“Expect the joy that rainbows bring”

(Don’t forget to enter the knitted gloves and mittens giveaway!!)

Color plays a very important role in my personal style.  I always love to experiment with it and find new and interesting combinations.  But I’ve noticed that I usually won’t use more than two colors, and I rarely have three colors that are next to each other in the color wheel (Academchic would probably know what the proper term for that is).  For today’s outfit, I decided to push my boundaries a bit, and wear yellow, green and blue together.

I’m really quite happy with how they look together.  I think the fact the there’s only a little bit of green peeking out probably helps to make it look balanced and not over-whelming.  I though about wearing my red coat with this as well, but I decided that would make me feel a bit too much like a box of crayons.

Might I mention that I am completely in love with my new scarf?  It’s so warm, and the elastic ruching makes it so easy to casually wrap it around my neck.  It makes me feel like a French woman who just effortlessly throws a scarf around her neck and instantly looks chic.  Anthro still has it (in four colors)!

What are your favorite color combinations to wear?  Do you tend to stick to the same ones, or do you love to try out new mixes?

Dress: Ella Moss (via My Mosh Posh)
Cardigan: J Crew (via Ebay)
Long sleeve tee: American Eagle (thrifted)
Tights: Hue
Boots: Dankso Risa (via Ebay)
Scarf: Anthropologie
Ring: from my grandmother
Earrings: Efy Tal

Quote: The Happiness Tree: Celebrating the Gifts of Trees We Treasure, Andrea Alban Gosline

“I’d make a few changes”

I just got this denim jacket last weekend at Revolve Clothing Exchange.  I’ve been trying to find the perfect denim jacket for awhile now, and I had some store credit, so I figured I’d go for it.  I don’t really think that it’s “the one”, but it fits well (as opposed to my old one, that was way too tight in the shoulders), so I’ll try it out for awhile before deciding if I want to invest in one that I like more.  I will definitely need to modify it by adding some pockets though.  It just feels weird to me to wear a jacket without pockets.

I bought this Boden skirt during my shopping ban last fall.  It’s actually the same design as one I already had, but instead of being one size too small, this one is one size to large.  It’s much easier to alter garments that are a bit too big for you, so I took in the waist and hemmed it about five inches (post coming on that soon!).  I might still take in the waist a bit more, because I’m not completely happy with where it sits right now.

I decided to wear my Fluevog boots with this outfit, because a) it was too cold to wear pumps and b) I like how it matches one of the colors in the skirt.  I’m still not quite sure what I think of flat boots and skirts though.

I have to admit, while I love how each of these pieces looks on their own, now that I see the pictures, I’m not crazy about how they all looked together.  I’m not sure exactly what it is that turns me off.  Maybe if the jacket had been a bit more cropped.  Or if I had tucked in my blouse.  Or if I had worn heels instead of flats.

What do you think?  How would you style this outfit differently to make it work?  Or do you think it’s fine as is?

Tee: American Eagle (thrifted)
Jacket: Gap (via Revolve Clothing Exchange)
Skirt: Boden (via Ebay)
Tights: Hue
Boots: Fluevog Heather
Scarf: Target
Purse: Vintage (via Advintagous )
Earrings: Efy Tal

Quote: If I Ran the Zoo, by Dr Seuss

ETA: The boots I was wearing in today’s post were Fluevog Heathers.  This is unfortunately a discontinued style.  I found mine by searching on Ebay for “fluevog boots”.   I saved the search, so that Ebay would e-mail me new items that fell into those search terms every day, and after watching for months, I finally managed to snag a pair in my size.  Fluevog has a pretty good range of sizes, but since these are discontinued, it’s really a matter of watching and waiting.  If you click on this link you can see all the boots they currently sell.

"Snuggles right down underneath the bedclothes”

This outfit came together quite nicely.  I was still feeling a bit run-down from my cold, so this outfit became all about warmth and comfort.  I wanted soft, comfortable fabrics all around.  Physically, all I felt like wearing were pajamas pants and a cozy hoodie, but that won’t exactly fly at work.  Combining leggings with a jersey dress, flat boots, a nice soft long-sleeve tee, and a cozy scarf wrapped around the neck made for the perfect formula of feeling comfortable while still presentable.

I really love how my hair is looking lately.  At the end of December, I went to a Bring Your Own Blow Dryer class at the salon I go to, Tribeca (which is pretty much the most awesome salon in Tampa, both in terms of their sense of ethics and in the fantastic style they have).  At the class, everyone got to sit down one-on-one with a stylist and learn how to style their hair at home.  I never really understood the concept of styling my hair with a round brush and blow dryer before, but now I’m addicted.  I feel like I can finally achieve the look that I want my hair to have.  Tribeca has these events once a month, so if you’re in Tampa, you should check it out.  The event is free, you get to sample delicious teas and attendees get a discount on any  products they buy while they’re there.

