Song of Colors

I feel like this outfit is my style incarnate; the floppy felt hats, the constant scarves, the cute little side-bag, the boots, and of course, the perfect color pairing contained in a limited spectrum. The hat matches and reiterates the boot texture and color, the lines on the beige turtleneck mimic the pleats on the pale chartreuse skirt, which in turn is repeated in the color of the ribbon tied in a bow on my loose braid. The coral in the earrings matches the coral of the lipstick and bracelet, while the gold metal from my jewelry is repeated on the shimmery chain links of my bag. The soft pink scarf is the go-between the softness of the beige and the brightness of the coral. Every item and color is thought out and pertains to another part of the outfit; everything has a place, a system that it fits in, a tightly controlled gamut of colors while the draping layers and flowing fabrics keep it from being too harsh and stiff. The overall effect is pretty and almost casual looking, until one notices the little bits of glitz and the hint of preparation from all the matching hues.

To be honest, this is probably one of the best outfits I've ever created. Not only did I feel comfortable and free wearing it, but I also loved the way the colors sung and danced together, as if I myself was a walking piece of art. That feeling is what I try to create and recreate in my outfits; some hit the mark, others are learning experiments, but to feel like one is walking in a delicious, delirious dream is what I aim for. To say this one hit the mark is an understatement.

These photographs stir up bad memories, aside from the happiness my outfit brought me; memories of a strange man watching me in the park while I took photos, stabbing me with his leering gaze, like mud clouding clear spring water. My outfits are my mental resting place, my tiny shield against the harshness of the world. Despite the attention they might bring, oh how brightly I hear the colors sing.

Shirt, skirt, bag, earrings - thrifted

Hat - Target

Scarf - gift

Earrings - Walmart

Boots - Modcloth

<3 The Magpie

Mustard Field

Two new years ago I went on an online sale binge, and this rose-covered skirt was one of the pieces I bought. I really like the sheer over-piece dotted with red and pink roses, and the black layer underneath gives it a bit of an edge. I think it would also be pretty in white or pink, but this was the only option. At first, I didn't wear the skirt a lot, even though I really liked it. I'm not sure why. I will either wear something to death when I first buy it, or it hangs in my closet for months, and then I will proceed to wear it to death. Notice how both options include death.. Anyways, it's one of my few skirts that isn't a thriftstore find, but it still feels really special and unique. I paired the skirt with a pink shirt, a long red coat, and a beautiful rose pin with matching earrings that I DID find at a thrift. Can't cheat on my thriftstores for long, iloveyou. It's funny, for not really liking pink, I've been incorporating it more into my wardrobe. Pink paired with that deep rich red just seemed to mesh, so I rolled with it. 

When I saw this fantastic field of mustard blooms, I freaked and went S T O P. Frolicking in flower fields is always a must. I try to always keep an eye out for little hidden fields or small niches that make for great photo backgrounds. I have a list of local places in my head, but I'm always on the lookout for more. Of course, now that this field is plowed over, it looks drab and brown, so timing is also important. 

Although this outfit may seem more girly than my usual garb, it still has that whimsical flair that makes it my own, and I couldn't pass up the chance to ground it with a brown leather belt and boots to match. (Probably faux leather, but still.) I always need my waist belts!

I'm definitely starting to experiment with clothes more, but having something this classic and pretty is always nice to have on hand. I know that in the event of a last minute party or gathering, I have something I can throw on and go. 

 

  

 

Coat, shirt, earrings, pin - thrifted

Belt - Ross

Skirt - Ruche

Shoes - Modcloth

SNEEZE!

<3 The Magpie

Too Much Pink

 

I'm not really been a pink person. I probably will never be much of a pink person. I used to actually loathe pink with quite an intense determination. But. Here I am wearing a lot more pink than I ever thought I would. I was never a pink girl growing up, although I do remember a little pink dress I loved when I was about 5 because of the way it spinned when I twirled. But as I grew older and more aggressively tomboyish, I started to look down on pink as the epitome of ultra-femininity, the antithesis of everything I stood for. And so, the bias against that frou-frou color grew, and I avoided it as much as I could. I did end up having two pale pink shirts that were gifts from my mother, and I liked the fit and lightness of them, but anything darker than a pale hue was too "girly" for my taste. It has only been in the last few years that my perception of pink and of colors in general have shifted and changed. A lot of that is due to my ventures into style and experimenting with lots of unusual clothes. I started to question my color biases and wondered why I let my dislike of a perception of meaning stop me from trying out a certain shade I'd be attracted too. And so, I started to incorporate more pinks into my wardrobe. Not all pinks are created equal, and I still have a distaste for extremely bright hot pinks, but only a few years ago, this outfit would have had far too much pink in it for me. So here's to new color adventures and cheers to all you brave souls. 

 

  

Dress, sweater, shoes - thrifted

Tights - Target

Earrings - World Market

<3 The Magpie

River Preserve

This isn't the greatest outfit posts, it's more like a trip documentation of where I went (for the purpose of taking photos of the area, outfit - not so much). Luckily, I got a few snaps in of me messing around, so nothing new here. I loved wearing the pale pink sweater with the deeper pinks in the floral pattern against the black dress. And, of course, I was wearing some of my favorite shoes, which makes EVERYTHING better. As you can see, I don't have much reverence for my shoes or clothes. I run around and jump off things and launch myself through the mud and air, practically everything short of rolling in the dirt. What can I say? I'm an active child. I am trying to take care of some of my shoes more since I really like them and want them to last a lot longer, but it's so difficult sometimes when the wind is calling your name and you want to fling yourself out into the oblivion of the world... At least stay out of the mud, okay Self? No promises, I know.

The area in the river preserve that  we ended up at was so pretty and the sunset was absolutely spectacular. That sunset one of the best I have ever seen, so it must have been a good time to visit. I loved seeing the waterfowl floating out on the golden waves, and watching the sun slowly slip over the horizon and set the world on fire was truly a breathtaking experience.

 

Dress, sweater - thrifted

Shoes - DSW

 

<3 The Magpie