Outfit Of The Day (The Green Scene)

I hope that everyone is having a great weekend so far; just a quick update for today!  I gave into the much-loved AG Stevie Ankle Jean from Anthropologie a few weeks ago after finally making it to the mall to try them on in person.  I was super impressed and could immediately see why they get such great reviews--they are incredibly comfy, soft, stretchy, and the 27.75 inseam makes them great for petites!  They are also a little dose of fun for the ol' wardrobe, even a bit of a challenge perhaps, as I tend to stick mainly to a safe, neutral palette. Look at me here getting all wild & randy--look out! Next up I'll be all out of control and drinking regular soda (not caffeine free!) and staying up past 10pm, I just know it.

I also picked up this mix fabric crepe jacket by Kimchi Blue at Urban Outfitters in the same shopping trip.  It is light, airy, and perfect for layering over tanks in the heat of summertime. I do think it runs a little small--I sized up one size, and could have probably gone up even one more size if I wanted it to fit as  loose as it does on the website model. I prefer my jackets to fit tight however, as if it they are giving me a firm, permanent hug, so if you were hugged enough as a child and like a looser fit, adjust accordingly. I also grabbed it in orange, as it reminded me just enough of this beautiful Diane Von Furstenberg blouse that I've been lusting after in a similar color.  So pretty!

I would also like to note that for those of you that missed out on the J Crew Perfect Patent Pump a few years back, it's back!  Kinda. They've made a few small changes (it isn't patent and they have now dubbed it the "Valentina")  but the overall concept is the same with a sleek pointed toe and a low-enough-to-be-comfy-but-still-high-enough-to-not-be-boring heel.  The "weathered rose" color is beautiful, isn't it?

Valentina Pumps - J Crew

I have a pair in "vibrant coral" currently sitting in my closet and I think that they fit  pretty darn true to size for J Crew shoes. They are a little spendy for basic pumps, but so worth it--I've literally worn holes into my dusty rose Perfect Patent Pumps from wearing them so much over the years! They are absolutely my favorite comfy heel to wear, bravo J Crew.

And last but not least, I neglected to notice that one pant leg was kind of rolled up when I took these shots; now  my secret of being a super pale-white-girl-homie-mang-in-disguise-still-trying-to-make-it-happen-like-it's-2007 has (apparently)  been ruined. Sigh. Please forgive:

Cardigan: Kimchi Blue (buy it here) (similar style here for $44) (and here) (and here at F21)

Tank: J Crew (buy it here)

Belt: J Crew Skinny Patent Belt in Golden Amber (buy it here) (similar style at ASOS for $17) (and here)

Jeans: AG Stevie Ankle (buy them here) (similar style for $58 here) (and here, select colors $35) (and here in a flare!)

Shoes: J Crew Perfectly Patent Pumps in Dusty Rose (similar style here) (and here for under $100!) (and here for under $100!) (and here for under $50)

Bag: Lanvin Sweet Dora Crossbody (buy it here) (similar style here) (and here) (and here, under $50)

(Currently playing)

Outfit Of The Day (Bi-Stretch Wool Minnies + A Diverse Density Tank)

I swear that I don't mean to keep wandering off this blog as much as I have been doing lately, but if there is any good time to get a little lazy with blogging it's probably in the summertime.  It's nice outside! There's so much to do!  There are things are going on!  You know--things that don't involve me standing next to an stinging cold, foggy window telling the (prettily! falling!) snow to oh-shut-the-fuck-up in a high, squeaky voice.

Pictures are worth a thousands words, so here are some snaps I've taken recently of a few things I've been enjoying this summer:

The "Ellsworth" - Denver Biscuit Company.
It was good. Spicy!

The crowd @ Fleet Foxes - Thursday July 21st, Fillmore Auditorium
It was also good, but maybe not quite as spicy.

A McDonald's mix up during a quick lunch
I accidentally got someone else's very quirky order for a cheeseless cheeseburger (and it really didn't have any cheese on it, ew!)

 Strike a pose.
Doing some...shopping something with friends at a vintage clothing store off of Broadway. Um. I may or may not have been wearing a coonskin hat as I snapped this picture?

 Baby birds, day 1.
A surprise in my cheap Target wreath I found a few weeks ago. TAKE THAT MOTHERFUCKER MARTHA STEWART, TAKE THAT!

Baby birds, day 2. 
Oh! Oh damn. I think one is alive.  And...wants me to feed it?

Baby birds, day 3.
Fuzzy baby bird time!

