Firecracker's Blog

WIW: on vacation to visit family

August 16, 2014

I've just gotten back from a trip to visit my parents in the Midwest. While there I managed to take a few outfit photos. A highlight of the trip was a chance encounter with Parsley at the mall!

A couple of the outfits feature a new pair of sandals I bought while I was away: cream multi-strap flat sandals with a cork footbed, by Haflinger. I bought them as my entry into the Birkalike trend. They are super comfy. I'm not sure they look all that much like the trend; what do you think?

The travel outfits:
1-2: black tie-hem shorts (Lulu-B); white tank (Semantiks); blue hand-knit open-weave sweater vest (made by a friend); cream Birk-alike flat cork-bed sandals (Haflinger); black and animal-print cross-body bag (Aimee Kestenberg).
3 (worn to the mall, where I ran into Parsley!): same black shorts (Lulu-B); silver linen tank (Eileen Fisher); black and gray print mesh knit cardi (made by me); cream Birkalike sandals (Haflinger).
4-5 (worn to dinner, to celebrate Mom's birthday): 8-panel linen skirt with interior ties (made by me, inspired by Eileen Fisher find below); white cami; white lacy knit v-neck cardigan (Nic & Zoe); cream platform sandals (Naot); black and animal print cross-body bag (Aimee Kestenberg).
6-7: khaki shorts (Caslon); white cami (Shimera); white lacy knit v-neck cardigan (Nic & Zoe); cream Birkalike sandals (Haflinger); black and animal print cross-body bag (Aimee Kestenberg).
8 (worn for flight home): white boyfriend jeans (Kut from the Kloth, Catherine); white cami; taupe cowl-neck sweater (AllSaints, Elgar); black, gray & silver narrow belt; black sling-back Mary Janes (Think!); taupe hobo bag (Aunts & Uncles).
Outfits I didn't get photos of included ones with my black harem pants (Eileen Fisher), which I wore on the plane with another cardigan not shown here, and out to dinner with the tops in outfit 3.

Thanks for looking! Any suggestions and comments are welcome.

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Posted in the What I Wore category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

19 Comments

  • Tanya replied 9 years ago

    Wonderful outfits, your stylisctic preferances come very clear through them.  I adore the EF skirt on you, it really suits you.  I would not change a thing.

  • Peri replied 9 years ago

    Oh I knew that top from the Parsley meet up was from that divine "made by me" line!! I knew because I liked it so much! It keeps happening that out of a line of pictures, my favorite item is what you made. And my habit of looking at pictures before reading makes that a completely unbiased reaction. YLF!

  • MsMary replied 9 years ago

    Wow, what a sophisticated travel capsule!  You looked fab and stylish and comfortable!  And I am still smiling about your accidental meetup with Parsley!  So fun!

  • Gracie replied 9 years ago

    I love the colors of your travel capsule, I'm sure you knew how to mix and match to best advantage. I'm in total awe at the skirt, it is striking on you! I can't stop looking at the sculptural shapes and wonder if it's the same on the back. I like yours so much better that the EF, you are so talented.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Thanks, Tanya. It is interesting how this travel capsule reflects my core style elements.
    Peri, it's so nice to hear about your unbiased reaction to my self-made items. Thank you!
    Mary, thanks--the capsule is basically a collection of neutrals with a couple of color pieces thrown in. (There's a bright coral cami that I didn't get a photo of, but which I did wear, I think.) I still can't get over that chance meeting, either. If my friend and I had spent just a little more time in another store or at lunch, we would have missed seeing Parsley. What are the odds?
    Gracie, thanks for your admiration of the skirt. It is exactly the same in back as in front. I was wearing all the ties tied. (I've put ties on four seams--two front and two back.) The last time I wore it, I did just two of them.

  • Sal replied 9 years ago

    I enjoyed seeing that you caught up with another forum member - not much chance of that here in NZ - but what is the chance in the US...these things are such a buzz.

    I think those tie knee shorts are such a perfect travel piece - so versatile, comfortable and smart.

    And your cream skirt is just stunning, it really suits you and drapes just perfectly.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Thanks, Kiwigal. I do like those shorts, too--so easy to wear. I'm also glad I persevered on the skirt--it was one of those items that took a bit of finessing in the making.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Wow, what an incredibly gorgeous travel capsule! I love your use of the soft neutrals combined with dramatic shapes. This is just amazing! 

    I can't get over that sensational Made-by-me hitched skirt -- it looks unbelievably great on you. I'm all the more impressed because I tried to wear a similar style a few years ago and just felt like an idiot. But your version is so much more sophisticated than mine was, and you look incredible in it. 

    I'm not sure the sandals look like Birks, exactly, but they do look consistent with your style, super comfortable, and very, very versatile. So I am a yay on those. 

    You looked absolutely fantastic on your meetup with Parsley. What a wonderful coincidence and how fun to run into one another out shopping. 

