Four Ways: 60s Suit

I ran across this Irish wool 60s suit at one of my favorite vintage spots a couple of weeks ago and couldn't resist the amazing fall colors. When I got home, I put it on and looked in the mirror. Much to my disappointment, I looked too much like I was wearing a 60s costume - nothing modern about it. The colors that were so beautiful hanging on the rack were now completely overwhelming. Dismayed, I hung it in my closet where it's been teasing me ever since. So here's a little look at what I did to break up the pieces.

• First I paired the skirt with my go-to combination: a belted cardigan and boots (with a beret, of course). T-shirt: James Perse, cardigan: thrifted Abercrombie, boots, belt & beret: vintage, purse: vintage John Romain
• For a casual everyday sort of outfit, I paired the jacket with jeans and boots. Sweater: H&M, jeans: Superfine, scarf: H&M, boots & beret: vintage, purse: vintage Coach

• Next I paired the jacket with a simple black mini dress, a slouchy cardigan, tights and boots. This is my version of comfortable. Dress: H&M, boots, cardigan & beret: vintage, purse: vintage Coach
• Last I paired the skirt with a short sleeved sweater and big scarf. Sweater: vintage cashmere, scarf: H&M, beret: vintage, shoes: Seychelles, purse: vintage

Four Ways: Basics

Soooo... I took these photos a few days ago with the intention of writing up a post to go along with them ASAP. Where does the time go?! Usually I take one article of clothing and try to figure out four ways to wear it. Except this time, instead of one piece of clothing I used three. Which, yes, sort of sounds like cheating, but in the process of paring down my closet it was an exercise in combining basics to create different looks. I ended up grabbing three of my go-to pieces; a simple white tank top, a high waisted green pencil skirt and a ribbed camel cardigan.

• A simple summer look: paired with a vintage silk scarf, a simple leather belt, a straw purse and open toe sandals
• A cold weather look: paired with tights and vintage boots, a vintage silk scarf, a wool beret, a leather gladstone bag and a woven belt

• For those in between days: paired with a vintage silk scarf, a wool beret, a leather Coach satchel, a simple leather belt and Seychelles booties
• ...or: paired with a wide leather belt, a vintage John Romain bag, 30s peep toe pumps and layered necklaces

Now & Later

Please forgive me, as this is one of those days I warned you about when my mind is so spent I'm having trouble typing coherent sentences. I spent the afternoon painting my new studio space and getting as much paint on me as I did the walls. Tomorrow is another full day of painting but I do hope to get a few things listed in the Etsy shop before I dive back into the paint can.

In the process of getting ready for the move I've been going through my closet and trying to decide what to keep and what to get rid of. My goal is to get rid of anything I haven't worn in the past year and keep pieces that will be versatile, especially in the upcoming months of transitional weather. As my "keep" pile grew and grew, I noticed it seemed to have a lot of plaid pieces in it. Among the pile was this 50s cotton plaid skirt and an H&M shirt dress. I love these pieces because they can stay in my closet all year round.

After putting these outfits together I'm thinking that plum is going to be a big color for me this fall. Also, can I mention how completely strange it felt to put on a pair of tights?!


Now: vintage cotton corset cover, felt cloche, vintage straw bag and sandals
Later: H&M ballet top, vintage wool beret, thrifted plum tights, vintage gladstone bag, UO boots

Now: vintage felt fedora, vintage Coach bag, thrifted 80s flats
Later: H&M cardigan, grey wol beret, thrifted plum tights, vintage Coach bag, vintage boots

Four Ways: White Shirt

Nearly any magazine article you run across touting the “basics” that all women should have in their closets will no doubt include a crisp white shirt. Think classic Carolina Herrera! But that is one basic that has always seemed to elude me. Since I’ve been toying with the idea of simplifying my wardrobe I decided to revisit the white-shirt-as-an-essential rule. I think part of the problem has always been the white shirts I have found just haven’t suited my fancy. They’re either too frilly or too boyish or too boxy or too wrinkly. I tend to be super particular about the fit of my clothes and I’d never found the one that was juuust right. I think those days may be over. I finally found a vintage one that may fit the bill. It’s got the cutest little tag embroidered with a Union Jack that says “Tailored in Nottingham". Since the "white shirt" is pretty much virgin territory for me, I decided it would be perfect fodder for a Four Ways post.

