Firecracker's Blog

Today I got my hair cut first thing. It has only been 4 weeks since my last cut, whereas I usually go 7 weeks between cuts. I was trying to wear it a little longer around my face, but it just was not working. So: back to a shorter cut for me! The rest of the day is sewing, maybe some shopping or errands.

The outfit: stone bermuda shorts with drawstrings at the bottom (Lulu-B); blue short-sleeved v-neck tee and blue and tan half-sleeved sweater hoodie (both Eddie Bauer, some seasons ago); greenish gray leather sneakers (Josef Seibel, Caspian). I carried a cross-body bag in taupe faux-croc pattern by Brahmin (not shown).

Speaking of duplicates (per Angie's blog this week), I have these shorts in two other colors. I got them in Florida, and they seem very much a Florida style to me. They are mostly boho, I think, with a little bit of a gear look. They are really versatile for my casual summer style. I love the diagonal piped seams down the front and back of the legs, which I find very slimming. I haven't seen this brand anywhere but the store in Venice, Florida, the town where my parents used to go for the winter.

This look seems sporty without the luxe, wouldn't you say? It's an easy outfit to wear for a day off.
Thanks for looking! Thoughts and ideas are of course welcome!

Transcona Shannon's post on a column of white with navy lace inspired me to try a similar outfit to hers. I originally thought I would wear metallic shoes (inspired by hers with the metallic straps) and belt, but then I decided to go with my denim flats and coordinating tan belt.

1-2: Wearing today, for the day off, my Shannon copy outfit: white cropped boyfriend jeans (Eddie Bauer); ivory scoop neck long-sleeved tee (Caslon); navy chenille lace hoodie (made by me); denim ballet flats (AGL); navy and tan bag (Dooney & Bourke); tan belt (Trafalgar); silver and brass dangle concentric hoop earrings (Lucky).
This outfit may be more Shannon than it is me, but it's a way to wear this hoodie that has been a bit of an orphan.

3: Worn Monday, for work: gray and black brush stroke print dress with front drapes and pockets (made by me); black and gray blurry puzzle print mesh knit cardigan (made by me); black sling-back Mary Janes (Think! Aida); silvery bib necklace (?); gunmetal faceted drop earrings (Dabby Reid).

The dress and cardigan are from a Vogue pattern by Marcy Tilton, one of my favorite pattern designers. Marcy suggested these fabrics for me at the Sewing Expo in Puyallup, Washington, this year; I bought them from her there. Originally I bought the pattern for the cardi and then decided I'd try the dress, too. I'm not sure about this style for me, or about the two of them together on me. I'd be interested in your thoughts.

Thanks for looking! I always like to hear your suggestions and ideas.

Saturday I was off this week, but Sunday I work. Hence, "weekend" in quotation marks.

The outfits. . .

1-2 (for the day off): stone shorts (Lulu-B); navy and dark aqua striped tee (made by me); jean jacket (AG, Robyn); cream platform sandals (Naot); taupe bag (Aunts & Uncles).

3 (for work): black and white wavy-stripe skirt (made by me); off-white tank (?); off-white cardigan (Nic & Zoe); black sling-bag Mary Janes (Think! Aida); silver & black heart necklace (Brighton); silver and black bead earrings (Brighton); silver and black scarab bracelet (gift from DH).  I tried Neel's pose with one foot back, here. I thought I was going to fall over!

Suggestions and comments welcome! Thanks for looking!

I was inspired by Angie's post on casual linen. I wore this outfit to work, though, so it's less casual than the inspiration post. The one recommendation I followed was to wear my peep-toe booties rather than closed shoes.

I got these linen trousers by NYDJ a few weeks ago. They didn't fit all that well, but they were such a great shade of grayish taupe for me (called "sand dollar"), and they were a slouchy trouser style that I really liked. I did something I rarely do: I bought them with the intention of altering them. After contemplating taking them to Nordstrom, where I bought them, for alterations, I decided to do the the work myself. (Wish I had taken "before" photos, but I didn't.) I took them in at the waist and below the hip in the back, and I shortened them an inch. I was really happy with how they turned out, and I wore them to work today. The first half of the day, I wore my denim jacket with this outfit (not pictured), but later it warmed up enough that I could take off the jacket.

The outfit: linen trousers (NYDJ, Wiley); red, blue, gray and stone floral chiffon peasant blouse (made by me); pewter floral cutout belt (Fossil); pewter metallic cutout peep-toe booties (Paul Green).

