purple + blue

It's difficult to see in these pictures, but my shirt, sweater, and vest are different colors. The shirt and vest are navy blue, and the cardigan is dark purple. I think this is the first time I've paired these two dark colors together, and I like the dark, mysterious & wintery look that resulted.

There are obviously many ways to pair colors - complementary, analogous, and warm & cool colors. And then there's wearing colors that are the same saturation - dark blue and dark purple. mint and baby pink. mustard and burnt orange. You can pull off any color combination, as long as the colors are the same "depth." It makes a look more cohesive and intentional, instead of "I got dressed in the dark." Not to say that you CAN'T pair different color saturations (and you should!) but sometimes the best color combinations come from neighboring colors on the color wheel, but in the same tone.

Really, though - try it sometime: deep jewel tones, pastels, navy and purple, forest green and deep red (Christmas colors!), and let me know how it turns out.

shirt: thrifted (Target)

cardigan: Ann Taylor

vest: Old Navy

jeans: thrifted (Old Navy)

shoes: DSW

necklace: from my Grandmother

tights & dresses

By now you might have noticed I'm wearing more tights and skirts/dresses than I have in the past. 

There's a few reasons for that:

1) in an effort to stave off the inevitable mid-winter "I hate everything in my closet because I only wear skinny jeans and sweaters," I'm trying to keep things interesting.

2) I'm taking advantage of the cold, but not yet frigid, temperatures we are bound to experience in January and February.

3) my new Frye boots are great, yet a wee bit snug in the calves, so I'm trying to get them to relax a bit before I pair them with pants.

4) I've started viewing tights as accessories. Sure, they're technically "clothes," and my legs would freeze without them, but wearing different tights with the same dress or skirt changes up my look, just like switching out shoes or jewelry.

So, here's to more tights&skirts&dresses this winter. Until it's WAY too cold outside...

dress: Nordstrom

tank: Kohl's

cardigan: Eddie Bauer

scarf: I made it!

tights: GG Boutique

booties: Old Navy

all the dark colors

When we were doing laundry the other week, the Mr. asked me "So, since it's cold out, do you only wear dark colors?" I started to protest, but then I looked at the large pile of darks compared to the smaller piles of whites and colors. So, I guess I wear "all the dark colors!" in the winter.

Whoops...

shirt: Old Navy

sweater: Maurice's

scarf: c/o Aéropostale

pants: c/o Aéropostale

shoes: Kohl's

90 miles to cuba, part 4

This was my “travel back to Colorado” outfit. Not pictured: a Colorado State University crewneck sweatshirt I put on when I got chilly.

In case you're wondering, ingredients for the perfect travel outfit include, but are not limited to:

- comfortable pants (stretchy skinnies)

- a comfy (mint v-neck) tee

- the option of a scarf

- a sweatshirt or sweater

- cozy socks in your carry on

- and I put close-toed shoes in my backpack, as well (I knew it wouldn’t be 70 and sunny when we landed in Denver…).

That purple backpack up there is a real trooper. I’ve had it since I started 5^th grade – I was REALLY into purple during that time, hence the bright grape color. Oh, and my name embroidered on there, too. My name is really Anne (with an E! always an E!), but most people call me Annie. It’s ALMOST vintage. So I should hang onto it until the big purple backpack trend comes back around?

Happy Monday!

shirt: Old Navy

scarf: WalMart

jeans: c/o Aéropostale

sandals: Target

backpack: L.L. Bean

blues & greens

I found out yesterday that my high school football team is playing in the state championship (again!). And what do you know? Our school colors were navy blue & forest green. Above I'm wearing navy blue & neon green - close enough, right?

I also did some print mixing with the polka-dot scarf and plaid. Can't believe I haven't worn this combination before. Taking off the scarf and vest create a different look - so consider this vest an "accessory." At least today...

plaid: Old Navy

scarf: Aéropostale

vest: Old Navy

jeans: Aéropostale

booties: Old Navy

fall two-fer, number 2

Two-fer number two today, folks. 

