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.