Mutual Inspiration: Pattern-mixing a striped blazer

Continuing the double whammy of style inspiration with Erin @ Loop Looks through our “Mutually Inspired Series“… have YOU been inspired yet?

Inspiration, Day 3:

This time, I chose an inspiration board from the first post of Erin’s “You Pick Wednesday” series. And that post stemmed from my own question submission (!) about how to wear a striped blazer, which I had just picked up on clearance last summer at the Gap.

5 Fun Way to Wear a Striped Blazer, Erin @ Loop Looks

Interpretation:

So I took inspiration from Erin’s suggestions to pair this striped blazer (last seen here) with a bright color (pink) and a patterned scarf. I didn’t have any floral patterns that looked right with the stripes, but I chose this basket-weave pattern instead because of the thin bits of navy throughout. I also wore berry flats to tie in more with the pink sweater.

For a more casual day at work, I felt cute and colorful. Thanks, Erin!

Details:  Striped blazer:  Gap, gift-carded last summer  /  Pink sweater:  Mango, old  /  Silk scarf:  Echo, c/o giveaway  /  Jeans:  Gap, old  /  Flats:  Payless, last spring

Stay tuned for Day 4!

Link ups:  WIWW  /   Wardrobe Wednesday  /  Get Your Pretty On   /  Dress for the Day You Want  /  Whatever Works Wednesday  /  Random Wednesdays  /  What We Wore, Read & Made Wednesdays  /  Whatever Whenever Wednesday

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Springtime inspiration + cherry blossom love

This Inspiration Monday interpretation might look like a stretch, but the inspiration behind the photo selection was springtime! And now that the cherry blossoms are blooming up here in the Pacific Northwest, it’s feeling more like spring to me. ♥

Inspiration:

Inspiration Monday – March 18, 2013 – Kate Hudson

Interpretation:

I kept things simple, like Kate Hudson, with a lightweight top, flared jeans, and a cotton trench. And the piping on the trench has a daisy pattern — perfect for spring!

Details:  ”Gertie” the owl sweater:  Old Navy, gift-carded in fall  /  Trench coat:  Jason Wu for Target, last winter  /  Jeans:  Gap, long ‘n’ lean style, 2011  /  Flats:  DKNY via Macy’s, 2011

Link ups:  Inspiration Monday  /  Monday Mingle   /  YOLOmondays  /  Real Girl Style  /  Style Sessions

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In the shade

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

This morning, I decided to pair a couple of different shades of green, mint and a teal green, as well as a dark floral top to pull everything together.

Details:  Cardigan:  August Silk via Macy’s, on sale this winter  /  Floral top:  Fall fashion swap  /  Jeans:  Gap, curvy style, 2011  /  Flats:  K-mart, old  /  Mint skinny belt:  Target, this winter  /  Jade earrings and ring:  My grandmother’s mother’s

My mom reminded me of these jade earrings that she gave to me from my grandmother. So I gladly wore them again today to add to the mint accents.

Update from my mom (via email):

Your grandmother had the earrings and ring made for me when they were still in Okinawa.

Thanks, Mom, for the update! ♥

Link ups:  My Style, Your Style Sunday Link-Up  /  Sunday Style  /  Watch What I’m Wearing  /  Monday Bloom

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A sea and river of inspiration

It’s time for another SIA challenge! This time, the artistic inspiration drifts our way via a painting entitled “The Wanderer Above a Sea of Fog,” a moody piece that has inspired scores of movie posters and the stylistic composition of scenes in the British TV series Sherlock. 

Misty fog totally seems right up Portland’s alley, right? Except we have been experiencing a spate of sunny, gorgeous weather lately. (Not complaining, we’ll be back to rain and clouds soon enough!) And that made me think of that famous Carl Sandburg poem:

The fog comes / on little cat feet. / It sits looking / over harbor and city / on silent haunches / and then moves on.

So moving on ourselves, Sam and I headed over to Overlook Park for a variety of pictures that, ahem, overlook the Willamette River and the industrial side of north Portland. It’s a very well-named park. And a perfect locale for shots inspired by this painting:

Inspiration:

“The Wanderer Above A Sea Of Fog,” Caspar David Friedrich, 1818

Interpretation:

From the instant I saw this painting, I thought of my grey overcoat. (I’ve nicknamed this coat my “Vienna coat,” because I bought it for a Christmastime holiday to Vienna back in 2009.) I donned the coat only to take these photos, because the weather was so fantastic!

I kept things simple under that fabulous coat. The perfect light-sweater kind of weather!

Details:  Grey overcoat:  Mango, Abu Dhabi, 2009  /  Sweater:  Old Navy, gift-carded this fall  /  Skinny jeans:  Target, last winter  /  Flats:  Payless, summer

Sam and I enjoyed the sunshine while exploring the rest of the park. And I was able to capture Sam’s pattern-mixing ensemble, which also echoes the inspiration photo quite well!

And just like in the last challenge, I kept seeing SIA inspiration everywhere I looked. So I whipped another quick Polyvore inspiration board to capture the sea of inspiration:

Click image for individual item details & sources

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Link ups:  Style Imitating Art  / My Style, Your Style Sunday Link-Up  /  Sunday Style  /  Watch What I’m Wearing

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Layering plaid

I’ve had this look from the Sisters in the City blog on my mind for awhile, as I loved the layering of the short cardigan over the plaid shirt. The issue was finding a right time to wear it! Today was obviously the day.

And these photos had to be taken at the end of the workday, hence the stairwell location. (And tired eyes. And let’s face it, tired hair.)

Details:  Plaid shirt:  Old Navy, gift-carded this winter  /  Cardigan:  Target, last spring  /  Jeans:  Gap, long ‘n’ lean style, last fall  /  Flats:  Payless, last spring  /  Pearl necklace:  Gift from my husband, Abu Dhabi

I liked the buttoned-up look of the plaid shirt, and chose to go subtle with this front-clasp pearl necklace peeking out from underneath the collar.

Link ups:  Copycat Linkup  /  Fashion Friday  /  Casual Friday Link Up  /  Favorite Frock Fridays  / My Style, Your Style Sunday Link-Up

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