Firecracker's Blog

When Angie posted inspiration outfits in burgundy, black, and cream, I knew there were lots of possibilities in my wardrobe for putting the formula into action.

Here are a few I've worn in the last couple of weeks.

1-3: Cream floral mesh top (Z Supply); burgundy zip cardigan (Treasure & Bond). Worn with black jeans (Levis, Wedgie) and gray nubuck booties (Mephisto) (pic1) to ride my bike to a coffee shop. Worn with white cargo jeans (AllSaints) to sit around the house afterward. Tried this outfit with black Chelsea boots (Dune London) and burgundy nubuck booties (Mephisto).

4-5: Burgundy, cream, and pale aqua mod patterned mock turtleneck pullover (Maeve); black lantern cargo jeans (OSKA); gray nubuck booties; stone boiled wool hoodie (OSKA); stone crossbody bag with brushed silver chain strap (AllSaints). Pics in dressing room at Everlane, where I was exchanging jeans. Not sure if this pullover is burgundy; it leans quite purple. But it goes with burgundy corduroys that I have. I'm counting it in!

6-7: stone pants (OSKA); abstract rose patterned tee in stone, burgundy, and black (made by me); burgundy cardigan (Vince); navy quilted coat (Lauren Ralph Lauren); stone gray nubuck booties again; sage crossbody bag (Madewell).

8-9: black straight-leg jeans (The Ranger, Banana Republic); abstract pattern tee in burgundy, tan, charcoal, brown (made by me); burgundy zip cardigan again; cream, beige, burgundy, and green tweedy stripe oversized bomber (Sézanne); tan suede monkstrap shoes (Munro).

I could wear this combination of colors without repeating an exact outfit for at least a month. But I won't--there are so many other things I want to wear--and have, in the last couple of weeks! It's a good way to get me thinking about new ways to wear burgundy, though. Thanks, Angie!

I've kept an eye out for a blush pink denim jacket, so when I came across this one from AllSaints, I had to give it a try. I love how it is a mixed pink and black wash.

I wasn't actively looking for it, so I would not have seen it, had I not stopped in the AllSaints store recently and bought a pair of blush pink jeans on sale (along with a matching pullover and a non-matching pullover!). I've already worn the jeans and pink pullover together and the striped pullover (in Finds) with other bottoms. When I got home from that shopping trip, I looked online to see what else AllSaints had on sale, and I saw the jacket, in my size, and ordered it. I debated keeping it, because it felt a little small in the shoulders. But I couldn't find the next size up anywhere, so I held on to the jacket with the tags on.

Today I removed the tags and wore the jacket. It is fine with a light layer underneath.

Photo 1 is how I wore it today, to go out to breakfast. I was inspired by Jaime's EXTRA style idea and wore the necklace! It's a piece I really like but rarely wear. It felt right today with this tee.

Hay Denim Jacket (AllSaints), boyfriend jeans (Citizens of Humanity Emerson), graphic tee in cream with black, green, and beige abstract design (Madewell), cream loafers (27 Edit), sage cross body bag (Madewell Transport Camera Bag), light olive belt (Fossil), necklace with brass irregular-shaped beads on black cord, hammered brass half-loop earrings (Marjorie Baer).

Photo 2 is a variation, with the new Cole Haan sneakers, which I haven't worn out of the house yet. Trying to make sure they will work. And a Pendleton stripe bag with white and blush faux-croc trim  (made by me).

Photos 3-4 show the matching jeans. I think as recently as last year, I wouldn't have worn these pieces together. But now I think I will.

I welcome your thoughts!

I happened to be wearing the loafer clogs I mentioned today on Angie's blog post. I'm not a big loafer- or clog-wearer, and yet I really like these. They are new this fall and I have been wearing them quite a bit, including on a plane trip, where they were comfy and convenient for the security line where I had to remove them.

Today's outfit, worn out to breakfast and at home: Navy wide-wale corduroy lantern pants (made by me); scroll pattern burnout t-shirt (made by me); navy bomber cardigan (Pendleton); olive loafer clogs (Dansko); dark olive anorak (Lauren Ralph Lauren); sage/olive crossbody bag (Madewell). Sorry for the dark photos; I edited to lighten them as much as possible, but the details are still not very visible.

I welcome your comments or thoughts.

I mentioned on Angie's post that I had just bought a sweater vest from Madewell. I really like it for its cozy, soft feel and the easy, boxy fit with extended shoulders. This is the second time I've worn it, in the past couple of weeks. It seems like the kind of knit that may pill, but I'll happily wear it until that time.

This outfit is a version of Angie's Classic formula, #3, though my shirt is a little twist on classic, with its cowl neck and uneven hem.

The outfit: Cowl-neck, high-low hem big shirt in coordinating box and dot prints (made by me, Sewing Workshop Icon Shirt pattern); dark wash boyfriend jeans (AG); navy sweater vest (Madewell); cream loafters (27 Edit). I added my blush lightweight jacket and blush cross-body bag to go out.

Questions and comments welcome, as always!

