Lipstick and Stripes

I'll be honest, I'm in Memphis already- I took photos of my travel look last night so I could take part in the last Challenge Day! We're all asked to push boundaries and do something that scares us. I will be enjoying the day in Memphis wearing lipstick. Not just lipstick, but bright fire-engine RED lipstick. Have you all seen me in lipstick any more than once? Nope. And that was a rose pink. So, true to rockabilly pin-up aesthetics, I thought I would wander around Memphis music museums in the correct shade. It's loud, it's really "there" but I kind of like it. I don't think lipstick will ever become part of my signature look because,well, I'll own it, my face is incredibly crooked.

If you want, I plan to post photos and updates of our adventures on Twitter (@KBMcClure) and Instagram (KateBMcClure) all weekend long. Check it all out, if you'd like!

Jeans: Gap Always Skinny...Sweater: Banana, thrifted...Tee: H&M...Shoes: Nine West Outlet

Memphis Bound

Well, let's get this outfit over with...

Imma say it- Open to Interpretation is mucho fun, creativity-inducing, and I thought I had it in the bag. The inspiration photo picked by Kayla to fit into the Winter Challenge is s.t.u.n.n.i.n.g. I was going to wear a tan pencil skirt and everything. Then I realized two things: I have to climb ladders and change lightbulbs today so pants are in order and this sweater is lower cut and not as layerable as I remembered it to be. So I got one stinky picture.

Check out the photo, yadda yadda, but my BIG thing of today is this: My guy and I are driving tonight up to Memphis so spend my the weekend with my birthday buddy, my brother. My parents and brother are driving down from Ohio, we're driving up and we get about 48 hours of family time in to celebrate and ignore the Super Bowl. QUESTION: Who's been to Memphis and what recommendations for food, entertainment, museums, art, shopping do you have? I can't wait for family time and exploring, I just want to be sure I'm eating truly delicious food and sipping fantastic coffee!

Pants: Zara, thrifted...Button-down: thrifted...Sweater: unknown via Buffalo Exchange...Shoes: Naturalizer

A Midweek Chuckle

I rarely check my Blogger stats and I don't know what posessed me to do so last night, but I discovered some reeeeally funny search phrases that led people to my site. Favorites from the past month? Oh, sure:

• slut turtleneck
• DIY crossbow
• dusty blue crayon
• happy bday to my guy friend
• lamest posts

Winners all around. The Crossbow person was undoubtedly very disappointed by the abundance of fluff and lack of sharp pointy objects. And the person who was hoping to find a weird hybrid of boob display and neck coverage surely felt let down by their findings (since I tend to cover everything up  with my turtlenecks).


Anyway, the Winter Challenge is still going full force. I'm so happy about today's prompt to dress up a coat because I usually throw on a coat or jacket as a top layer only and don't really consider planning an outfit around it. So, I went with an ENORMOUS silk bow blouse peeking out to say hello rather than sticking something to the front lapel. And the timing for wearing a coat all day couldn't have been more perfect- most of my work day will be spent out and about in sprinkling rain running errands. I'll be at my desk and will remove my trench for about an hour total. Awesome!

Pants: Gap Really Skinny...Blouse: Banana Outlet...Sweater: Thrifted...Trench: H&M...Shoes: MaxStudio via DSW

Also, through the lovely Marion of Marionberry Style, I discovered What I Wore Wednesday hosted by Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy. Super cute ladies are linking up, check it out!

Winter Brights

I feel like a crayon. 

When Kayla gave the prompt to wear Brights for the Winter Challenge, I ran with it. Strangely, even with all the color, my least favorite part of this outfit is the shamrock green cardi. I think if I'd worn my emerald goodie from Target I would have been happier. The color of this one is bold, yes, but the cut of the sweater itself is a little boxier. Which I don't love. I'll tuck it aside to wear on St. Patty's (it's Bromance's very favorite holiday, so braving the sloshy bar scene for his benefit is something I'll happily do in a boxy perfectly colored cardigan I'm not in like with).


Please please please play along with the Winter Challenge this week- it's wonderfully theraputic and is stretching my style sense in some really great ways. (And getting involved will introduce you to some really lovely and charming bloggers! Making connections is the best part about this whole blogging experience, huh?)

