Monday, January 31, 2011

Out here all night

Photos: Chris
Dress: J.Crew (super sale)
Booties: Kate Spade v. TjMaxx ($35 sale & gift card)
Bag: H&M ($17)
Belt: vintage (photoshoot)
tights: American Apparel ($20)
bracelet c/o ModCloth
How was your weekend? Relaxing? Cold? Both? It was both here! More snow in the forecast this week, but for now just very chilly. This is what I wore out on Friday night to my birthday dinner with friends. I've been saving this dress for a long time, waiting for a special occasion, and Friday was the perfect night for it. The color is one of my absolute favorites, and the cut was nice and relaxed.

I had a great two-day birthday celebration. As I said on Thursday, I met my mom in Portsmouth, NH and had lunch at the Friendly Toast, and afterwards I took myself out to spend the gift cards I received for Christmas. This is one of my favorite little rituals, I save all the gift cards I receive for Christmas until my birthday, and then take myself out shopping. Not only does it feel like I'm buying myself birthday gifts, but usually by the end of January, everything is on super sale! I've been eyeing these Kate Spade booties at TjMaxx for a couple of months, but had to wait until the price went down. Lucky for me, they were only $35 on Thursday! I love the little ruffle at the top.

I have to say January has been swell, but I'm ready for February. Are you going to the IFB Conference next week? I am and I can't wait! It's my first year going, but I'm glad I waited. I feel as if it will be very beneficial for me this year. Do you have any Valentines Day plans? Happy January 31st!
Have you checked out ModCloth's Cozy Up Sale yet?

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Dogs

Cats get a lot of love around here, which isn't to say dogs aren't in our hearts. Chris has been pushing for a bull-dog going on three years. I feel a little bad, like I'm denying him a little, wrinkly puppy-friend. I hope that someday soon we'll be able to afford one, but in the meantime here's just a picture. Click here to see more canine inspiration. Just a funny photo for your Sunday afternoon. Are you having a relaxing weekend?

Friday, January 28, 2011

Have a cozy weekend!

Thank you so much to everyone who left me such thoughtful birthday greetings yesterday! We're just laying low this afternoon, keeping warm inside. Tonight, a big birthday dinner is planned and I can't wait! I have something fabulous to wear and I'm so excited to go out with friends (psst- I'll show you the outfit on Monday!). I hope you all have a warm and cozy weekend!
I think "cat friday" is becoming a regular institution around here, it's hard to resist the cuteness that saturates our apartment. If you ever want an extremely happy cat, I recommend you provide either a heat vent at full blast (left), or a heated blanket (right). Instant cat magnet!

Happy Weekend!

ps- did you enter the giveaway yet?

Thursday, January 27, 2011

HAPPY! (happy)! BIRTHDAY! (birthday)!

Thanks right! it's my birthday! 27 years ago today, I was causing a lot of trouble.
Button-up: J.Crew outlet ($20)
Skirt: LOFT thrifted & altered ($6)
Belt: J.Crew outlet ($10 sale)
Necklace: J.Crew ($15 sale)
Tights: AA super opaque ($25)
Bracelet: Vintage (gift)
Shoes: GAP ($34)
Even though this outfit is from Tuesday, I decided to post it today because I think it's a happy outfit (even though I look a bit glum, it was cold), how can polka-dots not be happy? It's really different from what I've been wearing lately, but I enjoyed changing things up.

I found this skirt on a thrifting expedition over the weekend and I'm so pleased I bought it. I almost didn't, the original fit wasn't that flattering, it is supposed to sit lower on the hips and was too long for my taste. But, I saw potential, nothing a little thread and Stitch Witchery couldn't fix. After taking up the hem and bringing in the waistline to fit my natural waist, I love it! I immediately knew how I would wear it too, with a bright belt and relaxed chambray shirt. I wore this to work on Tuesday, I don't usually have- or make- time to photograph my work outfits, but I made time for this one.

