Style #1- The Yellow Cloud Dress Brightens Fall - Reader's Challenge

Fall weather has finally arrived in Central CA.  Thanks to all my Readers that helped encouraged Summer to make a hasty retreat.  My cool weather cloths are lined up for some awesome OOTD's.

Style #1 - Yellow Cloud Dress Styled for Fall


 Today's Post introduces Style #1 of a Series.  The challenge comes from a lovely Reader (Jessica-chefjess), who purchased the Yellow Cloud Dress from my Blog sale. There are three specific requests in the challenge.

1.  To offer Fall styling ideas that include the Yellow Cloud Dress.  Not an easy task, since this is clearly a Bright Sunny Yellow Summer Dress.

2. To include a scarf or sweater that acts as a buffer between the Bright Yellow Dress and her olive complexion.

3.  To challenge my Readers for suggestions and ideas.

Initially I suggested that Jessica try a pullover sweater that would treat the dress like a skirt.  She did this with success.

Keep in mind that I have never seen Jessica.  Also, my color choices are complimentary to me. Choosing colors that compliment olive tones was not part of the Challenge. And last but not least, I work in the oil fields and know nothing about style.  I break rules I know and probably many I don't know.

Yellow Cloud Dress - by Floreat - Anthro Orig $178, Sale $90, eBay new $40 - Apr 2010

 See my Summer Style for the Yellow Cloud here.

Yellow Cloud Dress with Pin Dot Tights and Proscenium Cardi in Navy

I immediately break the rule that states "Dark tights are a No-No below light garments."  The notion is shot down by the long draped front of the Navy Proscenium Cardi. The dark tights and cardi are now in very close proximity, and act to break up the wide strip of brightly colored dress.

  

Proscenium Cardi in Navy - by Splendid
Anthro Orig $68 - Jun 2010



  

 


Pin Dot Tights in Navy - Carmel CA Anthro
Sale $5 - Apr 2010

 



Today is my Boy Friend's Birthday.  Please give him a big round of applause for photographing four outfits in one day, plus enduring an all day Saturday closet escapade while I pulled at least a dozen outfit ideas together. He is an honest critic.  A rare and wonderful asset in a man. An artist by nature, he has a natural insight for coordinating styles and color.

Tripp Laptop Bag Car Print - by Orla Kiely SS10 - eBay $220 - Apr 2010

Shop the Tripp Laptop Bag here.

Rensselaer T Straps - by Miss Albright - Anthro $148 - Aug 2010

Shop these shoes here.

 
 Anthro's Rensselaer T straps offers eye catching depth with cutout suede detail that is in keeping with the floral buffer scarf.  One of many scarves lovingly made by my Mother. Both the scarf and the Tripp Laptop Bag add the bright color that keeps the dress from looking out of place among so much dark Navy.





Yellow Cloud Dress with Proscenium Cardi Styled for Fall

 All the ingredients can easily be substituted with basic wardrobe staples.  Choosing them in the correct order was key. I did not get help from any outside source. I used common sense for mixing colors and patterns.  And I kept trying until I liked the outcome. Here are the basic steps that worked for Style One.

     - Choose a drape front Cardi in a solid dark color that coordinates with the dress. Navy was an easy choice for Yellow.

     - Add a coordinating pair of tights to break up the Bright Summer Dress. My Navy tights have Pink Pin Dots that add further interest and texture. 

     - Next chose a bright colored scarf with pattern, interest, and color that compliments the Summer Dress and keeps it from looking out of place among it's Fall and Winter cousins. My scarf is brightly colored, in addition to the knit that emulates the lace overly at the base of the dress.

     - Choose a solid dark shoe color that compliments the tights. The same color shoes would blend too much.  A light shoe would distract. Brown is a basic color that compliments any Blue.  

     - Tie the bag to either the scarf, shoes or both.

Styles Two, Three and Four are completly different.


Yellow Cloud Dress with Rensselaer T Straps and Orla Kiely Tripp Laptop Bag

Style #1 isn't my favorite.  But it comes in a close second. It worked just as well on paper as it did IRL. I was elated that the entire ensemble met Jessica's request and needed no last minute changes when I tried it on.. Unfortunately this was not the case for all four outfits.

Readers,

I have the first 2 requests covered. But I can't meet this Challenge without your help. Please provide Jessica with your own ideas to style the Yellow Cloud for Fall. 

And as always, I want your opinion good or bad for Style One. 

1.  Does Style One meet the challenge?

2.  Is the Style pleasing?

3.  Is it basic enough that it can easily be re-created using wardrobe basics?

You guys are awesome.  My dinner date was fabulous Friday night.  Thanks for choosing the perfect outfit.

