Long and lean and making a statement

Last Friday, a good friend and fellow librarian and I were talking about our individual styles and what kind of “look” makes us feel at our best. For my friend, who has a classically feminine shape, she feels and looks best in ’50s-style dresses, with nipped-in waists and full skirts. I often feel at my best when I go for a “long and lean” ’70s-style look.

Hence, today’s outfit that features a ’70s-style wrap dress. It’s amazing how well these dresses flatter a woman’s shape — and yet completely cover the body. I mean, I am in long sleeves, y’all, and covered from neck to knees, and yet I felt so feminine and (dare I say it?) sexy. There, I said it!

The big pearl statement necklace was a last-minute decision, but I’m so glad I did! The colors go really well, plus it means I can participate in this month’s Style Trend Link Up Challenge with t+j Designs!

Details:  Wrap dress:  Jones New York, thrifted last fall  /  Flats:  Payless, spring  /  Pearl necklace:  Gift from husband, Abu Dhabi, 2011  /  Pearl drop earrings:  Bridesmaid gift, old

Even my hair was long and lean!

Link ups:  t+j Designs Style Trend Link Up Challenge  /  Style Sessions  /  Real Girl Style  /  Anything + Everything Blog Hop  /  Thrifters Anonymous  /  What I Wore to Work  /  Wardrobe Wednesday  /  Look What I Got  /  What I Wore Wednesdays  /  Whatever Works Wednesday  /  Dress for the Day

Related articles:

• Three Tips for Choosing a Wrap Dress (themodernausten.com)
• SIA: Fish out of water (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• Take 1 Wrap Dress (empathyandextrafrosting.wordpress.com)

Mutual Inspiration: Winning combo

The fun continues! Day 4 of the  ”Mutually Inspired Series“ with Erin @ Loop Looks highlights the winning look of my Loop Looks Inspiration poll last week.

Inspiration:

This look, worn by Erin in early January, won by one vote (there was once a 3-way tie!):

Erin @ Loop Looks

Interpretation:

I had several ideas for how to re-imagine this winning combo, but ultimately, I wanted to stick with the long and lean silhouette.

I switched up the colors, pairing  tan suit trousers with a brown blazer. Instead of jeans, I went with a dark chambray button-down, and kept it untucked to echo the more casual vibe of Erin’s look. I also mixed in a bit of black with a statement necklace. I recently was the lucky winner of a Florence Adams gift card via the Sisters in the City style blog (woo-hoo!). And this sparkly, faceted necklace was one of the items I chose (I’ll be showcasing the other item as soon as the weather warms up enough for bare legs!).

And here’s a closeup of the rest of my accessories. I brought in the blue of Erin’s statement necklace through these new turquoise studs, on sale at a local boutique this past weekend. I’ve worn my loafer heels a few times on the blog, but I realized that I’ve never shown them close up. So here ya go.

Details:  Trousers (part of a suit):  The Limited, Fall 2011  /  Blazer:  JCPenney?, old  /  Chambray shirt:  Old Navy, last summer  /  Statement necklace:  Florence Adams, c/o giveaway  /  Loafer heels:  Kelly & Katie via DSW, old  /  Turquoise studs:  Local boutique, new

A neighborhood cat named Jinx had a lot of fun photo-bombing our quickie photo shoot at the end of the workday. He’s such a softie!

Stay tuned for the final day of our  ”Mutually Inspired Series“!

Link ups:  Look What I Got  /  Copycat Linkup

Related articles

• Celebrate! Blogiversary + new series (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• Mutual Inspiration: Grey + teal (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• My first giveaway & blogiversary countdown (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• 3 Ways to Style…a Chambray Shirt (miaprimacasa.wordpress.com)
• How to pair your Statement Necklace (outersparkle.com)

Silk scarf love

Last week, I found out that I was the lucky winner of a Monday Mingle giveaway, via Nicole @ MomTrends. The prize? Two silk scarves from Echo! I can confirm hand-clapping and in-house jumping when (a) I found out the news and (b) when I received the package a few days later. It was also quite fun to look online and guess which two would be coming my way.

And ta-da!

