Inspired By: The Braided Bandit

The other day, Hannah of The Braided Bandit wore an adorable combination of a cropped plaid jacket and a floral blouse.  See?  Adorable!

At the time I didn’t think I’d be able to recreate the look because I didn’t think I had the right pieces.  Happily, I was wrong:

As I was poking through my closet this morning, I found this gifted floral shirt (thanks, Mom!) and a cropped plaid jacket (vintage via Goodwill) of my own!  I paired my floral and plaid with skinny jeans (Old Navy) and black flats (Hive & Honey via Piperlime).  And I also added a black statement necklace, vintage bracelet (via Red Fox Vintage) and my new black & gold stud earrings that I won from Sarah at Just Take a Bow and bonnilu.

Thank you, Hannah, for the inspiration!  And thank you, Sarah and bonnilu for the awesome earrings!  And thank you, my Dearest Reader Friends, for visiting!

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Gracey

Le Sportif

This outfit feels kind of sporty to me, what with it’s combination of rugby stripes, plaid and lace-up shoes:

Could I, in fact, play sports in this?  Hell no.  Unless, of course, “hobbled running” or “falling over” are sports, then I’d be a world champion for sure.

I like to think I’d also be a world champion at pattern mixing; I love the plaid skirt (vintage via Goodwill) paired with the striped sweater (Gap via Goodwill).  I also added a thrifted belt, Nine West booties (TJ Maxx) and burgundy tights (Hue).  It wasn’t actually cold enough for tights today, but I hadn’t shaved my legs (it’s winter, people, and I’m single) and I needed someplace to tuck my sweater.

Honestly, I don’t know how other bloggers tuck their sweaters and manage to remain so svelte.  Without the tights I looked like I was smuggling sausages in my undies.  I’m still a bit lumpy with the tights, but those could be Gracey-lumps, not sweater-lumps, so who knows?

Do any of you have any advice for tucking sweaters without looking like a smoked meats smuggler?  Or is it just foolhardy to try?

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Double Denim Rides Again

Get it?  Because I’m in double denim and a riding jacket.  You’re welcome.

Corny puns aside, I feel like a cattle baron’s widow in this outfit.  Like my husband was killed by outlaws and I have to manage our ranch and our 30,000 head of cattle myself.  This is what I’d wear in Abilene to negotiate a selling price for this year’s cattle:

Because, really, nothing says “shrewd negotiator” like a denim shirt (Caslon via Nordstrom) and denim skirt (thrifted) paired with a riding jacket (Ralph Lauren, thrifted).  I also added a studded belt (Michael Michael Kors via Nordstrom), goldenrod tights (Nordstrom), riding boots (Born Crown “Sosie” via Nordstrom), garnet-and-cameo earrings & an equestrian scarf (Echo, thrifted).

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

Gracey

 

Pumpkin Legs and a Secret

Here are the pumpkin legs (no, really, someone actually referred to them that way):

Luxury Rebel "Yuma" - Image via 6pm.com

And here is the secret: I don’t always dress to flatter my figure.  

Okay, I guess if you’ve followed my blog for longer than a day, you’ve already noticed that figure flattery isn’t high on my list of sartorial priorities.  I would just rather be comfortable and colorful (i.e. happy) than worry about conforming to some physical ideal that I don’t naturally possess.  Magazines are full of tips on how to dress “taller and thinner” but I’m not convinced that’s the best goal to have.  At least not for me.  I am the height I am (which, granted, is pretty tall) but I’m also the build that I am and I don’t always want to have to disguise that.

Which isn’t to say that there aren’t clothes out there that make me look taller and thinner andmake me happy.  I’ve found a few pieces that fit the bill.  No, all I’m saying is that if something makes me happy, like pumpkin legs, slouchy sweaters and  colorfully printed skirts, I’m still going to wear them, whether they are flattering or not. 

Unflattering?  Perhaps.  But also happy.

What about you, Reader Friends?  How high is figure flattery on your list?

Gracey

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is Thanksgiving here in the US.  And, while I know some of you have been up for hours showing off cooking, I wanted to share some helpful hints for a successful Thanksgiving, illustrated with some vintage photos, pictures and postcards, before it gets too late in the day. 

Helpful Hint # 1

As you and your friends and family gather to eat and smoke the after-dinner peace-pipe, wear clothes.  I wore this outfit last Thanksgiving and not only did it make our annual charades game more x-rated than it should have been, I dropped hot ash on the girls.  The girls do not like hot ash.


Helpful Hint # 2

Not sure what to wear now that the loincloth bikini idea has been nixed?  May I suggest a little shine and a face-framing collar?  It's festive, it's seasonally appropriate and it's turkey-approved.


Helpful Hint # 3

Be nice to your turkey.  Is it not enough that you've been eating his kin since you could chew solid foods?  Do you have to enslave him too?

Instead, you should purchase a lovely hat (or some spats, turkeys love spats) for your turkey.  It's just the polite thing to do.


Helpful Hint # 4

When you're nice to turkeys, they're nice to you.  Little known fact, wild turkeys often carve Thanksgiving greetings into pumpkins for those who've treated them well (and bought them spats).


And finally, I just want to wish you all a sunshiny heart and say that I hope your sunshiny heart ripens your Thanksgiving blessings.

See you all Monday!

Gracey

Mocha, Charcoal and Plaid

One of the looks I knew for certain I’d try this fall and winter was black with brown.  And then, the other day, my charcoal sweater ended up next to my brown skirt and I realized that I also needed to try graywith brown.  So, I did:

Specifically what I did was to pair that charcoal sweater (Tulle) with a mocha-colored midi-skirt (vintage, thrifted).  I added gray and black herringbone tights (HUE), black shooties (BC Shoes) and my plaid infinity scarf (DIY’d).

And I’m glad I tried it, because I liked it.  I think the look would have worked just as well with a black sweater, but I think the charcoal with the mocha is a little bit more unexpected.  And I think the plaid scarf was a little unexpected as well.  Well, maybe not on me as I wear this thing constantly, but in general terms of clothing combinations, I’m totally cutting edge.

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Gracey