Baby birds, day 5
If a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, how much...is a lot of a bird poop worth? Because there was a lot.  It almost took away from the fuzzy baby birdie cuteness.

 Baby birds, day 7
So this is Mo, Mo Hawk. His siblings Faux, Kitty, and Ad were all still snoozing when I snapped this.  One might even say Mo is a bit of an early bird, and also a charmer--he wanted me to go catch the worm for him. Watch out ladies, watch out.

Baby birds, day 7
Aw.

Aw again.

HEY. FAKER.

Here I'm talking to Petunia while she's pretending to snooze, and once she realized there wasn't cheese + crackers involved she gave me her extremely fuzzy, fluffy cold shoulder.

Hellooo, my pretty.

 Surprise sparkly, fun bracelets in the mail from a great bloggy friend, Rosa!

An afternoon storm rolling in.

In fashion news, retailers have already begun to jam their racks full of fall goodies and ohhhh, I am so excited!  While I will always be a warmer weather girl myself, we were just getting started last fall with the REAL GOODS (capes!  camel hues!  midi lengths! silk blouses! leopard prints!  lady-like satchels! faux fur! 70's chic!) and it looks like this fall is going to pick up right where it left off with even more capes, camel hues, midi lengths, silk blouses, leopard prints, lady-like satchels, faux furs, and...70's chic. This summer has just been kind of a blip-of-blah in between the goodness; like the mandatory tart green, pine-sol tasting skittles we accidentally grab while trying to dig out the reds, purples, oranges, and yellows. It is okay for something different, I suppose, but you most certainly do not want an entire bag of it. Unless you're totally weird.

J Crew's newest arrivals also have me excited for the first time in a few years (is it really that good, or have I just now, like most tired 30-year olds, lowered my standards?), and the Minnie pants in "warm redwood" were my first purchase from the collection. They get five stars from me--they are comfy, light enough to wear right now in spite of being wool, and a  great hue if you want to rock some red pants but want something a bit more muted and easier to wear. Bravo, J Crew, bravo. I think they run pretty true to size, but if you want a tighter fit like how the model is wearing them consider sizing down.  Like, um, five sizes.

The Diverse Density tank by PIlcro from Anthropologie was my next pick. Colorblocking is one of those little trends that I dreaded at first (too simple! so androgynous! how can I over-accessorize  the living daylights out of it?),but like most trends, I have slowly warmed up to it as time has gone on (zombiezombiezombie). This tank is exactly what I was looking for, with a sweet bow for a bit of a feminine twist. Hooray?

Not quite. It is absolutely huge in person; here it is on me in an XS:

 (this is my universal symbol for "it's huge"; it's also the pose I immediately strike whenever Husband says, "fancy a date night at smashburger?" and/or how I look when trying to ungracefully get my shoes off the tippy-top shelves.)

I was hesitant to belt this top because hey, it is supposed to be clean looking and color blocked and blah-blah-blah-leave-it-alone-for-once-Chloe-GEEZ...but I finally gave in, slapped a black skinny belt around the waist, and never took it back off.  It gives the top just the right shape without ruining the look too much, I think. It really is a pretty top, made out of a soft swingy jersey, and one of the first times I have ever been at Anthropologie and thought something was priced oddly "cheap". I kept looking for the 1 that they forgot to put in front of the $48, but no worries--the Persian Floral Blouse has an extra that this top could kindly borrow.


Quick! Before Anthropologie figures it out!

Top: Diverse Density Tank by Pilcro (buy it here) (similar style here) (and here) (and here) (and here) (and here at ASOS, too!)
Belt: J Crew (similar style here)
Pants: J Crew Minnie in Bi-Stretch Wool in Warm Redwood (buy them here) (similar style here for $20) (and here at ASOS) (and another option at ASOS in a flare leg)
Shoes: J Crew Mona Pumps (buy them here) (similar style here under $100) (and here under $100) (and here)
Watch: Michael Michael Kors Large Runway Watch (buy it here) (similar style here for $115) (or a cuff for under $50)
Bracelet: Forever 21 (buy it here) (similar style here)
Bag: J Crew Galaxy Sequin Crossbody (similar style here) (and here on sale for $36) (and here by Rebecca Minkoff!)