  • Jaime replied 9 years ago

    A terrific travel capsule. I love your last airport picture and you look fantastic in the light tonal colors. The meetup with Parsley is still blowing my mind!

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Suz, and Shevia, thanks! You two have put together such enviable travel wardrobes yourselves, I am flattered!
    And Suz, it's funny you tried the hitched-skirt look (I like your term for it!) and didn't like it. I've tried them on before and didn't like them, either. Then I tried on the Eileen Fisher version this spring and did like it. Either my eye adjusted or the treatment was slightly different somehow. I will say that looking down is a little odd--the skirt feels quite poufy, and so unlike me. (Drape and pouf are such different animals.) But it's growing on me. Thanks for your thoughts on the sandals. I think these are as close to Birks as I am going to get, though they don't have that Birkenstock look that I admire so much on other feet!

  • Neel replied 9 years ago

    I saw your post last night and was drooling over the cute sandals in 1. They are supposed to be Birkalikes? Goodness! They are too cute! I mean I like Birks too ..... but these are definitely more up my alley kind!

    And I absolutely adore you in whites and shades of white. I have almost always seen you in dark colors so this was a fresh change to my eyes. 4/5 is TDF! Wow.

  • cheryle (Dianthus) replied 9 years ago

    Wow.  What a perfect example of how to travel with style.

    I have been thinking proportion a lot lately and note that you wear your tops a bit shorter than a lot of people.  It seems to be bang on and I wonder if this was a conscious decision or just instinct.  

    Your version of the EF skirt is genius.  I really like the way you have layered the airy cardi/sweaters over tanks.  

  • Parsley replied 9 years ago

    I love how your travel capsule is all neutral but far from boring! You've incorporated a great variety of interesting shapes and textures with personality and verve.
    I particularly love your outfit with the hitched skirt and lace top. It is arty cool at its best. And of course I can vouch for how stylish you looked for our chance encounter while out shopping!
    The All Saints sweater is great, too. I've had my eye on that one, and I love the detail of the button-up back. And too bad we didn't get to see the harem pants in action.
    Anyway, this is a stellar capsule, and you have a wonderful style that is distinctly "you". Thanks for sharing!
    And do make sure to let me know whenever you're in my neck of the woods again!

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    The new Haflinger sandals are smashingly on trend. Fab addition to our hot Summer, Sharan. 

    #3 is Killer. Gorgeous silhouettes. 

    #4 is Killer to the power of Killer. You wear Arty Eclectic with the best of them. I am wowed. And the light palette is soooo pretty. 

    And of course, you rock your white jeans too. Hope you had a fun trip. xo

  • catgirl replied 9 years ago

    These are all way above the normal travel capsule looks in my book, but the best is that hitched skirt!  How I love that look!

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    SO FUN THAT YOU BUMPED INTO MARCY. I've met you both - such dolls of women. Glad you connected spontaneously. xo

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Neel, thanks--glad you like the sandals and the light outfits. I don't wear white that much, but pairing white with other neutrals is a trick I learned here on YLF!
    Dianthus, I hadn't thought about the short tops too deliberately. I've been wanting to emulate the look of short boxy tops over volume or looser fits that seems so in style right now, but I'm lacking the boxy tops. So I went for what seemed to work from my wardrobe. I'm glad it's working, because I find proportion a challenging aspect of dressing. Angie had a recent post on layering tanks with open-knit tops that inspired me with these looks, too.
    Parsley (Marcy), thanks for the vote of confidence on my travel capsule. You looked even more smashing in person, too--forgot to tell you that in the excitement of the moment!
    Alaskagirl (Una), you are so sweet. I did pack some unusual pieces for this trip. Glad you like the skirt!
    Angie, thanks for assuring me the sandals are on trend. I was craving some flat sandals, and they are earning their keep already. I'm flattered by your reaction to the outfits, too. And yes, the meeting with Marcy--amazing how your site draws people together from all corners, virtually and in real life!

  • avicennia replied 9 years ago

    I can honestly say that I LOVE all these outfits. I always find your outfits to be an inspiration. I find th skirt in pics 3/4 to be avant-gard. I do wonder how a warmer color bag would look with that outfit.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Thanks, avicennia! It's so neat to know that I've inspired you! Hmmm, I don't really have a bag that I think would be perfect for the skirt outfit. What kind of warmer color? Like a bright warm color or a warm neutral? Oh, come to think of it, I do have a little quirky pocketbook made of tapestry fabric in shades of caramel and rust. Something like that?

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Welcome to my style blog. Dressing is something all of us do each day, but for me it is also a hobby. I like to find new ways to wear the clothes I have, make new clothes to add to my wardrobe (yes, sewing is another hobby!), shop for clothes, read and discuss fashion. Following You Look Fab has fueled my interest in taking outfit pictures to see where I've been and to get different perspectives on style. Thanks for joining me. I always appreciate hearing your thoughts.