Big Game Hunter

As soon as I saw this necklace, I was thinking "Africa. Safari." and picturing something with a traditional "big game hunter" style (minus the silly hat). And from the display pictures, I knew that the necklace looked great against a grey background, and not so good directly on skin.

I found exactly the shirt I was looking for on ShopRuche - the traditional safari/big game look in grey. And with the shirt buttoned up, the necklace can lie directly against the fabric. A blousy white jacket softens the overall look.

For the bottom part of the outfit, I decided I wanted something yellow, simply because yellow works great with both grey and turquoise. I couldn't find a skirt I liked though. A narrow cut skirt, which continued the straight lines of the blouse, was too dressy, but a more casual skirt, with a fuller cut, looked unbalanced. And I didn't like how how a skirt was impacting the safari theme. So, as much as I dislike coloured pants, I decided on these slim-cut yellow crop pants.

And for shoes? At first, I thought about a shoe that would add some colour flair, but with the yellow pants, it made the overall look very bottom-heavy with colour. So instead I went with just a basic grey wedge sandal .

And to complete the outfit? A bracelet with the same stone as the necklace - turquoise magnesite - with a pop of yellow magnesite also. (In a perfect world, the bracelet would carry the same triangle motif as the necklace, though.)

You Transfix Me Quite

"You transfix me quite." Rochester (in Jane Eyre)

This outfit came together slowly over time. First, I found the sweater at Modcloth. I love the colours - a "is it brown or is it grey?" background with abstract roses in shades of blue and peach. Then I found the shoes, and much later the skirt, which echoes the base colours in the sweater and adds a contrasting print.

As much as I liked how the pieces worked together, with matching colours but diverse fabrics, I just wasn't feeling the focus or the passion of outfit. And then yesterday I found a necklace on Etsy that brought everything together.

Made with peach aventurine and antique brass, the necklace is the perfect colour and the perfect "mood" for the outfit. And the artist named the necklace "Jane Eyre" which totally explained it all. Jane Eyre (the character in the novel of the same name) was a study in contrasts - romantic and sensible, strong and tender, passionate and restrained.

The outfit also is all about contrasts - the comforting merino wool of the sweater, the sturdy heavy cotton of the skirt, the romantic whimsy of the flowers, the regimented tradition of the stripes, the practical low heel of the shoe,the soft elegance of the necklace.

(And how appropriate to post a Jane Eyre outfit during the week when the DVD of the 2011 version of the story is being released.)

Tantalizing Teal

A vintage 40s style dress in a lovely shade of teal

 

Vintage heels with a fun bow and just a hint of teal

Accesorized with this ultra glam beaded necklace, with shades of orange and teal and a pop of purple.

Vertical Vertigo

Stripes have fun on this dress from Sportmax.

 

Balance all those lines with some simple circular jewelry.

And this "Lizze" pump from Lola Ramona ties it all together - stripes on the heel and circles on the bow.

Away in Margaritaville

Casual chic...perfect to wear while sipping a frozen drink after a long day of sunshine.

A simple blouse with ruffles from UrbanMinxx

Accessorized with fun jewelry (earrings and necklace) with an orange square motif

Comfy yet elegant shorts from French Connection

And sandals from Ghigo

Summer Festival

Start with a pink leopard-print patent leather pump from Jimmy Choo.

 Add a retro white-and-black polka dot dress.

Front View - Back View

Accessorize with a chunky necklace that brings together the colour scheme and adds some lime green pop. (I had to crop the pic of the necklace because the original had a truly hideous charm attached to it.)

She Ain't No Angel

This black and brown animal print jacket and corresponding lariat-style necklace get a pop of colour with a blue Dolce & Gabanna silk dress that continues the animal print theme. Lace-up black boots complete the outfit with vampy flair.

You and Uncle Sam

This ensemble has echos of the 40's - the era of wartime romances and women's liberation. A cherry-red tulip-style skirt is paired with a black military jacket. The black-and-red theme continues with statement making spectator pumps and a cherry Bakelite necklace. (Never heard of Bakelite? Amazing stuff! Read about it here.)

Queen of the Jungle

This burnt sienna cashmere sweater is paired with a basic black denim pencil skirt. The outfit goes to the jungle wearing these shoes - burnt sienna with leopard print accent. A necklace with leopard print and turquoise beads both ties the outfit together and adds an extra pop of colour.

Somewhere It's Spring

This amazing chartreuse-turquoise-yellow flowered jacket makes a bold statement all on its own. Dress it up with a turquoise blouse and flared white skirt, or take it casual with a denim trouser and a timeless white v-neck T (both from Banana Republic). Take your pick of shoes - either a yellow flat with a turquoise swirl design, or a white flat with a peek of turquoise at the toe. 

i carry your heart

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

~e.e. cummings 

A sweetly romantic ensemble - a cream coloured blouse with ruffled bib (from ModCloth), a black and cream tweed skirt (from John Lewis), both embellished with black rick rack trim. and a basic black pump from Chinese Laundry. A tailored fuschia cashmere cardigan sweater adds a pop of colour, and amber-and-rose chandelier antiqued earrings complete the look.

Of Wildfell Hall

This outfit brings to mind Helen Graham, the protagonist of Anne Brontë's novel "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall," who is solid and practical but also believes in fairytale romance.

A conventional grey and brown  jigsaw herringbone skirt from John Lewis and a practical shoe in the same colour scheme is offset by the ultra-feminine aqua blouse with bow from Miss Selfridge. A fitted curry velvet jacket is both sensible and whimsical. And pinned to that jacket is a brooch that bears what could possibly be the silhouette of Helen Graham, with dangling poetic charms. 

In The Mood For Love

A little vamp, a little poetry, and an ensemble of red....all the essential components of an outfit to wear when celebrating Cupid.

This outfit features a red silk cami with fitted waist and lace embellishments, black Gwenivere jeggings by  7 for mankind, and red snakeskin boots by Christian Louboutin. The "Pocket Full of Roses" steampunk necklace crowns the ensemble with romance.