Eye Want Candy

  This embroidered Eye Candy dress is roll-around-in-the-grass-laughing comfortable. I got it a few weeks ago at the clothing swap I wrote about here. In the glorious sunlight I wore it with a big floppy straw hat and sandals while not shutting up about the weather for the entire month of September.

Dress: Eye Candy (clothing swap)

Kimmel cardigan: Moth (thrifted, lots of colors/sizes eBay)

 Denim & leather purse: Giudit (thrifted)

 Lagoon sandals: Eastland (available here)

Straw hat: Nature & Découvertes (Paris)

Accessories: necklace (H&M in Paris), flower clip (found on street)

  I've never been into purses, but this Giudit leather and denim bag instantly caught my attention in the thrift shop last year. It's feminine and cute without being twee, and practical- I can scan my transit card without taking my wallet out if I align it correctly. A long shoulder strap came tucked inside, so I can make it a crossbody bag, my favored type.

  Because this is a loose sheath dress, I thought a cropped cardigan would complement the waistline and length while flattering broad shoulders. V-necks also look good layered over straight-across necklines. The straight-across neckline doesn't always look the great with broad shoulders, but the straps and the flower hair clip I stuck at the top balance it, I think.

  I tried the v-neck over straight-across neckline a few posts ago with the Ann Taylor superpose deal over that shirt that went with nothing. If you haven't seen it, Inside Out Style has a super handy graphic on layering your necklines. Man what I wouldn't have given for that during my bizarre and random layering experiments a few years ago!

  It is so temperate this month that I just wore this into the late afternoon, continuing my courageous foray into the world of knit garments. Check out the interesting straps at the shoulders/upper back:

Japanese cleavage!

  As I mentioned in my other post, the former owner of this dress and I have pretty different body types. She was half a foot taller than I, for one. I guess her curviness and my Sampson-esque rib structure matched up though, because this dress fits me comfortably on top, which is a rare thing. Whee! I can fling my arms out and take deep breaths and everything!

  ... she also cut some stitches in the back to make walking easier, which I didn't discover until I wore it to school the first time. The height of the walking slit was a little scandalous on me. -_- Serve me right for ranting about leggings-as-pants, I guess! Sorry, innocent passers-by.

  Happy middle-of-the-week, everyone. (:

Plum, on the balcony, with the candlestick

  I don't think this one turned out.

  I've had this LUX blazer (thrifted) for a while, and I was going for another Ye Olde look because the cut reminded me a bit of a waistcoat, and maybe a bit of a bodice, with its wide collar opening. Also it has pockets. Important!

  I like the color and the material, but the fit is funny. It is very tight under the chest (so tight it's pulling the buttons askew, haha) and loose from there down.

  I went with the Bow & Arrow shirt I wore in my very first blog post, for its pearl buttons. I would like to try a slightly foofy shirt or one that buttons all the way up plus a cravat, but I own neither. I added a box of stuff* I'm on the lookout for at the bottom of my gadgets, like a reminder to myself.

* I can't title it "wishlist" because then I'd have to put "unicorn"

  I'm entertained by the ends of my shirt ties hanging out the back. It's like my jacket is pooping. Because I'm twelve.

  Overall, I think the pinstripes on my trousers are not very visible, and the 3/4 cuffs on the blazer look like I'm going to a board meeting rather than adventuring with brass goggle adorned rabble-rousers. A longer bustle/hobble skirt might go well with the blazer too, but alas, something I also don't have.

  I did take out my purse, though. I don't often use purses, but this is one of those items I always have people telling me is cute. It even came with a long crossbody strap thoughtfully tucked inside!

  Your thoughts, dear readers? Should I alter the buttons and store it back in my closet for some more months until I find some things it goes with? Do you ever get things you want to style but find you don't have the right items to go with it (closet orphans)? If so, what do you do?

Plum blazer: LUX (thrifted)

Pearl button shirt: Bow & Arrow (thrifted)

Pinstripe trousers: Banana Republic (thrifted)

Platform shoes: Candie's (thrifted)
Denim purse: Giudit (thrifted)

Necklace: H&M (Paris, very old)