(Currently playing in the hizzouse)

Outfit Of The Day (Etsy Loves)

Just a quick update for today. I am always clickity-clicking on Etsy and I became slightly obsessed with a shop called "This Ilk" after spying the red-headed model in one of my random searches. Even though I am pretty much blonde again, I often seem to forget and always find myself still oogling things on red-headed models.  Ol' Red on Shopbop is a dangerous, dangerous little (tall and statuesque, like a unicorn) minx.  A...minxi-corn? Meow!

After a little bit more looking around I finally decided to grab this necklace.  I do love blouses and tops with girly, frilly collars, so why not have something in my arsenal that can instantly transform darn near any plain top into something sweet and lovely and fun? Ding, ding, ding--sold!

It has been well worth it, as it pairs prettily over both knit tees and simple tank tops. I especially love it paired with a bit of rough'n'tumble leather to toughen it up a bit, mmhm:

(leaning tower of geez-louise-a!)

Tank Top: American Eagle Outfitters (similar style here) (and here) (and here)

Belt: Banana Republic (buy it here) (similar style here, on sale!)

Skirt: Alice + Olivia (buy it here, on sale!) (similar style here at Topshop) (and here for under $50) (and a non-leather style here for under $20!)

Shoes: Mossimo Target (similar style here) (and here at DSW) (and here for $24.99)

Bag: Chloe Marcie Crossbody (similar style here at Net-A-Porter) (and here under $100!) (and here)

Necklace: This Ilk on Etsy (buy it here) (similar style here)

(Currently playing in the hizzouse)

Made any good Etsy finds lately? Please share in the comments! <3

Outfit Of The Day (In The Navy)

Everyone has a certain "easy outfit" equation, don't they? And nuh no no no, I am not talking about some little hot pink spandex number that your BFF is pretty sure was being sold as a mini skirt but you've cleverly decided to ignore her and wear it as a dress instead because you are creative and a total DIY'er, darnit--oh no.  (And if you think I am talking about that, you should probably quickly exit this blog as I haven't worn anything Spandex-y since I was 25 years old--or roughly 27.34 days after I got married, of course.)

I am talking about an outfit you grab to wear when don't want to think too hard but you know it will instantly work and look decent.  It also might make you a bit happy to wear it, like cupcake-scented rainbow kittens will fall out of the sky the minute you (wearing said outfit) step outside. Know what I mean?

(And well hey---while cupcake-scented rainbow kittens might not always fall out of the sky when you wear said outfit, at least maybe someone will politely hold the door open for you somewhere. Or say thank you to you when you  hold the door open for them.  Maybe. We can only ask for so much in this world, hm?)

I think it is pretty safe to say that my "easy outfit" equation lately has been a pretty blouse + skirt + pumps.  Or (when I feel really randy and wild, readers!) a pretty blouse + shorts + pumps.  I just really like it.  The over-abundance of sheer, wispy lace and chiffon blouses this season has been a bit of a godsend for me too, since if I am wearing something short on bottom I always like to be a bit more covered up top. The sheer, breathable fabric on these floaty tops makes it so I still look covered-up while not turning into a steamy, sweaty, rumpled hot mess. Genius!
 

Everyone also has a certain color they hate wearing, right?  For me it is definitely cooler-blue colors, like navy.  Something about it screams, "Bland! Start taking yourself seriously, sucker! You'd better take yourself seriously, you bland-y bland serious-y bland person, or else!"

Kind of like this:

Nothing wrong or offensive with ol' Hills herself, by the way, but I do think she is a great embodiment of why I simply don't gravitate very often towards the color navy.  It is not as if she is prancing around in her navy suit, smart little kitten heels, and puffed-up hairdo yelling, "Look at me!  I'm all  wild and fashiony!"--she isn't. Homegirl doesn't dress for anyone's fashion critiques; that's not her job nor is it who she wants to be, point taken. You just keep doing you, girl. 

But at the same time, it's almost as if navy also doesn't dress for anyone's fashion critiques. The color itself doesn't exactly wow or stun; navy isn't the part of any holiday decor, it isn't any child's favorite color.

In fact, I really do think Crayola should change the crayon named "navy" to "Navy, Brought To You And Sponsored By Hillary Clinton".  Or since that might not fit on the actual crayon (you do bring up a good point) they can just call it  "Hilly Clinton Blue".  It'll even fit nicely in the crayon box, right between "Mac n' Cheese Orange" and "Oh 'Cry Me A River' Cerulean, You Justin Timberlake Hooligan", ta-ta-ta-da.