• The first look is a little bit bohemian, mixing the white shirt with beat up Levi cut-offs, a vest and vintage accessories.
• I had the hardest time mixing the shirt with skirts but it seemed perfect under this 30s style jumper.

• Bring out your inner beatnik. This plays into my current obsession with stripes. It doesn't get any easier than this. I threw the white shirt on with a pair of cuffed black jeans, simple flats and a black beret. A striped sweater tops off the look. This was my favorite combination.
• Hmmm. I was going for boyish but I think I ended up more Amish. In retrospect, this one isn't quite workin' for me! I like the suspenders but somehow the rest of it just didn't gel. I think there's potential here, but it needs a little tweaking.

In the end, this was a bit harder than I expected it to be. I thought it would look really classy paired with a black pencil skirt and a scarf, but somehow I just ended up looking like a flight attendant or hotel desk clerk. A navy pleated skirt made me look like I was heading to Catholic school. And then there's the little Amish boy. ;) Despite a few missteps, I can see myself reaching into my closet for this more often than I thought I would.

Four Ways - Black Silk Tunic

I have a pretty regular routine down whenever I visit one of my local thrift stores. As soon as I walk in the door I grab a shopping cart (I'm Southern so I actually call it a "buggy" much to the amusement of the Yanks I live amongst). Then I start to fill it with anything and everything that looks even mildly interesting. I don't bother checking for flaws or stains or fit. By the time I get through the store I usually have a buggy full of clothes, shoes and assorted household goodies. Then the work begins. I sort through each piece, looking over it carefully and usually end up keeping about a third of what I picked up. The last time I was there I found this black silk dress. When it was time to sort through my finds I was see-sawing back and forth over whether to keep it or put it back. It was really long and sort of shapeless but the 100% silk fabric and the pretty pintucks kept tempting to put it in the keep pile. It wasn't until after I got it home that I realized it was reminding me of some of the silk pieces I'd been admiring in the Lyell collection. I ended up chopping about 8 inches off the bottom and happily hung it in my closet. Here's how I plan on wearing it...

• For daytime black accessories seemed a bit dour so I mixed in some brown to make it feel lighter.
• The fabric is so soft and draping it's perfect to wear belted as a shirt with jeans.

• It becomes my blouse and my slip when I wear it tucked into a slightly sheer high waisted cotton skirt.
• For a night look (as if I ever go out at night!) I paired it with sheer tights, heels and a little embroidered purse.

Four Ways - Short Sleeve Sweater

I don't think it's an overstatement to say that I had a closet meltdown of epic proportions over the weekend. Tom and I had plans to walk downtown to attend the First Friday celebrations when all of the art galleries in town unveil their new exhibits for the month. I swear I stood in my closet for an hour putting on outfits and then ripping them right off. I'd put on a cute dress, tights and sandals and then remember it was raining, so I'd put on jeans and rain boots and feel like I was suffocating. OK, I know that's a bit dramatic but I was having a moment.

It's not that I don't have anything to wear, it's just this stinkin' weather. I can't figure it out. You saw how beautiful Sunday afternoon was from my photos and then last night they (whoever they are) were calling for snow showers. I just can't keep up. One day I'm lying in the warm grass, the next day it's snowy. It's enough to make a girl a little batty.

Sooo... I've been searching in my closet for pieces to get me through these maddening days and I ran across this 50's cashmere short sleeve sweater. I picked it up at a vintage store a while back and it sort of got lost in my closet. "Short sleeve sweater" seems like a bit of an oxymoron to me and I even though I love the piece I wasn't quite sure what to do with it.

• First, while it's still a bit cool outside I can pair it with a thick tweed skirt and a pair of knee boots. Worst comes to worst, I could throw on a pair of tights and a jacket and be prepared for colder weather.
• I've got lots of summer dresses hanging in my closet waiting to see the light of day. The sweater layered quite nicely over this one. A good way to keep a little warm while still getting to wear a summer dress.

