Firecracker's Blog

Today I picked up new glasses that I ordered last week. Between ordering and picking them up, I had doubts. I thought they might be too warm-toned, but I'm happy with them. I will still wear the round ones in my profile pic, and I'm also having a current prescription put into the teal and plum ones I got several years ago with Angie's help. Just a note: I don't think the frames look as wide IRL as they do in the photo; selfies seem to distort the image quite a bit. These are actually children's frames!

Going shorter on the haircut. I had been keeping some length on top, to preserve some of the wave in my hair. On this trim, I decided to go shorter--a bona fide pixie, I think?--and I like it. My inspiration is Jamie Lee Curtis, when her hair is a little bit grown out from her very short, spiky pixie. I think I could go even shorter, and maybe will try it this summer.

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).

Two days ago I had my first haircut since 21 February. I had gotten it cut very short then, so it wasn't looking too bad. I was glad to have some wave back in it. I went for a longer short cut this time, and am thinking I might grow it into a bob this fall.

Photos are inspired by Angie's showing us her latest cut. I think my style is similar, and I wish it looked more like Angie's!

Totally inspired by Angie on today's outfit. Well, I have to say anytime I wear white jeans, I think of Angie.

The outfit: Off-white jeans (Levis, Wedgie Icon); blue and white finely striped pullover blouse (made by me); off-white high top leather sneakers (Paul Green); white watch (Casio); blue and white striped earrings (artisan, gift); bird-print bandana as mask.

I've been omitting lipstick during this physical distancing and mask-wearing time. I've found lipstick and masks (or scarf-masks) don't mix well.

Thanks for looking! I appreciate any thoughts you wish to share.

I've made a few t-shirts during these days at home. This one is from one of my favorite patterns, which enables me to use beloved remnants from past projects. I wore this outfit at home and on a bike ride to the post office and to stop for coffee and a treat to go.

The outfit: Pieced t-shirt in purple plaid-like sweater knit, plus solid purple and gray-and-cream-striped jersey knits (made by me); dark boyfriend jeans (AG), gray metallic lace-up booties (Homers).

Thanks for looking! Any thoughts you wish to share are appreciated.

Here are a couple of then-and-now looks, with boyfriend jeans. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose!

I think YLF introduced me to boyfriend jeans, when they became a trend. I loved the idea of them then, and I love them now. I searched high and low for just the right style for me. My first love was a pair by Fidelity.

2013 (photos 1-2): The Fidelity boyfriend jeans, with a black, gray, and cream blurry-starry print long-sleeved tee (made by me), a gray quilted leather peplum jacket (Halogen), black shimmer-suede oxfords (Naya), and a studded statement-buckle jeans belt (Bed Stu). [the jacket in photo 2 is different, but I wanted you to see the back of the jeans.]

& 2019 (photo 3): Same tee as above, with new favorite boyfriend jeans, a slimmer style with slightly higher rise (Citizens of Humanity, Emerson), fuzzy animal print cardigan in cream and gray (Free People), a newer favorite studded jeans belt (Suzi Roher), and black Chelsea boots (Dune London).

2014 (photos 4-5): Fidelity boyfriend jeans, ivory long sleeved tee (Caslon), metallic linen asymmetrical vest (made by me), taupe belt, belted ballet flats (AGL).

& 2017 (photos 6-7): Citizens of Humanity boyfriend jeans, teal long sleeved tee (Caslon), ivory boiled-wool vest (made by me), brown lace-up booties (Jo Ghost). Vest is from the same pattern as the one above.

2014 (photos 8-9): Slim dark boyfriend jeans (KUT, Catherine--a YLF favorite!), with a long sleeved tee (Caslon) and print boiled-wool cap-sleeve top (made by me), metallic high-top sneakers (Paul Green).

& 2019 (photos 10-11): Slim higher-rise dark boyfriend jeans (AG), with pattern-striped cotton cap-sleeve top (made by me), metallic snake-print sling-back booties (Gentle Souls). Top made from the same pattern as the one above.

I tried Angie's outfit formula of Midi Dress and Stompy Boots. I had tried this dress and boots together in the past but didn't really like the look; I switched to some tall boots instead. This time I decided it was okay, and I wore the outfit to work.

The outfit: Olive lantern-shaped dress and brown-black boiled wool asymmetric vest (both OSKA); print Doc Martens in olive and brown tones.

I might wear this outfit again. I think I need to shorten the dress by a few inches. It's kind of a chore, so I keep putting it off.

Thanks for looking! I welcome any thoughts you might have.

I read Angie's post today before I got dressed for work, so I had her concepts in mind as I put the outfit together. I planned to wear this olive dress today, but I wasn't sure what accessories or footwear I would add. The dress can be kind of a blank slate for me, as I have lots of warm- and cooler-weather pieces to add to it. (Which is a good thing, because I will be wearing it often through December, as it is part of my work "uniform" this season.)

Today I was wearing my white sports watch, and when I put on the dress, I liked the crisp white watch with it. So I decided to try my stone colored knit double-breasted jacket, and then added cream-and-taupe sandals that also echoed the light tones of the watch and jacket. The jacket and sandals are bookends, and I would say the sandals also bookend my hair--thus, I used idea #4, bookending, from Angie's list. The chunky sports watch with a dress and jacket is a nod to  #2, irregular juxtaposition, and I would say the jacket itself incorporates this idea, as it is a double-breasted blazer made out of a very casual fabric, linen-cotton knit, with raw edges. To go further with #2, I might have worn my white sneakers, but I felt there was enough sporty-casual going on already here.

On the dressy or more feminine side, I added brass-toned earrings, a statement-y bolo necklace with a stone that echoes the light tones of the jacket, and a brassy bracelet. I like to wear brass jewelry with the color olive; I prefer brass to gold, because it's more casual and muted. Perhaps this would be considered shine, as in #1, color, pattern, texture, and shine, but it is shine on my terms, i.e., not too shiny! I defnitely thought of #1 when I added the bag with a burnished pewter faux leather and mixed denim-based prints. I feel like this bag really adds something to this otherwise pretty quiet, subtle outfit.

The pieces: Dress Jove in olive and jacket Bony, in pearl (OSKA); cream and taupe sandals (P.Monjo); bolo necklace (Madewell); brass earrings (Marjorie Baer); brass bracelet (Jenny Bird); white sports watch (Casio, Baby G); mixed print bag with pewter faux leather base and handles (made by me).

It was fun to invent and analyze an outfit using Angie's tried-and-true tips for creating interest. Thanks for looking, and I welcome any comments or ideas you'd like to share.