Nothing significantly memorable, beautiful, or glamorous has ever happened in navy. Sure, things have happened with the color, but Scarlett O'Hara didn't descend the staircase in a navy dress (heaven forbid those curtains had been navy or else we'd likely be watching Gone With The Sinned), Marilyn Monroe didn't stand coquettishly over a windy subway grate in a navy dress, and I certainly didn't sit here and type up this inane post about how the only great thing a woman has (apparently) accomplished in this crazy world is look pretty in all one million colors of the rainbow except navy WHILE WEARING THE COLOR NAVY MYSELF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 

Oh but wait--I am.

(See?  Nothing great has ever happened while wearing the color navy--nothing! And my ultra-feminist mom is probably crying right now as she reads this, except she's an ultra-feminist and I don't think she cries. So she's probably...groaning? While trying not to cry?) (And hopefully not wearing the color navy!) (Sorry, ma.)

So let's get to it. I grabbed the navy blouse that I am wearing below at a huge mega-sale Amazon was having last month for something ridiculous, like $15.  For $15, why not give navy a try--especially since I do appreciate a good challenge in life, to conquer certain fears even if they only come out of my choice of apparel and not by doing something super valiant and brave like kissing a baby, finishing a marathon, or getting over my ungodly fear of fish goldfish.

What, you climbed Mt. Everest?  Yeah, well I AM WEARING THE COLOR NAVY (and made my poor mother cry; and thought about goldfish and hyperventilated a little bit, creepywilliesblaaghhck). IT IS SO TOUGH unnnnh, yeah, sha na na na, I'D GIVE YOU A HI-FIVE but that would be pretty darn foolish because I think everyone knows you can't hi-five while wearing the color navy (it's in the US Constitution, I'm sure of it) so a good firm handshake with some Purell after will do nicely instead, yes thanks.

Oh hell, let's break some rules. Here it is un-accessorized:

{I'm head-tilty mcgee today.  I SAID TILTY.}

And then accessorized a bit, juuuust the way I like it.  What do you know?  I kind of like you, Hillary Clinton Blue; perhaps it is time to call a truce:

Blouse: Patterson J Kincaid (similar style here) (and here) (and here)
Belt: Forever 21 (buy it here)
Skirt: Forever 21 (similar style here) (and here for $19.80) (and here) (and here)
Necklace: Express (similar style here for $14)  (and here for $11) (love this too + take 20% off with rep code "20OFFDISC")
Cuff: Forever 21 (similar style here)
Pumps: Manolo Blahnik Uliepe Heels (buy them here) (similar style here) (and here under $100)
Bag: Chloe Paraty in Rosewood (similar style here) (and here by Marc Jacobs) (and a fun option here for under $100)

(Totally have The Village People now stuck in your head like me? Unstick it!)

What is your favorite "easy outfit" equation?  Share in the comments!

Outfit Of The Day (The Tortoise And The Hair)

Just a light post for today, while trying to enjoy the weekend and the teeny pockets of sunshine tucked between all of the storms.

I have always been a huge fan of tortoise shell.  Huge. Why this is, I am not entirely sure, but I (of course!) have a few theories:

1. I have brown eyes, you see. And they are not the delightfully pretty hazel-that-turns-other-colors-in-different-lights kind of brown-eyed, oh no.  I am browner-than-brown-eyed, a super dark brown that does no fancy tricks or hocus-pocus in any lighting.

Sometimes they look brown.

And other times...they still look brown.

2. My hair is naturally a muddy, dark blonde. "Ugh, your hair is so mousy," a relative once told me when I was little, back in a time before mothers brought their 12-year-olds into salons for hundreds of dollars of highlights as they sometimes do now.  It was back in a simple and naive time before I could even begin to know or understand the time, cost, and literal pains that grown women go through to destroy such an awful color from their heads (to destroy it from all of existence, really) as I was much too busy wapping my twin sister on the head with slap bracelets and drooling on Jordan Knight via pillowcase every night.

("Oh. Oh yes. You're like me--we are naturally an ash-blonde," my hairstylist said recently, all while nodding with a fine-tooth comb sticking straight out of her mouth as she quickly stirred up a big bowl of bleach; stirring with hard, determined, punctuated strokes as a tiny beads of sweat began to form on her upper lip, as if she were beating the life out of it.)

3. My first pair of eyeglasses were tortoise shell. I remember the eye doctor nodding at me as she helped me try on dozens of pairs under the harsh fluorescent lighting in the Shopko Optical department when I was 11, nodding much in the same way my hairstylist did a few months ago, as if we had a super secret pact or agreement.  She nodded and said, "Yes. There you go. Tortoise shell looks great on you."