Oh, and I continue to adore these boots.  My nephew told me that he liked them too because they’re his favorite color.  Blogger tested, toddler approved.

Dress (as skirt): Express
Long Sleeve Tee: Apt 9 (Kohls)
Leggings: Target
Boots: Fluevog Heather (Ebay)
Scarf: Target
Necklace: Chocolate Cake Jewels
Belt: Thrifted
Earrings: Efy Tal

Quote: How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? By Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

“It was a good and beautiful place to live”

Once the weather finally started to warm up last week, I decided it would be fun to ride my bike down my local neighborhood park by the Hillsborough River to take pictures.  It’s such a lovely location; I really should ride down here more often.

Riding a bicycle in a wrap skirt is… interesting.  I was fine for the most part, except whenever a strong wind blew.  Luckily, I could hold the handlebars with one hand and hold my skirt down with the other, since I was on local streets.

I like this outfit overall, but I’ve noticed that this wrap skirt is not the most flattering shape on me.  It makes my hips look a lot wider than they actually are.  I think next time, I might try to balance it out a bit, maybe with a bolero or a cropped cardigan?  Or maybe I should just un-tuck the blouse?

Any suggestions on how I could style this skirt to make it more flattering?  Or should I give it to Goodwill?

Blouse: Ann Taylor LOFT (thrifted)
Cardigan: Ann Taylor LOFT
Skirt: The Limited (thrifted)
Tights: Target
Boots: Dansko Nena (Ebay)
Purse: Morelle Oyster
Pearls: Coryell Design
Earrings: Efy Tal
Watch: Target

Quote: Yudonsi: A Tale from the Canyons, by Robert J. Blake

“Down, down, to the frozen ground”

This outfit repeats a lot of the elements of yesterday’s outfit.  When it gets as cold as it was last week, and your winter wardrobe is limited, sometimes repeats just happen.  But I like how adding an aqua blouse into the color mix changes the whole look.

Weather this cold requires strategic layering, and in this outfit I experimented a little by layering my cashmere cardigan over a slim fitting hoodie.  I wasn’t sure if it would work, but I think the result came out quite well.  It kept me warm, and it was a nice mix of casual and dressy.

On my list of things I want to buy before next winter is definitely a pair of colorful leather gloves, lined in silk or cashmere.  These black faux leather gloves do the job of keeping my digits warm, but they’re so boring.

See that shimmery stuff by my feet?  That’s ice!  This weather has been so bizarre.  I’ve felt like I’m living in a wintery twilight zone.

Coat: Colebrook (garage sale)
Blouse: Anthropologie
Grey Hoodie: Express (via Classy Consignment)
Jeans: Express
Boots: Dansko Nena (Ebay)
Scarf: Spun and knit by me
Hat: Knit by me
Purse: Morelle Oyster
Earrings: Efy Tal
Gloves: ?

Quote: White Snow, Bright Snowby Alvin Tresselt

“There was a perfect outfit for every minute of the day”

When ridiculously cold weather hits Florida, I go for lots and lots of layers.  Flexibility is key.  My house stays chilly at 64 degrees, outside it’s in the 40’s, and in my office the heater is keeping it in the 70s.  Having to be in so many temperatures throughout the day, I need an outfit that can transition so that I can stay comfortable.  This first photo is my outdoor version -a coat can do a surprising amount to keep you warm.  At times I wore a grey beret too, but I didn’t get a picture of it.

At home, I ditched the coat, but left on my cozy cashmere-blend hand-knit sweater.  A little bit of wool really can work wonders.

In my office, all I needed was the dress and scarf to be comfortable.  The tights and boots continue to keep my legs toasty, and I’ve also got a cami layered underneath the dress for extra warmth. ” But wait, when did you get this dress?” you may ask.  Way back during weeks 16 and 17 of my shopping ban, I mentioned that I scored a beautiful Boden dress for a mere $25 on Ebay.  This same style normally retails at $110.  I didn’t like the drop waist effect, so I got it professionally altered (which also raised the hem), and now it’s definitely one of my favorite dresses.  I might still need to get a little work done on the bodice, as it fits a bit loose.  But with a camisole layered underneath, I didn’t really notice the looseness.

It’s hard to capture the color exactly, but it’s somewhere between watermelon pink and red.  I like it a lot, and I’m finding that it’s very versatile.

Coat: Target
Cardigan: Minimalist (handknit by me)
Dress: Boden (Ebay)
Tights: Hue
Boots: Dansko Risa (Ebay)
Scarf: Target
Purse: Morelle Oyster
Earrings: Efy Tal

Quote: Sylvia Jean, Drama Queen by Lisa Campbell Ernst

"Sunny like yellow"

A few weeks ago, I showed you a once-cream colored cardigan that I over-dyed purple.  In that post I also mentioned that I dyed a pink blouse purple.  Well this is that blouse.  Not necessarily the most exciting outfit, but perfect for running errands on a chilly weekend.  (I was actually really cold in this picture, and I added a few more layers when I left the house.)

