Seemingly Serendipitous Style

Earrings by Dottir

The scarf in my hair perfectly captures all of the colors in my outfit in a fun paint splatter design. 

I did not buy the scarf with this outfit in mind, but when I got dressed and started looking for a scarf to put in my hair, it seemed as though it was always meant to be.

People often ask me if I bought certain perfectly matching items together and let me tell you, that is never the case. I hardly ever shop for full outfits. Instead, I pick out individual pieces that I know will fit in with the rest of my wardrobe. It makes shopping and dressing a lot easier when you have taken the time to define your personal style. For me that means identifying my preferred silhouettes, color palette and fabrics and only incorporating items that fit within those guidelines.

I have found Anuschka Rees' blog to be a great resource in how to define my personal style.

Wine Red Is My Jam

I may have unconsciously made this wine red color the base of my spring palette. Here are some recent examples.

Dottir - Earrings

Lalunette - Necklace

I bought this embroidered, velvet skirt this winter at Bibelot's retirement sale for a very fair price and the vest was purchased recently at my new favorite consignment store, Encore. The vest is part of a set and came with a matching full midi skirt. They are silk and in pristine condition. I couldn't pass them up and I've worn both pieces quite a lot, though I'll probably never wear them together because it's too much fun to mix and match.

I wore this outfit all day and when I went out that night, I changed the pants out for a midi-length pencil skirt in (you guessed it) the same color. The skirt offered a little more warmth on a night when I knew I'd be chillin' outside and the sleek skirt elevated the look from day to night.

Deja Vu

This was my first attempt at styling these new plaid pants and I think I nailed it on the head. I've been drawn to this dark red/wine color lately and realized that so many of my recent acquisitions are this hue and that a lot of my current wardrobe compliments this color very well. The color that looks the best with it is forest green, which I wear a lot. There's also something about this combo that gives me a very slight feeling of Deja Vu. Anyone else feel it?

Blaze On!

Earrings by Liz

Here's an outfit to brighten your day! I've been wearing a lot of this orange blazer this spring and I love it's versatility. Yes, this bright red/orange color is a staple in my wardrobe, but I'm constantly surprised at how many outfits it compliments. Orange jackets for the win!

How to Find Your Soulmate

I never knew that Kenny Rogers had a clothing line, but I'm really glad that he does. This shirt has a lot of extraneous snaps and it's amazing! Like, the front of the shirt has a pattern of just the outie half of the snap. I think that one day I will find a person wearing a Kenny Rogers shirt covered in innie snaps and we will become one.

Garment Potential

I probably explain this every time I wear this skirt, but I'll say it again. This interesting and versatile skirt used to be a dress and when it was a dress, I didn't wear it very often. Now, I wear it frequently, during every season, and styled in many different ways. When I bought the dress, I loved it and knew it had potential. It took some time and a lot of guts to cut up a perfectly good garment, but once I made the alteration, I was so pleased with myself.

Horse Feet

Jovy Rockey

People always get confused when I wear these legwarmers over my shoes. I think of it as makeshift spats. But, I get it, spats are confusing. Are they part of your shoes or are they part of your pants? OR are they an extension of your body?!? Do I have horse feet?

It's Friday, y'all and I'm feeling loopy. Have a great weekend!

Closet Orphan

I've been trying for some time to successfully style this top and finally it came to me. It doesn't work as a top. Not on me anyway. It works much better layered over a dress so it looks like a peplum skirt. I love finding new uses for closet orphans.

Ethereal Style

Liz

There is something ethereal about this outfit that really makes me smile. Maybe it's the moonstone earrings or the pearly silk scarf or the delicate pink quartz necklace or the flowy nature of this dress. Or maybe it's all of those things combined with a natural pink and cream color palette. 

You guys, this one really floats my boat.

Cashmere Socks

Socks

These socks I'm wearing are literally the best thing I've ever encountered. I own 2 pairs and wish I had a dozen more. They're a lightweight cashmere crew sock with the softest most featheriest fur cuffs! I can't handle how comfy, cozy and cute they are!

A couple of years ago, I bought a pair of cashmere socks and ever since that first pair, I just can't get enough. I already had an obsession with socks and cashmere took it to a whole new level. I bought everyone in my office a pair of cashmere socks for Christmas just in case they had never had the pleasure. If you've never owned cashmere socks, do yourself a favor and get a pair.

V is for Velvet

This vintage velvet dress always elicits compliments. It is the most supple shade of purple and perfect for a cold and gray Valentines Day. Thanks for the love, Loves!

