Houndstooth & Polka Dots

 Dress: Houndstooth Knit Dress by Taylor Dresses (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Torrid, thrifted

Tights: Catherines

Shoes: Franco Sarto, thrifted

Purse: Vintage, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

What an adorable flirty fit & flare...I wouldn't change a thing about this darling dress. The houndstooth pattern in black & white probably could have used some color...but I only wore this to work.  I wanted an understated professional look since that's not something I do very often...so I paired it with dots & a smattering of red in my make-up & purse. So many marvelous thrifted finds in this look...the cardigan & shoes are Savers scores & I nabbed the purse at a garage sale over the summer. 

I'd love this dress in a colorful print.

This is as conservative as I get...it was fun...like playing dress-up. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Sephora eyeliner in Brown; Anastasia Beverly Hills black eyeliner & Brow Wiz in Auburn; Too Faced eyeshadow in Black Forest Truffle, Champagne Truffle, & Marzipan; Berber eyeshadow by Illamasque; Cruella lipstick by Nars; & OPI nail polish. 

Visting Brian & Kyra

Warning: this post is boring & not about fashion. The end of September...a month ago already...I drove up to the U.P. (upper peninsula of Michigan) to visit my best friend, Brian...& meet his new (1st *ever*) dog, Kyra. Kate had borrowed my car & left behind some tapes for me to listen to...Siouxsie & Prince helped me stay awake. Then it started raining hard...so I pulled over & browsed around in Ross...because we don't have one in Madison...although, it turns out we do...I just don't go shopping much. I bought 2 lace cardigans, burgundy & black...& 2 muumuus...including one to wear to Thanksgiving. Why?! I'm not sure. 

Michigan! Look how adorable Kyra is!!! Brian only had her for a week when I was there...chewing on Angie's dog warming present, a moose antler. Brian's sweet mom made pasties because she knows I love them. 

We drove into Marquette & walked around Presque Isle on a windy windy day...& then happened to find the most amazing trails in the woods while looking for the dog park...happy dog!

Wind on Lake Superior...with an ore boat that just left the dock. Autumn leaf! The colors were just starting to turn when I was there. I always have to get a sub from Togo's when I'm in town. Shane & I used to get these for lunch all the time in high school...veggie Togo's with extra cheese...& he would put a Hershey bar & potato chips on his...yuck.

This gorgeous old building used to be an orphanage, but its been empty for decades...they are making it into low income housing. David texted me this photo...Gwynnie Bee sent me 5 boxes with one item in each instead of one box...oh, GB. Kyra! So cute. Breakfasts, the debate, & a smattering of color on my drive out of town. I had a lovely relaxing visit with Brian & am so happy he has Kyra in his life. 

Swing Dress in Patchwork Paisley

 Dress: Swing Dress in Patchwork Paisley Print by Alice & You (size 28) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Shoes: Boden, thrifted 

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I've had this post up for over a week without any text except for an explanation of why there was no text...I was in Tennessee for a week visiting my parents. I was hoping to post from there, but I couldn't get Blogger to work on my iPad...there is no longer an app for that! I might have to switch where I blog. Where do you like? 

I loved this dress! The colors, the pattern...the SWING! I made it mine. It's the same dress as the others I bought by Alice & You...purple floral & geometric print. 

The colors on this wall are fantastic...the whole picture...

Torrid leggings during a 50% off sale...both sizes 4 & 5 work for me...I'm going to stick to 4 from now on.

All the colors are represented in this dress...so I had to put as many as possible on my face too...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in LSD, UD eyeshadow in Fringe & Urban, Too Faced eyeshadow in Follow Me, NYX eyeshadow palette in The Brights, Aubergine lipstick by Bite Beauty, & OPI nail polish in I'm in the Moon For Love. 

Arcadia

 Dress: Lemon & Lime Printed Dress by Sandra Darren (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Talbots, thrifted

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born

Jewelry: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

The citrus colors in this dress were divine...& if it had been actual lemons & limes instead of blobs of color...I would have had to buy it for only $22. Great fit & flare with multi panels for a wonderful shape. My only complaint was the armholes were a tad big. 

I still can't believe I found this lemon cardigan at Savers...what a find! I have a lime cardigan from Lands End...now I just need a cardigan covered in oranges & my citrus cardigan collection will be complete. 

A lovely fall day for a picnic with The Pines on the portable record player David got for me...isn't it fabulous?! I've been looking for a vintage one for years (since seeing Moonrise Kingdom)...but this is fantastic...it also converts records to MP3s. 

Candid photos of David, Kate, & Angie eating our delicious picnic...Thai peanut veggies, tuna salad, olive fougasse (my favorite!), wine, & a fig cake.

Tom Stoppard's Arcadia outside at American Players Theatre...our last outdoor show for the year & on this stage...they've already demolished it in preparation for the new stage next year.

 My make-up with this outfit included...Brown eyeliner by Sephora, several eyeshadows from NYX The Brights palette, MAC Korean Candy lipstick, Bite Beauty lipstick in Blood Orange, & Go with the Lava Flow nail polish by OPI. 

