WeeCap (Weekend Recap)

Friday

The Breakdown:

• Sleeveless sweater dress - Kersh via Ross Dress for Less (v. old)
• Blue long-sleeve tee - Old Navy
• Black INC leggings - Macy's
• Kenneth Cole trench coat - via Ideeli
• Multi-color cashmere infinity scarf - Nordstrom
• Black slouchy boots - Chinese Laundry

I didn't have to work on Friday, so I started my weekend early, heading to Portland to visit my fabulous friend, Jodee.  We did a little shopping and a lot of talking.  We also went out to eat and rented a movie (The Kids are Alright).  I had a marvelous time.

Saturday

The Breakdown:

• Grey bootcut jeans - Gap
• Olive long-sleeve tee - Gap
• Blue/olive short-sleeve cardigan - Kensie Pretty via Nordstrom
• Vintage silver/turquoise squash blossom necklace - via Lil' Gypsy
• Brown faux-lace up boots - Kenneth Cole Reaction 

After a delicious breakfast with Jodee Saturday morning, it was back down to Salem to meet up with Alex.  We intended to do a little shopping and then go see the Black Swan.  The best laid plans of mice and men, right?  We ended up shopping at Lil' Gypsy for three hours and missed the movie.  I think it was worth it though, because I found this fabulous necklace, which looked so good with my outfit that I wore it out of the store.


Sunday

The Breakdown:

• Blue/multi printed tunic - ????
• Black leggings - Hue via Nordstrom
• Grey boyfriend cardigan - Gap
• Royal blue scarf - H&M
• Black suede slouch boots - Naughty Monkey via Nordstrom

Today was a lazy day.  I wore this outfit out for coffee but was inside the rest of the day, so I tried to optimize the comfort level.  Which for me, anymore, usually involves leggings.

When leggings first hit the scene, I was skeptical.  Not about the comfort, per se.  I was skeptical that something that skintight would flatter my larger figure.  And then I learned how to style them in a way I was comfortable with.  Or I got over myself.  I think probably a combination of both.  Either way, I spend much of my weekends in leggings now and I haven't looked back.

What about you guys?  Were there any trends you were slow to embrace but then became a fan of?

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!

Gracey

Friday Fashion Focus: Vintage Pendleton Coat

This is a vintage men's Pendleton wool coat.  There are a lot of 'fashion rules' against wearing this coat.  Because it is a men's coat, there is no nipped in waist, it's broader through the shoulders and has bigger arms.  It doesn't flatter my figure at all.  So, I shouldn't wear this, right? 

Wrong.  Oh, sure, I can see the logic behind that statement, but I refute it.  I do usually opt for a more "lady-like" coat, one that is nipped in or belted at the waist, that "flatters my figure more."  But this coat is practical in a way that more 'ladylike' coats are not.  For me, it's sometimes hard to layer under the more close-fitting, possibly more flattering coats, that are made specifically for women.  In addition, I have broad shoulders (very broad, if I'm honest) and therefore I need broader shoulders in my clothes.  And the arms on this coat are more than long enough.  As a giant, that is a hard thing to find, especially in vintage items. 

Most importantly, however, is that I love this coat.  I love the faux-fur collar, the burnt sienna and blue color scheme and the leather-covered buttons.  I love how warm it is and I love that I can wear thick, wooly, warm sweaters underneath, and I love that it's not a run-of-the-mill coat - it's unique.

I think you should wear what you love and love what you wear.  I love this coat, and that's why I wear it.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Gracey

Is there such a thing as a two-trick pony?

I feel like I might be turning into one.  In the past four days, I've alternated brights and brown/black combinations.  I know I'm probably over-thinking this, but I suspect that might be a side-effect of blogging.  Now that I know people are paying attention to what I'm wearing (you guys are paying attention, right?  I'll take that as a yes) I am scrutinizing things in funny ways.  Like worrying whether or not my adoring public (that's you, dear readers) will think I'm a two-trick pony.

The particulars:

• Ocelot print jersey top - Matty M via Nordstrom
• Brown boyfriend cardi - Old Navy
• Black skinny crop pants - Banana Republic
• Brown riding boots - Born Crown via Nordstrom
• Burnt orange cashmere scarf - Nordstrom

Full disclosure.  I love animal print.  And puns.  In fact, I almost titled this post "I like this shirt an ocelot."  Get it?  Ocelot?  Awful lot?  Okay, yes, it's horrible.  But I like words and as a result, I like puns.  Even bad ones.  I can't even promise you won't get more of them.  And I can definitely guarantee you'll see more animal print.

Gracey

Cherry? Tomato!

  

Easy-peasy:

• Tomato red turtleneck sweater - Gap
• Cropped skinny jeans - Bandolino via Macy's
• Crystal and brass pendant necklace - Special
• Gold hoops - Macy's 
• Born Crown riding boots - via Nordstrom
• Vintage men's Pendleton wool coat - thrifted
• Basset/beagle mix dog - pound

Sure it's just jeans and a sweater.  And an AWESOME necklace.  I love this necklace.  I got it last summer at a wonderful, tiny little shop on Alberta St. in NE Portland called Special (www.specialportland.com).  The proprietress/artist, Heather, made it necklace from a vintage chandelier crystal and vintage brass chain.  I don't wear a lot of jewelry and rarely to work, but if I do wear a necklace it's this one.  I think it's just beautiful.  I also bought a fabulous flower/feather/owl headpiece that same day - I'll show it off sometime.  Like the necklace, it's just wonderful.