I'm so excited for birthday fun today and tomorrow! Today I'm meeting my mom at the Friendly Toast (my favorite in Portsmouth, NH) and then going to bar trivia tonight (a weekly institution). Tomorrow I'm spending the day with Chris and having a Birthday dinner with friends, yay for birthdays! Like I said, I may not have celebrated much the past few years, but I'm determined to start now! Happy January 27th!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Wild horses couldn't drag me away

Velvet blazer: BB Dakota/ TjMaxx ($20)
Striped shirt: J.Crew outlet ($10 old)
Jeans: Madewell Hi Riser (sale)
Boots: J.Crew (super sale)
Belt: vintage (photoshoot)
(photos by Chris)
This is what I wore Saturday night out to Worcester for a friend's birthday party. I wanted something classic and comfortable, but most of all I wanted to be warm and show off my new riding boots! It has been so cold the past few days, colder than I remember it being last winter. We've received a good amount of snow too, it's snowing right now, I love it! Last week I took advantage of a promotion through work and ordered myself a new pair of boots, a dress, and a winter jacket, everything came right in time for the negative degree weather, thank goodness or else I would still be freezing! I have never been much of a boot person- mostly because I despise socks- but they're a necessary accessory when you live in New England. I seem to have recently hit the jackpot boot-wise, because I now have them practically coming out my ears! I found another pair at the swap on Thursday that I can't wait to show off.

Anyways, like I said I wanted something classic. I kept my accessories simple with just a gold belt, and brass earrings and necklace. I love these earrings, they were kindly sent over by Noble Town Vintage and I've been wearing them non-stop. I found that once my hair reached a certain length, I stopped wearing earrings as much, because I couldn't really see them. But now I think it's all about the style you wear. These are eye-catching enough to not get lost in my tresses, but don't weigh me down either. Check back tomorrow for a chance to win a pair for yourself!
This week I'm focusing on a shop update, which was supposed to happen last week. I have a ton of stuff to list, but all that stuff needs to be ironed! And guess what?! It's my birthday week!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Over the weekend

It feels like it's been so long since I've had anything to post about my weekend. I guess that's what happens when it's cold out, I'm out and about much less than usual. That's what I love about events in the winter, as much as it's painful to leave the warmth and comfort of home, it's great to get out and see your favorite people while doing something fun! My weekends start on Thursdays these days, and last Thursday was one I had been looking forward to for a long time: National Swap Day! I started the day by meeting up with Jen in the city and doing some browsing. We then headed into Somerville to meet up with the Swapaholics and start sorting clothes at the Armory. I love volunteering for these girls, it's really just an excuse to help out while hanging out with friends.
Sometimes I make awful faces:
After people arrived and dropped off their clothes, they were able to head up to the balcony and watch as their items were sorted into the racks.
Everything looks so calm and orderly in the beginning, like the calm before a storm. Special pieces- like designer items- are hung up, while everyday wares are sorted on the tables:
The actual swapping only lasts about 20 to 30 minutes before the racks are cleared and everyone heads home to add new treasures to their closets. Left over clothes are donated to Goodwill:
The best part of this weekend is that I got to spend almost all of it with Jen, Punky, Adam, Chris and Kev. There was a 30th Birthday party (Adam's), brunch, thrift shopping, and general fun. I can't wait to show off what I got at the swap as the week goes on!

(all photos: Adam Towner)

Thursday, January 20, 2011

At the swap!

No style post for today, I'm in Boston hanging out with Jen and getting ready for the Swap! I know this is kind of a filler post, which I don't like doing, but it's cute. This is inevitably what happens to every box that enters our house: it turns into a bed, complete with fluffy toys. This picture was taken a week ago, and that ModCloth box is still on our living room floor, because neither of us have the heart to throw it out.

Have a happy Thursday!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Primary Influence

Fur Collar: family heirloom
Wool Cape: AA
Sweater: Madewell (sale)
Jeans: Madewell (sale)
Bracelet: Swapped
Bag: Vintage D&B thrifted ($10)
Boots: my mom's from the 70's
nailpolish: Essie "flawless"
This has been my outfit of the week, comfortable and easy to move around in. The weather has been absolutely miserable: after a 10 degree Monday, we woke up to beautiful snowflakes yesterday morning, which transformed around noon into ugly and huge drops of rain, turning everything into an icy, slushy mess. I don't mind rain in the summer or spring, but rain in the winter is just gloomy. Because of this, I haven't been in much of a mood to get dressed up, jeans and a sweater is what this weather calls for. Boots too, I discovered these fantastic boots of my mother's while on a reconnaissance mission over the summer. I was the only one home with nothing to do, so naturally, I started going through closets and trunks seeing what I could find. Along with turning up her long lost wedding dress (no, not what I'm wearing on August 20th), I found these beauties:
She said she bought them for $75 in the early 1970's in Portland (Maine). They're a little snug, but not uncomfortable. I think they'll stretch too, after all they haven't been worn since at least the late 80's. My mom had amazing style when she was a young person, and I'm so happy when I can turn up something of hers that fits me. I never thought my mom would have a huge influence over my style- she's not into clothes and fashion at all- but I feel like her younger self is my primary influence these days.

