail stores and thrift stores.  Aside from my Naya shoes, all of the rest of the oxblood in my closet has been thrifted.  But, if thrifting isn�t your thing, here are some pieces that I like for fall.

Mossimo Women�s Elbow Sleeve Ponte Dress:

Image via Target

I think this is a great dress and if you want to see just how great it is on a real person, my girl, Sal, rocks it here.

Banana Republic Skinny Cords:

Image via Banana Republic

I have these in mustard and they fit wonderfully; so much so that I just ordered them in the burgundy oxblood.  (Also, you can get 30% off today and tomorrow with the code, THANKYOU).

Topshop Peplum Tank:

Image via Nordstrom

Unfortunately this tank is only available up to size 12 and runs a full size small, but it�s an otherwise great way to combine two trends in one.

eShakti �Vintage Ponte Knit Dress�:

Image via eShakti

I think I may be sort of obsessed with this dress.  I want very badly to wear it layered over a turtleneck with tights and boots. 

Naya �Jada� Pumps:

Image via Shoes.com

Yep, they�re still available and they�re still awesome.

MARC by Marc Jacobs �Too Hot to Handle� Shopper:

Image via Nordstrom

Yes, it is crazy expensive, but it�s also too pretty not to be included.

Still not loving oxblood?  Try calling it burgundy or Bordeaux (ooh, fancy) and see if that doesn�t change your mind.

And have a Happy Monday!

Gracey

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Why Not Try: Black with Brown

This fall and winter, why not try black with brown?  I know that when I was growing up the edict was either/or, but never both together.  Thankfully, fashion has become more relaxed and we can wear white after Labor Day, socks with sandals, and, yes, black with brown.  In fact, pairing black with brown can be extremely chic when done right.

So, what constitutes to doing it right?  Luckily, for this combination, it�s hard to go wrong.  I personally like to pair my black with warmer browns, such as camel, caramel or cognac.  But, it can be equally chic with darker browns such as chocolate and espresso.  Really, the only thing to keep in mind is to make the pairing look deliberate.

For example, I wouldn�t pair an all-black outfit with espresso-brown shoes because it could look like you got dressed in the dark and accidentally chose your brown shoes instead of your black shoes.  However, the same black outfit with lighter brown shoes, such as cognac, indicates you deliberatelychose contrasting shoes to enhance the look.   And adding both a brown belt andbrown shoes can make the look even more deliberate. 

Probably the easiest way to try this trend is to find items that combine the two for you.  For example, my black flats have a brown ankle strap, making pairing them with my black dress easy as pie:

Hive and Honey "Yvonna" Flats - Image via Piperlim

Another easy way to wear black and brown is to introduce a third color, like with my black, brown and cream dress:

 I'm excited to wear this dress this fall with boots.

Other black and brown items I love for fall include these fabulous printed pants from Anthropologie:

Pilcro Stet Slim Pants - Image via Anthropologie

And this polka dot sweater from Old Navy:

Polka Dot Boatneck Sweater - Image via Old Navy

Still not convinced?  Maybe you need a little Pinspiration?  In that case, here are some of the black and brown looks I�ve pinned for inspiration this fall:

Image via rachelslookbook.com

Image via Pinterest via fashionworship.com

Image via Lilly's Style

What about you, Reader Friends, do you pair black with brown?  If not, will you give it a try this season?

Gracey

Why Not Try: Dark Florals?

I've given up on summer.  It hasn't gotten above 85 for over a week and this morning it rained on me on my ride in.  And, of course, I wasn't wearing a coat so my shirt was stuck to my chest by the time I got to work.  It was decidedly not awesome.  Take it from me, surprise rain storms are not a pleasant surprise at all.  Having given up on summer, I've decided to jump into some fall posts.  Specifically, a series I like to call "Why Not Try?".  You see, I'm beginning each title with those words so it seemed like a good idea for the series.  And now, without further ado, I give you the first post in my "Why Not Try?" series.

This fall and winter, why not try Dark Florals?  If you�ve seen my blog, you�ve probably seen me in a floral print.  It�s true, I love a good floral.  And, lately, I�ve been especially enamored of dark florals.  So, as you can imagine, I�m pretty thrilled that this is one of the trends for fall.

I�m excited about this trend for a variety of reasons.  One, I think dark florals are more unusual, and, for me, more interesting, than run-of-the-mill pastel florals.  Two, I think they�re easier to utilize in a year-round wardrobe, given their natural ability to be paired with winter�s darker hues.  And three, they�re pretty easy to thrift. 

Like most trends, dark florals aren�t a new invention.  This means that they can be found in abundance in thrift stores, whether you choose blouses, skirts or dresses.  Here are some of the dark floral pieces I�ve thrifted that I look forward to wearing this fall and winter:

Animal and floral.  Win-win.

Fall colors on a black background.

White roses on a black background - a graphic take on floral.

The dark teal background & orange flowers are perfect for fall.

And I always have my eye out for more.

How about you, Dearest Reader Friends?  Will you be going to the dark side this season?

Gracey