Zebras

Dress: Brigitte Dress in Coral Zebras by Cherry Velvet (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Leggings: Torrid (size 4x)

Sandals: Dansko

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I love Cherry Velvet every time, but this Brigitte dress in a flowing poly fabric was an extraordinarily marvelous fit & that stunning coral looked so good against my skin. I've had this style in their typical cotton material & while I adore that too, it sometimes gets caught on my leggings/teggings & doesn't lay as nicely as this one did. Other posts of me in Brigitte's... sail flags (size 4x) & red & white damask (size 3x). If only this were elephants, pigs, or dogs...I would have made it mine. My secret fantasy is that Cherry Velvet will start selling a few patterns of their dresses...perhaps old styles they no longer make? I would pay ~$40 for the luxury of having a pattern that I already knew fit me well. 

Caught in the breeze...Cherry Velvet puffs out perfectly. Cute back detail...

I took a photo of this on Instagram & I'm sticking it here so I remember to try it sometime...fun lips!

The next morning...farmers' market with Kate & a wood fired bagel pop up at Lucille with Undergrounds, Jonny Hunter. I ordered an everything bagel with the classic...lox....SO delicious! That wood fired char got all over me & it was so worth it...plus, I didn't care because no make-up yet. 

Sephora Play! September box...

Isn't this color stunning? I need more...

My make-up with this outfit included (so much makeup for such a natural look!)...Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero; Sephora eyeliner in Brown; MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque; Too Faced eyeshadow in Frosting, Bon Bon, & Butter Pecan; Anastasia eyeshadow in Orange You Fancy; a pink shadow (2nd row, 3rd one in) from the NYX Brights palette; UD eyeshadow in Burnout & Nooner...& I forgot to document the rest.

The Pines @ The Shitty Barn

 Dress: Border Flocked Dress in Dahlia by City Chic (size XXL/24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Lane Bryant, thrifted

Tights: Catherines

Boots: Dr. Martens

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Age Before Beauty

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I like this dress in pictures far more than I liked it in person. The color is glorious & the fit is good...however, what bothered me about this dress is that the fabric was a very thick t-shirt type material...with velvet flocking...to me, those two things don't go together...it reminded me of the Effie's Heart squirrel dress. Flocking seems too fancy for this fabric...but that's just me. I thought this rather heavy sequined cardigan was the perfect match...thrifted for $4.

I adore moss growing on walls or the ground...it's like velvet covered nature. 

I got caught up in the hype of Pat McGrath glitter lips & nabbed a Vermillion Venom kit from Sephora...it came packed in sequins & is gorgeous...but I haven't worn it out of the house yet. Free gifts & samples from Sephora...including a mini Bite Beauty lipstick that is lovely. 

Orange! cropped cardigan from Pinup Girl Clothing...these are the same ones that Modcloth sells as Dream of the Crop...they were having a sale...& orange...

 Picnic at The Shitty Barn with Angie & Toby...

 The Pines...

 Purple wings...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Voodoo, UD 24/7 liquid liner in Retrograde, Follow Me eyeshadow by Too Faced, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Stargazer, NYX lip palette in The Plums, Aubergine lipstick by Bite Beauty, Voodoo nail polish by Colors by Llarowe, & MAC nail polish in Ooh. 

Summer Casual...Lots of Garage Sale Finds

 Top: Ralph Lauren, thrifted

Skirt: Enwrapture Vintage Sari

Sandals: Born, thrifted

Earring: Vintage 80s

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit a dozen times this summer...into fall. Each time it was washed...I planned on moving this top to my sleep ware pile...but I kept reaching for it on casual occasions...farmers' markets, garage sales, & driving back to Madison from visiting Brian a few weeks ago. It was comfy & easy to throw on...I could bend over to look at things without having to worry I was flashing anyone, no teggings required. I had David snap a few quick photos with the iPhone just to document it. The bottom of the top started rolling up...annoying...so it had to go. 

I had to get this Kat von D eyeshadow palette as soon as it came out...look at those rich gorgeous shades! I've only used it once so far, but I know it will be enjoyed a lot this autumn & winter...also, I had a gift card to use that Sephora gave me when I got lipstick all over myself earlier this year. Kat von D & Urban Decay make my favorite eyeshadows...they are extremely pigmented, blend nicely, & stay on forever. 

I can't believe I forgot to post this lovely make-up Angie brought back for me from England...sparkly! 

Some fashion related garage sale finds...this woman had so many pretty purses. 

Hibiscus! I fell in love with the enormous ones at Olbrich Gardens...& look...here they are for sale at market...if only I didn't kill everything...I would get the deep burgundy flowers. The girlie in her Shitty Barn t-shirt for market & brunch. 

More garage sale treasures...

I was terrible at taking pictures of my garage sale loot this year, but I got many marvelous things...

Elephants, pigs, & dogs are my animals.