Tag Archives: beige

SIA interpretation 2: Monkey lithograph

Now for my SECOND interpretation for this week’s Style Imitating Art (SIA) challenge, the first inspiration artwork curated by newest SIA co-host Daenel @ Living Outside the Stacks. That’s right, I was so inspired that I wore TWO inspiration outfits; you can see the other one on Monday’s post. And you can see the entire round-up — including Sam’s SIA-inspired outfit! — today on Daenel’s blog!

The inspiration artwork:

Daenel chose this lithograph, seen below, because she ♥ ♥ ♥ monkeys, and the colors are so springlike. As Daenel herself said, “Since this is my first time curating, I thought I’d go with something fun and colorful, with plenty of room for interpretation.” Click here for more information about the lithograph.

“Monkey, from Quadrupeds series (N41) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes” lithograph via The Metropolitan Museum of Art is in the Public Domain

My second interpretation:

My second outfit idea started with my vintage Hawaiian-print dress (which was actually made in Hawaii, as per the label), because of the tropical theme of the lithograph. There’s also a tiny bit of red in the postcard via a bird in the lower left corner. I then layered my yellow starburst cardigan over the dress, because there is a fair bit of yellow in the postcard.

It amused me that I used the same outfit formula for both interpretations — a print dress layered under a cardigan — but the colors and print make the two outfits look very different.

I added my cognac rope tassel belt to help give shape to the Hawaiian-print dress, and you can see more of the print in the pic below.

And a note about my accessories: I chose my yellow and white colorblock tote for obvious color reasons; my bamboo earrings fit in with the tropical theme; and I added my turquoise stud earrings to bring in the bit of turquoise in the other bird in the lithograph postcard.

The backdrop is actually the same backdrop from the trench coat + red crossbody bag outfit post, but the vines have now exploded into leaves thanks to our recent, extended bout of warm spring weather. I thought they made for a nice backdrop that also echoed the backdrop from the postcard.

And last but not least, during our photo shoot, I borrowed my husband’s elephant cane — he was using it on the day — because the russet and gold tones of the cane fit in with the colors of the inspiration lithograph. Also, why not add one more animal to the mix?! 😉

Weather: Sunny spring day

Where: Running errands last weekend + then reworn for work this week

What:

Red print dress: Vintage, made in Hawaii, fashion-swapped from Stephanie {red tropical print dress}
Yellow cardigan: Target, fashion-swapped in Portland years ago {yellow and beige striped cardigan}
Tan polka-dot canvas flats: Grasshoppers via DSW, old {similar tan flats by same brand}
Cognac rope tassel belt: Came with another dress, old {very similar cognac rope tassel belt}
Bamboo hoop earrings: c/o InPink giveaway, old {similar gold bamboo hoop earrings}
Colorblock tote bag: Gift from my mom years ago {very similar yellow canvas tote bag} {grey and yellow leather tote bag}
Lip stain: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in “Adore” {exact lip stain and color}

Please note that I get commission for clicks made through affiliate links in this post. This goes toward covering my website and file storage fees, so thank you for helping support this blog!

Linkups: Hello Monday, Visible Monday, #iwillwearwhatilike, Shoe and Tell, Confident Twosdays, Turning Heads, Style With a Smile, Who’s Wearing What Wednesdays, Trendy Wednesday, What I Wore Wednesday, I Feel Pretty Wednesdays, Weekly Wednesday Fashion Linkup, Top of the World, Thursday Moda, Fashion Friday, Passion for Fashion, Fun Fashion Friday, Fabulous Friday, Fancy Friday, Fine-Whatever Linkup, Weekend Wear Link Up, #SaturdayShareLinkUp

There’s still time to participate in SIA!

Everyone is encouraged to participate — bloggers, non-bloggers, all genders, all ages, even pets! Just send a pic of an outfit — selfies and flat lays are also welcome — inspired by this week’s SIA artwork to this week’s curator, Daenel, at livingoutsidethestacks@gmail.com by tomorrow, May 22nd. Daenel will then post the SIA round-up on her blog, Living Outside the Stacks, on Wednesday, May 23rd.

And also check back Wednesday on my blog for my second SIA-inspired outfit!

Sam’s style | Corduroy times two

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My husband, Sam, is a lifelong fan of the Corduroy bear and books. Years ago, he even wrote to the Out of Print clothing company to ask if they would consider adding adult size options for their Corduroy tee, which at that point was only available in kids’ clothing sizes. They eventually did extend their clothing size options for the Corduroy tee, and Sam immediately snapped up a tee for himself!

Sam teaches English composition and writing, so he loooooooves highlighting literary puns whenever possible — even through his style! So OF COURSE Sam enjoyed pairing his Corduroy tee with a corduroy blazer — it’s so punny! 😀

Details of Sam’s outfit:

Corduroy tee: Out of Print, old {exact tee}
Corduroy blazer: Vintage, used to be my dad’s {similar corduroy blazer in “wheat”}
Straight-leg jeans: Gap, last spring {exact jeans}
Tan canvas Oxfords: Clark’s, old {very similar tan canvas Oxfords}

Please note that I get commission for clicks made through affiliate links in this post. This goes toward covering my website and file storage fees, so thank you for helping support this blog!

Work casual | Orange scarf + denim peep-toes

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I was able to get in one last photo op with cherry blossoms! And I do believe this is the first time this year that y’all get a peek at my toes via my peep-toe wedges. 😉

I broke up all the colorblocking in this outfit with this orange print scarf. And yes, my toenail polish matches my cardigan. Hi, I’m Jen, and I love to color-coordinate. 😉

My library card tote bag was a last-minute addition as I was gathering up my stuff in the morning. I like that it adds a pop of (unexpected) color… but is it too much? A different purse or tote would definitely change the vibe of this outfit. Your thoughts?

