Friday, May 6, 2011

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

FBFF for May 6: Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

This week for FBFF, Katy of Modly Chic has asked us to talk about shoes.  I'm not a shoe-aholic, but I didn't have to force myself to write this post either.  I really do believe that shoes can make or break an outfit. 

What is your go-to pair of shoes?

In the fall and winter, I wear these Born Crown riding boots almost constantly:


I wear them with skirts, with dresses and over skinny jeans.  They are ridiculously comfortable and they go with everything.  They weren’t inexpensive, but my cost per wear is probably down to pennies now.

It’s a little different in the spring and summer – I have several pairs of sandals, peep-toe flats and wedges that I wear fairly regularly.  Although, I’d have to say my favorite pair is actually this pair of bronze sandals that I got from Target years back:

They were less than $20.00, but I absolutely love them.  Like my Born Crown boots, they are super comfortable and, I’m convinced, go with everything.  I’m actually considering getting these resoled because they are just that comfortable.  It may seem silly to resole a $20.00 shoe, but it seems sillier to buy a new pair that I may not love as much.  I’ll just have to see what the cobbler says.


What goes into your shoe buying decisions?

I consider form, comfort/function and cost when buying shoes.  I will not buy or wear a shoe I consider ugly.  Workout shoes are a bit different because I don’t care what they look like, but for my every day shoes and special occasion shoes, I need to like how they look.  However, if they are beautiful shoes, but supremely uncomfortable, I won't wear them.

The combination of function and comfort are a big consideration for me.  I need to be able to ride my bike and comfortably walk around all day in my everyday shoes.  For special occasion shoes, it depends on what I’m doing.  Am I going to be dancing or just going to dinner?  I have shoes that are comfortable in either situation.

Cost-per-wear may be my number one consideration when buying shoes.  If it’s a shoe that I will wear at least once per week over a couple of seasons, I’m willing spend more money than on a special occasion shoe.  Especially because, in spite of my best efforts, I don’t go to that many special occasions.


The majority of the shoes in your closet are what color?

Black, I think.


When it comes to shoes what are your favorite brands and why?

Most of my shoes are all different brands – I’m not devoted to any particular brand and will usually just wear what I like.  The brand I have the most pairs of are actually BC Shoes – they’re comfortable and inexpensive, both of which I like.  I also own a couple of pairs of Born Crown boots – they make lovely flat and low-heeled boots that work well with my calves.  I would like to get more Corso Como shoes – I’m a big fan of the padded foot bed they offer and like their styles.  Aside from that, though it depends more on shoe than the brand.

If price wasn’t an issue, you’d own which shoe?

Probably these Gucci beauties:


Gucci S/S 09 (Photo from Style.com)

I know they are a couple seasons old, but I just love the combination of the bright orange patent with the wood platform.  They look so fun to me.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Hot Pink Blouse, Questionable Skirt

Daily Outfit for Thursday, May 05, 2011

I thought I’d start my homage to the 80s a day early with this outfit:



I wore this lovely hot pink camp shirt (thrifted), paired with a black tie-waist skirt (also thrifted) and black ankle-tie espadrilles (Nordstrom).

I enjoy the color of this blouse immensely and would wear it more often except that its cropped shape makes it a little difficult to wear.  But, it’s really the skirt I had the questions about today.  While it has a sufficiently high waist to wear the blouse tucked in, I think the cut might be sort of off.  From certain angles, I like this skirt and think its flattering.  From others, I think it might be horrible.  Basically, I spent all day making sure no one was viewing me from ten or two.

In other news, prom is tomorrow!!!  And I’m super excited.  I bought some hideous pale pink lipstick and blue eye shadow last night and am nearly ready.  I just need to decide what I’m doing with my hair – definitely something big.  Also, I wanted to let you all know that I will be posting my usual daily outfit post tomorrow during the day, as well as my FBFF post, but probably won’t get my prom pictures up until Sunday. 

Happy 80s Prom Eve!