Cat Ears

Dottir

My head scarf gave me prominent cat ears and it was what I needed to get through the day.

Also, this scarf with this shirt. 

No, I did not buy them together. Yes, they are almost always worn together because how could you not.

Fashion Hazards

I love this dress in theory, but in reality, it chokes me every time I sit down. I think it should be a rule that all turtleneck/mock turtlenecks should be made with stretchy material because whatever this dress is made of is pretty unforgiving.

Snow Day

Handmade by Kristina

Today, I got up at the regular time, took a shower, got dressed, went outside to start my car and said

"Nope".

I went to work every day during the Polar Vortex when half of my co-workers stayed home. I've been trudging through all of the snow for weeks and I finally came to my breaking point. When I stepped outside to ANOTHER blizzard, I just couldn't go through with it, so I stayed home. and nobody saw this cute outfit

Favorite Winter Dress

Dottir

Lula

This dress is insane. It's basically a full body sweater so it's super cozy and warm, but it's also knit with metallic gold thread, so it's fancy? It's not terribly flattering either. It's bulky and the white and gold shades wash out my complexion, but when we hit this part of winter, all I want is this dress.

Best Outfit Yet

This outfit was a real stunner! 

I received so many compliments that I was uncomfortably blushing all day.

The dress is a thick wool bodycon mock turtleneck number that emphasizes all the right things and downplays everything else. It's very subtle and elegant. I've only worn it a few times since I acquired it, but it's always a hit and it's warm!

This wrap is pretty spectacular. It's hard to capture it's loveliness in a drawing, but it's black sheer with black velvet edging and a metallic flocked floral print. My matching patina-ed earring and necklace set from Poppy helped to pull everything together. 

Also, these boots. Still amazing!

Polar Vortex

We had a very cold week here in Minnesota, so I thought I'd highlight some of the ways I managed not to freeze to death.

I've never worn this huge angora sweater outside of the house before, but I found it necessary on this extra cold day. Sometimes you just need to dress like a bear to feel safe.

Dottir

Ooh whee!

I've lived through all of the cold, mid-western winters that have occurred over the last 35 years, but I don't think I've ever been so afraid of the cold. I'm literally shaking in my boots. You guys, I know everyone is so sick of talking about the Polar Vortex, but it was terrible and I'm not happy about it.

One good thing that has come of all of these cold winters is that I'm very adept at layering. 

People always wonder why I wear skirts and dresses in the winter. I'm always way warmer in skirts than pants because I can easily add layers under a skirt.

Another abysmally cold day and fantastic feat of layering. Can I get another sweater under there? Certainly.

Honorable mention goes to this coat.

I wear it every time temperatures dip below zero

It's very ridiculous and at the same time very necessary.

Every time I put it on, I say "Don't worry, I've got my big coat" and then I do a little dance.

I'm sure by now, after all of the below zero days we've had this season, my friends and family are very sick of my coat announcements, but I don't really care. It's the only happiness I have. 

Earmuffs

These earmuffs have proven themselves invaluable this winter and I'm campaigning to bring earmuffs back.

They're super soft and warm. And they're incredibly cute, no doubt.

In my opinion, their best feature is their ability to muffle sound. I wear these at work when I need to concentrate. They were also a life saver during a social outing with a very loud talker when I had an excruciating headache and no escape.

Social Science vs Retrorama

I wore this outfit to an event at the Science Museum called Social Science: Speakeasy. 

I went with a friend who I used to attend Retrorama with. Retrorama was an annual event put on by the History Center that stopped taking place in 2015. Retrorama encouraged attendees to dress up in their best vintage, participate in a fashion show, imbibe in retro cocktails and snacks, dance to live music, partake in activities and explore the museum's exhibits. We thought that this would be a good replacement. We were wrong. Despite below zero temperatures, the event at the Science Museum was well attended. So well attended, that the entire museum consisted of lines. I felt like I was at Disney Land, but not in a fun way. It was impossible to get a drink or partake in any of the special activities they had arranged for the night. We did explore the exhibits, but I think I would have preferred to do that on any other day with the regular Science Museum crowd, kids and all. I do not recommend this event and this is my plea to the History Center to bring back Retrorama. It was our special thing and we had a good thing going with the photographer.

Retrorama 2010

Retrorama 2010

Retrorama 2011

Retrorama 2012

Retrorama 2013

Retrorama 2014

Lutsen

Dottir

I spent a very cold weekend in Lutsen and wore a couple of versions of this outfit all weekend. 

It's my snow bunny look. 

I don't ski.