As part of my "wear the clothes" campaign, I brought out a silk tee I made a while back but have only worn once that I can remember. Of course I needed a topper, because it was in the 60s for the first half of this summer day, inside as well as outside. I tried a few options and landed on this jacket, a recent sewing project, which honestly I wasn't sure I would wear, once i finished it. But it feels good on, and I like it with this outfit, so it may have a purpose after all!

The outfit (worn for a day at home):

Off-white boyfriend jeans (Citizens of Humanity, Emerson); silk watercolor floral tee (Coram Top pattern by Allie Olson, made by me); navy textured-cotton jacket with miniature peplum (Sterling Jacket pattern from The Sewing Workshop, made by me); off-white loafers (27 Edit); olive belt (Fossil); sage crossbody bag (Madewell).

After buying a cozy boucle pullover from Eileen Fisher last week and wearing it right away, I hit upon the idea of copying it with a piece of fabric I had been puzzling over how to make up. I knew I wanted a pullover, but wasn't sure what pattern to use. I made a simple boxy long-sleeved crew-neck pullover much like the Eileen Fisher. I finished it yesterday and wore it today.

photo 1: Today's outfit (for hanging around home): Teal boucle pullover (made by me), black lantern jeans (OSKA), black triple-buckle moto booties (Blondo), Czech glass earrings with tones of blue and green, teal and blue framed eyeglasses.

photo 2: Another outfit I might wear tomorrow: the pullover again, with dark olive slouchy pants (ISCHIKO), olive suede booties (LaCanadienne).

photo 3: a closeup, trying to show the earrings

Any thoughts appreciated!

Shopping with a friend yesterday, I came across a pullover on sale in a favorite wine shade. One of the few odd sizes left was perfect for me, so clearly it was meant to be mine--haha! Now I can let go of an old sweater in this shade that I haven't been wearing--because it is past its prime--but that I just couldn't part with because of the color. "Team Wear" here: I wore the new find today. It matches my wine corduroys perfectly.

The outfit: Wine corduroys (made by me), wine wool boucle pullover (Eileen Fisher), black booties (with wine topstitching!) (Pikolinos), silver and garnet necklace (gift from DH many years ago), silver toned earrings and bracelet (Brighton).

I'm not leaving the house today (after returning from swimming this morning), but I am happy in my wine-out and wanted to share it with you.

Any thoughts appreciated!

I jumped on the balloon jean bandwagon with this mauve pair from Madewell. These are right up my alley: I love the wider leg, the fabric (all cotton, but so soft), and the color! I got them last week, have already worn and washed them and am wearing them again today.

I am unsure of the fit; perhaps I could have gone a size down, but I didn't try, and it's too late now. These are the smaller of two sizes I usually wear in jeans, and the sales associate told me they do run large. I was able to try them on in store, but in blue, and I ordered these based on that try-on, which was perfect. This color may run a little bit larger than the blue ones. Anyway, they feel great; flattery is another matter.

The outfit: Balloon jeans in vintage petal (Madewell); asymmetric drawstring-hem cowl-neck top in a lightweight sweater knit with a Venice scene print (made by me), black Chelsea boots (Pikolinos).

I thought I would give you all views, even the less flattering back view, just fyi. I welcome any thoughts you may have.

P.S. I don't know why the Find photo doesn't show up. I've tried several times to "collect" the item, and it keeps showing up with no picture, even though there are plenty of them on the website. :(

Lately I have been focusing on color, trying to get back to the ones that look best on me. Without lipstick (which I avoid because of masks now--although in the pics below I have on tinted lip balm), I find that wearing flattering colors is now more important to me. I bought several new things during recent sales, and this pullover is one of them. Definitely a keeper. I got it yesterday and am wearing it today.

I haven't been here much lately, I know, and can't even bring myself to "review" this awful, personally wrenching year. But I do appreciate the YLF community!

The outfit (worn for a rainy day spent mostly indoors at home, except for a take-out crepe and coffee run!): Blue and white marled pullover (Joie, Kamryn); blue cropped straight-leg Mom jeans (Levis, Wedgie); black moto boots (Blondo, Camila); gray tweed-print puffer (OSKA); black and navy leather and wool baseball cap; hammer silver-tone pendant (Lucky).

Thanks for looking, and thanks for being here!

Finally we have some good summer dress weather! I made a couple of bright summer dresses recently, and now I have the opportunity to wear them. Yesterday I wore the linen dress, and today I am wearing the t-shirt dress.

When I made the linen one, I thought, wow, this is bright! But the brightness is still somewhat muted, so I felt like it suited me. I like it.

The t-shirt dress is a much brighter bright, to me, and I'm not sure yet how I feel about it. Maybe it would be better as a nightgown. Your thoughts?

The outfits:

1) Floral linen short-sleeved shift dress (made by me, from Allie Olson Coram Shirt and Dress pattern); silver platform sandals (Mephisto).

2) Floral knit short-sleeved t-shirt dress (made by me, from Style Arc Mary Dress pattern); silver platform sandals (Mephisto).