can't win 'em all

This outfit looked so much better in person. Like, 100 times better in person. Trust me. It (and I) photographed terribly. Is it all the black? All the dark colors? The stripes? The fleece-lined tights? The cold? Maybe it makes my face puffy?

I just don't know. But I do know this is clearly not a great outfit. I look a bit shapeless and that's not doing me any favors. But, in the interest of real style and transparency, here's what I wore! And as great as some looks were earlier this week (here and here, oh, and here), this one just isn't competing. 

But, I'm a real person, with real style, and a real life, and a real job, and real wrinkley dogs, and sometimes, my real outfits aren't so great. *sigh*

linking up with:

Style Elixir

dress: Target

cardigan: Ann Taylor

fleece-lined tights: Target

boots: c/o Aéropostale

taupe & gray

All of the taupes and grays.

All of the knits.

And all of the scarves.

This day was frigid cold, which called for a warm sweater and not one, but TWO scarves. I had a surprise coffee date with my best friend, and she kept gushing over my taupe and gray ensemble. And to be honest, it's something I didn't put much thought into, but I knew I liked both colors, and thought "They look decent in home decor, so why not on a person?"

And, ya know what? I like how it turned out.

However, I'm hoping I don't have to wear this heavy of a sweater (or two scarves) until next winter. Fingers crossed!

oh oh, and linking up all over the place:

Jersey Girl, Texan Heart

Cappuccino and Fashion

A Touch of Tartan

Stylin in St. Louis, Living in Color Style, and Coffee Beans and Bobby Pins

I do deClaire and Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After

sweater: thrifted (GAP)

gray skinnies: c/o Aéropostale

striped scarf: thrifted

oatmeal scarf: handmade

ankle booties: Old Navy

the opposite of snowy

See that snow on the ground? And the accompanying velvet pants, boots, turtleneck, and blanket scarf?

I'm NOT wearing anything like that today.

Instead, I'm wearing a lot less warm clothing, and soaking up as much sunshine as possible with friends while patio drinking and frolicking. We're also resurrecting old phrases and -isms from our youth, in celebration of my birthday nameday yesterday:

"Long hair, don't care."

"Let your freak flag fly."

"Leggooooo."

"YOLO"

turtleneck: GAP

blanket scarf: WalMart

velvet pants: J. Crew Factory

boots: c/o Aéropostale

all black. kinda.

One way to break up a lot of black is by adding in prints and textures. This black chambray leans gray in pictures, and the floral tank top still flows with the black pants, but adds visual interest. The scarf adds another texture up top, and hat caps everything off, without being so matchy-matchy - it doesn't match the floral print on my shirt, but still ties together the whole look. 

linking up over here

floral tanktop: WalMart

black chambray: Old Navy

black skinnies: Target

boots: c/o Aéropostale

hat: thrifted (Target)

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

you guys, it's still winter

If you read any other style blogs, you might have noticed (as I have) that everyone is saying that spring is here.

Let's be real here, my friends. I'm not going to pronounce that spring is here, nor will I dress like it, nor will I bore you with pictures of the peonies that grow in my backyard, because it's not quite spring (that is snow in the above pictures. yes, real snow).

Yet.

It's coming.

BUT

There are at least 2 more weeks until spring officially starts. And, if you've ever wished for spring and warmer weather like yours truly, you'll know that sometimes the harder you wish for it and will it to finally be spring, the more snow you get (see above pictures), and, if you live along the Front Range, you'll remember that we had snow last Mother's Day.

In May.

That was...cool?

So, to end this little rant, you will eventually see some spring outfits here. And you might even see some outfits that could be interpreted as warmer weather ensembles. But, I assure you, spring is NOT here in the Rockies juuuuuuust yet. And as such, I will (un)happily still be wearing my snow boots and sweaters and scarves and coats and hats and gloves and shoveling snow.

Probably until May...or June...or whatever...

shirt: Hollister

jeans: c/o Aéropostale

scarf: WalMart

boots: c/o Aéropostale

in like a lion

On this, the first Monday of March 2015, I have two outfits to share with you (just like last week). They both feature a sweater, skinnies and flats. Oh oh, and stripes. Always stripes.

It's impossible to discern, but those pants and flats are navy blue, not black. And my necklace, too. But that is a bit easier to see. The stripes in the sweater can lean gray, black or blue, so I chose to pull out the blue on this particular day. And then blue'd up everything else with my pants, shoes and jewelry. Perfect for a long day of meetings.

Cream and green and stripes and python. I tend to shy away from a big chunky scarf and chunky sweater together in the same outfit - it normally feels like too much volume, warmth and potential static for my hair. But this chunky scarf and sweater worked together. I think because I kept the rest of my outfit simple, and you know, it's winter. And winter calls for scarves and sweaters to keep you warm.

pink sweater: c/o Aéropostale

blue skinnies: Target

blue flats: thrifted

statement necklace: Old Navy

striped shirt: Target

cream cardigan: c/o Aéropostale

green scarf:  thrifted

jeans: c/o Aéropostale

python flats: WalMart

B to C

More ideas for ways to go from place to place, or you might say since we already covered A to B, this is B to C.

Exhibit B: frolicking in the mountains, and then driving back through the mountains and a few mountain passes to a lower elevation to run errands and get settled at home after a weekend of play. Exhibit B is comprised of: a bulldog sweater, leggings, a scarf, a down vest, and snow boots.

And lots and lots of snow.

Exhibit C: perfect for running errands and enjoying the winter sunshine in Colorado (the temperature this day reached 70! in the middle of winter! I rolled down my car windows and turned up the tunes. Y'all, it was great). Exhibit C was comprised of: the same (wonderfully awesome) bulldog sweater, skinny jeans cuffed a few times, fancy pointy-toed flats, a faux leather jacket, a pearl explosion necklace, and shades. Shades for the above mentioned sunshine.

This was an easy transitional look - I kept the sweater the same and changed my bottoms and outer layers. And accessories, too. And the entire vibe of my ensemble.

But, you gotta do what you gotta do when you swing from one weather extreme to another, and you need to look good and feel good while you're doing it.

sweater: Target

scarf: c/o Aéropostale

vest: Old Navy

leggings: c/o Aéropostale

boots: SOREL via JAX

sweater: Target

jeans: c/o Aéropostale

jacket: c/o Aéropostale

flats: Target