Anthro Sister Love, Laura (lauramartinsemail@yahoo.com)

 

An Outback Cinderella Story in Today's TGIFO - What to Wear to Dinner?

April 2008, a dear friend and co-worker (William Benmore PhD Geology) died suddenly while I was in Las Vegas attending a class and experiencing my first Anthropologie. I was crushed to learn of his passing from my dear friend Heidi D.  I am reading one of his old books in my photolog. "Manual of Minerology" (the study of minerals and their crystal structures 1947).

Pick any well on "THE HILL" and Bill could tell you the history from drilling, to production, to abandonment. He was also an accomplished surfer. We still miss you Bill.

Lynx and Leo Dress - by Maeve - Anthro Orig $138, Sale $70 - Aug 2010

I am also wearing this dress here, and here

Today I am Cinderella once again in a Thank God It's Friday Outfit.  I adore the ruffled and laced petticoats under this dress.  Even if no one sees them but me.

Blushing Bouquet Cardi - by Sparrow - Anthro $88 - July 2010

I topped little miss Cinderella with diagonal srtipes and pretty flowers from the Blushing Bouquet Cardi by Sparrow.

Delphi Hippodrome Belt - Anthro Orig $42, Sale $20 - Oct 2010

Then I did something I have only done one other time.  If you clicked on the links under the Lynx and Leo Dress above, then you know what that thing is I did here only one other time. Well, how did I do?

Shop the Delphi Hippodrome here.

By now you should be wondering what the Outback in my title has to do with this TGIFO.  Notice you haven't seen a very important part of this outfit.

Anthro Catalog November 2009

Anthro Catalog December 2009

What do these two young ladies have in common?

Space Between Wedges - by Schuler & Sons - Anthro Orig $158, Sale $80 - Mar 2010.

If you said "a very ugly pair of shoes from Anthropologie", you are right, and wrong!  Not so ugly on my feet. 

These shoes tone down the girlish-ness of the Lynx and Leo Dress, by introducing a little Outback to the Cinderella Dress. Needless to say many passed these lovelies by.  Which left many a pair to go on sale.



Magic Carousel Necklace - Etsy - Shop Japonicas $28 - May 2009



Hmmm.  I'm supposed to go out for dinner tonight.  I can't decide what to wear.  Last night my Precious Materials Cardi came in the mail from eBay. I really want to wear it.

So I could wear it with my Babergh Dress like Tien of Adiaphane wore it here.

#1

Or I could wear it with my new Leifsdottir Paseo Leather skirt.

#2

Please help me decide. Tell me your choice in a comment. Should I go to dinner in outfit #1, or outfit #2.

No one in Bakersfield dresses nice for dinner.  The BF and I always do.  And we haven't been out in months. Hopefully I can convince him to take some pictures.

Anthro Sister Love, Laura (lauramartinsemail@yahoo.com)

A No Anthro Zone Review - Leifsdottir's Paseo Ruffled Skirt - Plus the Remaining Lilies in an OOTD

Good news! My silly Poem Post, seen here, worked.  Summer is leaving Sunday, and will pull Fall into the area by Monday.  Yeah! In the meantime, today is another scorching 93°F in the Great Central Valley of CA.

Check out the very cool picture my camera took this morning of the Remaining Lilies Cardi.  Can a real photographer explain this please?

Remaining Lilies Cardi - by Wendy Reed - Size Small - Anthro Orig $128, Sale $70 - Oct 2010

This Cardi is no longer in the sale section.  But if you want it, it is in the now hidden July catalog in XS, S and M.  Just use this link to the catalog.  But hurry, because the November Catalog will overwrite the July in 2 short weeks. 

Shop - Anthro's hidden July Catalog

Be sure you add any items you want to your Wish List now.  That may be the only way you will be able to purchase them when the catalog is overwritten.

I love this Cardi with just a plain pair of Pilcro jeans.

The little buttons up the front are covered in the same Navy Blue fabric as the ribbon detail that circles the placket, neckline and hem.
The flower detail is stitched Navy (maybe Black) and Ivory Knit

It did not scream Granny sweater!  Nor was it boxy on me!  But it is short in length for gals over 5'6". But would certainly work layered over dresses or long tops that hang out the bottom.

The ribbon and flower detail is nicely incorporated into the 3/4 length sleeves with split cuffs at the wrists.

The fit isTTS.  The quality is excellent.

Remaining Lilies Cardi from Anthro's hidden July Catalog

If you want further reviews you can view them by clicking the links below.  They are no longer on the Anthro website.

 Remaining Lilies Cardi Anthro Reviews

See Kay of Anthro Flux Review the Cardi

A No Anthro Zone Review - The Paseo Ruffled(?) Skirt by Leifsdottir...

