Shades of Gravender

I backed the camera up in an attempt to avoid the lens flare and backlighting. MISSION FAIL.

I made this outfit for Spygirl's 52 Pick-Me-Up challenge: layers. Also because it is freezing in my room. Man, I look so proportional when sleeves are the correct length. Japanese clothing all the way.

All the dangly pointy bits of cloth made me feel like curtsying.
I hope I did patron saint of masterful layering Shawna proud.

Where to begin?

Purple heattech undershirt: UNIQLO (gift from Mom, Japan)

Grey bamboo dress: Natural Life (Purre at The CAMP)

Double layer vest: MOUTH valley (thrifted, Japan)

Outermost long vest: LUX (clothing swap)

Wide belt: pellemelle (thrifted)

Jodhpurs as leggings: Ariat (thrifted)

Boots: ALDO (thrifted)

Cloisonne necklace and enamel earrings: unknown (thrifted)

If you haven't seen these before, that's right, jodhpurs! (Thanks, Excelsior Goodwill!) They are by the company Ariat and so comfortable and warm. They also have deep front pockets. Rich people really know how to live!

The wide leather belt is one I thrifted a few weeks ago in SF, by pellemelle. The end has a tendency to start slipping out of the buckle, but otherwise I am really happy with it. It's comfortable, the right size, and the soft leather has enough stretch that I don't garrote myself in the midsection when I sit down.

The outfit was so neutral that I tried to add a little color with the cloisonne jewelry, but overall I think it's still pretty "Look, ma! I'm greyscale!" That isn't to say I don't like it; purple and grey is one of my favorite combinations*! I'm just obsessed with trying to up my color game recently and I don't want to feel like I was backsliding.

* In fact, know what I'm gonna call it? Gravender. Shut up. Clever! ᕦ(ಠ_ಠ)ᕤ

Style or Die! challenge : bamboo dress

  During this challenge I've sometimes dressed like a deranged person while flailing wildly in Experimentland, but I like how this waterfall layering one turned out. I'm linking up to Spygirl's layering challenge.

Bamboo jersey dress: Natural Life (Pürre)

Double vest: MOUTHvalley (thrifted, Japan)

Belt: Kimchi Blue (thrifted)

Jodhpurs as leggings: Ariat (thrifted)

Lace and bead necklace: Forever 21 (thrifted)

Boots: ALDO (thrifted)

  The back of the vest is much shorter, so unfortunately it looks a little odd from behind. I managed to French braid my own hair though, to make up for it. :D

  This dress was bamboozling me for a while because its asymmetric hem means the skirt almost always needs to be layered over leggings or a skirt, but its plain v-neck top is too thin to be worn on its own and needs to be layered under something. This means it cannot go under most dresses.

  Oh, and it's a size L and billowy cut, so I need to cinch it somehow to avoid rocking that pregnant look again.

  This dress is a keep, but not for the usual reason. I'd send it to one of you, but after I wore the outfit a few times, the dress, which was in brand new condition, started pilling all over, something I expect will just get worse. Gah stupid cheap jersey material. One of the worst types of fabric, I swear.

  When it wears out it will probably be made into a pattern, and I'll alter the top to be easier to layer. And use a fabric that isn't so terrible!

The Ottoman Inspire

  It's pretty dark when I get home from class these days, so you are getting treated to my morning face. It involves squinting and unkempt hair.

Shirt: Bisou Bisou (thrifted)

Vest: MOUTHvalley (Japan, thrifted)

Pants: Koi Kathy Petersen (thrifted)

Sash: Megan Mae (gift)

Jeweled dagger brooch: eBay

  This is an entry for Spy Girl's Accessorize! challenge: pick your accessories for the day first, then dress to match them. I chose the jeweled dagger brooch I picked up on eBay recently. To match, I went with a (very loosely!) Turkish inspired outfit. The pants gather at the ankles and I added a wide sash around the middle (a gift from Megan Mae.)  The super flowy sleeved shirt and vest are for fun.

  I count five sets of strings/dangling things on my outfit, making this a definite top contender in the fire hazard category.

  Random note: I can't make a fist or grip anything with full strength for about an hour after I wake up. It's worse if I've been woken suddenly or didn't get enough sleep. The Internet says I'm having a stroke (I don't think this this the case, this has been going on since childhood. The Internet also said my migraines were brain cancer.) Does anyone else experience that?

Style Imitating Art: Lighthouse

  This wasn't consciously designed as a Style Imitating Art outfit, but this happy coincidence saves you from  another one of my terrible titles for outfit posts. This morning I ended up pulling these items out without consciously planning it, and realized later that with the red piping and style in back, this is the closest garment I have to the painting, and I was even wearing the correct color trousers.

  Today's pick from the "special occasion" box is a cut and sew velvet tank top from a Renaissance Faire of many years ago. Part of why I bought it was it also fit neatly into a running Princess-Leia-gold-bikini joke between an old friend and me.

  The drapey double vest has buttons on both layers so it can be worn in a number of ways.

  My not-so-secret ambition is to be the quirky old lady with the fabulous outfits in another 40-50 years.

  I realized I last wore this shirt at a party eight years ago. Geez. Fun fact: beloved reader and commenter Michelle was at that party, too:

  Sometimes the trouble with unique items is you have no idea what to wear them with, because you have not seen any precedent. Also they might be low cut with a big transparent mesh panel over the midriff.

  I used Carrie of Petal by Petal's tip about lengthening a necklace with a bracelet, lengthening a long necklace I folded in half.

  This weekend went by far too quickly. I studied a lot though, and I had a blast making outfits and blogging about it. Thanks to all of you so much for reading- writing this blog is a lot of fun and a big stress reliever for me. I can't wait for next weekend already. :D

Velvet tank top: NorCal Renaissance Faire (v.old)

Double layer vest: MOUTHvalley (thrifted, Japan)

Pants: unknown (clothing swap)

Necklace: crystals- unknown (Mom) sunburst bracelet- Jeanne by CJ (Paris, old)

Faux leather bracelet: Foreign Exchange (old)

Edeen wide calf boots: Fitzwell (6pm.com)