Tunic and Skinnies

While I wouldn’t say that I have a uniform, per se, a tunic and skinnies is probably as close as I get:

It’s just a really easy look for me on days when I need easy, but don’t necessarily feel like wearing a dress.  Today was one of those days, so I paired a dolman-sleeve tunic (Angie via Ross), layered over a lace-trim cami (Old Navy), with “regular” length Flirt skinnies (Old Navy) and a pair of wedges (Bamboo via TJ Maxx).  I added a watch and a bracelet and I was done.  Not the most inspired look, perhaps, but I think the tunic adds enough interest so that it’s not the most boring look either.

Now, I’d like to say a word about dolman sleeves.  I love them.  I have several pieces with dolman sleeves (my dress from this weekend, for example) and they’re just great.  Especially for someone with my broad shoulders – a dolman sleeve gives my shoulders a bit more room to move around, which I love.  I hate feel constricted in my clothes so these really work well for me.  Also, as my bloggy friend Erin has pointed out, they have a fabulous sense of drama.  And what girl doesn’t love drama, right?  Right.

Today’s Takeaway?  If you don’t already love dolman sleeves, crawl out from under that sartorial rock and give them a shot.  They’re comfy and dramatic.

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Gracey

Pretend Lessons and A Bit More Yellow

Although I’m sure many of you are all yellowed out from yesterday’s Everybody, Everywear challenge, you’re going to have to suffer through a bit more today (unless, of course, you leave now, but what’s the fun in that?).  If it’s any consolation, this is (once again), not the outfit I intended to wear today so I’m not intentionally wearing every bit of yellow I have in my closet.  Although, the intended outfit included citron which is practically yellow so either way you were going to get some yellow today.

As the citron cardigan was no good (proportionally-speaking), I decided to pair my embellished white tunic (Design History via Ross) and skinny jeans (Gap Always Skinny) with an olive open cardigan (Target) instead.  I love yellow with olive so I added yellow peep-toe flats (Me Too via Nordstrom) and earrings with a bit of yellow on them (Target).

I finished up with olive and gold-toned bracelets (from top to bottom: Macy's, Mom-made & Banana Republic) to help tie in the earrings and the rest of the yellow.

Speaking of proportions (see paragraph 2 above), I know the length of the cardigan shortens my legs a bit and I should probably have worn heels with this, but I didn’t feel like it.  Although I like to think I can get away with things because of my height, I’m not sure I got away with anything here.  However, I have a plan; we can all pretend this is a lesson on proportions and that I’m showing you what NOT to do and then we’re all winners.  Agreed?  Fabulous.  I love it when we all get along.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Militant Lace

As I’m sure you all know, today is Everybody, Everywear’s Lace Challenge.  And I’m sure you all heard that the US Army has decided to do away with the black beret (What?  You haven’t heard?  I’m shocked; this is big news, folks.).  What may come as a surprise is that the Army is currently taking suggestions on how else to better their uniforms.  Personally, I would have kept the beret.  So chic.  But, I figure if they can’t have berets, they can have lace!  This is my suggested overhaul of those boring, drab uniforms:

I did, in fact, keep the olive drab because, frankly, it’s one of my favorite neutrals.  But, I like to think I spiced the uniform up in other ways.  I paired my olive skinnies (Gap) with a lace tee (The Limited) layered over a grey tee (Target) which gives it a sort of camouflage effect (try squinting with one eye).  I am obviously demonstrating the dress uniform, so I wore some mushroom-colored wedges (Bamboo via TJ Maxx) which can be replaced with some cute boots when one is not on the parade grounds.  I added some bangles (thrifted and Nordstrom) to show how well this look would go with a bandolier of bright brass bullets and my crystal and brass pendant necklace (Special) in lieu of dog tags.

Oh, and I can finally move my arms (hooray), so I finally washed my hair.  I am going back to the weight lifting class tomorrow, but I’ll be sure not to overdo it this time!

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

P.S.  None of this is true.  Well, some of it.  Today is the EBEW Lace Challenge and they are replacing sexy Army berets with boring Army caps, but really, the rest of it’s completely untrue.

Running Through the Jungle

Daily Outfit for Tuesday, June 07, 2011

I think I got too much sleep last night because I was squirrelly as heck while taking today’s photos.  Case in point, this photo here:

I’m pretending I was trying to show the cut of the tunic (it’s quite low both back and front) but sometimes a girl just feels like fake running in her photos.

These next two are some of the few that I wasn’t talking, laughing or distracted in:

Seriously, it was a rough shoot.  There is good news though – I rather like today’s outfit.  I bought this tunic this weekend from Ross Dress for Less where I’m pretty sure they were selling it as a dress.* Anyway, I layered my new tunic over a lace-trim camisole (Old Navy) and paired it with my “regular” length Flirt Skinnies (Old Navy), leopard peep-toe mini-wedges (v. old via Ross), orange earrings (via Last Thursday vendor) and a few bracelets (Banana Republic, Nordstrom, thrifted). 

