All The Colors

I’ve really been wanting to update my personal color palette lately.  However, I don’t just want to go out and buy ALL THE COLORS, despite how much I want something other than grungy snow and mud around me~  So I’ve been messing around with the online color palette generators; just insert an image and they pull out the dominant colors for your palette.  I wandered through my inspiration pics, and picked a few with really appealing color schemes.

This image comes from the met’s costume collection, and the color palette is everything I’m wanting right now.  Subtle lilacs, watery blues, soft neutrals; it’s a perfect guide for updating my wardrobe.

 

Here’s a couple of alternates~

DIY Monday: Lace Strip Sweater

DIY Monday is now brought to you by thursday.  And the letter L~ (tl:dr diymonday’s hiatus is over)

The lace panel trend is not going anywhere, tbh.  And why should it?  It’s fabulous!  Also a great way to add texture to an outfit (and some interest to an otherwise plain wardrobe staple.  Like this Loft sweater:

 

I fell in love with this gorgeous antique lace, and bought it without a specific project in mind.  But it’s a perfect match with my new sweater~

Trim lace to fit (but leave a little extra to fold under and in case fabric stretches).  Then pin the lace to the sweater.  Be sure to center the lace carefully, so you don’t end up with an unfortunately crooked result~

Then just pop it in your sewing machine and straight stitch.  You could even do this by hand if you don’t have a sewing machine.  And voila!

Super-easy diy lace strip sweater.

Role Models

I really like and admire this trend: “real” people as models (which is not to imply that models aren’t people or aren’t real)

But it’s refreshing to see a company step back from the photoshop; and for me, personally, makes it easier to see how I would wear items.

@chloesant23

anouskapb

Olga Nicole

 

It’s Officially Spring!…Cleaning

Like all those who need a hand getting dressed, I keep a file of style inspiration.  Mine is on the computer.  But lately, it’s gotten a little big and bulky.  So in the interest of slimming down, and actually being able to find the image I’m looking for occasionally, I’m going to clean it the heck out.  Here are some of the not-quite-keepers:

It’s very…cute.  And girly.  But it’s absolutely wrong for my closet.  Why did I even save it; was there a project in the works??  Delete.

I honestly think I saved this just because I liked her expression.

I have a million pics of ladies dressed all in black.  How much “dread pirate roberts” inspiration does one woman need?  Out it goes.

It must have been the hat.  Because I sure didn’t save this one for the mustard colored pants.  There couldn’t possibly be a color that would look worse on me!

Wait, is that…a romper?  Ooooh, dear.  I’ll just delete this quietly. Let us never speak of this again~

56 images later…oh yeah, empty the recycling bin.  Spring cleaning; check!

Tune in next time for a peek at the stuff I kept~ the best of the style file~

February Inspiration

Maybe it’s because of the long, grim winter but I am really craving color right now.  My landscape right now is just grey, grey, and more grey.  Dreary.

So February’s inspiration is all about tones, hues, and highlights!  Enjoy~

Images Courtesy of Art of Animation, Met Museum, the Sartorialist, and Vogue Mexico

January Inspiration

The snow days of winter have certainly been hitting us hard in Chicagoland!  In between intense winter storms, freezing rain, and snow-packed streets, I haven’t had much time to think about style, fashion or much else besides surviving the drive to work~

So I’m definitely feeling the need for a little mid-winter inspiration.  January is all about urban layers~

Images courtesy of SeaOf Shoes, takmaj, and some fashion site i can’t recall

The Coda

It’s been two longs months for me.

I was in a car accident.  My car was destroyed, thankfully I was not.  I was pretty beat up, but with the help of my doc and team of physical therapists, I’m on the way to recovery.  I can now, sort of, use my left arm again.  But it’s going to be a while before I DIY again.

It’s amazing how your entire life can change in an instant.

While I’m recovering, here are some images that are inspiring me on the house & home front.

 

Isn’t this bed the coolest thing?

So sweet!

Love the honeycomb walls

I don’t know about you, but comfort is what I’m craving this winter~

Three Bridesmaids Bracelets

Remember the bridal necklace I made for my friend H?  Here’s the latest update on her bridesmaids jewelry: I finished three bracelets, all white moonstone and silver spacers, with colored pearl or citrine accents.

H’s wedding colors are blue and yellow, and her flowers are going to have a mix of different hues.  So for the jewelry, each piece is unique and the jewels range in tone from pale yellow to sunny yellow to peach yellow.  There will be five necklace/bracelet sets in all, for five wonderful bridesmaids~  (What a thoughtful gift, H!)

September Inspiration

September is all about the remix!  Pattern, texture, hue: mix it up~  let’s see the unexpected…

So here’s what’s inspiring me:

Image credits: theartofanimation, youlookfab, aforestssonariversdaughter, pinterest, altamira

This month is going to be very creative~

One Piece, Many Ways

I have a confession…

Stripes puzzle me.  Especially horizontal stripes.  I know they’re popular, people love them… They’ve just never been ~my~ cup of tea (is stripe-phobia a thing?).  However, I’ve seen other people make them look pretty darn fabulous!  And when sweet, talented Audrey proposed a *one piece, many ways* challenge, I knew this would be the perfect chance to figure out the stripe!

We all know I love cardigans~  The first time I saw this in the store, I didn’t get it.  I thought the price didn’t justify the purchase, and I wasn’t sure I could pull it off.  So I waited, and visited it in the store occasionally.  It was finally on sale this weekend, though, so I took it home with me~  Now to make it work!

It is still summer here in Chicagoland, so I wanted a lighter warm weather look to start with

So. Much. Blue!

A casual look: graphic print + stripes

I wanted to try the cardi with my newest accessory: the land’s end belt!

With my favorite cargo vest

Advanced pattern mixing~

This one just made me feel fierce!

Something a little more dressy~

Something for the chill~

This was a good challenge for me: not only did I gain a new cardigan (yaaay!) but I figured out new ways to use a wardrobe basic.  This piece has a strong blue color, so I was glad to see it pairing well with my other blues.  Also? The stripe was surprisingly versatile, it worked well with a lot of my other prints.

Also?  If any of you have stuck with me since the last *one piece, many ways* challenge, you’ll remember I wanted to start looking for new accessories to incorporate into my lookbook.  I’ve started with my cobalt blue braided belt and a vintage silk scarf.  Still looking for some bracelets, a watch, and a necklace alternative.  (And shoes, of course, always shoes~)