taking advantage

You might remember a few days ago I mentioned that spring is NOT here.

Yet.

But I said I had a few spring-ish outfits to share. This is the first one. Bare legs AND sandals. You guys, that's unheard of for late February.

But, it happened.

I was a wee bit chilly, but I was bound and determined to take advantage of the sunshine, so I did.

And had goosebumps when I wasn't in direct sunlight.

Aaah, the price to pay for a little Vitamin D in the middle of winter.

linking up over here, since this vest and skirt are black and white :)

shirt: c/o Aéropostale

vest: thrifted (Levi's)

skirt: c/o Aéropostale

sandals: Target

jewel tones

All the shades of blue and green. I really like how this came together - I didn’t anticipate liking it so much, but, I did! The color of these pants seems more spring/summer to me (like grass green), but when paired with darker tones, the grassy-ness is toned down significantly. And normally I wouldn’t pair an open knit cardigan with a heavy knitted scarf, but

(1) emerald green just happened to look great with the blue of my shirt and the green of my pants,

and

(2) I needed a warmer scarf.

Ever pair solid jewel tones together? I might try it for New Year's Even, instead of opting for sequins...

shirt: Target

sweater: Hollister via Plato's Closet

scarf: thrifted

pants: from a friend (Urban Outfitters)

flats: Target

classy in leather

I don't ride a motorcycle (but I DO ride a beach cruiser), and I’m not one to wear lots of leather (besides a jacket, shoes, or bag). However, I found this skirt at a thrift store and have silently been plotting ways for my sunshine-y/fuzzy/warm self to wear it.

Enter winter.

And tights.

And sweaters.

I added a cream sweater (with a wide v-neck collar - very feminine) to soften it up, and take the look from “lady of the night” to “fashion forward young strawberry blonde on a date with her husband.”

Did I nail it? I mean, if anything, the sweater helps, and the black herringbone print tights also contribute. The booties help a teeny bit, but maybe the low bun in the hair is really what takes it from edgy to modern classy…?

And cool.

Definitely cool.

sweater: American Eagle

skirt: thrifted

tights: I don't remember...

booties: Old Navy

fun

I like to think these wedges scream

“I’M A FUN PERSON!

BE MY FRIEND!

LET’S EAT BREAKFAST BURRITOS AND BOND!”

Whether that’s true or not remains to be seen…

However, since they’re so bright, I like to wear them something a bit more simple:

Exhibit A (above): black & white polka dots and skinnies.

Or the last time I wore them – Exhibit B: with a black & white dress.

These were also my wedding shoes, and either I have gotten worse at walking in heels (which is entirely possible. and these are wedges, no less) or these shoes got stretched out during that day, or my feet are shrinking, because I just can’t. quite. walk. like a normal person in these magenta suede wedges.

Rats.

button up shirt: Old Navy

skinnies: local consignment shop

wedges: ALDO

clutch: thrifted

all my favorite neutrals

At first I had the idea to wear this blush blouse under my navy cardigan. I knew I wanted to wear something other than jeans or a skirt, so I decided on olive skinnies. And I really LOVE how these colors look together. I chose boots on this day, but also considered brown dotted flats.

I actually wore the brown pashmina scarf, but I also like how the blue plaid scarf looks. This look can be easily adapted for different seasons by changing the shoes, subtracting or changing the scarf, and changing up the jewelry (a statement necklace in place of a scarf, or statement earrings).

Would you ever pair these colors together? I hadn't before, but I sure do LOVE how it turned out.

blouse: H&M

cardigan: Banana Republic

brown pashmina: from my sis-in-law

blue scarf: thrifted (Target)

olive skinnies: c/o Aéropostale

boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom

black, purple & gray

  

Again with the dark colors. It's just so easy to wear darks in the winter. Especially gray - one of my favorites. I added some color and texture with my tights, and a bit more with my necklace and boots. I tend to like to wear basic pieces, and then throw in a little something different - like purple patterned tights, or a bright necklace, or...both?

Merry Christmas Eve eve!

sweater: thrifted (J. Crew)

necklace: Kohl's

skirt: from a friend

tights: I don't remember...

boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom

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

90 miles to cuba, part 3

I wore this the one evening when it was COLD COLD COLD in Key West. Normally, I’m more than prepared with jackets, and layers, and options. Not this time. So, I was a little chilly through dinner at the A & B Lobster House, then strolling around Duval Street. We stopped in at Sloppy Joe’s, Captain Tony’s, Kermit’s Key Lime Pie, and The Lazy Gecko before we headed back to our condo because my teeth were chattering so bad.

This dress is a versatile little number – I’ve worn it to a country concert, on vacation, and to a work awards ceremony (in the summer, before this dress shrunk a few inches in the west). I just change out the shoes and accessories, and switch up my hair for a different look.

dress: Kohl's

wedges: thrifted (ELLE)

bracelet: Target