Outfit log: Easy Mixing

Annnnnnd another outfit where I sing the praises of dark dismal colors and how well they work together.

Occasion: Workin' It

Details:
kenneth cole reaction leather jacket via costco ($80, yo!!)
thai b&w scarf gifted from flight attendant pal
h&m black sweater dress
hue (i think?) argyle tights
dansko mary jane clogs
gifted necklace
h&m vest
goody headband

I mean seriously. I started with the tights, added on the dress, added some shape and interest with the vest, and then finished decorating myself with a shiny necklace and unwashed-roots covering headband. It was a no-brainer and I felt so chic and sassy all day long. And then again when I rocked it again the next week. I can't get enough of this look, I tell ya!

Outfit log: Full of Hot Hair

So I know I usually start with my outfit and then hone in on the details, but this was a magical hair day people. I think I had washed and blow-dried it the night before, and flat ironed it in the morning? Of course I can't remember the process when it turned out fucking perfect... 

Occasion: Workin' It with Fabulous Hair

Good hair days are just so... good, ya know? I walked around on this particular day with a self-satisfied smile waiting for people to compliment me. Since that didn't happen, I had to go find the compliments for myself, all evening asking my lady love, "Babe, I am having such a good hair day! Don't you think? Feel it!"

So... there you have it. I may have gone a step beyond healthy body/hair image into overly-vain territory, but I gotta say it's way better (in my not-so-humble opinion) than the alternative! I'd prefer to be a little full of myself than a little empty. Who's with me??

Details:
thrifted red cableknit 3/4-sleeve v-neck sweater
gap skirt
gray hue tights
me too loafers via dsw
h&m wide gray belt
handed down tiffany's necklace

Oh, and also... I wore clothes. I need new black loafers... these are disintegrating!

What I Wore Book Giveaway!

Are you as curious as me to see the fruits of Jessica's labor in her long-awaited release of What I Wore: Four Seasons, One Closet, Endless Recipes for Personal Style?

Well, now's your chance to win yourself a signed copy! Okay, not here (I'm not that cool, peeps), but head over to the What I Wore Book Giveaway to read the rules and enter yourself. Basically all you have to do is what I'm doing here... repost or reblog her contest and you're entered to win your very own SIGNED copy from the author herself*!

What I Wore was one of the first professional style bloggers that I followed, so it's been interesting to watch her career and creativity grow and blossom... so owning my own signed copy would be pretty neat-o!

*Or don't enter so my chances of winning increase. Whatever you feel like ;)

Outfit log: Lazy Does It

Remember when I talked about skirts with patterns containing black and how much I love them? Well here's an example of why.

Occasion: Workin' It

Details:
gap outlet gray and black wrap dress
mommed active basics leggings
dankso clogs
thrifted free people bell sleeve cardigan

Even though this is actually a patterned dress, I kinda treated it like a skirt, layering a newly thrifted black cozy cardigan (OMG I love bell sleeves) on top, and my most comfortable pair of leggings below. I love mixing blacks and grays together like this... since you don't have to worry about clashing colors. Yeah, I'm lazy like that.

Since this is a scheduled-ahead-of-time post, I can't tell you how the swap was, but I'm assuming I fucking loved it. Will fill you in next week! Now... off to get my lesbian on tomorrow at the Dyke March gathering at Dolores Park. Ahhh to be surrounded by like minded ladies :) Will try to refrain from finishing two entire bottles of wine this time... wish me luck!

Outfit log: Sweater on Sweater

Y'all, not sure if you know about this, but June is PRIDE month. Perfect timing for me to declare my sweater-on-sweater love unabashedly, no?

Occasion: Workin' It

Details:
maxstudio outlet sweater dress
iisli sweater blazer via tjmaxx
calvin klein tights
dankso clogs
gifted necklace from mom

You know I'm joking, but I couldn't resist after coming up with such a magical outfit post title. Anyhoo, it didn't even dawn on me that I was layering sweater-y garments on one another until I looked back at these photos. The dress is a dark gray though (and wonderfully twirly) and the blazer is black with a cable-knit weave (weave? that doesn't look right).

Also, there are a couple of sartorial (anyone else not know that word until discovering the style blog community, or is it just me?) observations I've had of late that I'd like to share with you.

1. I <3 cropped top layers. Blazers, jackets, cardigans, etc.... it's just now donning on me that these work best with my wardrobe since I wear so many belts and have a pretty high waist. Seriously considering taking some of my currently non-cropped yet dearly loved pieces and converting them (i.e. having someone else crop them for me).
2. Solid black or dark gray skirts bores me. I just don't get creative feelings about them. Skirts with patterns and solid COLORS are much more fun to remix. Oh, and patterns with black in them are fabulous for work because I can mix them with my plethora black and gray tights and leggings and tops (and a certain most favorite gray belt) and feel colorful and professional. 

