Summer/Fall Outfit Mashup

I've been a terrible blogger this past week...I mean you kind of need to blog to be a good blogger. The last post I wrote was a week ago today. The week just got away from me I guess. I'm also finding the extra layer of clothing (necessary for cooler mornings) makes stopping for outfit photos a little challenging since taking a coat/sweater off (and then putting it back on again) is a bit of production on NYC's busy sidewalks. Summer's leisurely pace has also been replaced with 'full speed ahead' fervor. Excuses, excuses...I'll try to do better this week.

Yesterday I went over to Dumbo to check out the Dumbo Arts Festival. It turned out to be a beautiful, sunny and warm day. Visiting Dumbo is always fun but even better when everywhere you look there's some art either installed or being performed.  I loved all the colorful balloon people roaming the streets, and the different vistas all the mobile art presented.  It's funny how an inflatable pink pony completely changes the way you view a graffiti lined street or an empty parking lot.

After Dumbo, I stopped in at Bryant Park to check out the Taste of France Festival that was happening.  My favorite part was seeing all the adorable French Bulldogs! So cute and such great personalities!

As far as outfits go, yesterday's was a complete mash-up. This time of year getting dressed is always a bit complicated because you can be cold one minute and hot the next.  Saturday morning I put most of my 'only for summer' dresses away but I left out some of my lighter dresses that I consider almost seasonless if layered properly. The blue swissdot sundress I'm wearing in these photos will probably be packed away in a couple more weeks but with the weather still on the warm side I'm keeping it in circulation for now. This dress is a little subdued/can be a little boring so accessories are key. I added a pair of  patterned tights and a fun scarf to give this dress a more urban vibe, and I think the combination of colors worked out well. By the sounds of it, we are in for several more warm days so there'll be plenty more opportunities to experiment with combining lighter summer layers with some fall accessories. 

Outfit Details:

Dress (old): Esmee Dress by Moulinette Soeurs, Anthropologie

Tights (old): Blue and Green Space Dye Tights, Anthropologie

Scarf: Runway We Go Scarf, Modcloth

Bright Yellow and Plenty of Polka Dots = Mid-Week Cure

Well, it’s mid week, summer seems to be disappearing before my eyes and I have a million things on my mind….nothing a little (okay, a lot) yellow and some polka dots can’t cure. I really am in denial that this is the last full week of July. I have several unused vacation days so I’m looking forward to taking a few days off here and there and making the most of these days. Let’s face it, soon enough we’ll all be piling on the layers again.

Outfit Details:

Dress (old): Melora Dress by Moulinette Soeurs, Anthropologie (similar idea here and here)

Cardigan (old): Pattern Ponder Cardigan, Anthropologie

T-shirt (old): Vintage Cotton Tee in Stripe, J Crew

Necklace: Kate Spade Picnic Basket Locket (similar here)

Earrings:my nana’s (similar here and here)

Shoes: Suprega Classic Lame Sneakers in Gold, Bloomingdales

Fashion Bucket List

I don’t know when/where the term “fashion bucket list" was coined but over the years I definitely have put a few items on my radar/wishlist that would qualify to be on that sort of list.

Marc Jacobs Mouse Flats were on that list for a long time and I was thrilled when I finally added a pair to my collection last fall. Every season I would look at the latest versions of these flats and inevitably they would sell out before I could make a decision about whether to buy a pair and/or choose a color/type from the ones available.  I remember one time in Toronto being really close to buying a pair and visiting all the stores carrying them only to discover my size was sold out. I suppose I could have purchased a pair online but unless I know a brand really well I really don’t like buying a pair of shoes without trying them on first.  

After a few years of this I was thinking that perhaps me + mouse flats was not meant to be. But then these rosy metallic gold stud adorned mouse flats showed up and I knew these were the ones I had been *really* waiting for.  I ended up finding them at Lord and Taylor and with one of the store coupons received 25% off. The shoes I had been dreaming of at a discount…I was sold! Even after many wears, I have to confess that I still smile and am amused when I happen to look down at my feet and see these little mouse faces looking back at me. 

One thing I should point about these shoes is that they run wide and sizing down doesn’t really help. I don’t think all of the Marc Jacobs Mouse Flats are like this (e.g. probably not the ones with elasticized trim) but these ones are.  When I first started wearing them my feet would flip out of the shoe which was really annoying. I tried stuffing a bit of tissue paper in the toe to keep my feet from moving around but that was pretty uncomfortable. I ended up trying some of the Dr. Scholl’s For Her Ball of Foot Cushions (thanks to my mom for recommending!) and the difference is amazing; not only do my feet stay in the shoe but the shoes remain comfortable after 9+ hours of wear.  Genius product…I actually didn’t think the Dr. Scholl’s cushions would help much but WOW!

In terms of styling, what I love about these shoes are the possibilities to play with a mix of sweet and edgy designs. Yesterday, for example, I wore them with black metallic gold flecked tights, a pleated partially sheer shirtdress, macaroon emblazoned t-shirt, and a punchy cardigan (black mesh, punchy colors, bold floral print and oversized buttons? Yes!).  For me, the shoes tie all these seemingly disconnected pieces together. It’s nice when something you’ve waited for turns out to be well worth the wait….one of the fun things about crossing something off the fashion bucket list.

Do you have a fashion bucket list? If you do, what’s on your list?

Dress (old) - Quiet Blush Dress by Moulinette Soeurs, Anthropologie

T-shirt - Laduree Graphic T-shirt from Uniqlo

Cardigan (old) - Bluebells Awaken Cardigan, Plenty by Tracy Reese, Anthropologie (found on a pop back on the website for around $30…love when that happens)

Tights (old) - DKNY Metallic tights

Shoes (old) - Marc Jacobs Mouse Flats (sampling of current options here)

Dr. Scholl’s Cushions