Such interesting patterns and colors! I like the purple animal print because it’s probably something I would have never picked out for myself, and I’m so glad to get some more animal print in my closet! And I like that it’s an abstract animal print mixed with bright colors.

And this vintage-inspired scarf is lovely, with its basket-weave print and more neutral color palette.

So, of course, I wore one of the scarves the first chance I got.

Details:  Shirtdress:  Florence Adams, c/o giveaway  /  Animal print scarf:  Echo, c/o giveaway  /  Wide belt:  Fall fashion swap  /  Tights:  American Apparel, last winter  /  Tall boots:  Nine West, old (probably one of the last days I’ll wear tall boots until next fall!)

I also wore my tan trench, which has an animal print lining! Such style synergy, eh?

After today, I am officially on Spring Break (woo-hoo!), but I will be posting throughout next week and participating in the “5 Days, 5 Ways” style challenge hosted by Franish and Whitney @ Along the Lines of Style.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Link ups:  Friday’s Five  /  Favorite Frock Fridays  /  Casual Fridays Link-up  /  My Style, Your Style  /  Watch What I’m Wearing  /  Sunday Style  /  Look What I Got  /  Monday Bloom

Related articles:

• Birthday Gifts : DIY Infinity Scarves (christinadesignsart.wordpress.com)
• What to Pack {Scarves} (momathonblog.typepad.com)
• The perfect pop of color: vibrant voile scarves for almost spring (coolmompicks.com)
• For Animal Prints? (cleartheway.wordpress.com)
• Animal Print Headscarf Bold Necklace Model (ahatday.wordpress.com)
• Organize scarves with shower rings! (momasaurus.com)

Polka dots and rainbows

Today’s sartorial challenge is ”winterizing a summer item,” from the Third Thursday Threads series. So I took a summer/spring polka-dotted dress — which I’ve worn a few different ways  here, here and here – and winterized it with a cardigan and tights.

But the dress is so light that I kept looking down to make sure I had something on the bottom! When I shared this with a friend and colleague, she countered with, “Oh, if everyone were similarly concerned with having their bottoms covered.” Ha ha!

Details:  Polka-dotted dress:  H&M, Abu Dhabi, 2011  /  Cardigan:  Gap, old  /  Patent leather skinny belt:  Fall fashion swap  /  Grey tights:  American Apparel, last winter  /  Bronze flats:  Kmart, old

Today — the first day of spring — brought some really strange weather with it up here in Portland, Oregon. This day has included heavy rain, light rain, hail, sunshine, and rainbows.

Behold:

Link ups:  Third Thursday Threads  /  What I Wore to Work

Related articles:

• I’ll polka your dot!! (caitlinameany.wordpress.com)
• Two for one (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• Spring Fling (Part Three) (freeurcloset.wordpress.com)

Glory basics

Today was a double-snooze, double-coffee kind of day. Uninspiring, cold, tiring. You’re feeling pretty great at stopping by this cheery blog today, eh?

But on a day like today when I just.did.not.want.to.get.up, that’s when a closet full of go-to favorites and basics work with you and for you. Favorite sweater with an argyle print that makes me feel preppy and collegiate (perfect for where I work, at a college library) — check. Brown ankle boots that I’ve had for over 15 years that are broken in just right and sooooo comfortable — check. Basic blazer that helps make everything work-appropriate — check! Whew. Done and done. And that did bring a smile to my tired face.

Details: Argyle sweater:  Smart Set, PEI, old  /  Blazer:  JCPenney?, old  /  Jeans:  Gap, long ‘n’ lean tall, old  /  Ankle boots:  Some fashion outlet in Texas, old  /  Pearl earrings:  Bridesmaid gift, old

Sam called out halfway through our quickie photo shoot, “Smile like you mean it!” Yes, dear.

Related articles

• 5 Must-Have Items to Update Your Wardrobe for 2013 (collegefashion.net)
• Inspiration Monday: Leona Lewis (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• Purple + black + silver (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• Pattern-mixing animal print and stripes (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• Preppy style that lasts for years (savemoney247.co.uk)
• Stylishly Preppy (lipstickcoveredlace.wordpress.com)