Weather: Perfect spring day

Where: Work day at the library

What:

Berry cardigan: August Silk via Macy’s {very similar “bold berry” cardigan}
Dark denim jacket: Tommy Hilfiger via Macy’s {similar dark denim jacket}
Tan capris: Style&Co. via Macy’s {similar tan capris} {similar ankle pants in tan gingham}
Orange print scarf: Old Navy, old {similar orange print scarf}
Library card tote bag: Out of Print Clothing {exact print tote bag}
Denim peep-toe wedges: Payless, old {similar denim peep-toe wedges} {very similar peep-toe wedges in denim floral}
Topaz drop earrings: Local boutique in Portland, old {similar topaz drop earrings}

Please note that I get commission for clicks made through affiliate links in this post. This goes toward covering my website and file storage fees, so thank you for helping support this blog!

Simple + neutral with a red crossbody bag

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I loved this outfit so much — and the photo location! — that this is a warning that this post is more photo-laden than usual.

The backdrop was a total accident, albeit a happy one. It’s a branch-covered wall by a public parking space in downtown Tacoma. While we were out and about a few weeks ago (yes, it took a while to get this outfit up on the blog), we parked in this parking lot for the first time. As we got out of the car, I saw the wall and went, “Huh. That might be a good place to take pictures.” And it was! I didn’t realize how good this backdrop would be until Sam kept saying, “Wow!” while he taking photos, about how dynamic the branches looked in photos.

But now about the outfit! It’s SO SIMPLE yet low-key dynamic on its own, I suppose. I paired a basic white cardigan with black skinny jeans and a tan coat. I then decided to make myself feel a bit more pepped-up with red lipstick… which led to the red crossbody bag. And the gold trim on the red crossbody bag led me to my classic gold hoop earrings (reproductions of Audrey Hepburn’s own earrings in Sabrina, a birthday gift last year).

Classic, simple pieces that just work. Every. Single. Time.

These textured espadrille slip-ons were the last things I grabbed. I could have easily gone for my classic black ballet flats, or my leopard print flats, or even my striped slip-on sneakers, which would all have looked just fine. But I chose these espadrille slip-ons because the colors, tan and black, just seemed to tie the color-blocked nature of my outfit together. And they felt a bit unexpected amidst all the classic pieces. It just worked for me! 🙂

I had to darken the photo above a bit to get a better look at these gold hoop earrings, which are actually clip-ons. Being such a classic design, these earrings are a fun and easy way to add some easy glamor to an everyday kind of outfit.

Weather: Chilly and windy but no rain

Where: Running errands on the weekend

What:

Tan coat: Marks & Spencer, bought in the UAE a decade ago {very similar trench by same brand}
White short-sleeved cardigan: Brooks Brothers, thrifted in Portland years ago {similar v-neck, short-sleeved cardigan}
Black skinny jeans: Banana Republic, old {black skinny jeans by same brand}
Textured slip-on flats: Target, last spring {very similar textured espadrille flats}
Gold hoop clip-on earrings: Smithsonian replicas of Audrey Hepburn’s earrings in Sabrina, birthday present from my mom last year {very similar retro-style gold hoop earrings}
Red crossbody bag: c/o Greg Michaels, old {similar red crossbody bag}
Red lipstick: Wet n Wild Megalast Liquid Lip Color in “Cherry on Top” {no longer available, but here’s the closest I could find in Wet n Wild’s new “Megalast Liquid Catsuit Lipstick” line}

Please note that I get commission for clicks made through affiliate links in this post. This goes toward covering my website and file storage fees, so thank you for helping support this blog!

Mixing shades of purple with tan + leopard

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Today’s outfit was inspired, in part, by a recent outfit worn by Queen Letizia of Spain, an outfit I pinned here. The inspiration outfit pairs a grey leopard coat with black trousers — which I could have easily worn — but I decided to be a bit more adventurous by pairing my grey leopard cardigan with my tan trousers instead. Switching up the neutrals… it’s a wild ride here @ Librarian for Life + Style! 😉

And once I added my purple tank top, I got inspired to add more shades of purple with my dark purple overcoat + purple lip stain. And then I had the idea of taking photos after work by these light purple walls, in order to sneak in one extra shade of purple. ♥

I do love me some wide-leg trousers, which always look their best while one is walking. I thought y’all would appreciate seeing how the trousers paired with and without the coat. (I think my husband especially appreciated the “all about that bass” shot below. 😉 )

I love these wedges so much. (They’re Clarks, so you know they’re comfortable.) They’re just so unexpected, with the mixture of snakeskin along the front and cork for the wedge part. And you know you have a good pair of shoes on when you are complimented on them at a bus stop! 😉

Weather: Chilly and clear

Where: Work day at the library, which included a shift at the reference desk

What:

Grey leopard print cardigan: c/o giveaway, old {similar grey leopard print cardigan}
Purple coat: Lands’ End outlet, over a decade ago {purple trench in “Grape Crush”}
Tan wide-leg trousers: The Limited, old {I don’t think I will ever get over The Limited shutting down, but here’s a similar option for wide-leg trousers}
Snakeskin wedges: Clarks, old {gorgeous snakeskin wedges — try the “Dove Multi” color combo}
Purple tank top: Old Navy, old {similar purple tank top}
Purple lip stain: Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm Stain in “Shameless”

Please note that I get commission for clicks made through affiliate links in this post. This goes toward covering my website and file storage fees, so thank you for helping support this blog!