Yes, it’s another tropical/jungle-themed outfit.  And no, I’ve never met an animal print I didn’t like.  It’s funny though because before I started blogging, I would not have said I had this much of an affinity for jungle and tropical prints.  But, now that I’m cataloguing everything I’m wearing I realize that I really do love them.  I think it’s because they have a tendency to be more bold (or crazy) than other prints and sometimes I like crazy (or bold).

I hope everyone had an equally bold, crazy, and squirrelly Tuesday (which really are the best kind of Tuesday to have).

Gracey

* Let me just say that this is NOT a dress.  Seriously folks, just because something clears your crotch by a whole four inches does not make it a dress.  At least not at my height.

Thriday

I had a fabulous day yesterday.  So fabulous, in fact, that I didn’t have time to write my post yesterday evening, so I’ve combined Thursday’s and Friday’s posts.  We’re calling it Thriday here at Fashion for Giants.

Yesterday really was fabulous.  My blog was mentioned on HuffPost Style, I got off work early to go to Last Thursday in Portland, I got to spend hours there with my much-loved and gorgeous friend Jodee and I even saw the man I like for a little while.  Oh, and my new shoes were cute (I’m just sayin’).  All in all, it was a good day, for which I wore the following:

I paired my Flirt Skinny Jeans (Old Navy) with a black ¾-sleeve tunic (Old Navy) layered under a tan batwing tunic (via Ross) and my cute new gladiator wedges (Bamboo via TJ Maxx).  I also wore my vintage squash blossom necklace (via Lil’ Gypsy Vintage) during the day.

For the afternoon and evening in Portland at Last Thursday with Jodee, I traded the squash blossom necklace out for a colorful scarf (???), coral and Peruvian opal earrings (via Crafty Wonderland) and a cuff (thrifted):

I figured I might need the scarf more than I needed the necklace for walking up and down Alberta Street in the rain while at Last Thursday.  I know most of you aren't from Oregon, so, briefly, Last Thursday is a sort of street festival that takes place on the last Thursday of every month during the summer, on Alberta Street in Northeast Portland.  It's amazingly fun with music and street vendors and food and jugglers and fire eaters and belly dancing troupes.  The galleries and shops stay open late on Last Thursday, giving it a sort of First Thursday feel, but with more dreadlocks.

Here are some photos from yesterday – the crowds were a lot smaller than usual because of the rain, but J and I still had a great time:

Fellow Last Thursday attendees

This was a wonderful ragtime band.  Wonderful.

I think this one is self-explanatory.

Rose City Vaudeville's mustachioed double-decker bus

If yesterday was fabulous, today was the antithesis of fabulous.  It was anti-fabulous.  Work continues to be crazy and today I had a three hour conference call.  THREE HOURS, Y’ALL.  That just isn’t right, especially considering that it was only scheduled for an hour.  And it rained on me on my way to work.  I have to tell you that I’m over being rained on, darnit.

At least I was dressed comfortably:

Today I paired some Real Straight Jeans (GAP) with a white tee (Target), beige cardigan (Santa Fe thrifted), gold flats (Kenneth Cole Reaction), a gold belt (???) and my new orange drop earrings purchased yesterday from an Alberta Street vendor.  I realized yesterday that for all my love of orange, I didn’t have any orange earrings, so I was very happy to find these.

As bad as today was (and it really was bad), it is Friday (hooray) and I do have a three-day weekend this weekend (double hooray), so I really can’t complain.

I hope everyone has a lovely, hopefully-three-day weekend and I will talk to you all later!

Gracey

Sunburn, Rain, Rain, Rain

Sorry I didn’t get around to posting a WeeCap this weekend, but I’ve included it all here in a super-sized post.

I had Friday off and it was gorgeous.  I think it got up to the mid-70s which we haven’t seen yet this year.  I love the sun and had nothing else to do so I spent the entire day (seriously, like six hours) sitting in the sun and reading The Help.  I know the book came out two years ago, but I just read Water for Elephants recently too.  I don’t worry too much about reading something as soon as it’s published – I’m pretty confident I’ll get around to it eventually.  The Help was a lovely book though and I absolutely suggest it to anyone else who hasn’t read it yet.

On Saturday, I realized I was a bit sunburned but the weather was back to being sort of rainy and not very warm so I couldn’t do any more damage.  I decided to do some damage to my checking account instead and went thrifting most of the day.  I actually didn’t spend that much, but realized that I may have a slight obsession with gold clutches and day dresses.