In other news I'm heading to San Francisco pride festivities this weekend and can't wait to show you what I'm wearing :) And the Lulu's swap is tomorrow! Shit... I gotta go through my clothes tonight!

Outfit log: For the Love of Wrap Skirts

I love wrap skirts. Oh, and dresses. What's better than a garment that instantly tailors to your body every time? Sometimes I wear my wrap skirts solo, but often I tuck in the ties to a wide belt like I did with this one.

Occasion: Gorgeous Weather Workday

Details:
recycled sari wrap skirt from SF street fair
gap flutter sleeve tee
gifted Moroccan belt
dankso sissy sandals
handed on earrings

I picked up this wrap skirt at my very first San Francisco Street fair almost 6 years ago. Since the materials used to make these skirts are varied, each is unique, which makes it feel pretty special to me. I haven't figured out a good way to cold weather-ize this particular item, but it's often one I opt for on the glorious warm weather days that happen every once in awhile around here.

Outfit log: Trial Piece

These tights always give me good ideas... like combining red and green and tan.

Occasion: Workin' It

Details:
thrifted Ellen Tracy sweater skirt
maxstudio outlet green sweater
gifted Moroccan belt
calvin klein floral tights
dankso mary jane clogs

I'm not totally convinced I'm keeping this skirt I recently thrifted. I love the idea of it, but it's a bit too small, so I hiked it up to my waist (I think it was meant to sit more on hips) and belted it... but it still felt just a bit too clingy around my midsection. I feel like a red pencil skirt that actually fits my dimensions would work better, but I'm glad I snagged this one to inspire me to add a better version of it to my "to find" list... the best part is I paid about $2 for this skirt, making it a perfectly worthwhile trial piece.

Swap Lulu's: San Francisco!

Hey you guuuuuuuuyyyyyyyyyssss!

Guess what is happening in just ONE WEEK? A huge clothing swap in San Francisco, sponsored by The Swapaholics and Lulu's (they're even hiding 200 brand new items mixed in with the donated garb!).

You better believe I'm going... won't you join me?? You can get tickets here... but wait! Be sure to enter code BRIGHTSIDEDWELLER for 25% off the ticket price :) 

And be sure to let me know if you're planning to attend. It'd be fabulous to meet ya!

Outfit log: Weekend Weather

I kvetch a lot about the mostly cool weather that plagues the SF Bay Area (at least in SF and Oakland), mostly because I miss hot weather like whoa (it's the Valley Girl in me, peeps)... but as much as I bitch, I celebrate twice as hard when the weather is warm, such as it was when I donned this getup.

Occasion: Galavanting at the Farmer's Market + Dinner with Friends

Details:
gap blouse
vintage wrap skirt
dansko sandals
modcloth pocketwatch necklace

I felt brilliant when it donned on me that a navy top would look really great with this skirt (duh, right?), and couldn't resist increasing my matchiness with red sandals.

By the way... are you on Pinterest? If so, let's follow each other! I've only just started... but am already hooked on pinning :)

Outfit log: Vested Leopard, part deux

Remember last time how I described my vested leopard outfit as a reliable combo? Well, case in point below, yo!

Occasion: Workin' It

Details:
flower pin - from a betty page dress
leopard tunic - handed down
vest - h&m
necklace - modcloth, lenghthened by me
cords - banana republic
flats - target, pre-boycott

Except this time I sported a leopard tunic and brown cords (I love how easy black or gray and brown mix with leopard print) and added some snazzy pops of red.

Outfit log: Vested Leopard

Oh holy moly has it almost been a month since my last post?! That was not supposed to happen! In the last couple of weeks I...

• went to LA to see my cousin (who's more like a brother) Dylan graduate from undergrad
• took a lovely vacation with Nic to DC for my birthday (fun fact: I went to high school there!)
• and then was home sick for a week... surrrrre I could have blogged all my back logged outfits during my sickness, but instead I read the Hunger Games Trilogy like a ravenous beast (have you read 'em? so fabulous!)

So there ya go in case you were curious... onto an outfit :)

Occasion: Typical Workday, April 2011

Details:
leopard ruched-sleeve top - h&m
vest - h&m
necklace - gift
pants - gap
clogs - dansko

This is a pretty basic/reliable combo for work I've been sporting a lot lately. Patterned top + solid pants + black pants + clogs. I'm admittedly really sick of the continuous cool/windy/foggy weather we have in San Francisco where I work and how I have to wear tights year round. So... I've been opting for pants more often. But hey... leopard print always amps shit up, am I right?!