Gracey

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

I Have Good News and Bad News

Daily Outfit for Wednesday, May 04, 2011

I’ll give you the good news first.  I finally got my new camera (!) and took these photos with it today:



Which leads us to the bad news:  I had also ordered a set of Better Photography Skills, but those are apparently on back order; maybe indefinitely.  So, you guys are stuck with my current photography skills (or lack thereof) until those new skills arrive.  Sadly, there is no ETA for that order, so bear with me.

Sure the photographs are suspect, but this outfit is pretty cute, right?  I’m rather liking the not-quite-navy skirt (vintage – thrifted) with the aqua sweater (Target) and the camel Mary Jane wedges (Corso Como via Piperlime).  Is this color-blocking?  I think it might be.  What do you say we agree that it is and then I can cross that off my fashion bucket list?  Agreed?  Good.  You all are the best!

Also, I know I just used up a favor in asking you all to agree that I mastered color-blocking with this outfit, but I have another favor to ask.  If you don't already read Sal's most-awesome blog, Already Pretty, can you start?  Sal is helpful and wonderful and kind and her blog is the same.  Read it, I think you'll like it.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

It’s A Jungle Out There

And on my blouse:



I thrifted this magnificent blouse the other day and I absolutely love it.  I don’t know why.  My sister looked at it this morning and asked me if the guy I was going on a second date with on Saturday (D., from this last Saturday’s dinner date) knew I was tacky.  I laughed and said yes, he’d seen my blog.  Is this blouse tacky?  Maybe; my sense of style might be out of whack due to job stress (sooooo stressful you guys, for real) and lack of sleep.  Or, maybe, just maybe, this blouse is crazy awesome and I’m right to love it.

Because it’s my blog, we’re all going to assume the latter (that’s right, blogger = tyrant).  As I mentioned, my beloved blouse is thrifted, the pants are Banana Republic, the leopard flats are the same ones I wore yesterday (oooh, blogger blasphemy), and the olive cardigan is from Target.  I considered wearing black flats with this, but I love a good jungle motif and these leopard flats are easily my most comfortable pair.

In other news, work really has gotten stressful and yucky, so if I am not as good about returning comments, I apologize.  It should slow down by mid-July, but until then I’ll do my best to keep up with my posts and with visiting you all.  If I don’t get around to it daily, please know that I still heart all of you immensely.  Also, on a more fabulous note, 80s prom is this Friday, and I promise to take tons of pictures to share with you guys!!!

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

A-Team Hannibal, Not Hannibal Lecter

A Belated Daily Outfit for Monday, May 02, 2011

Today’s outfit was a surprise to me:



Yes, I did pick it out for myself, but you know how sometimes you think of an outfit and then you get it on and it’s twelve kinds of wrong?  Or you think of an outfit and you don’t expect to love it because it doesn’t even include any of your favorite colors, but you put it on and it turns out wonderfully?  The latter is what happened here today.

I think this outfit might actually one of my favorites and it was a complete accident. I am house-sitting for friends this week, and I don’t sleep well if not in my own bed, so I have a bit of insomnia.  I came up with this outfit during one of those half-asleep-but-the-mind-is-racing moments last night.  And honestly, it’s a combination that in the light of day I can’t even imagine how I came up with.  It’s making me think that half-asleep is how I should make all of my outfit choices.

When I bought this silk blouse (Banana Republic via Goodwill), I thought it might look okay with my brown pants (Banana Republic Factory Store), but couldn’t picture what else I would possibly wear.  I think I got stuck on the fact that I was combining brown, purple and pink, all of which are colors I don’t wear often and never together.  But, this morning at 5 am, it came to me; I’d wear the blouse and pants with a navy cardigan (GAP), leopard print flats (v. old via Ross) and a hot pink belt (INC via Macy’s).  And oddly enough, I think it worked.

Like Hannibal (A-Team Hannibal, not Hannibal Lecter or Second Punic War Hannibal), I love it when a plan comes together.

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Gracey

P.S. My new camera still hasn’t arrived, so Ferge is still taking my pictures, today with my phone, for which I am super-grateful.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

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.