OUTFIT: Shades of pale

OUTFIT DETAILS: 
Activity: Meeting for worship

Blazer: LOFT via ebay (super cute version)
Top: thrifted (similar)
Skirt: J. Crew via ebay (exact in current colors)
Scarf: Ecuador (similar - on sale this weekend!)
Bag: Ralph Lauren via TJ Maxx (exact)
Shoes: Levity via DSW (similar)

Style evolution, it happens so slowly that sometimes you can't recognize it until you look back.  This outfit is a good demonstration of that - although I actually recognized this change as it happened, mainly because every time I wanted to reach for light, pale colors, I couldn't do it, because I didn't own them.  But, I have had a version of this outfit in my head for over a year.  An outfit made up of entirely pale neutrals, with a bit of blush thrown in.  An outfit I didn't have the wardrobe to complete until recently.    

I have no idea what has made me want to reach for these shades, as opposed to my usual favored dark neutrals (which are eminently more practical when one is shadowed by a 4 year old tornado, I might add), but that's how the evolution of style goes.  I'm in.  How about you?

OUTFIT: Inspired by....

Inspiration 1 

(as seen in People magazine)...

My version (and please don't think about the irony of comparing anything I'm wearing to Miranda Kerr....)

Outfit details:

Activity: Errands

Trench: Zara, thrifted (similar)

Top: thrifted (similar)

Jeans: LOFT (exact)

Shoes: Nine West, via ebay (similar)

Bag: Talbots via ebay (similar)

Necklace: Boutique (similar)

I saw this photo and immediately knew I wanted to replicate it somehow.  Obviously there are differences, but I knew I already had this coat, so the main thing I searched for was this bag, thankfully available on ebay at a great price.  Although I won't be buying more handbags any time soon, since we've since made with a goal to move overseas in a year or so, I plan to get as much use out of this one as I can, while I can, since it's so different from the colors I usually wear.

Inspiration 2:

(From hellofashionblog.com by Christine Andrews)

My version:

OUTFIT DETAILS:

(This version hasn't been worn yet, I was just experimenting the day I wore the former outfit - I do plan on wearing it, though~)

Trench: Zara, thrifted (similar)

Top: via Nordstrom Rack (similar)

Jeans: LOFT (exact)

Shoes: Nine West, via ebay (similar)

Bag: Talbots via ebay (similar)

Necklace: Boutique (similar)

Again, there are differences between my version and hers (and, again, hers is much better), but mainly I liked testing the blush and blue colors together.  It's something I will try again!

Have you ever reproduced an outfit you saw online?  Yay or nay?

Life on a hill... We have arrived in San Francisco

Up one flight to get to the apartment, up another flight to get to the laundry, up 3 flights to get to the mailbox or front door (assuming visitors could ring our nonexistent bell - I think you need a phone plugged in to hear the door bell, and our name isn't on the directory anyway...).  I'm definitely learning about life situated on a hill.  

Can't see the water?  It is there, it just blends in with the gray sky.  I'll get a better picture soon, this was just our first realization that we live very close to the water.

It all feels rather urban and perhaps even sophisticated, although we're actually in Daly City (Never heard of it? I hadn't either!), just south of the San Francisco.  But, that little difference means there is a private garage spot for one car, and (usually available) private lot parking for the other. (Obviously we're not true city people, since we can't even make do with one car, let alone no cars.  But, then again, we just came from Dallas, Texas, where Mike had no choice but to drive 15 miles to work and back, and Gavin and I needed to drive over 20 miles to get to our congregation center for our volunteer ministry work.  And you can't exactly drop/pick up someone at work when his shift ends in the middle of the night and you have a small child.  Excuses, excuses, I know!  Here's one more: We don't even own one of the cars, it's borrowed from a family member with a company car.  Okay, enough on that already.)

(Gavin displays the view, a la Vanna White...)

But, I love the view - lots of trees overlooking the city as we peer down from atop our hill, and I'm already learning what a convenient spot this is - 1 mile to Trader Joe's and a regular grocery store, a mile in the other direction to Target, Sprouts and Bed Bath and Beyond (needed when you just moved!), only 2 miles to our congregation, and just over a mile to the post office, and a pharmacy just down the hill (which you'd think we could walk to, but .....  4 year olds.  Drama.  Sigh.).  Now if there is just a library nearby, I'll be in small-world heaven!  (Oh, and maybe a thrift shop really close.) My only complaint is that everything is close enough to bike, but living at the top of a hill adds a whole other element to trying to bike somewhere, especially with a 4 year old either riding his own little push bike down a giant hill (AAAHHH) or with his super-heavy trailer bike (20 lbs plus his 40+ lb self) up the hill.  Whine, whine, I know.

I knew it would be cooler here, so I was thinking it would be the perfect blazer weather, but I guess it's a bit cooler than normal here, so it's actually more like coat weather (I've seen down and wool winter coats being worn all over the place!).  And that wind is no joke.  But, I'm told that it's just the Bay area, and that a 10 minute drive from here, there's a spot that's almost always sunny and warm, even when it's cool and overcast here in the city.  Should be interesting to see. ( And my fashion posts may end up being a bit regional, what with the rest of the Northern Hemisphere experiencing late spring/early summer weather....  But I'll try!)

So, stay tuned for the Bay City report.  We plan on riding the BART into the city this weekend to tour around (Bay Area Regional Transit - just one of the many transportation system abbreviations, along with MUNI, SFMTA....).  I love that there's a train station just at the bottom of our hill, less than a mile away - so it would seem we are poised for some adventure, one way or another.

(Plus, I still have lots to post from our Ecuador trip and road trip from Texas to California...  Now that I finally have internet access, we can make this happen!)

OUTFIT: Stripes and eyelet

OUTFIT DETAILS:
Activity: Volunteer ministry

Blazer: thrifted (similar)
Tee: Boden (similar)
Skirt: thrifted (similar)
Shoes: KorkEase (similar)
Bag: via ebay (similar)

The weather around here has been an odd mix lately.  Rainy-ish, cool mornings and warmer afternoons.  How do you add a touch of summer feel to a cooler day outfit?  Adding a linen blazer to the mix helped "seasonalize" this outfit a bit.  And, I'm sure the truly summery weather will be here soon!