I emailed Anthro@anthropologie.com, requesting they update the description for this spectacular Leifsdottir Skirt. The length is a meager 16", not 22". Leifsdottir and the Major Dept. Stores list the skirt at 16”.

I took these images inside our office shower stall.  Great Lighting! He-he!

Shop the Paseo Ruffled Skirt in all sizes at Leifsdottir.com here

Shop the Paseo Ruffled Skirt in size 0 and 6-12 at Anthro here

Very odd how different the skirts look on the forms. 
It certainly is shaped more like the Leifsdottir version on me.

SIZE:  I ordered my normal size 4 in skirts.  Thank goodness I ordered this last Friday, because size 4 is now sold out at Anthro. The fit is TTS. I am just under 5' 6" tall, 125 lbs, 35-27-36. 

FIT: It doesn't fit tight, nor is it loose. This is a perfect TTS fit. The length is 2" above my knees.  I will wear with tights.

OUTFIT with: Remaining Lilies Cardi and the Precious Materials Cardi. This is a versatile addition to my closet. My head is crammed full of outfit ideas.

DETAILS:  Leifsdottir signature Zipper Pull. Wonderfully soft leather. This isn't your daughters cheap shiny leather skirt. The downside is the yucky acetate lining. The layers of laser cut leather are the unique feature adorning this skirt. 

Not sure where the word ruffled in the Leifsdottir name was intended to fit in. The name should have read Paseo Layered Skirt perhaps.

Odd that this skirt does not carry a unique Anthropologie name.  Since the skirt never appeared in the regular priced skirt section, I can only assume that Anthro was forced to place it in the sale section, since everyone else already had it for sale.  No one took the time to check the description or to offer this beauty an Anthro name.

This skirt is now selling out fast. 

Recommended - TTS.  Tall gals could order up and drop the skirt down for added length. Don't wait for a price cut on this one.

Is anyone else having issues with Blogger not adding photos?  I have to logout and back in, or pick everything and add all at once. 

My darn flu shot made me feel sick yesterday. Gave me the mini flu for the first time.

Anthro Sister Love at it's Finest, Laura (lauramartinsemail)@yahoo.com

Tuesdays OOTD - Find the Orla Kiely in my Office

Blog Business First.  Visit Jessica at Breakfast at Gigi's for a chance to win a $65 CSN Gift certificate.

Love the Anthro Outfit videos.  But what is up with the Bike Ride Outfit?  Hello!  She never even gets on the bike.  Lame!

I refuse to go outside and take photos today. I was drenched in yesterday's photos. You know what that means? I had to crop myself out of the picture.

And find a new location that's indoors, and cool.  So welcome to my 13x13 windowless space under the stairs. The 2011 business plan is gearing up on labor with no plan to find additional office space.  So I may soon be sharing an office. Something I haven't done in years. That's the new corporate America.

Whine over!  OOTD begins!

She looks great doesn't she.  I think she's one of my favorite Anthro models.  She goes clear back to early 2008 when I stepped into the Anthro at Cesar's Palace in Las Vegas. At that moment I was hooked.  Still am, and always will be. Until the day I die. Hallelujah!!!!!!

Let's play find the Orla Kiely items in my office. Sorry no prize.  I just want to see who knows their Orla Trivia. HINT:  There are three.

 

Magnified Geranium Blouse - by Tabitha
Anthro Orig $98 Mar 2010


Such a lovely Silk Blouse. But a bit low cut. I layer either the Ivory or Brown version of Anthro's Reversible Tank underneath. This blouse hit sale, but not for many months.

Bright Button Trousers - by Pilcro
Anthro orig $98 - Feb 2010

Pilcro are my favorite jeans.  They don't break the bank. The different cuts fit me well. I do have to hem them. Still, not a bad deal for under $100. This version Sold Out before hitting sale.



Beloved Cardigan - by Leifdottir - Anthro Orig $288, sale $90 -  Jan 2009.

In 2008 and 2009 you could pick-up Leifsdottir on sale for less than 50% off at Anthro.  I have several items including the Beloved Cardi that went sale for far under 50% off.  Not true anymore. Anthro has finally wised up.  And recently they have started putting Leifsdottir on sale at the same time as Leifsdottir.com and the Majors. 

Don't forget to count the Orla Kiely in the photos.

Dreaming in Stitches Booties - by Everybody - Anthro orig $188, sale $90 - March 2010

 I got my Flu Shot this morning.  Make sure you get yours this year.  I safely crosses the road in my favorite Everybody booties.  You can't help but see me coming in Bright Glaring Orange. 

Did you find all 3 Orla Kiely items? Tell me in a comment.

Most important, did you get your flu shot?

Laura (lauramartinsemail)@yahoo.com

I'm still waiting for Autumn to arrive.