Pops of yellow

Today’s look was inspired by Marionberry Style’s Trend of the Month Link-up, with this month’s challenge being the color yellow.

In all honesty, I’ve never warmed toward the color yellow because it’s never felt like the best color for my pale skin tone. However, I love how this top sets off its pops of yellow with cool grey, white, and black tones. I was originally going to pair this peplum top with a tan pencil skirt, but for some reason, this morning I woke up with the idea to set up off the yellow with a plummy maroon instead, with the skirt and the skinny belt. Looking at the pics, I think it was a good choice.

I’ve discovered a new trick of securing my skinny belts with a small hair elastic, as seen above. And I spent my Sunday night with my new awl, punching in a couple of extra holes on all of my skinny belts. Good times.

Details:  Peplum top:  JCPenney, gift-carded last month  /  Pencil skirt:  LOFT, last fall  /  Black cardigan:  Target, last summer  /  Flats:  Payless, last summer  /  Skinny belt:  Fall fashion swap  /  Silver circle earrings:  Lia Sophia, gift from my husband, old  /  Tan-and-black tote:  Payless, new

Link ups:  Trend of the Month Link-up  /  WIWW  /  Wardrobe Wednesday  /  Whatever Works Wednesday  /  Dress for the Day  /  I Feel Pretty Linkup  /  Trending Pretty Wednesday  /  What I Wore to Work  /  Third Thursday Threads

Related articles:

• Fashion Monday: JCrew Telegraph Pencil Skirt (thebrooklynwoman.wordpress.com)
• Style Strategy: Can I Wear Peplum to Work? (forbes.com)
• The One Hundred: 65 Pencil Skirt (inaworldofbees.com)
• Peplum: I Wish I Could Quit You (desperatelyseekingsparkle.com)
• Black and White All Over (walkinginprettyshoes.com)
• Class to Night Out: Printed Pencil Skirt (collegefashion.net)
• Pop of Neon (baublestobubbles.com)
• Fashion Friday: LBD – Office Edition (rubysnpurls.wordpress.com)
• Adding a little sunshine into my closet (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)

SIA: Soft and sweet

It’s SIA time again! This week’s inspiration is a painting from one of my favorite artists, Mary Cassatt.

Inspiration:

“Feeding the Ducks,” Mary Cassatt, 1895

Interpretation:

After looking at the painting for some time, I decided to go for a modern update of the woman in orange and navy. Alas, no puffed sleeves.

I definitely wanted to keep that soft, easy feeling the painting evokes, so I kept my hair down and the accessories sweet (see my bee earrings below, made with old dictionary definitions). And boats make me think of straw and wicker, so out came my vintage wicker purse.

Details:  Polka-dotted skirt:  Lands’ End, gift-carded this winter  /  Orange gingham shirt:  Old Navy, gift-carded last spring  /  Navy skinny belt:  Kohl’s, gift-carded last spring  /  Flats:  Payless, new  /  Vintage wicker purse:  Chicago art fair, old  /  Bee earrings:  discontinued jewelry site, old

And yes, those are new flats to replace my sadly departed and beloved bronze flats (see yesterday’s tribute post). My bronze flats were on the lighter side of bronze, so I thought this champagne-y hue echoed my original pair (and will still be a versatile color), while the mix of fabrics recalls the detailing on my grey flats. They’re super comfortable, as well — the entire Dexflex and Dexter lines at Payless are all straight-out-of-the-box comfortable — and I scooped them up on sale with a discount code!

Happy Monday!

Link ups:  SIA  /   YOLO Mondays  /  Monday Mingle  /  My Style Monday  /   Monday Bloom  /  Copycat Linkup

Related articles

• Blue stripes + florals (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• Reconsidering the Women of Impressionism: The Prints of Mary Cassatt (flavorwire.com)
• American Art: Mary Cassatt (laurettadimmick.com)
• Nail Art: Small Metallic Polka Dots (thedailyvarnish.com)

Library conferencing style: Double the fun

The last two weeks, my friend and fellow librarian, Amy, and I have attended two library conferences together. Information literacy forever! ♥ Wait, where was I… oh yes, style! Conference wear is always a little tricky, as you want to be comfortable yet stylish but also not like you’re trying too hard.

Library Conference #1:

Amy and I didn’t think to get pictures of ourselves while at this regional conference in Bend, Oregon (we were obviously distracted by the beautiful scenery!), but I recreated what I could remember with Polyvore inspiration boards.

The first night was a get-together at a local restaurant (with the conference sessions starting the next day), so I mixed in a bit of casual with the Pride & Prejudice-themed sweatshirt and a bit of professional with the red ankle pants. My go-to combo of skinny jeans + blazer worked just fine for the all-day sessions.

Amy’s personal style is more edgy and cool. She wore a graphic t-shirt — not this exact one, but this Target t-shirt has a similar muted vibe — under a more structured cardigan to amp up the professional side.

Library Conference #2.1:

And now for actual photos! Amy and I always have so.much.fun together, and Sam was happy just to be there to capture the craziness.