• As the weather warms a bit I can pair it with a light cotton skirt and sandals. Just the right mix of cool and warm for days when the weather is unpredictable.
• It mixes just as well with jeans as with skirts. I just layered the sweater over a little Peter Pan collar blouse.

Plaid Skirt - Four Ways

After yesterday's little Dear-Abby themed rant (sorry about that, I was a little pissed), I figured I'd take it one step further and play my own little game of Dear Sally Jane. I often receive questions from readers and I try to answer them all but I'm admittedly not as good about that as I should be. So... today I'm going to address a recent question by doing one of my Four Ways posts.

Dear Sally Jane,
I need some advice and I thought you'd be the right person to ask...how exactly do you wear plaid skirts without looking too much like a school girl? I bought a high-waisted tweed skirt and I have no clue what to do with it! I've paired it with lots of sweaters and shirts, but nothing looks right. I hope you can help :)
Signed,
Sam

Dear Sam,
Indeed, a plaid skirt always runs the risk of looking a little school-girlish but when paired with the right tops and accessories it can be sophisticated and mature. I like to wear my plaid skirts with neutral tops in browns, blacks or navy. A military inspired blazer or vest is a good option as is a pretty lacey blouse. A belted cardigan works on cooler days. And if you don't want to come across as a school girl, you can always be the school librarian, right? Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Sally Jane

Four Ways - Doc Martens

A couple of weeks ago when I posted photos of my recent vintage buys I included a pair of perfectly broken in Doc Martens. Several of you commented that you would like to see ways to style the boots so... here you have it.

• On a day when I want to be 100% comfortable, say going to a thrift store to dig through piles and piles in search of that one perfect find that makes it all worth while, I'd throw on a pair of vintage Levi cut-offs, a beat up old tee and a slouchy cardigan. I'm not much of a sneaker-wearer so the Docs are the perfect alternative.
• Now this is cheating a bit. I personally love this look, however, I don't think I could leave the house in this. It's not that I don't think it's a good combo, I do. It's just that the one rule of fashion (if there are any hard and fast rules) that I tend to follow is that if you wore it the first time around, you shouldn't go back. I think I literally wore this outfit when I was a sophomore in high school (yes, I'm that old!). But just because I've already lived my grunge years those of you that weren't even born in 1992 shouldn't miss out. And since I won't be wearing it out of the house, you can buy it here. ;)
• OK, this is more my speed. I think the trick for me will be to mix feminine pieces with tougher pieces like this floral dress with my motorcycle jacket. The girly dress balances out the tougher pieces in the ensemble.
• In the same way, I like to pair skinny jeans and a black tank top with a feminine sweater to balance things out. If I wore my motorcycle jacket with this outfit I'd feel a little too biker-chick.

Four Ways - Sweater Vest

I suppose it would be more accurate to title this post "Four Looks" rather than "Four Ways" since there's really only one way to wear a sweater vest. But in interest of continuity, "Four Ways" it shall be. This is one of my recently thrifted items that I can already tell will be a staple of my wardrobe come cooler weather. I'm looking forward to pairing with just about every thing from dresses to jeans, from button downs to t-shirts. Once the weather really cools off, I'll be piling even more layers on top, pairing the vest with blazers and my beloved faux leather motorcycle jacket. Here's a breakdown of what you see here:

• With a patterned vest like this one, you can layer it over a solid basic like a little black dress and let it be your pop of color. A belt wrapped around the waist gives this look a little shape.
• Sadly, the subtleties of this pairing have been lost in the photo. I've paired the vest with a herringbone skirt and a tiny polka dot blouse. Not that you can tell. I was trying to demonstrate mixing patterns and textures but the details just didn't show up. Well, I guess you'll have to use your imaginations on this one! ;)
• A vest is always a sure thing paired with jeans. My basic skinny jeans and favorite tee become a little something more when layer with the vest.
• I also like to wear it with a pair of wide leg jeans and a little boy's button down. With the wide leg of the jean, I like the shrunken fit of a little boy's shirt to keep the proportions in check.

