Leopard and B

Cardigan: Target (gift from my mom)
Top: New York & Co.
Belt: thrifted
Skirt: Ann Taylor
Boots: Nine West
Tights: Simply Vera via Kohl's
Earrings: Sarchí, Costa Rica

When Ashley over at A Fashion Fixation tweeted that Monday felt like a leopard print kinda day, I took note. And then I got lazy and gave B the job of styling me, based on leopard print, of course.


He vacillated a bit on the skirt, afraid that it was too "safe", but I told him monochromatic isn't totally safe, so it was cool. Then he decided I need a pop of color (he's learning, y'all!) so he added the green cardigan that my mom left behind for me. He also picked out the belt and boots. He thought about adding a scarf, but he decided it'd be too much.


I say this because this is a man who, when we first met, did NOT understand why I cared at all about my clothes. He didn't have the context for it and initially thought it was a purely shallow activity. We've had a lot of conversations about the cultural aspects of dress and style, and I think his perspective has changed considerably.


Not that he's putting a lot of thought into his own outfits as far as I can see, or that he's suddenly on the pattern mixing bandwagon, but he's definitely thinking more critically about it.

Mixing it up

Cardigan: Target
Tank: Ann Taylor (gift from Mom)
Belt: thrifted
Skirt: Gap
Boots: Nine West
Earrings: Kohl's

I love this outfit. There's nothing really special about it, but I love it. It was comfortable for walking to and from work and professional and presentable for actually working. So, win-win.


I guess when I really think about it, there are two things that I really like about this look.
1. The mixed neutrals. I love the black with accents in various shades of brown. It feels so rebellious to mix up that many shades of brown with the black base.


2. I love the juxtaposition of the ladylike tank, skirt, and cardigan with the rugged belt and boots. There's something about the combination of "Office appropriate" with "Just another day on the range" that appeals to me. Maybe it's the fact that I live next door to a lot of cows (and the attendant cowboy types) that's making that aesthetic my new favorite thing ever.


And y'all, I love these boots. Love them to pieces. That may deserve a "literally" soon, as you can see from the scuffed toes. What you can't see are the torn up heels (stinkin' gravel on the side of the road!) and the deteriorating lining on these boots, especially in the heels. I just can't let go, though. They're just too comfortable and, at least in my world, stylish.


Oh! I've got good news - we've (mostly) fixed our Internet issues at our place. We can't actually get internet at our house, because the petition for phone service has been languishing at the government office for the past ten years, so we've talked to our neighbors. They got Internet at their place, which we pay for. We're close enough to them that we can get decent service at our place from theirs, but they had the modem in the back of the house, so we finally moved it to the upstairs front room (closest to our place) this weekend. Success! As long as the rains aren't too bad, we've got signal.


I"m beyond thrilled.

Monochromatic aka Outfit #10

All remixed
Top: Target
Cardigan: Apt. 9 via Kohl's
Skirt: Ann Taylor
Belt: thrifted
Boots: Target
Earrings: gift from sister-in-law
Scarf: Target

This is my interpretation of the monochromatic look I've been seeing all over (here and here, for instance). I thought I'd have to wait until after the 30x30 challenge to do this in a color that wasn't black, but then I realized I have all this brown in the mix. Problem. Solved.


And I went all western with it by tying my scarf on bandanna style, putting on my belt with the massive buckle, and wearing boots. I feel like a cowgirl all fall long, I tell you.


I felt so sassy in this look. I think it was the satisfaction of having tried something I've been admiring for a long time and having it come together better than I'd expected. I mean, this much brown could go drastically wrong, right? I like to think this worked decently well.


Check out the other remixers, y'all - there's a lot of stylishness out there and plenty of inspiration to be had.