For Saturday’s thrifting, I wore my olive skinny jeans (GAP), pink ditsy floral tank (Frenchi via Nordstrom), oatmeal cardigan (Eddie Bauer, thrifted) and my pale gold flats (Kenneth Cole Reacation):

On Sunday I did some more thrifting, realized my obsession with day dresses may be more than “slight” and did a little laundry.

For Sunday’s thrifting, I wore lightweight wide-legged pants (GAP), an orange, striped tee (Old Navy), bronze sandals (Target) and pink drop earrings (Alberta street vendor):

My sister took my pictures on Sunday and insisted that we try to perfect our jumping shots.  Perfect they are not, but you can't say we didn't try our best:

Today it was supposed to get all the way up into the high 50s (exciting, no?) and rain much of the day, so I just gave in and resurrected the riding boots (Born Crown via Nordstrom):

I wore them with a red jersey dress (Banana Republic) layered under a navy cardigan (Urban Outfitters) and a studded belted (Michael Michael Kors via Nordstrom).  Basically, I now realize that I’m probably going to need these boots to get me through the summer – it’s a good thing I like them. 

Also?  Bloomers:

I love bloomers.

I hope everyone had a lovely Monday and didn’t have to ride their bikes home in the rain (luckily I missed the promised storm, although it is raining pretty hard now).

Gracey

Sheer Plaid-ness

Daily Outfit for Thursday, May 12, 2011

Sorry about the lack of a post the past couple of days.  On Wednesday I entered day 3 of a migraine and was forced to throw in the towel and stay home.  And yesterday Blogger decided to be down all damn day.  But, I’m feeling better and Blogger is feeling better and today we’re back with bad puns for everyone.  You’re welcome.

For my triumphant (just nod and smile) return to work I paired my semi-sheer plaid shirt (Old Navy) with my “regular” length Flirt skinny jeans (Old Navy), a pair of  platform sandals (Target) and pink drop earrings (Alberta Street vendor).  I feel like I should be going digging for claims (yes, in heels) instead of to work, but some days I just don’t feel like trying.  Today was one of those days.

Also, I really don’t have much to say, in spite of my absence.  I mean, I found out that platform sandals are hard to ride a bike in but rather comfortable to wear around, so that’s something.  And Oregon weather continues to be weird – I guess both May and June are supposed to be “wetter and colder than usual.”  I’m not really looking forward to that, but at least I’m no longer forced to wear tights.  And it’s Friday, so that’s pretty fabulous.

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Gracey

She Wore a Raspberry Beret

And I wore a raspberry scarf:

I wanted to wear something simple today; I didn’t have the fortitude for anything more complicated.  I went with a striped tee (Jones New York via Ross), black jeggings (GAP Generation), black mini-wedges (Jessica Simpson via Nordstrom) and, because I have to have some sort of color, a raspberry scarf and belt.  If you’ve seen my pictures from prom, you know that I love me a deep pink.  I think it looks better on my skin than a soft, baby pink.

In truth, I’m not much of a pastel wearer.  I do own some pastel pieces, but I’m definitely more drawn to brighter or deeper shades (or is it hues?).  How about you all – what are your feelings on pastels?

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and a happy Monday!

Gracey

P.S. My sister took my pictures today and we tried our hand at a jumping photo.  She cut off my head:

A Stripe-y, Persimmon-y Friday

A better-late-than-never daily outfit post for Friday, May 6, 2011

It’s overcast and misty in Oregon today, so I wore my persimmon-colored coat to combat the gloom:

And I think it worked.  Well, the coat and the bright purple azalea behind me.  It’s hard to be too upset with Oregon’s hit-or-miss sunshine when the flowers and trees clearly benefit from all of the rain.  And, of course, I’m also in a good mood because 80s prom is tonight.  Nothing cheers a girl up like giant puffy sleeves and some blue eye shadow.

In spite of its cheering powers, I’m saving the blue eye shadow for tonight – today I’m just rocking the blue stripes.  This navy and white striped tunic (Old Navy) seems like the perfect fit with this coat (thrifted) – I always want to pair the two.  Today I wore them with some cropped skinny jeans (Bandolino via Macy’s), my Born Crown boots (Nordstrom) and my multi-stripe scarf (unknown).

Happy Friday, Everyone, and have a wonderful weekend!

Gracey

WeeCap: April 30th and May 1st

This is the recap for a gloriously sunny weekend in which Gracey goes to a rummage sale, goes on a coffee date, spends time with family, goes on a dinner date and that was just Saturday!  On Sunday, I spent the whole day doing nothing.  A little reading in the much-hoped-for sunshine with the dog and nothing else.

