Black and White and Floral

One of my cool-weather looks; the weather here is usually never THAT bad, but it can get chilly, so if I want to wear an outfit, I need my layers. Either that, or I pretend I am brave. (Which is like never, because I end up hating myself for being so dumb!) The piece this whole look is based around is the black and white dress with interesting floral graphics I am wearing. I found it at a thrift, but has an H&M tag. It has a strange shift-like cut, and the bubble skirt was a little off-putting at first, but I tried it on with a waist belt and I was sold. I used my snug black cardigan to create the defined-waist look I prefer, but I could see myself wearing it in the spring or summer with a waist belt and black ballet lace-up flats. I called the dress "black and white", but there are many values of silvery-gray and I played upon those values with my accessories: hence the silver scarf and earrings! I even tried skew the colors of the boots to play upon the overall look. Yeesh, when I have a theme, I really run with it! The outfit is nothing special, but it was fun, cute, and I really wanted to make the dress wearable for everyday events. So for that purpose, I think it worked out just fine.

It's funny how much "non color" I wore, considering how much color affects my clothing/makeup choices, but in my mind, black and white and silver and gray are their own colors when I am wearing them - although next time I might wear a bright lipstick for that little extra pop. ;)

The tree, cloud, and sunset photos were all taken the same day while I was hanging out with the friend who kindly took my outfit photos, and we hit up a park later on. It was so beautiful!

Dress, cardigan, boots - thrifted

Scarf - Target

Earrings - Tilly's

<3 The Magpie

Daisies & Foxes

It's funny to look at the photos I take of myself and see how strange and weird and awkward they can be. Look, it's me in a photograph taking photos! Of myself! I can see me thinking about how strange and weird and awkward I am in the strange/weird/awkward photos! That's so meta! But really, it's been good for me. As much as I shake my head over the excessive silliness of it all, making myself pick up my camera and go out and take photographs has been cathartic in a way. It pushes me to consider  each shot and really think out the process of how I want to set an image up. It helps me practice a technique used by artists and even athletes, where you imagine the scene ahead of time of what you want to create, and then you go and try to replicate that in real life. Of course, the method and final product is never perfect and improvisation is a large part of its creativity, but actual process of visualizing the idea is what is important.

Aside from that vast and major importance stuff that I'm definitely employing very seriously and studiously (I'm trying to make up for my earlier criticism of strange/weird... nope, still doesn't help), let's talk about clothes! This outfit is one of those light silly things I wear to work, where it has to be functional and cool enough for the heat of the day. I really liked the stripes with the daisy pattern skirt, and I couldn't resist wearing little gold foxes in my hair. I wish it had been breezy enough to wear the cardigan all day, because I definitely matched my eyeshadow to it on purpose. Yay colors! Yay for matching eyeshadow! I threw in the orange earrings just because I could. It felt like it worked.

Heheh, I'm so mysterious as I stare off into the distance. 

Shirt - thrifted

Skirt - TJ Maxx

Cardigan - Banana Republic

Sandals - DSW

Earrings - gift

Fox clips - Charmin Charlie's

<3 The Magpie

Blackberries and Pearls

This is one of my simpler outfits. l really enjoyed how casual but put-together it felt. I took these pictures during mid-summer, when the blackberries just started to ripen in the sun and you could eat them bursting off the vine. This summer definitely wasn't idyllic or dreamy, like how you imagine summers are supposed to be. It has been work and work and more work and deep sadness and surprise visits, but mostly it's been a monotonous blur and suddenly school starts next week. I wish I could be more of a carpe diem kind of girl, but mostly I'm a I-can't-remember-what-day-it-is-and-where-are-my-keys kid. I feel like I am constantly chasing the horizon, while life just rolls on by. What can you do but survive? At least there are ripe blackberries to be eaten and pearls to be worn..

Cute little (blurry) old dog <3

My favorite guy. 

Shirt, pants, necklace - Old Navy

Earrings - ...Target? I don't remember :)

Cardigan -gift

Sandals - DSW

<3 The Magpie

Black and Gold and Cool(ness)

HERE IS ME WALKING UP THE STAIRS LIKE A COOL KID WITH A "FUN" EXPRESSION ON MY FACE.

NOW I AM COOLY SITTING DOWN ON THE SAME STAIRS I ONCE WALKED UP WITH ANOTHER COOL EXPRESSION.

I AM COOLY TOUCHING THE RAILING.

LOOK AT MY COOL LEAN.

SEE HOW RAD MY ARMPITS ARE.

LOOK AT MY SHOE. LOOK AT IT.

TWO PICTURES OF ME ON THE STAIRS NOW LOOKING UP AT THE CAMERA. THE DIFFERENCES ARE SUBTLE, BUT THERE. SO COOL.

NOW I AM HOLDING MY HAIR AND WINKING. WINKWINK.

I AM CUTELY EMBARRASSED BY OWN OWN SHENANIGANS. HOW COOL IS THAT. 

I AM SITTING ON THE ROAD.

LOOK, I CAN FLY!

WHAT A COOL BUILDING.

THOSE LIGHT PATTERNS? SO THE BEST.

THESE RED FLOWERS ARE SO RED, THAT'S SO COOL. 

LOOK HOW COOL THEY ARE. WOW. 

Dress - gift

Cardigan - Banana Republic

Shoes - DSW

Earrings - flea market

I obviously have issues. And I felt lazy. No regrets. 

<3 The Magpie

Marigold

On some special days, you create outfits so perfect, you can't help to fall in love with them. This was a typical "me" outfit; every item was specifically picked and put together for fit, color, and play of pattern. While it's nothing particularly exciting, it is one of those outfits I can go back to wearing any time and always feel comfortable, stylish, and at ease. What more can you really ask for in an outfit?

While the skirt WAS a thriftstore find, I actually "borrowed" it from a good friend. We found it together while thrift shopping and although she ended up buying it, I might now have to employ asset forfeiture.. you know, for reasons. Anyways, I loved the rich marigold yellow of the skirt; it contrasted nicely with the navy and black. I seldom buy much yellow, but I think it's because there are not many yellow-colored clothes that are in an attractive shade, or really fit that well. I can't often find certain classic and simple clothing in the colors I desire. Here's to hoping future manufacturers will have the technology to allow you to pick and choose!

The cross-strap ballet flats I'm wearing are some of my all-time favorites in my wardrobe. They are the darker version of the gray pair I wore in Full Regalia. In fact, it was because I loved the gray pair so much that when I saw they had a pair in black, I saved up a bit and bought them as soon as I could. I actually wear them a lot more, so despite not being on sale like the gray ones were, they have been more than worth it. They are so pretty and comfortable! I wish more shoes would be inspired by ballet.

Shirt, skirt, necklace - thrifted

Sweater - Banana Republic

Shoes - DSW (Audrey Brooke brand)

Earrings - Claire's

Star drawings - me :)

<3 The Magpie