I'm glad when I can put this stuff to good use, it makes me sad when I find a beautiful piece of clothing that has deteriorated. Before our house burned in 2004, I never would have guessed all this stuff was boxed up, but because everything had to be removed from the surviving parts of the structure, things like these boots floated to the surface. As a kid, I always wished we had one of those magical attics you see in movies and T.V. that are full of family treasures; it turns out we had all that cool stuff, it was just kept in trunks and boxes throughout the house!

On a totally separate note, who's going to the swap tomorrow? Will I see you? If you see me, come say hi!

EDIT: for everyone saying that the leather on the boots needs attention, thank you and I appreciate the advice. (ps- this is meant sincerely, I understand how it may be construed as snark, but I assure you it's not meant as such)

Monday, January 17, 2011

a couppla' lookers

Please excuse the corny title of this post, and the picture heavy nature of it. It's purely self-indulgent, I assure you. On Saturday, Chris and I found ourselves pining for the days where we lived in the woods, it was such a beautiful Winter day, but no woods to walk through for miles. Instead, we took a walk down to the park and took pictures. Second best, I wish we had gone sledding but there were literally hundreds of children all crowding the little sledding hill. I miss the north. I wanted to take a couple of photos with Chris because he's such a sharp dresser (that's kind of a pun, because his last name is Sharp), and he found this amazing jacket recently when we were at Bobby's. Almost all of what he's wearing is vintage, except for his jeans, gloves, and work boots. Men's style isn't appreciated enough especially around here, people always think I dress him, but the credit is all his. His style is his own. My style for the day was decidedly old country:
Coat: old H&M
Belt: J.Crew Outlet (gift)
Scarf: Thrifted ($5)
Hat: Chris' vintage ($5)
Sweater: Vintage thrifted ($3)
Skirt: Vintage thrifted ($7)
Owl talon necklace: Black Sparrow (gift)
Bracelet: thrifted ($2)
Earlier in the winter I mentioned that I was in need of a new winter coat, I've had this H&M number for four years and while it's held up, I don't really like it. I never ended up finding the right jacket, other than the cape and anorak I always wear (layer, layer, layer!), but for this outfit I needed something longer and closer to the hem of my skirt. I went with the old stand-by once again but found that if I belt it, the silhouette is at least improved. The rest of the outfit came together easily, and was built around my new shoes from ModCloth. At first I wasn't sure about the skinny heel with the big platform, but I love them. They're surprisingly comfortable and easy to walk in (although to get me to this snowy location, Chris had to piggy-back me in, it was quite a spectacle), and of course I love the 70's aspect of them!

After our photo session, we were both freezing, so we headed home for hot chocolate and some reading. The rest of the day was spent at the library, watching movies, and playing wii at a friends house. It has been so cold the past few days, it's only 18 degrees out now, it's hard not to stay indoors at all times!
I'm so excited for what this week has in store. I'm planning a big shop closet update for later this week and Thursday is the big Swap! Happy Monday!

Sponsor Spotlight: Lulu*s.com & Noble Town Vintage!

Well, now I've done it. I've allowed myself to start thinking about Spring, a new season with new fashion. See, the problem is, spring won't be showing it's pretty face around here for another few months. Every now and then I'll spot my bin of spring and summer shoes in my closet and wistfully dream of the day when flowers bloom and the trees have leaves on them. This time of year is the perfect time for a vacation, allow some sun to touch your skin, and get some practice in your new must have shoes for summer:
I can't get enough of Lulu's selection of 70's inspired platforms, the higher the better. I've been in love with the sky high shoes since I received my first CD in 7th grade: Abba Gold (I'm not kidding), they add height to your frame, length to your legs, and are comfortable and easy to walk in. Plus, they look amazing with all those spring dresses waiting to debut in your closet. A few of my favorite styles from Lulu's: Delilah Tan and Leather Wedges, For Sure Tan Rainbow Heels, Ridgge Blush Wedge. It may not quite be time to bring out the spring shoes, but for now you can slip them on, pop in your copy of Dazed and Confused, and start dreaming of endless summer.
I'm also predicting drape-y jewelry to be a big trend come the warmer months. Or, maybe it's just my obsession with the early 70's manifesting itself. Either way, Noble Town Vintage has a fabulous selection of long and dangly earrings to accessorize with. My favorites right now are definitely the Turquoise and Copper Chain Earrings. I'm also loving these and these.

