remix: hummingbird dress

collection of old posts: 1 // 2 // 3 

Me and this dress go way back. 

These photos are all over the place, taken over the course of a few years (and a few camera upgrades), but I really wanted to show the mixology of this one simple piece. It is probably the most creatively layered item in my closet. I generally love a good dress because it's so independent, but it also plays well with others. Wear it alone and it's good to go. Tuck it into a skirt, and it's a secret blouse (no one will know!). Layer a sweater or loose top over it, and it's a featured skirt. With a tank-top dress like this one, you can also get really creative in the winter using a thin turtle neck or button-up to layer underneath. And obviously a dress with a fun print can take part in all of this grand layering while also dabbling in pattern mixing!

The funny thing is, this dress would definitely be labeled as a Spring dress. Yet most of the photos above were taken in generally cool/cold weather. I laugh in the face of seasonal dresses. 

Be bold, and wear hummingbirds in the snow, my friends. 

print mixing and baby soft suede

I've found myself on my own a few times in the last few weeks, picture-taking wise.
I would never claim to be an expert, and am still quite unashamedly gobbling up every "self-portrait tutorial" tips I see on other fashion blogs.
Whenever I have to take my own pictures, when my dutiful husband is studying late or has some other commitment, I wander over to these treets to the side of our apartment complex. They're below our parking lot on a hill, and besides a passing car or two, no one is ever around.
I'm still pretty awkward-feeling when it comes to setting up my tripod and posing. I have an idea of how I want something to look like, but I find myself wandering into the same poses, unsure and startled any time I hear a noise.
On this particular venture I stepped up onto a log and the camera kept snapping as the log shifted and I nearly fell over.
I think it's definitely time I invested in a remote -- and hopefully soon, an even better lense.

I loved the way this dress and skirt went together. For you pattern-shy people, this might be like an explosion of pastel that totally repels you.
I think some print mixing can be a quite healthy endeavor. There are a few key tricks, and this outfit demonstrates one I haven't used very often. Pair a tight pattern with a more open one - in this case, the color schemes are pretty much identical, so they complement each other quite nicely.
If the dress was a tight bird print, it wouldn't work as well. Since the prints are different concentrations, I give it my stamp of approval. (Again, I'm much more liberal in patterns than most.) What do you think?

Dress (remixed)/Skirt (remixed): Ruche

On Tuesday I finally pulled out a heart sweater I got on super sale at Old Navy last year.

I almost forgot about it -- I bought it in the warmer months, so I knew I wouldn't be wearing it until it started getting cold again. I found it while I was rummaging through the things at the top of my closet, and was so excited!

It ended up being a part of a very colorful, playful ensemble. I wanted to remix this polka dot dress, and this sweater was the perfect solution. I kind of loved it. 

Dress (remixed)/Boots (remixed)(shop 1, 2) : Ruche, Sweater: Old Navy 

I've talked before about how much I love these boots, but now I almost just want to put them on a pedestal and stare at them instead of wear them because they're the soft suede that is so easily scuffed.
It's a part of boot-wearing life, so I need to just let them live out their life without fear. But I want them to live a very very long time.
Or maybe I'll just buy like 3 back-up pairs.
On that note, Ruche is almost sold out, but I found them a bit cheaper on Urbanog, if you're interested (in buying me back-up pairs)!

color me in critters

Dress (remixed)(shop!): Ruche, Sweater (remixed)(shop!): JCPenney

Day 20: I realized when I was compiling this week's posts that my Sunday and Monday outfits consisted of a very similar color pattern!
I guess I was feeling cheerful after a brilliant Saturday night at the fair, and a Sunday spent at Chapel Hill with our friends. They showed us around their old college stomping grounds.
It was especially chilly, so we cozied up and went to a cute little breakfast place for coffee and waffles. Then we walked around the beautiful campus and enjoyed listening to their stories and memories.
Something about college days just resonates with me - maybe it's just that way for every graduate. But I loved hearing the details they remembered, like being able to make it to class at a sprint in 3 minutes flat, or where they spent their first date.
There's an odd sense of pride in being alumni, in having belonged to a specific community...one that continues to have a legacy that you're able to be a part of. There's a kind of nostalgia there that I can definitely relate to.

Day 21: I finally succumbed to Dusty's cold, and we have thus spent the week wanting nothing more than to be home, eating soup, in our pajamas.
But since that's not always an option, I stuck to my guns and still wore a dress. Layering with tights, a loose sweater-wannabe top and a scarf helped calm my pajama cravings, and we opted for going on a little double date night at Olive Garden for soup instead!
I pretty much always/only get soup at Olive Garden, so it totally hit the spot.

Dress (remixed): Ruche, Top: LOFT, scarf/earrings: gifted

I'm finding a renewed passion in scarves this fall. I don't think I've ever truly explored the many ways to use them, and I get lost on Pinterest looking at all the different ideas.
It's kind of like the time I realized you could knot and twist belts around your waist, rather than just buckling them. It brings a whole new dynamic to such a simple accessory.

Scarves are often one of those things I forget to use, style wise. I might wear them out of necessity, like in Paris or somewhere truly cold, but every time I see an outfit I really love with a great pop of color from a plaid or floral scarf I remember: oh right! I have a bunch of those. I should wear them.
And this one's extra great because it's a pop of color and a bit of sparkle.

the cusp of summer

I think it's pretty common for me to feel a little bit lost around this season.
It's not quite spring, it's not quite summer. I'm kind of wedged somewhere in between wanting shorts and strappy sandals, and wishing I could go back to boots and sweaters.
The cloudy days are chilly, but the afternoon is hot and humid.

We're visiting Arizona this coming week (we leave tonight!) and I can't wait for true summer. 
The temps are all above 90 degrees, sunshine all the way, and I can already feel the blessed heat on my skin. There's nothing I love more than an Arizona summer.
Although this may be a whole absense-makes-the-heart-grow-fonder delusion. We'll see!

I love the watercolor print of this dress, and how it's always a go-to for remixing.
This dress is definitely in my top 5, as far as how often I've worn the dresses in my closet this past year. Granted, I bought this dress this past year, but that just proves a smart purhcase.

Dress/Belt: Ruche (similar 1, 2, 3, 4), Button-up: J. Crew (similar), Shoes: Gifted (similar)

One of my favorite ways to wear this dress is in the colder months, with a turtle neck layered underneath.
It's a great transitional dress. So far I've been able to wear it all year long, and now I'm just waiting to wear it by itself in the summertime!
It has an adorable cut-out back with a bow, and will be perfect for summer get-togethers.

For now I'm just eagerly awaiting our summer Arizona visit. Counting down the hours!
Maybe I'll bring this dress along. :)