Four Ways - Flower Clip

This is just a little mini-four-ways post I thought of today as I was getting dressed. I swear I've worn these little flower clips some way or another everyday since I got them. As a matter of fact, they're in my hair right now! Some days they decorate my favorite hat, giving it a little extra touch of summer. Other days I've clipped them to my vest or the straps on a tank top as a brooch. They've even been clipped to a pair of peep toe shoes. I'd really love another pair in pink or red or maybe cream. I haven't made it out to the craft store yet but it is certainly on my list of things to do.

Four Ways - Sheer Bow Blouse

I know, I know! It's been far too long since I've done one of my Four Ways posts. Forgive me! ;) Several of you have been asking about them so I thought it was due time to bring them back. For those of you new to the blog, this is where I take one piece from my closet and show four possible ways to style it. Simple as that! Today we tackle a great new basic - the sheer bow blouse. I've seen them popping up all over the place - from street style sites to fashion blogs. It's a really versatile piece for anyone to have in their closet. This one happens to come from H&M.

• First, I styled the blouse with a pair of military style denim shorts and a boyish vest. Then, to counter a bit of that boyishness I added a fun pair of printed tights.
• Next, for a more sophisticated look, I mixed the blouse with a high waisted taffeta skirt and a pair of fun tights and high, high heels. I would loved to have topped the look off with some sort of feathery hat or hair comb, but that's one thing that's missing from my closet. Mental note: must remedy that soon.
• Then for a more casual look the blouse gets paired with high waisted jeans and skinny suspenders (or braces, if you wish). Complete the outfit with a classic straw fedora and your favorite pair of brogues.
• Lastly, for a girly, romantic feel layer a floral print dress over the blouse. For a little more frill, let a lacy slip hang out from the bottom hem and stick a flower in your hair.

**Thank you to reader Market Publique for reminding me that I forgot to mention one of the most important parts! When you wear a sheer blouse, of course you need to wear something under it. A lot of people make the mistake of always wearing white under something sheer (like a white bra under a white tee shirt). But really the best thing to wear is something that closely matches your skin tone. That way it just blends right in! I'm wearing a simple "nude" colored tank with a built in bra from Old Navy.

Four Ways - Rompers

One of the best things about summer is wearing easy, comfy outfits. No more layers, no more worrying about the cold. A simple way to accomplish this? A romper of course! But how do you get away with wearing a romper without looking like you belong on Romper Room?

• Since we're not quite into the hot days of summer just yet, I've paired the romper with tights. This works well for a dressier look, finished with a pair of high heeled oxfords and my favorite shrunken blazer.
• It doesn't get any easier than this! Pair your romper with classic Chucks or Keds, throw on a pair of fun sunglasses and you're ready to go.
• Staying just this side of too cutesy, pair the romper with a fitted cardigan and matching sandals for a girly look.
• A day of flea market shopping in the sun? Martinis at lunch with your girl friends? Just match your romper with comfy wedge sandals and a wide brimmed hat and you're off!

Four Ways - Inspired by Lou Doillon

First of all, thanks so much for all of your suggestions after my last Four Ways post. I got a lot of great ideas that I will be incorporating into some future posts. Now, on to today's post...

In a recent post I cited Lou Doillon as a great wardrobe inspiration and many of you agreed. I think what's so special about her is she always manages to look both classic and completely modern without ever looking like she's trying too hard. It seems that she achieves this by mixing vintage pieces with newer ones and always throwing in one of her signature men's wear inspired flourishes. Namely, a pair of suspenders and a fedora. She also seems to favor neutral tones and high waists. I realized that I have a lot of these items already in my closet and I'm not utilizing them. I rummaged around and threw together four looks that are inspired by Lou. This isn't meant to directly mimic her as much as it is to show that you can put together a look using basics you already have hanging in your closet.