Skirt: thrifted...Tee: Target...Button-down: J Crew...Cardigan: Gap...Belt: Target...Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction via Piperlime...Jewelry: DIY and thrifted ring

Early Morning Excitement

We had the strangest late night last night- We snuggled in at 9:30 and started snoozing but were ruuuudely awakened at 3:00 am to the sound of car parts crunching over the curb right at our corner (our apartment is a funny old 30's gem with paper-thin windows), drunken dudes hollering, tire irons clanging, cursing, cursing, cursing. By the time 3:40 rolled around, they were still cursing and trying to change their popped tire and I got curious about who the frick it was. So, I looked out the window to see a "brah" looking dude with a flat-brimmed trucker cap and chin strap facial hair and another hipster-dude with a Beatle bowl cut, thick glasses and flannel (How did these two meet?! It seems like they should have been worlds apart!) and was sneaking a nosy peek juuust as my sweet upstairs neighbor walked out to tell them to give it a drunken rest until morning- if they couldn't change the tire within 45 minutes, it wasn't going to happen. Bless her, I'm sure my tolerance for noise is much greater than hers, but even I was annoyed. My Guy and I had a horrible time settling back down to sleep, I think I finally zoned back out at around 5. Yeeehaw!

The car was still at the corner this morning with a deflated tire when I walked the dog. Drunken goons.

Skirt: F21 (old)...Sweater: Gap...Scarf: Liberty of London, thrifted...Belt: thrifted...Shoes: Target

This skirt and modest pump combo remind me a little of the 40's with a long, slim hem. I'm happily covering my knees to be on-trend with an era to hook up with the Winter Challenge again today. This week has prompts that are going to force me to think a little harder, which is great! I was also sweetly invited to join My Greatest Hits' ABC's of Fashion Challenge and this works beautifully today for K is for Knits. Check them out!

Wild Mixing and Matching

There's a lot going on in this outfit. I started pattern mixing this buttondown with some other sweater options, but I kept coming back to the wonderful weirdness with the floral cardigan. And then realized I had a striped shirt with the same mushroom and white tones. Eh, why not jumble them all together? Fun and just a liiiiittle over the top.

Isn't it funny how many more wild and awesome pattern mixing options you can come up with when you're given a prompt to really think about it in a new and different way? Challenges are so good for getting your creative juices flowing! I've been singing the blues about missing my neutrals all week as a result of forcing myself out of my comfort zone, but I'm pretty sure this look satiates both my need for quiet non-colors and another jump outside of my box.

Pants: Zara...Tee & Button-down: J Crew Outlet...Cardigan: Target...Belt: Banana...Shoes: Naturalizer

A different Icon

Again, I'm going against the grain and am NOT channeling Audrey. Again. And again. Below is my attempt at a Zoe Saldana-style look. I always admire how long and lean she looks, how effortlessly elegant in casual wear. I started analyzing what I'm most drawn to and it's this equation:
Long, narrow pants + tee or blouse tucked in + Cardi or Blazer + Sky-high pumps and minimal accessories = Street Style Chic. Additionally, I parted my hair in the middle. Whoopdie-do. I'm really shaking it up, huh?

In other news, it rained like crazy down here yesterday. I very much enjoy the lightning and thunder. I find it calming and energizing, which is just what I need during days of preparing Boss Lady for another trip out of town. So much to do, so little time!

Pants: Gap Really Skinny...Tee: Gap...Blazer: thrifted...Shoes: BCBGeneration via Buffalo Exchange...Belt: Gap...Necklace: Favorite Beijing vendor

And here's my inspiration:

The Maxi Trend

I have worn more color this week during the Winter Fashion Challenge than I have in many many weeks past. I kind of don't like it. I don't feel like myself. It all looks put-together, true enough, but I feel kind of "young" and loud. And like I ought to be in the midst of springtime. Upside: I'm nearly wearing pajamas on my lower half today.

Challenge yourself, force yourself out of a comfort zone. Hate it a little, but do it anyway.

I waaaaant my neutrals back!

Maxi: via Ross...Blouse: Target...Cardigan: Target...Belt: thrifted...Shoes: Nine West Outlet

Somethin' Different

The Winter Challenge today is Monochrome. Which I do all the time. In blacks and neutrals and blacks. And blacks. So, I'm branching out (and making use of the only three red-based articles of clothing I own). And I figured this would be better than transforming into a big blob of blues- my collection of slate blue, cobalt blue, dusty blue, ocean blue and crayon blue is pretty extensive, but similar enough to have no visual interest from piece to piece. Which leads us to this incredibly loud red color scheme.

Skirt: thrifted...Shirt: Target via Buffalo Exchange...Cardigan: via Buffalo Exchange...Shoes: Target

Layered Blouses

For the first time in a good long while, my guy said "Hey, you look really nice today." I'll take it. More often than not, we compliment the dog on being cute before we compliment each other. Oops.

I can't tell you all how excited I am to be taking part in the Winter Edition Challenge hosted by Kayla at Freckles in April. She's such a positive, cheerful, encouraging blogger and the massive undertaking that was the 21 Day Challenge back in the fall was my intro to the blogging community. I'm so grateful that so many new friends were in those links and she allowed it to be so easy to find them! Check it out, think about joining us and have some fun!

Skirt: Banana Republic, thrifted...Blouses: J Crew and Odille, thrifted...Belt: thrifted...Shoes: BCBGeneration via Ross...Necklace: DIY

...And my dog is indeed cute.

