Birdie Awesomeness

As an Oregonian, I am, of course, unable to resist anything that has a bird on it.  So this shirt?

Yeah, this shirt was destined to be mine.  Not only does it have birds on it, but it fits my long arms even though it’s not offered in “Tall”.  Those two qualities alone are reason enough to love this shirt.  But then you add the fact that it looks adorable layered under my apricot sweater and it is birdie awesomeness at its best.

In addition to the awesome bird button-down (Caslon via Nordstrom) and the apricot sweater (Worthington via Goodwill), I also wore flared jeans (Gap), camel wedges (Corso Como via Piperlime) and neon studs (Kate Spade NY via Nordstrom).  

 

Friend Ferge thinks the neon studs don’t make sense with this look.  She is wrong.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

Shop the look:

Exact Caslon button-down (other prints also available)

Similar neon studs (save, spend)

Similar Gap flares (Tall available)

Similar apricot sweater (here, here and here)

Similar camel wedges

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It Got Cold, I Overreacted

Apparently the Oregon Weather Gods got tired of fellow Oregon blogger, Stacey, and I writing about our recent great weather, because it got cold last night.  And, as I always do when it first gets cold, I overreacted:

Did I really need both the sweater coat and a flannel scarf layered over the chambray tunic and jeggings?  Maybe not.  But, as I said, when the weather drops about 20 degrees in three days, I have a tendency to overreact. 

Also, this is the same DIY scarf I wore on Monday, and in Monday’s comments, the Menopausal Super Model asked how I made it.  The answer?  Crookedly.  Actually, that’s not entirely true.  In spite of the fact that I can’t draw, cut or sew a straight line (I have SLD, or Straight Line Disorder (it’s totally a real thing)) I still managed to do okay with this scarf by following the lines of the plaid for cutting.  It is sewn a little bit crooked though because my left arm is still weak and I can’t guide fabric in a straight line even when I don’t have the excuse of a broken elbow.

The good news is that it’s an infinity scarf and wrapped around my neck you can’t tell it’s crooked, which is why I knew this was the project for me.  I got the idea from the lovely Franziska at Franishh, who used this tutorial.  I used the same tutorial and it was really easy, especially if you don’t worry about your lines being straight.

Yep, looks straight(ish) to me!

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Shop The Look

Similar sweater coat

CJ by Cookie Johnson python print leggings

MIA “Roam” boots (on sale now at Piperlime)

Similar chambray tunic

Similar flannel scarf

** Disclosure: Actions taken from the hyperlinks in this blog post may yield commission/compensation for the writer. Please see the Disclosure tab for more details.

Jumping the Gun

It was less than 80 degrees here in Oregon today, so I wore boots and a scarf:

Yes, I’m jumping the gun a bit for fall, but, unlike the Olympics, I think bloggers get two false starts, so I won’t be disqualified when fall actually arrives.  Besides, it’s still kind of summery because my dress (vintage, thrifted) is sleeveless, the infinity scarf (Plato’s Closet) is lightweight, and the boots (Steve Madden) are lighter colored.

Make no mistake though, I am ready for fall.  I’ve been Pinning fall outfits like crazy on my Fall Ready Already board, I’ve been longingly petting my riding boots and I’ve already started planning fall outfits.  All of this in spite of the fact that summer came late to Oregon; but, apparently two weeks of 90+ degree weather is all I need to be over summer.

How about you, Reader Friends?  Are you ready for fall?

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

Gracey

Pinspiration: Black, Lace and Cognac

I Pinned this outfit the other day with the idea to recreate it myself:

Image via fashionworship.com

This is my version of the above look:

One of the reasons I Pinned this look is because although I already had all the pieces, it’s not something I would necessarily put together myself.  I mean, it’s just so neutral.  But, I’m trying to become more comfortable with neutrals so I thought I’d give this look a shot.  To do so, I paired my knit pencil (vintage, thrifted) with a cream, lace blouse (Limited), a cognac belt (thrifted) and cognac sandals (Jeffrey Campbell via Nordstrom).  I also added Nikki Jacoby earrings, some bracelets and a vintage necklace (via the Plucky Maidens Junkfest).  And, I think I liked it.  You know, for neutrals.

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

That 70s Sensibility

Lately I’ve felt like my clothes have reflected a 70s sensibility that I didn’t even know that I had.  This outfit is no exception:

I’m wearing flared, pin-tucked jeans (Gap), a bow blouse (Gap) in a decidedly 70s color and platform booties (Nine West via TJ Maxx).  Even the sweater feels a little bit 70s to me with the color combination and the belled sleeves.

The funny thing is that it’s not like I’m nostalgic for the 70s – I’m too young to remember any of it.  But, I’ve realized that the 70s aesthetic is perfect for my current lifestyle.  I’m not talking about the disco 70s (although I do love a jumpsuit), but the more practical but still ladylike 70s. 

I bike to work every day which means that I need practical clothes that allow me to move with ease.  At the same time though, I have an impractical streak a mile wide in that I like to ride my bike in high heels and pretty things.  Dressing in the 70s style of easy, moveable fabrics (double-knit may be ugly, but you can’t say it didn’t allow you to move), longer skirts, high waists and tall boots allows me to be both practical and feminine.

Which isn’t to say that I always dress with a nod to the 70s; I don’t.  And I don’t go full 70s with an outfit – if I do have vintage pieces from the era, I mix them with modern pieces to keep if from being costumey.  I think both of these things are important to keep from getting in a rut and to keep that rut from being daily trips from the 70s in your time machine.

How about you, Dear Readers?  Do you have an aesthetic from the past that appeals to you?  And how dedicated to that aesthetic are you?

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Matchy-Matchy vs. Clashy-Clashy

I considered wearing red skinny jeans with this color-blocked sweater:

But, that would have been too matchy-matchy for my tastes.  Given the choice, I usually prefer to be clashy-clashy rather than matchy-matchy.  There may be some deep-seeded psychological reason behind that preference; such as I’m afraid to look too put together lest people start to expect it from me, but mostly I think it’s just that I’m drawn to riotous color. 

Like the bright mustard yellow color of these cords:

These cords (Gap) make me happy and it made me happy today to pair them with this color-blocked sweater (Old Navy) and my all-time-favorite boots (Born Crown “Sosie” via Nordstrom).  I also added some bracelets and a watch that could serve to tie the look together if one was insistent on that sort of thing.

What about you, Reader Friends?  Do you tend towards matchy-matchy or clashy-clashy?

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

Gracey