Floral and Tights

I’m aware that this isn’t the most spring-like outfit in the world:

But, I had to wear tights; it was very cold and very rainy on my ride in today which means that I had to wear something that kept me warm and dried quickly.  As I mentioned before, that’s usually tights.  Today the tights (Spanx) are layered under a sleeveless floral dress (thrifted and hemmed) and a cardigan (Old Navy).  I added a skinny belt (Steve Madden via Ross), booties (BC Footwear via Piperlime) and pink drop earrings (gifted; thanks, Nan!). 

And yes, I was mostly warm enough and I dried quickly.

Hopefully the weather will be better for Memorial Day Weekend, but if not, it’s still a four-day weekend for me and that’s fabulous news, rain or shine.

Happy Thursday, Everyone!

Gracey

Not Dressed For Spring

No, I am not dressed for spring. Because it doesn’t feel like spring.  It’s cold and rainy and feels more like autumn.  So I pretty much just dressed for autumn:

I paired an autumn-hued skirt (thrifted and crookedly hemmed by yours truly) with a black long-sleeve tee (Old Navy) layered under a lightweight black sweater (Target).  I added leggings (Old Navy) because I’m not kidding, it’s seriously cold and riding boots (Born Crown “Sosie”); ditto on the cold thing.  The scarf (v. old) was also added because it’s cold.

I do think it’s supposed to warm up this weekend and hopefully stay warm for a bit, but if I show up in 18 layers again on Monday we’ll know that didn’t happen.

Speaking of the weekend, mine is going to be super-busy.  Actually, May is going to be a super-busy month in general.  I have speed dating, brunch, concerts, dancing, more brunch and, of course, 80s prom (send me your pictures; you know you want to (yes, Lynne, you)).  This weekend is speed dating, dancing and/or drinking, a slumber party and brunch, all of which I am totally excited for.

How about you, Reader Friends?  Do you have any plans, exciting or otherwise, for the weekend?

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

The Case of the Missing Pocket

Alternately titled: A Reason Not to DIY

This skirt only has one pocket:

I’ve railed against skirts with a single pocket before, however, this time; it’s not the skirt’s fault.  It’s mine.  This skirt actually started out with two pockets, was a size 24 and about six inches longer:

I hemmed it and trimmed it to a size 14, above-the-knee length marvel with a pocket on the butt.  Yep, in all my trimming and hemming, I failed to allow for pocket placement.  To take the skirt in, I cut a two inch strip of fabric out of the back and then stitched it back together.  This, apparently, took the right-hand pocket from its proper place on my right hip to a completely useless position on my right buttock. 

Of course, I only found this out after I tried the skirt one and tried to put my hands in my pockets; I actually had to reach back with my right hand to get to the pocket.  It was neither cute nor comfortable.  So, I cut the pocket out, sewed the skirt together and now am the proud owner of a single-pocket skirt.

I paired the skirt (thrifted and mangled) with a dark teal blouse (Target), knotted navy cardigan (Gap), cream tights (Target), wedge booties (Nine West) and some jewelry (Macys, vintage, local craftsman).  I like the color combination of this outfit (borrowed in part from this outfit of Kish’s) but I don’t think it’s quite working.  At least not from some angles.  If this outfit were an Olympic ice-skating routine, I’d get high points for concept but low scores for execution.  Basically, I would not medal.  Sad face.

Happy Thursday, Everyone!  It’s nearly over!!

Gracey

It’s Pretty, It’s Just Not Good for Bike Riding

It is almost impossible to ride a bike in a pencil skirt.  Scratch that.  It’s almost impossible to mount, ride or dismount a bike gracefully in a pencil skirt.  I know this.  I’ve been riding my bike for a couple of years now and have a pretty good idea of what works.  Pencil skirts don’t work.

However, I sometimes just feel like wearing them anyway.  Today was one of those times:

I thought I could get away with it because this skirt isn't as fitted as some pencil skirts.  I was wrong.  I think the combination of the skirt and the wedges was just too much to handle.  I made it without incident, but trust me, it was not pretty.

The skirt though ispretty.  It’s just not good for bike riding.  I still love it though – cobalt is one of my favorite colors and I like the added color of the embroidery.  I actually created this skirt from a vintage Guatemalan dress that was damaged on top.  And by created, I mean I just cut off the top and added some elastic.  

Why, yes, I do have mad sewing skills.  Thanks for noticing.

I paired the skirt (rummage-saled) with a striped tee (J. Crew), wedge sandals (Corso Como via Piperlime), an oxidized-buckle belt (thrifted), bangles (Nordstrom & thrifted) & a necklace from my blogger-friend, Erin (thanks, Erin!).

To recap: Pencil skirts are not good for bike riding, I like cobalt, a lot, and I have secretly amazing sewing skills.  Oh, andI’m linking up to Thursday’s are for Thrifters.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

I Made This Sweater

…into a cardigan.  Of course I didn’t make the sweater, that's pure lunacy.  Jones New York made the sweater.  But, I did make it into a cardigan:

I thrifted the sweater because of its vaguely Southwestern motif which is on trend for fall (“Southwestern” I mean, not “Vaguely Southwestern” although if the trend were “Vaguely Southwestern” it would be sort of awesome, right?) and because I thought I could make it work.  I couldn’t.  Between the cut (boxy) and the fringe (fringe-y) it wasn’t working for me.  So I decided to try to refashion it into a cardigan.  And it was really easy.  I just cut the sweater down the front, folded the raw edges under and zigzag stitched each side.  

And, frankly, I think it’s an improvement.  I feel like I’ve taken the sweater from being boxy and dated to being kitschy and amusing.  And if you follow my blog, you know I love the kitsch and I love to laugh.  In keeping with the vaguely Southwestern theme (and the kitsch), I paired the “cardigan” (Jones New York Sport, thrifted) with a chambray tunic (Old Navy), riding leggings (Vince Camuto via Nordstrom), riding boots (Born Crown “Sosie” via Nordstrom), a turquoise beaded necklace (rummaged) and silver and turquoise earrings (Mom-ed).

The earrings:

In closing, I'd like to say the following: one, please forgive the wrinkles.  It was just that type of day.  Two, making a cardigan out of a sweater is super easy; you should try it.  Three, Happy Friday, Everyone.  And four, of course, is..

Have a marvelous weekend, folks!

Gracey