Saturday, April 30th

This is what I wore to a rummage sale to raise money for my nephews' school and then to my first date:

I wore Flirt Skinny Jeans (Old Navy), with a brown tunic (New York & Co via Ross) and a black knit blazer (Liz Claiborne via Goodwill).  I love yellow with black and brown and actually wanted to wear yellow peep toe flats with this outfit, but it was raining very hard on Saturday morning.  So, I went with my low boots (Target) and accessorized with my yellow scarf and a yellow bangle instead.  I added a brown wood bangle to tie in the brown elements in the outfit, and a turquoise wood-beaded bracelet to pick up the turquoise stripe in the scarf.  And, because you can't go wrong with a pop of turquoise.

Later that evening, I went on a dinner date, and changed into this:

For date # 2, I wore my Wide-Leg Trouser Jeans (GAP), a black tunic (JC Penney), black Vince Camuto wedges (via Ideeli), and accessorized with another trio of bracelets: vintage turquoise beads (Portland vintage shop), black glass and clear glass (Macy's).  I also wore large silver hoops and carried my new favorite clutch.  It's vintage eel skin and I thrifted it for a mere $6.00!  It's fabulous, no?

I have to say, both dates went very well.  Both men were very nice and for the most part, conversation with both was easy and natural.  Deciding what to wear was a bit difficult, but I was ultimately very comfortable with both outfits.  I didn't feel like I had tried too hard, or that I didn't try hard enough, both of which were concerns of mine going into this.


I hope everyone had a lovely weekend!

Gracey

P.S. I will be posting more details on the actual dates on my other blog, The Mingling Single, if anyone wants to hear more.

Some Citron, Some Leopard, An Award and Some Questions

Daily Outfit for Tuesday, April 26, 2011

High winds again today meant no skirt again today (no, C., the wind does NOT understand our pain):

So, once again, I’ve resorted to some skinny jeans (Old Navy), this time paired with a tiered blouse (Nordstrom), citron cardigan (JC Penney) and peep-toe leopard-print flats (v. old via Ross).  I have only worn this cardigan once before because although I love the color, I don’t do well with shapeless clothes.  I always want to belt them into submission, but this time I just let it be and actually really like it with this blouse.  As in like it so much I’m probably going to repeat this combination in the future.  You’ve been warned.  And what goes better together than citron and leopard, right?  Right.

In addition to brow-beating you into agreeing with me on my citron/leopard love, I wanted to tell you that the sweet and wonderful Gretchen of GretchTM gave me an award the other day.  I have been given the “One Lovely Blog” award:

Dear Gretchen, I accept.  And thank you.

One of the conditions of the award is that I need to share seven random (not specific, it’s in the rules) things about myself and award it to 15 other deserving bloggers.  Let’s start with the random, shall we?

1.      Dancing is my preferred form of exercise and I have tried pole dancing, Jazzercise and belly dancing to stay fit.

2.      I didn’t learn to drive until I was 20.

3.      I don’t like swimming in water where I can’t see the bottom.

4.      I have a terrible ear for languages and it makes me sad.

5.      I was a tomboy through high school – no skirts or dresses, ever.

6.      I love salmon in any form – raw, baked, grilled and barbecued; I love it all.

7.      My family goes white water rafting every summer and I am terrible at it.

Now for the fun part; I’d like to pass this award on to these lovely blogs: A Day in the Life Too, Aberrant Moda, Blogging for Joy, Boheme Noir, Em’s Fashion Finds, Girls Day Out, Madeline Quaint, Squirrel and Starling, Styled by 3, Tall Girl Blogging, The Elegant Bohemian, the other emily, two birds, Tart Lemon Drop and Stylefyles.

I know this is a long post, but stick with me for just a bit longer because I need to ask you all something.  As you know, in my outfit description I include the brand of the item and where I got it.  My question is this: is that helpful and/or interesting to anyone?  And if it is, would you like me to include links to the actual item or a reasonable facsimile?  I guess what I need to know is if you’re interested in the provenance of what I’m wearing and if you’d like to know where to get your own or not.

Please to let me know in the comments or via email – whichever makes you happiest.

Also, I wanted to say hello to my new readers/followers and as always, thank everyone for reading.

Happy Tuesday!

Gracey 

Monday Blues (and Browns)

Daily Outfit for Monday, April 25, 2011

Today was a strange day, weather-wise.  Although you can't really tell from these pictures, it was crazy-windy here today.

For part of my ride I was riding into a headwind so strong I felt like I was trying to peddle through quicksand.  It was hard going, but the idea of slow-motion bike riding is hilarious to me and actually made me laugh out loud during some of the windier spots.

At least it wasn’t terribly cold.  I was warm enough in my skinny jeans (Old Navy), tunic (via Galore), cardigan (Old Navy), blue scarf (H&M) and boots (Target).  I wanted to wear a skirt today, but the wind completely killed that idea.  I’ve only had my skirt blow up once while riding, but that was enough.  I try to avoid that at all costs now; I'm sure you understand.

I hope that everyone had a lovely Easter weekend!

Gracey