• First I paired a lacy white vintage dress with a little boy's blazer. I finished it off with black tights, socks and oxford heel and of course the fedora.
• Next, a wardrobe basic of jeans and a tee get taken up a notch with a high waist and suspenders.
• Another fun, casual look pairs high waisted vintage cut-offs with black tights and flat boots. I topped this off with super soft layers of vintage shirts.
• Last, my favorite jeans get a little girly with a flowery vintage blouse and frilly heels. The hat and suspenders give the look a little edge and keep it from being too sweet.

Four Ways - Black Vest

I was feeling a little blank when it came time to do this week's Four Ways installment so I went for the most trusty piece in my wardrobe: my little black vest. I know there's nothing revolutionary about this piece, but I can't tell you how many times I reach for it to finish off an outfit.

• Any day I don't want to put any real effort into thinking about what I'm going to wear I throw on jeans, a t-shirt or oversized flannel and top it off with the vest. It instantly takes a jeans and tee look that could be bland and gives it a little something extra.
• You can thank Alexander Wang for this one. His grunge inspired F/W runway show was one of my favorites. The monochromatic palettes of black and grey, the men's inspired pieces, the grungy boots - I loved it all.
• I'm feeling very Bonnie Parker meets Annie Hall in this one. A high waisted wool skirt topped with the little black vest is one of my favorites.
• I have several flowery spring dresses that I'm dying to wear but it's still just a bit early to pull out of the closet. Until then, I'll be pairing them with black tights and my vest and hoping for warmer weather.

Alright ladies - I'm coming up a bit blank on what to feature next. I'd love to hear from you about what you would like shown. Is there a piece you bought that you're not sure how to wear? Something that you've seen on the runway that you'd like to work into your wardrobe? Let me know! :)

Four Ways - Black Pencil Skirt

One of the most versatile pieces I have in my closet is my stretchy, black cotton pencil skirt. Mine happens to be this one from American Apparel but I've seen loads of them for sale in stores and on other sites.

• Any day I don't feel like wearing jeans, I can throw on this skirt and a pair of tights with whatever I would usually pair with jeans. Lately I've been living in oversize flannel shirts, this faux-leather jacket and vintage boots.
• You can vary the length of the skirt by turning it down at the waist. I look forward to wearing this once the weather warms up a bit.
• This is where it becomes really versatile. Whenever I wear a sheer dress that needs a slip but I don't want any straps to show, I pull the dress up and wear it as a, um, "tube slip?".
• I've also been known to wear it as a tube top in the summer. I think most strapless tops are too short so this works out nicely.

*Apparently American Apparel really liked this post! ;)

Four Ways - High Waisted Pleated Pants

This was a tough one for me and I'm still not convinced that I got it 100% right. I definitely figured out that one key element to keeping the pants from becoming too mumsy is the length. These happen to be petites so they are naturally too short for me which worked out perfectly. The other pair I got, the light grey ones, come down to my ankles so they are going to have to be altered.

• First I paired the pants with a plain white v-neck tee and an oversized cardigan. A vintage locket and black high heeled oxfords complete the look.
• Next I went for a casual, layered look using a simple long sleeve black tee and a slouchy grey striped tank. I added a purple beret for a little color and vintage black and white patent shoes.
• Then I paired the pants with a lacey top, vintage shoes and locket. I'm not sure whether or not a belt would have helped this look.
• The last look layers a vintage rock tee, vintage woven vest, a black blazer and my favorite ankle boots.

Four Ways - Navy Blazer

A navy blazer is one of the most versatile items you can have in your closet. You can dress it up, dress it down, wear it when it's cool, wear it when it's warm. They are all over the runways right now, but you can easily snag one for mere dollars at a thrift store.

• The first outfit has a nautical feel thanks to the classic navy and white stripe tee. Throw on a colorful vintage scarf, a pair of skinny jeans and some white oxfords and you're ready to go.
• Don't be afraid to mix black and navy. Layer the blazer over a comfy, oversized flannel shirt with a pair of black jeans for an everyday, casual look.
• On warmer spring days wear the blazer with a simple white tee and a pair of high-waisted shorts.
• For a dressier look layer the blazer over your favorite dress and add a faux fur collar.