Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Dusk

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This past weekend, between planning a Love Actually potluck (for the uninitiated, that's a potluck where you wear turtlenecks and watch Love Actually -- it's alarming how many turtlenecks are in that movie) and picking up Thanksgiving supplies, Chris and I did a little thrifting. And I bought yet another coat. Since moving to Pittsburgh my winter coat collection has grown to mammoth proportions, which -- let's be real here -- I think has more to do with the stellar quality of Pennsylvania thrift stores and less to do with moving to Pittsburgh. I'm a sucker for a giant lapel and menswear-style silhouette, what can I say? It doesn't hurt that the plaid is the prettiest, there are giant pockets, and this coat is more like a giant blanket. Win, win, and win.

I've been sort of living in variations of this outfit lately -- fluffy sweater, black jeans, big coat, and lots of rings. It's easy to throw on before rushing out to work in the morning (or rushing out to brunch on the weekends).

Are you excited for Thanksgiving? We're spending it at our place, cooking food and maybe heading out for an easy hike. Thanksgiving is a far more relaxed affair since moving far away from family, and I'm looking forward to having the holiday as an excuse to not work, and instead relax, nap, eat, and watch movies.

What I wore:
Coat: Vintage/Thrifted
Sweater & Jeans: H&M
Hat: Target
Boots c/o ShoeMint
Rings (left) c/o Dixi
'Wife' ring: Bueno Bueno
Heart ring: Catbird

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Geometry

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What I wore:
Coat: Gentle Fawn
Sweater: Vintage
Jeans: Madewell
'Alila' Flats c/o Bali ELF
'Chevron' Necklace & 'Akaw' Necklace c/o InfinEight
Hat: Target

One of those rare instances when I was home with a little light after work -- though, apparently, not enough. It's officially cold and dark, making photos difficult, but I'm not complaining. This time of year is nice, you know, while the cold and snow are still magical, before the harsh reality of winter sets in? A little color, by way of a cozy sweater and colorful necklaces is a nice way to brighten things up.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

A Photoshoot with Mandy Fierens

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All photos ©Mandy Fierens

When Mandy Fierens offers to take your picture, you do not say no. Recently, Chris and I posed for this amazing photographer (and dear friend) for some photos that coincided nicely with our second wedding anniversary. After shooting a little in our apartment, we headed over to a nearby graveyard that was bursting with fall colors. This particular graveyard is one of my favorites - despite being full of geese (not a fan) - you can almost always count on seeing tons of deer and maybe a few fat groundhogs.

Since moving away from our favorite photobooth, the amount of recent photos that Chris and I have of us together has dwindled. I love that I can add these to our albums, and I love that my first Pittsburgh friend was the one behind the lens.

If you're in the Pittsburgh region and are getting married next year, be sure to check out Mandy's blog where she's giving away her wedding photography services to one lucky winner!

(My dress is from Darling and is old ModCloth, my tights are Free People, and my shoes are c/o Bali ELF)

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

What We Wore + A Giveaway With Bonlook!

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What I wore: Jacket c/o Aeropostale, Jumper: NastyGal, Top c/o Lulu's, Flats c/o Vogue Footwear, Sunglasses c/o Bonlook, Tights: Free People, Bag: Vintage Coach/Thrifted, Lipstick: NYX 'Tokyo' matte balm.

What Chris wore: Vintage Hunting Jacket: Bobby from Boston, Hat: Target, Shirt & Sweater: J.Crew, Jeans: Gap, Boots: Redwing

When I was in the 4th grade, I remembering wanting glasses so badly. They're accessories! For your face. A friend of mine received a purple-framed pair at the start of the school year, and I thought they were just beautiful. Oh, how that lavender hue would surely compliment the bold laser background of a school portrait! But alas, just as my teeth were too straight for the braces I also coveted at the time, my eyesight was sharp and my own prescription rx eluded me (what is it with kids and wanting braces and glasses?).

Despite not needing a prescription, my glasses obsession has continued in the form of a rather substantial sunglasses collection. So I was delighted when Bonlook offered to send me a couple of pairs to style up! Instead of picking out two pairs for myself, I thought it would be fun to do a style post with Chris, who actually requires a prescription. Not surprisingly, to me at least, when it came to picking out our glasses we chose the same pair. Despite having vastly different takes on style and fashion, Chris and I have a tendency to like the same things and are occasionally (accidentally) known to dress very similarly - especially on the weekends.

While my personal take on style tends to be highly emotional and can vary from day to day, Chris is steadfast in the things he likes. Like me, he appreciates vintage, but his focus is more on the classics. Those timeless items a man needs in his wardrobe: good denim and a wool jacket, solid boots, leather gloves.