Lookin' Good for Tennis Golf

My Guy's bromance exposed us all to something dangerously addictive: Tennis Golf. Well, we call it Beer Golf, but here's the details:

Whack a tennis ball with a golf club to an agreed upon target in a field. Give it a random par. Drag a cooler of crappy canned beer and drink. Repeat until you're feeling done.

Let me preface all of this by mentioning that this group of friends and fellow golfers are Grad students and Doctoral candidates at an institute of higher learning ranked in the top 20 in the States. And we putt tennis balls around campus like a bunch of tipsy goobers.

Naturally, it was the final day of the 21 Day Challenge and I needed to both look my best and remix one last time. For the first day in AGES, we had a reprieve from the heat with spits of rain, so I was weirdly chilled- return of my teal cardigan! I am a jeans and oxford button down girl at heart, so I went with what makes me feel most comfortable in my skin today. I may not have been dressed to my fullest potential, but I felt good.

Button down: Target...Cardigan: Gap...Jeans: Gap Real Straight...Shoes: Nine West Outlet

Earrings: J Crew Outlet... Oh, hi Frizz.

My Guy's "adopted" little sister, Roo.

Tomorrow we are heading over to Roo's place for the Composer Party to kick off the new school year. I looooooooove cookouts and potlucks.

See you all tomorrow evening, with drool all over my face and coleslaw on the front of my shirt. Because I'm a glutton.

Sunday Shoes, worn on Saturday, posted on Sunday

My Guy and I went to a BBQ (pulled pork, homemade BBQ sauce, Mississippi style with homemade coleslaw on top. Y.U.M.) yesterday afternoon and I was faaaar and away the most overdressed person there. It was hosted by the electronic music and equipment Guru and attended by all of the composer nerds (all dudes) plus a significant other or two. We had a lot of fun singing our heads off and playing the piano and  guitar because, naturally with music geeks you'll have a few really really talented members of the group.

Anyone recognize the dress? Oops.

Dress: Target...Cardigan: Target via Buffalo Exchange

Shoes: BCBGGeneration via DSW

Gold Pod Necklace: Banana...Short Pearls: China...Long Pearls: J Crew...Earrings: Banana

I'll check in later with a little peek at what I'm wearing today. Happy holiday weekend, everyone!

Coming out a-Head

Terrible pun. Sorry, guys.
Let's be real here. A fedora at the office will never be functional. During cleaning day, neither will a feathered plume, a pillbox hat, a birdcage veil, or a wide-brimmed sunhat. Today's challenge was to adorn my noggin, so a headband, perhaps? With little jersey flowers? DIY cuteness and head adornment, I win at life today. It's Friday, thaaaaank goodness. I'm going to keep getting this enormous house ready for my boss' return, then retire to the Grad bar for evening cheap beers as the sun goes down.

Pants: Gap...Tank: Gap...Blazer: Gap...Belt: Banana Republic...Shoes: DSW

DIY headband...Earrings: Banana Republic

 I'm a walking Gap Ad. Eep. To be fair, I worked there part time for 2 years. It was only natural.

This headband was super easy to make. I cut long strips of jersey, folded them in half and started using a running stitch along the raw edges, pull them tight to make the fabric wavy and let it coil, tacking the fabric to itself occasionally to keep it's form.

Enjoy your Friday evening, I can't wait to have some time tomorrow to spend in my closet looking for a fabulous outfit involving my Sunday Shoes.

Making a Statement

We're nearing the end of the 21 Day Challenge! Eep!
I'm up to my ears at work today in dust and window cleaner. My boss returns from her summer away on Sunday, so we're getting everything ready. Sooo, my hair is a wreck, my clothes are totally utilitarian, and I did my best to work in my very favorite statement necklace. It's totally out of place, but the kick of color is a cheerful pick-me-up for the drudgery of cleaning.

Shirt: J Crew Outlet...Paints: Zara...Shoes: Naturalizer, thrifted... Necklace: gift from Korea

Nearly the silliest shoes I've ever owned.

 Are the shoes loafers? Moccasins? Skimmers? Whatever they are, they're ridiculous.

So here's a question for you all. I'm having a heck of a time figuring out how to style this necklace. It's a prized possession, but I very rarely wear it. The patchwork silk is so lovely, but it's an awkward length. Please help me figure out what else to wear to showcase this piece!


Well, My Guy fiiiiiiinally wrapped up the String Quartet with electronics piece he was working on all summer. The quartet was finished at least a month ago, but he's had to record, manipulate and program the interactive electronics and it took for.ev.er. Fooor.eeev.errr. Goonies? Anyone? What do you think he wants to do to celebrate? "Well, there's a rehearsal of it tonight, I think I'm going to sit in." Not even a day's break. Poor darling.