Red cords, three ways

Weekend Wants will be coming tomorrow; in the meantime, I had something different I wanted to share.

I picked up a pair of boot-cut red fine-wale corduroys the other day. They're really soft and comfy, and the fit is great, but I found myself struggling for ideas for how to wear them. So I made a couple sets on Polyvore to explore my options.

Preppy casual by plankface featuring j crew

This is a facsimile of the first outfit I wore my red cords with. I'm not sure I pulled off the whole mixing-neutrals thing here (i.e. brown belt with gray shoes and sweater) but I kind of like the effect.

Red pants 3 ways - feminine by plankface featuring flared pants

OK, so the bows, dots and lace may put this a little over-the-top in the feminine category, but I kind of love pink, white and red together, so I wanted to play with that. I can see myself finding a way to pair my 20-cent pink pashmina with these pants.

Red pants 3 ways - edgy by plankface featuring brown tops

Leopard and red is one of my favorite combos, and adding gold just seems like a natural fit. This outfit is veering close to trend overload, what with the peplum and the collar necklace, but I like it anyway.

Which one is your favorite? How would you style red flared cords?

Impulse buys

I had a rare early afternoon off work, so I went, naturally, to my local thrift store. I hadn't been there in over a month, which seems crazy - I used to go at least once a week, sometimes more, to take full advantage of the daily sales. So I may have gone a little bit nuts today and made some impulse buys.

Do you have that list, in the back of your head, of stuff you're always on the lookout for? I do. Right now the list includes gray pointy-toe flats, brightly colored pumps, "weekend" sweaters (i.e. comfy and machine-washable but still cute so I don't feel like a slob) and, well, I'm always on the lookout for a good coat, as I mentioned the other day. (There's probably more, but those are the highlights.)

But then there are other lists I have in my head ... it's hard to explain. Sometimes I just get hung up on an idea of a garment, and it just floats around in my mind for a while. Not like I desperately want it - just like I am turning over the idea of it and imagining what I would pair it with, or thinking about the associations it evokes. 

Today my lists got a little crossed up. So I wound up buying a jacket I didn't really need, a sweater I definitely don't need and a pair of shoes I may never wear, but that I kind of love. 

The jacket is the most practical of the lot: it's a sleek grey zip-up coat of some space-age/high-tech fabric that I'm sure resists wind, rain and stains. It's the kind of thing my sister would wear - her wardrobe is always really stylish and practical at the same time. It's like she never gives up and just gets something that's OK - she always gets the thing that's just right. 

I usually do not do this. My wardrobe is filled with compromises and things I am desperately trying to make work. My current everyday winter coat is an example of that. I decided two winters ago that I really needed a coat that was a) really warm and b) machine-washable (if you live in a cold climate and drive a car, this is essential - or am I the only one who leans up against her car all the time and gets road sludge on her coat?). But I was too cheap and impatient to do it properly, so I would up with a slightly too big puffy coat that's supposed to have zip-off sleeves, but the zippers are broken and mended with duct tape. It's pretty crappy, but it fulfilled my two requirements, and it's plain and black so I told myself it wasn't so bad. And I've been wearing it ever since. The question is, now that I have a better one, will I get rid of the old, crappy one? Or will I keep it around for forever because I have convinced myself that it makes sense to have a shitty coat that I don't care about? (Answer: the latter.)

The sweater, well, let's just say I thought for some reason that I needed a short-sleeved, boxy, oatmeal pullover. But wound up buying a cardigan. I looked at it when I was taking stuff out of the car and thought, "Um, yeah, I really do not need this sweater. At all." I think it will probably wind up going to consignment, and we'll see if I can turn a $1 profit on the deal. (Answer: unlikely.)

The shoes? Gold wedge heels. That's all I have to say about that. 

I did manage to pick up a couple of things for the shop - some fantastic (albeit tiny) T-strap Ferragamos and one of those cool 70s part-leather sweaters (you know what I mean, right?). I have the day off Friday and I'm hoping to do a big shop update - provided the baby obliges with a nap or two. Stay tuned!