I was so touched when Amy said she used my go-to formula of skinny jeans + blazer + patterned top as inspiration for her first-day conference outfit. My favorite bit is the brooch on her tweedy blazer. And as you can see, I brought out my red ankle pants again, following one of the inspiration boards I put together for this eShakti polka-dotted top.

Library Conference, #2.2:

On our first day at this state library conference, I saw lots of bright florals and graphic prints. So I took a different route for my second-day outfit, recycling one of my favorite looks with a bright floral tunic and wide-leg trousers. (It also helped that I didn’t have to pack a suitcase for this conference, as it was only a short distance away. So I didn’t really “plan” my outfits in advance like I normally do for conferences, to maximize suitcase space.)

And I love Amy’s blending here of cool and classic pieces. How fab are those red wedge flats and that top with the deconstructed houndstooth pattern?! I also liked how we echoed each other across the two days with our black, red, and white combos. Twinsies! ♥

Thanks, Amy, for your willingness to share your style on my blog!

Did y’all enjoy double the librarian style? Please leave a comment and let me know.

Link ups:  Style Sessions  /  Real Girl Style  /  Anything + Everything Blog Hop

Related articles:

• What to Wear: Day-to-night Outfit (iampaulaaquino.wordpress.com)
• Variations on a theme (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• The Most Playful Libraries in the World (flavorwire.com)

Project polka dot

More polka dots for this week’s “Friday’s Fancies” theme! And perfect timing, as I’m trying to think of ways to wear my new dotted top from eShakti. So I put together three inspiration boards featuring the top.

And good news, there’s STILL time to participate in the countdown to  my one-year blogiversary, by entering for my first-ever giveaway, a $25 Old Navy gift card. Just click here for all the details!

The giveaway will be open for entries until midnight tonight (Saturday, April 6), and I will announce the winner on my blogiversary (Monday, April 8).

Project polka dot: Classic by jjwsb – click image for individual item details and source info

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Project Polka Dot: Feminine by jjwsb – click image for individual item details and source info

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Project Polka Dot: Casual by jjwsb – click image for individual item details and source info

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Which look is your favorite? Please leave a comment and let me know.

Happy weekend!

Link ups:  Friday’s Fancies  /  Fashion Friday

Related articles

• Spring floral inspiration (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• Polka dots and rainbows (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• Polka Dots Nail Art (tressmess.wordpress.com)
• Polka-Dot (detailinthefabric.wordpress.com)
• Current Obsession: Polka Dots (lushtoblush.com)
• Summer fun with Polka dots (melbournefashionfox.wordpress.com)

Captain Ms. America

We’re getting closer to my one-year blogiversary on Monday, so if you haven’t already (thanks to all those who have entered so far!), please help me celebrate by entering for my first-ever giveaway, a $25 Old Navy gift card. Just click here for all the details!

And now it’s time for another Style Imitating Art challenge! Today’s look was inspired by a mustachioed Captain America. Oh, yes, that’s right. Mustachioed Captain America. (Say that 3 times fast!) If that’s not awesome, then I don’t know what is.

Inspiration:

SIA challenge — Mixed media painting — Alex Gross

I looooove me some red, white & blue (see here, here, here, here, here, here and here just for starters), so the biggest obstacle for me was to narrow down my options. And I *still* have two looks for you — one workplace appropriate (that I did indeed wear to work) and one casual. Just call me Captain Ms. America.

Interpretation #1 (work):

Having no star patterns in my wardrobe (first-world problems, I know), I paired dots and stripes together instead. I double-looped my belt to look more interesting, and as a subtle riff off superhero buckles and emblems. To infinity! And beyond!

Details:  Dotted skirt:  Lands’ End, gift-carded in February  /  Striped blazer:  Gap, gift-carded last summer  /  Red skinny belt:  Target, winter  /  Grey flats:  DKNY via Macy’s, Fall 2011  /  Navy trench:  Jason Wu for Target, Winter 2011

Interpretation Look #2 (casual):

For the casual look, I simply switched out my grey flats for my new red-and-white striped canvas flats, and my striped blazer for a chambray shirt. That’s it! Thirty seconds, and presto, new outfit! Superman really should have come to me for advice on the art of the quick change.

And no, I never pass up an opportunity for cheesy humor. Or cheesy poses:

And sure, my pose is really more Wonder Woman than Captain America — I am equal-opportunity superhero!

Details:  Chambray shirt:  Target, last summer  /  Striped canvas flats:  Target, new

I gotta say, I felt super-cute and super-comfortable all day! Which look do you prefer?

Link ups:  SIA  /  Casual Friday Link Up  /  Friday’s Five Linkup  /  Friday’s Fancies

Related articles:

• Captain America Infographic | MilitaryVALoan.com (militaryvaloan.com)
• Marvelous Captain America Cupcakes (betweenthepagesblog.typepad.com)
• Possible Concept Art from Marvel’s CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER and GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (collider.com)
• Lace confessions and dark florals (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)