The fit on this purple blouse is really comfy.  It’s not so loose that it looks formless and sloppy, but it’s not too snug either.  I love how it looks with my bright yellow scarf.

I bought this red cotton coat just before I went to NYC a few years ago, and it continues to serve me well.  Despite the fact that I long for J Crew’s gorgeous wool coats, the fact is that I can generally get by in Florida with this cotton coat and my suede/faux fur coat.  But as soon as I get a chance to travel somewhere cold (i.e. when I have money and time), I plan on purchasing a lovely wool coat.

Coat: Target
Blouse: Liz Claiborne (Thrifted and dyed)
Jeans: Express
Boots: Dansko Nena (Ebay)
Scarf: Bought in Chinatown, NYC
Purse: Morelle Charlotte
Bracelet: Zad
Earrings: Efy Tal

Quote: One, by Kathryn Otoshi

“We’d like some electric blankets”

Yes, I wore this cardigan two days in a row.  I realize some may scoff at the idea, but everything else in the outfit was different, and I only own so many woolen sweaters.  It was chilly, and I needed me some merino.  In my mind, most style rules should be ignored anyway.

Yesterday, you saw this cardigan with a shawl pin.  After those photos were taken, I modified this sweater by adding some button closures.  They still keep the look I was going for, while allowing for a greater variety of accessory options, since I don’t have to wear a great big statement pin to hold it together*.

Did I mention it was cold this day?  I threw on my coat as soon as these photos were done.  I’m wearing three different wool items: a cashmere scarf (thanks Village Shoes!), a merino cardigan, and a wool wrap skirt.  And a dress layered underneath to provide extra warmth and a little extra modesty in case the wrap skirt flys open.  And two pairs of tights.  I know, Floridians are wimpy when it comes to cold weather (cold being in the 40s here).  But honestly, there’s so few “cold” days here, that I have to take every chance I can get to wear my winter items.

Oh, and I got my mom’s ring re-sized.  I like it so much better now that it fits on my ring finger instead of my pinky.

Dress (as shirt): Express
Skirt: The Limited (via Revolve)
Cardigan: Sweet Mary Jane (handknit by me)
Blue Tights: Hue
Brown Tights: Kohls
Boots: Dansko Risa (Ebay)
Scarf: Village Shoes
Purse: Morelle City Bag
Ring: from my mom
Earrings: Efy Tal

Quote: Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, by Doreen Cronin

*Of course, I can still wear a big statement pin with this cardigan even when it has buttons.  And I probably will.

"I found some crazy places"

(For the next few days, I will be posting regular daily-outfits or Etsy Love posts in the morning, and Year in Review posts midday, to count-down to the new year.)

I work on a college campus, and there’s lots of neat little nooks and crannies that not many people know about.  Recently, I found this cute little park within two minutes walking distance from work.  I’ve started going there on my lunch break sometimes to take pictures.  I was only able to get one this time, because apparently other people like to eat lunch here too, and I feel really awkward taking outfit pictures with others watching.

The rest of the pictures I ended up taking at home.  One of my mini-resolutions for the New Year is to get more creative with where I take my outfit photos.  My back porch is the most convenient location, but it’s not always the most interesting.

Tee: Gap (via Revolve)
Cardigan: Ann Taylor LOFT
Jeans: Express (re-conned)
Shoes: Dansko Sally
Purse: Morelle City Bag
Necklace: Pixisette
Earrings: Efy Tal
Bracelet: Zad

Quote: My Sister’s Rusty Bike by Jim Aylesworth

"Drifted on the dancing breeze"

This outfit was all about comfort chic.  I was tired, I had a long day of work ahead of me, and I really felt more like staying in bed and reading all day.  But I don’t get sick days, and getting a paycheck is pretty important, so I needed to find a way to feel comfy at work while still looking presentable.  On days like this, I will often go straight to jeans and flats with a pretty blouse.

This blouse is a little slouchier than most of my clothes, and it’s a gorgeous, dark teal-green color.  It seemed like the perfect thing for today, since it’s basically a t-shirt with some interesting details.  I added to cardigan to polish it up a bit.  Combine that with a fun headband, nice earrings, jeans and patent black flats, and I felt comfy and stylish.

I’ve noticed lately that my comfort outfits tend to be the ones that take the least amount of thinking to put together.  A dress with flat boots and leggings, jeans and a nice blouse, etc.  I prefer to be less complicated on my days when I really feel more like staying home.

Blouse: St John’s Bay
Cardigan: Target (thrifted)
Jeans: Express
Shoes: Born Sokal
Purse: Morelle City Bag
Headband: Target
Earrings: Efy Tal
Bangle: Vintage

Quote: The Happiness Tree Andrea Alban Gosline