Lulu's.com and Noble Town VIntage are sponsors of Orchid Grey

Friday, January 14, 2011

Wanted Shoes Review

A while back- a long while back- I was contacted by Wanted Shoes to see if I would be interested in reviewing a pair of their shoes. I was invited to pick any pair from the shop, and review at my discretion. I picked out the Tripoli Oxfords (pictured above) because at the time I was working 14 hour shifts on my feet, so I was desperate to find a pair of flat shoes that would be comfortable throughout the workday. To read more about my experience with Wanted, please read my review below:

the PRO:

Fast shipping:
These arrived on my doorstep mere days after placing my order. The company maintained good communication as well, I was notified in a timely manner of when they shipped from the factory.

Wider width and very comfortable:
I have weird feet, they're not necessarily wide but do require extra room around the ball of my foot. These were comfortable and accommodated the wider part of my foot. I also found they ran very true to size, I ordered an 8.5 and they fit just as expected.

I believe they're vegan (but double check):
From what I could tell all Wanted Shoes are non-leather, and from the research I did, it seems they're completely vegan. This means that no animal products are used in the manufacturing of these shoes, from the upper and balance materials, to the glue used to hold the shoe together. This is great for those of us who don't wear leather (I do) and are looking for fashionable footwear. However, if anyone knows more, please let me know. I found Wanted brand shoes listed on a number of vegetarian and vegan shoe websites, so that I where I'm drawing my information.

Fairly priced:
I've seen a lot of very expensive non-leather goods lately, but all the shoes on the Wanted website are very fairly priced. For those of us on a budget, this is definitely a site to check out.

The CON:

I wasn't pleased with the style:
In retrospect I regret ordering the style that I did. The Tripoli's looked odd on my feet, and I think I should have gone with a pair of these boots. Overall, the styles and quality of the boots appear to be superior to the other styles offered on the site. I'm also really picky about my shoes.

Quality was just OK:
but was equal to the price, they seem a bit flimsy and like they wouldn't last more than one season. Like I said, I'm picky about my footwear.

The Verdict:

Not bad, but not the right style for me. The quality was just ok, and since I'm not vegan, I prefer to wear leather shoes because they last longer. There was a good amount of padding on the footbed, but I still needed to add an insole for a long day at work.


Please note: Wanted Shoes is NOT a sponsor of Orchid Grey. Wanted Shoes provided product for the review but this review was unpaid and my honest opinion was expressed. Thank you.

Monday, January 10, 2011

When I live my dream

Jacket: UO sale ($30)
Fur Collar: Family Antique
Striped Shirt: AA
Cardigan: Madewell sale
Belt: J.Crew sale
Necklace: Black Sparrow (gift)
Jeans: Madewell
Belt: J.Crew outflt (gift)
Shoes: Matiko sale ($40)
Purse: Thrifted vintage ($4)
Days like this are my favorite, grey, dark and snowey. These were actually taken on Saturday when Chris and I took a walk to the park, but it's supposed to snow tonight and I hope it does! I love it when it snows, for a brief period of time the world is beautiful, and everything gets quiet. It's also a great excuse to be a home-body and stay inside. I don't know when I became so reclusive, I used to be so outdoorsy when i lived further north. I miss that!

This outfit is something I threw on to go to the grocery store and miraculously stayed in all day. I usually end up changing after the morning errands are run, but I really loved this outfit. It was pulled together but comfortable. Better than jeans and a t-shirt, but not far off either. I picked up this cool belt at work the other day, it looks super complicated but it just snaps on the side, perfect for belting jackets with!

I want to thank everyone for the incredibly supportive comments left for me on this post, I wish we all had amazing jobs and nothing to worry about, but it was comforting to hear from some of you who are experiencing the same thing as me (and from those of you who are experiencing success after making the big decisions too!). There was one point in particular that was made by Jo that I'm really going to try to keep in mind for my blog: "Anways, rants are always great. It's weird if bloggers don't write about things that bother them/life decisions...because it makes them seem non-human." I think it's so easy to see bloggers as non-humans because the blog itself is such a small part of our lives as a whole. There's certainly more to me than clothes and outfits, and I know that's not always represented here. Sometimes I leave things out intentionally for fear of sounding like I'm complaining or that I'm rambling. But I'm going to try and make more of an effort to talk about life on my blog. Not just why I chose to wear brown and blue, (which is one of my favorite faux-pas combinations by the way), or a certain pair of shoes, etc. I have a couple of job leads this week that I'm going to be writing cover letters for, which I'm the worst at. But here's hoping! Fingers crossed!
Is it snowing where you live? We're expecting 6 to 8 inches here in Beverly!