Gorgeous as the necklace is, it's also practical in that it helps break up the turtleneck and lessen the dreaded uni-boob effect.  I love turtlenecks, especially in the winter, but I don't love uni-boobs.  I try to break up the line of the turtleneck with a necklace (well, this necklace) or a scarf.  My fabulous friend Alex breaks hers up with a brooch or two which looks wonderful and is something I'd like to try. 

How about you guys?  Do you worry about uni-boob?  Any tricks for breaking up turtlenecks?

Black, and brown, all over

The nitty-gritty:

• Sleeveless black dress - Walmart
• Black turtleneck - Old Navy
• Eddie Bauer leather and jute braided belt - thrifted
• Opaque black tights -Spanx
• Cognac slouch boots - Steve Madden

With this outfit, I tried to take an outfit that I wore this summer and recreate it for the winter.  During the summer, I wear the dress, the belt and the boots together and it's one of my favorites.  So, in the interest of shopping my own closet and getting a better cost per wear with my clothes, I wanted to give it a shot for winter.  I thought if I wore the dress over a turtleneck and tights, it would work.  And, I feel like it did.

At first I was worried about pairing so many different shades of black, but I'm happy with how this outfit turned out.  My only complaint is that it was a little chilly when I was riding my bike this morning.  It's been literally freezing the last few mornings and if ever there was a day for doubling up on tights, this was it.  Sadly, I didn't double up, but it's a short ride and I survived.

Why, yes, those are mustard yellow cords I'm wearing...

... and I love them. Seriously, these are some of my favorite pants.  I think in part because I'm prone to contrariness.  No one else loves these pants.  I don't know that anyone else even likes these pants.  When I wear them reactions tend to vary between disbelief and outright loathing.  Which, yeah, sort of makes me happy. 

The rest of today's outfit:

• Cream and multi scarf - I can't remember where this came from
• Ash grey long-sleeve tee - Old Navy
• Wine Olivia Sky tunic sweater - Nordstrom Rack
• Born Crown riding boots - Nordstrom

I got these pants last year, I think, online and on sale from the Gap.  They are actually cropped, which is a secret of mine.  I buy cropped or "regular" length pants and wear them under boots.  I happen to be a huge fan of jeans (or cords) tucked into boots, so I don't always have to worry if a store doesn't have pants long enough for me.  And, I've found that, for me, cropped pants are more comfortable tucked into boots because you don't have all of that extra fabric around the ankles. 

In spite of the fact these bright yellow babies were on sale, and could be tucked into my favorite boots (You will see these Born boots a lot.  I mean a lot.  I love these things), I hemmed and hawed about buying them - they really are quite bright - but I'm glad I did.  I wore the heck out of them last winter, so the cost-per-wear is pretty low.  In spite of my genuine affection for these pants, this is the first time I've worn them this winter.  And this is the first time I've styled them this way.  I was actually inspired by Lyddie of Chic On The Cheap's post about all the ways she styled her pair. 

(P.S. - Sorry about the picture quality.  I take my own and I'm really, really not a photographer, so this is a work in progress.  Bear with me.  I can't guarantee they'll get better, but they probably won't get any worse!).

New Year, New Blog

Let's get the important things out of the way first, shall we?  What I'm wearing:

• Black long-sleeve tee - Old Navy
• Grey/black fuzzy short-sleeve sweater - ? (label says Maggie Lawrence) - thrifted
• Real Straight Jeans - Gap
• Braided black leather belt - Fossil
• Blue leopard print flats - Nine West (I think the style is "NW Naughty")

Now for the, perhaps, less exciting portion of the post. 

When it comes to fashion, I think that every body type has their own set of problems.  And I know that being tall presents a very special set of problems.  Just like I know that being "plus-sized" presents yet another set of problems.  I am a combination of the two.  I am six foot tall and bigger than a size 12 (or 10 - I'm not sure what the cut-off is these days).  Frankly, its a wonder I bother to get dressed at all.  Except that because I love fashion, I happen to like getting dressed (most days, at least).

For the past year or so, I've followed several fashion blogs.  And I read a few fashion magazines on a regular basis.  And while I enjoy reading both the blogs and the magazines, I can't always relate.  I sometimes have a hard time identifying with what is being said.  I mean, I understand that the point behind the advice to look in the girls' (or boys', for shrunken blazers) section, is to think outside the box.  But, for someone my size, children's clothes just aren't realistic.  So, I'm forced to think of other ways to think outside the box when it comes to fashion.  Which is fine - who doesn't like a good challenge?!

I started this blog to to chronicle that challenge.  To chronicle the (mis)adventures of everyday fashion for a giant.  But, the blog isn't just for giants; its just a blog about fashion from a giant's point of view.