Apparently I like to wear green this fall. It’s normally not my best, or favorite, color to wear. However, I wore two different green tops in the same week, and ya know, here are some pictures to look at.

Outfit #1

The first, a light green chiffon blouse with burgundy and navy blue flowers. The only thing I don’t LOVE about this top is the elastic waistband - it makes a large horizontal line at the widest part of my hips, and doesn’t stay down very well.

However, I can’t part with it because of the color and the flowers. It’s great for spring/summer, but I’m thinking of layering it under a darker-hued cardigan to switch up my normal winter garb – normally button ups layered under sweaters, sweatshirts, and more sweaters.

Did I mention sweaters?

shirt: Maurice's

scarf: WalMart

jeans: Aéropostale

flats: Walmart

Outfit #2

And this neon green top is pretty fun. It’s a very lightweight knit “sweater", but because of the color, I usually group it with my summer wardrobe. But it tends to not get a lot of wear, because in the summer, it’s hot. Obvi. And I want to wear as little as possible, while still being put-together and covered.

But this year, I’m keeping it with my colder weather line-up. The sleeve length and weight will be great for creating layered looks, and this bright neon green will really add a punch of cheer and BRIGHT to those cold, dark, winter days that are headed our way…ugh.

I’m hanging on to warmer weather as long as possible.

Are you surprised?

top: Old Navy

jeans: Aéropostale

flats: Old Navy

number 6 of 7

from the Mr:

"I liked the style when I looked at these shoes in the closet and couldn’t remember if I had ever seen her wear them. I think she’s had them for a long time, so I thought it was time they saw the light of day again."

These heeled loafers. These have been around for a long time, as well – freshman or sophomore year of high school? I’m never brave enough to get rid of them, and clunky stacked heels are coming back, right? RIGHT?!

And they’re brown leather.

And almost perfectly (genuinely) distressed.

And they make me a wee bit taller.

I just never know what to wear them with…so I tried out bootcut jeans and gingham. Not a complete miss. But not a complete hit – I didn’t sink the Battleship…any ideas for next time?

shirt: Kohl's

jeans: thrifted (Old Navy)

belt: American Eagle

shoes: MIA

number 4 of 7

from the Mr: 

"I have always liked this dress and wanted to see her wear it. We debate on whether or not it is long enough for work, so I thought it would be a challenge to figure out how to make it work, or maybe push some boundaries."

If you can’t tell, I’m in love/a bit obsessed with navy blue. And this shift dress just so happens to be navy blue. Fancy how that happens…It came from a friend who, instead of regretting giving it to me, tells me how great it looks on me every time I wear it around her. So, that’s nice :) I was a bit concerned that the dress would be too short for work, but then I remembered I have REALLY short legs (but my brother said I have long arms…?). And, in any case, tights season is almost here, so that should solve most of the “too short skirt” issues that reside in my closet…

dress: from a friend

cardigan: Plato's Closet via Hollister

scarf: Target

flats: Old Navy

number 1 of 7

From the Mr:

"I chose this pair of jeans because I, personally, am not a fan of skinny jeans that are tight all the way down to the ankle. So, since I had the option to make her wear whatever I wanted, I picked a style that i like to see her in."

I love these jeans. They’re from American Eagle, my senior year of high school. They’re a light-wash flare.

And I just.

Can’t.

Get.

Rid.

Of.

Them. 

They survive every closet purge. I love them. I really do. But, sometimes they feel a bit dated to me. Especially since I have several pairs of jeans that are a more “contemporary fit” than these old favorites (*cough* skinny jeans *cough*). But, I love these, and I’m keeping them.

However, I also wore navy blue and did some print-mixing to update my look a bit, bring it into this decade, if you will. 

And also, I tend to forget how short I am until I wear pants like this, and step on the hems all day. Skinny jeans don’t hang over the back of my shoes and dangle dangerously, but these sure do.

shirt: Old Navy

cardigan: Banana Republic Outlet

scarf: Target

jeans: American Eagle

belt: American Eagle

shoes: Target