Red and Yellow Inspiration

I have been meaning to do a little post about colours that inspire me and that I enjoy, as well as my favourite colour combinations as of late. However, I am going to have to interject before I even began because I have seen three looks just this past weekend from the Wardrobe Remix pool on flickr that showcase the lovely pairing of yellow and red!



Here is a lovely look by the sweet Miss Silvia! I love the red and yellow worn with bits of white and warm rusty brown. One might not think they go too well together, but she definitely pulls it off. She also does something I love and do myself- match her stockings with her cardigan! This look is another one of her great red and yellow outfits.



Squeaky Kraken on flickr (whose blog is here) is wearing her yellow and red with a really awesome bow she made herself! It looks so sweet and prim from far away, but the bow is made of leather and the tartan skirt is a little punk, giving her look a perfect bit of edginess!



Alicia (on flickr as minicrush) wears a lot of black in her red and yellow outfit- but the red and yellow are far from being mere details. The black balances out the amazing yellow dress, and the solids of the rest of the outfit really let you see the plaid pattern of her red stockings. I have a similar pair myself; starting to regret selling a similar mustard shirt dress now!

Red and yellow are also great colours to transition from winter to spring, in my opinion. Red can be worn year round, and I think it's a nice bright colour that can perk up an outfit of winter neutrals. Yellow, a mustard yellow especially, also blends nicely with a lot of winter neutrals. Note how all of these outfits are worn with black, and/or brown. It also looks really nice with grey- I think a yellow and grey dress with red accessories would be downright stylish in any season, wouldn't you agree?

Recent Acquisitions (Or: How I Blew My Christmas Money)

A few weeks ago I told myself if I get any money for Christmas I should save it. Then, I said I'd buy one present for myself and save the rest. Instead, I spent pretty much all of it already (and will spend the last of it soon). On what? Well, let me show you...



These boots are from Aldo, originally $160. I got them for a song at $55. I did buy the boots I mentioned a few weeks ago, but I'm returning them because I was not fond of the fit on my little calves. These are cheaper, anyway. Excited!



I have such a hard time finding jeans that aren't a million dollars. My requirements? Mid-rise, darker wash, skinny, short inseam. These are a lot harder to find than it seems. I'm high-waisted with skinny legs, and long legs for my body type (but I'm still pretty short). Imagine my surprise when I found these at Urban Outfitters. The ones I got aren't these exactly, but pretty close. They are a little lighter wash, and don't hit my ankles on account of I am nowhere near the 5'9"-ish model. They're long, but wearable long. I-can-wear-these-with-boots-until-I-can-get-them-hemmed long. That's ok. They are stretchy and not legging thin, and the waist is perfect. All UO's denim is on sale, too, so instead of $54 I got mine for $39. Not bad if they last as long as I suspect they will.



I cannot justify this purchase as well as my others but I will be wearing it in 3 days if that accounts for anything. I bought what would be my holiday dress at H&M last month (which I found out today I cannot refund for money, just store credit, boohoo) but I caved when I saw all you cute bloggers with these Rodarte dresses. I originally wanted the baby blue eyelet one, but that one was nowhere to be found. At the Target in Shorewood this was the only dress left that interested me so I tried it on for kicks. I fell in love with how it looked on me. It's comfortable yet chic, I love the black tulle at the top, and the black looks great with my red hair and pale skin. I love it more and more every time I look at it, I feel like a cross between Audrey Hepburn and a ballerina in it. I am having fun thinking of ways to style it for NYE and I really love how all these great bloggers have worn it in different ways! It's the first time it's been fun to own something others own, too.



I haven't bought these yet, and these will be the most expensive purchase. I am waffling a little, but can get a good deal (under $100 from $170). These are the leather version of my favourite boots that I have worn so many times (and last winter, which I have no pictures of). I think I should just take the plunge and spend the dough on boots I've worn for 2 seasons already and I know go with everything. Wouldn't you agree?

Do you think I am being frivolous or am I making some good investments? I think the black boots and the jeans are, at least. What have you been spending your holiday money on?

Wardrobe Remix for 11.15.09

champagne sweater - thrifted
black high-waisted jeans - H&M
black leather belt - thrifted
brown boots - thrifted

This outfit is kind of an equestrian-meets-glam look. Just imagine Alison Goldfrapp wearing it as she sings "Ride A White Horse."

I notice on and off how heavily 80s my look is. But not in a tacky neon-acid wash way, but in the retro-modernized 1940s way a lot of well made 80s pieces look. It's no secret there's a lot of 80s-does-40s stuff at the thrift store and why that speaks to people. I think I like it best because it has a lot of the style points of 1940s attire I love- classic pieces and cuts, high waist, just a touch of elegant drama in the sleeves or collar- but in the 80s it was made more accessible. I don't wear heels every day, and neither did women in the 80s. It's nice I can wear a skirt that's 40s inspired but only hits my knees so I can wear flats and not look matronly. And while I love 50s and 60s looks, especially for their comfort and ease, I always find myself drawn to 80s-does-40s pencil skirts at the thrift store (my closet is full of them, wool to thin rayon, every colour of the rainbow), a fitted high-waisted sweater, a lot of cozy neutral knits, classic flat shoes, and for the colder months in particular.

Are there styles you feel drawn to? Why? Do you associate with cyclical fashion like I do? (I also really really love 70s-does-Edwardian but that rant is for another entry.)

Wardrobe Remixes for 11.13.09 and 11.14.09

Okay, I'm taking pictures most every day, I just suck at uploading them in a timely manner. I must have been channeling Shirley Manson and/or Angela Chase hardcore yesterday because I look like the missing third of some grungy 90s redhead trio. Picture complete with "Oh God, Mo-om" face:



chartreuse longsleeve tee - Target
brown polkadot strapless dress - clothing swap party
grey sweater tights - Kohl's
brown combat boots - Target

Today I guess I went back to my classic cut/little details/simple colour palate...probably because I wore my cape today and needed a good silhouette underneath (and my new above-the-elbow wool blended black gloves, they are ungodly warm!).



beige Zara top - thrifted
fuchsia "pocketwatch" skirt - thrifted
black stockings - H&M
beige t-strap flats - F21

I have worn these bleeding shoes into the ground, and I'm hesitant to keep my new hoofers from ModCloth. Quel disappointing, they feel really flimsy and were made in China. Tsk tsk, ModCloth, I expected better. I'm going to return them and buy similar ones from Urban Outfitters that look sturdier, and it is a sad day when UO's shoes out-sturdy you. You better step up your game, MC.

Wardrobe Remix for 11.07.09

vintage collar - eBay
red cotton shift dress - thrifted
black stockings - H&M
black patent leather t-straps - gifted


This outfit was inspired by the following image I spotted at Darling Darling's blog:



I don't know where it's from but I have been waiting to use this vintage collar I posted about a couple entries back and was getting dismayed at my lack of solid dresses. When I saw this last night I remembered I have 2 solid red dresses! Silly me for forgetting.

I should like to start making a folder on my computer for outfit inspirations, and I'm really bad at favouriting my the wardrobe_remix looks I like (all my faves are cute cats, ha!).