Weekend Wants: Coats

So I confessed to my shoe problem a little while ago ... now I will own up to also having a coat problem. (I also have a sweater problem and until recently I kind of had a lamp problem. What can I say, I like to shop.)  As far as I am concerned, I can never have too many coats, I am never satisfied with the ones I have and I am always on the lookout for great finds. Here are some of my fantasy picks from around the interwebs this week:

I love the details on this mid-length coat, like the flared cuffs, the curved patch pockets and the deep hem. It's gracefully feminine but would still look awesome with jeans and sneakers. I feel like all the coats right now are either cropped or trench-length, so this looked really fresh to me.

OK, so I already have a plaid wool coat that is cut almost exactly like this. But is mine buttery yellow? No, it's not. I just love the hues of this coat - it seems so cheery and bright for winter's dark days.

Speaking of bright, how freakin' amazing are these vintage Hudson Bay coats? I repinned this from Solanah, who always finds the most amazing images online.

Much as I love color (and I really do love color, a lot), I can also appreciate a good sophisticated neutral. I love the tawny hue of this coat, combined with the brass buttons. Never mind that it looks like such a slim fit that I probably wouldn't be able to wear anything heavier than a T-shirt under it.

To see more coats I covet, plus other drool-worthy stuff, check out my "want" pinboard. I also have some great coats and jackets in my Etsy shop right now, including this beauty:

Weekend Wants: Dotty

Apparently polka dots are on trend this fall? Good, because I love me some polka dots. I feel like they can be sweet and feminine while still looking refined and not immature. Here are some of my favorite dotty picks from around the web:

Source: rstyle.me via e.p. on Pinterest

I missed out on these cute sweaters from Old Navy - something to keep my eye out for on the secondhand market.

Source: jcrew.com via e.p. on Pinterest

More tan and black - I like the combo, it seems modern and good for fall/winter.

Source: direct.asda.com via e.p. on Pinterest

This is not the best picture, but I had to include it because I love the confetti-like color combo. It juuuust toes the line of being too sweet and cute, but I think it stops short.

Source: uneviegeniale.blogspot.com via e.p. on Pinterest

I would so wear this exact outfit with my camel flats. Mint and red is my new favorite (not original, I know, but I like it anyway).

Source: demureindiamonds.blogspot.com via Solanah on Pinterest

As I've admitted before, I'm not very crafty and pretty much never do DIY-type stuff. But I do like the idea of these DIY polka dot jeans, only because the frugality of it appeals to me.

Source: wanelo.com via e.p. on Pinterest

Mixing prints is always tough, but I feel like this combo does a really good job of it.

Weekend Wants: Call me Imelda

I really like shoes. In fact, you could say I have a shoe problem. My only saving grace is that my husband has a ton of shoes, too, so he can't be mad at me. But in fact, many of my shoes (like 5 pairs of sneakers) are actually hand-me-downs from him - shoes he bought that turned out to be too small for him. But I digress. Here are some of my favorite shoes from around the Web this week:

Source: etsy.com via e.p. on Pinterest

I have been pining for a pair of yellow shoes for, oh, forever. I love the idea of an ankle-tie flat - it's such a cute detail to add to a simple shoe.

Source: etsy.com via e.p. on Pinterest

I've been searching for the right pointy-toe grey to replace a dying pair of Old Navy flats that I have. I love the detail on the toe, and low heel on these - it's the perfect subtle bit of vintage flair.

Source: bassshoes.harborghb.com via e.p. on Pinterest

Do I have anything I could wear with these shoes? Not really. Do I want them anyway? Yes.

Source: fabgabs.com via e.p. on Pinterest

If you said to me "Red lace pumps," I would be like, "Um, no thanks." But these are AMAZING. I love the delicate shade of them - not quite red, not quite pink, not quite melon. Gorgeous.

Source: cgi.ebay.com via e.p. on Pinterest

I have been stalking these loafers on eBay for weeks now, waiting for them to have a pair in my size in grey (or purple!). Let's be honest, these are probably not the finest workmanship in the world. But they are really cute. And the idea of fleece-lined loafers is just really appealing to me right now.

You can see more of my shoe obsession, plus other stuff, on Pinterest.