4. It was the first time anyone had told me that anything looked great on me. Even if they were Nintendo brand eyeglasses; even if they did come complete with a terrified-to-look-dweeby-11-year-old-girl-with-brown-eyes-and-mousy-brown-hair and a matching Super Mario Brothers protective case. And I kinda....believed her.

5. (Aaaand then I grew up and learned that there are three certainties in life: death, taxes, and tortoise shell looks great on damn near any bish, le'sigh.)

Tortoise shell never fails, tortoise shell never disappoints.  It is just so pretty, with its rich swirls of coppers and browns, and so when I saw that Bobbi Brown came out with a limited edition eye palette  in a tortoise shell case, I had to grab it.

This palette definitely doesn't disappoint--I grabbed it in 'bronze' and all eight colors are beautiful and work well on this blonde-haired, brown-eyed girl:

bobbi brown 'tortoise shell' bronze eye palette - nordstrom.com

Time to talk fashion! One of the nice things about being petite is that  whenever we're locked out of the motherfucking house I'm alllllllllwaaaays the lucky, lucky girl that gets hoisted through the window first  um, tunics can often serve as dresses (with a pair of knit shorts or a slip added underneath for insurance, natch), and I was pleased to discover that this little stripey tunic from Forever 21 works well for something fun to wear on the weekends!

And after months (years?) of lusting, I finally got around to grabbing something from the lovely Emerson Made.  This waxed-cotton moto jacket is the perfect cover-up to protect from the chilly, rain-soaked winds that have been rolling off the mountains behind the thunderstorms, and it is quickly becoming one of my favorites to grab as I am heading out the door:

Tunic as Dress: Forever 21 (buy it here) (similar style here in purple) (and here with a few extra inches for taller girls) (and another longer option here, too!)
Jacket: Emerson Made (buy it here) (similar style under $100 here) (and at GAP + take 35% off with code "BRONGAP35") (and here + take 35% off with code "BRONGAP35")
Belt: Banana Republic (similar style here) (and here, on sale!)
Shoes: J Crew Perfect Patent Pumps (similar style here) (and here) (and 50% off Elizabeth & James) (and for $39.90 at nordstrom)
Clutch: Kooba Josie Clutch (similar style here) (love this at topshop, too)

(currently playing)

Outfit Of The Day (Yeah, We Up Up Up In The Clouds)

Did everyone have a good 4th? I sure did! Lots of goofing around, eating, relaxing, and listening to good music, mmhm.

I often get emails from readers requesting that I do a "Closet Must-Have" post. While I haven't yet had time to sit down and draw up such a post (but I do have  a crumpled, 13-month old post-it note full of ideas to write about collecting dust sitting next to me, of course!), one of the top things for me is matching accessories. I have posted about it before, but I really like having similar-hued items because it makes pulling together an outfit quick and easy. Think belts, shoes, necklaces, bracelets, rings, and bags. 

J Crew is actually one of the best places to find these piece at, I've found, as they often produce belts and shoes in similar colors for every season. They are also great at bringing back old colors, and so I was super duper happy to find that the new Plume necklace matched my 3-year old dusty rose Perfect Patent pumps quite nicely. I am not sure if it's the identical twin in me, or if it's the Libra in me, or if it's just the little bit of boring-and-lazy in me...but I always like to have a little bit of matchy-matchy-balance in outfits.

And it seems like every time that I go to snap these pics it's around the exact same time for the super prompt and punctual 10-Minute Colorado Afternoon Thunderstorm to kick off ...hence the flash/no flash weirdness happening here.  YOU GET THE IDEA:

 

 Top: ASOS Henley (similar style here) (and here) (and here for under $50!)

Belt: Urban Outfitters (similar style here) (and here) (and here for under $10)

Necklace: J Crew Pluma Pendant Necklace (similar style here) (and here for under $15) (and here)

Brown Bracelet Cuff: Forever 21 (similar style here)

Black Bracelet (not shown on arm w/ cuff): Gorjana Graham Bracelet (buy it here + take 20% off with code "toutie")

Skirt: J Crew (similar style here in harvest gold + on sale for $35!) (and here)

Pumps: J Crew Perfect Patent Pumps in Dusty Rose (similar style here at J Crew) (and here, on sale!) (and here + take 30% off with code "EXTRA30") (and here at Nine West)

Purse: Chloe Metallic Marcie in Gunmetal (similar style here) (and here)

(currently playing in the hizzouse)