I've included rear-view shots (all alterations were on the back); I think they look better in real life than in these photos. At least they looked good in the mirror and felt good.

Thanks for looking. Comments and suggestions always welcome!

Suz reminded me this week of Angie's olive and pink ensemble. I'm often inspired by the ensemble posts, but if I don't use it immediately, I forget. I need some form of organization for keeping these ideas at my fingertips--for those days when I can't decide what to wear!

Olive and pink is what I'm wearing for a day of training at work. It could be cold or warm in the room (or both, as the AC goes off and on), so I like having a topper, although I don't like covering up the pink.

I went with Angie's suggested metallic option for shoes and belt.

The outfit: olive chinos with brass studs down the sides, tuxedo-style (Lucky); pink and green tie-dye effect tee (made by me); olive-y sage linen drape neck cardi (made by me); floral metallic belt (Fossil); pewter/light gold metallic flats (AGL); purple specs.

Thanks for looking! Your thoughts and suggestions are welcome!
(Gotta post and run now, but will be back later.)

It's a week of denim blues so far this week. I love the blues, and it's been cool this week, so I've been layering and trying not too look too un-Spring-like.

Monday (1-3), for work: black harem pants (Eileen Fisher); silk long-sleeved t-shirt in shades of blue, green, and black on white (made by me); blue stone teardrop earrings (?); silver bead bracelet (gift); black sling-back Mary Janes (Think!), jean jacket (AG, Robyn). I like this outfit; I wore it during my trip to Europe this spring.

Tuesday (4-5), for piano lesson and shopping: dark skinny jeans (Lucky, Charlotte Rail); sea-blue short-sleeved tee (Caslon); oatmeal 3/4-sleeved cardi (Halogen); denim ballet flats with navy cap toe (AGL); teal high-waisted short trench (Ambition, from Nordstrom several years ago); navy leather bag with luggage trim (Dooney & Bourke); brass collar necklace and earrings (Lucky); floral cutout belt (Fossil).

Wednesday (6-7), for breakfast out and hanging around home: dark skinny jeans (Lucky, Charlotte Rail again); denim-blue ribbed tank with faint flowers printed on front (Eddie Bauer); taupe long-sleeved, drape-neck cardi (AllSaints); pewter cutout belt (Fossil); metallic suede hidden wedge high-top sneakers (Paul Green).

Thanks for looking! Your thoughts and suggestions are always welcome.

Here's a week of looks. I'm trying to take more outfit photos, and I thought I'd take the plunge and start using my YLF blog page. I'm trying to think of a name for it. Any suggestions?

Monday (1-3), dressed for work and after work: mixed print asymmetrial big shirt with cowl collar (made by me), stone skinnies (Classiques Entier, Nordstrom), multi-colored heeled oxfords (Fidji, last year), navy bag with luggage tan trim (Dooney & Bourke). Changed into skinny jeans (Charlotte Rail by Lucky) and platform peep-toe cutout booties (Paul Green).

Tuesday (3-5), dressed for home and piano lesson, then teaching sewing class: skinny jeans (Charlotte Rails again), mixed media high-low tank (made by me), tan cotton jacket (Caslon), pewter suede metallic wedge high-tops (Paul Green); changed into navy chinos (Caslon) for teaching in the evening.

Wednesday (6-8), dressed for home and teaching sewing class: gray linen slouchy trousers (made by me), mixed media scroll print tee (made by me), jean jacket (Robyn by AG), pewter suede high-tops again.

Thursday (9-11), dressed for home and breakfast out: white skinny jeans (Stilt, AG), block print slouchy tee (Nally & Millie), gray leather sneakers (Caspian, Josef Seibel), olive utility jacket (Laundry by Shelley Segal), blue stripe earrings (give of DH).

Friday (12-13): dressed for work and after work: asymmetrical black denim wrap skirt with zig zag stitching (made by me), hatchy-print tee in shades of gray (made by me), nude fishnets (Commando), black sling-back Mary Janes (Think!); changed into white jeans (AG Stilts again) and black loafers (Munro) with silvery-gray-black belt (?) after work.

Sunday (14), dressed for piano recital: charcoal gray skinnies (Classiques Entier, Nordstrom), marbled print sheer sweater-knit peasant tunic (made by me) over camisole (Shimera), black ballet flats (AGL).

Wednesday's outfit was inspired by comments here; since you asked, I wore the trousers with something that didn't cover up the top of them.

Thanks for looking! Your comments are always welcome as I continue on my YLF style journey!