Today, Bonlook is offering one lucky winner a pair of glasses or sunglasses of their own! 

To Enter: Go to this link, and enter your email address! Winner will be chosen in 1 week at random by a representative of Bonlook. Good Luck, and be sure to check out all the amazing options that Bonlook has to offer.


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 Thank you to everyone who entered the StyleMint giveaway! The winner via random.org was comment #16, Jennifer.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

A Few Days in NYC

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What I wore:
Army jacket: Vintage (similar)
Pink Sweater: H&M - last year (similar)
Skirt: American Apparel
Sneakers: Aldo
Arizona Bag c/o Bali ELF
Necklaces: Black Sparrow and Charming Charlie 

A few weeks ago I took off to NYC with a few coworkers to cover the Lucky FABB conference for work. Between panel discussions and shooting street style, there wasn't much time to explore. But, with a few hours to kill before my departure flight on Saturday, I set off on a photo-walk (which, admittedly, turned into a shopping expedition), before stopping in to a brunch held by Seychelles. I ended up all the way up by the MoMa, so decided to stop in, where a very kind woman gave me a free ticket! While there, I found out two friends from up North were in town, and was able to grab lunch before winding my way back to the hotel. I originally had plans for those few empty hours, but they all fell through, leaving a wide expanse of time open and free for just me. While at times this sort of shift in my schedule can cause me to feel anxiety, on this particular day, I welcomed the opportunity to be free from schedules, my only obligation was to be at JFK in time for my flight.

I ordered these sneakers specifically for this trip, after seeing them on Holly's Instagram. The sneaker trend of this past year is absolutely something I can get behind, and something that my poor, terrible knees certainly appreciate.
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Thursday, November 14, 2013

A Little Lace and Flannel

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A flannel and a biker jacket? The perfect way to toughen up a girly, lacy dress (and add a little warmth). I've had this dress for a few years now, and it's become a quiet staple. Something I don't wear often, but has stood the test of time.

The temperature has dropped significantly over the past few days, making lots of layers a necessity. I love stepping out into crisp, cold air in the mornings, with a little snow crunching beneath my feet. I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune in a couple of months, but right now I'm savoring this time of year.

What I Wore:
Dress: Darling
Flannel: Old
Jacket: ModCloth (old, similar)
Boots c/o ShoeMint
Ring: UO

See how I wore this dress in 2011 and in 2012.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

One Tee, Three Ways + A Giveaway With StyleMint!

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I'm a firm believer that the right tee can take an outfit a long way. Whether you wear it knotted in the back, or tucked in the front, modified into a crop with a strategically placed knot, or with sleeves rolled up, a basic white or black tee can transform an outfit -- or even a singular piece (like the striped skirt, above, which is actually a dress).

I'm stoked to bring you today's giveaway from StyleMint -- StyleMint is a pretty dreamy concept: Designed by Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen, StyleMint is a free, members-only website offering personalized style recommendations based on your profile (plus free shipping and returns!). Signing up is super easy, and it's fun to see each month's new recommendations -- which range from their classic, super-soft designer tees (which all ring in at $29.99), to of-the-moment trend pieces like faux-leather dresses and varsity-style jackets. 

StyleMint kindly sent me this versatile tee from their new line of basics called "The Classics"-- made from suprima cotton and micro modal -- and one lucky winner from today's giveaway will win a tee-shirt or tank of their choice!

To enter: Visit StyleMint and sign up (it's completely free with absolutely no obligation to buy), and leave a comment here telling me what your favorite top is. Giveaway is open to US and Canada only. A winner will be chosen on November 18th.

See something you love? StyleMint is kindly offering Orchid Grey readers 20% off their first purchase, just click through to redeem! 

-- Thank you to all who entered the Omnia Vintage giveaway. The winner, via Random.org was comment #60, Sandi. -- 

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

November Blaze + A Giveaway with Omnia Vintage (CLOSED)

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What I Wore: Jacket: Thrifted, Sweater: Urban Outfitters, Jeans: Madewell, Boots c/o ShoeMint, Necklace c/o Unexpected Expectancy, Bag c/o Omnia Vintage

I always seem to forget that fall comes a bit later here in Pittsburgh. While my mom talks of leaf peepers and temperatures in the teens in mid-October, I'm left wondering when fall is going to show up here. But then it happens, one day you walk outside, and BOOM! The trees are ablaze and the weather is that perfect kind of crisp.

For this particular fall Saturday, I threw on my favorite sweater (seriously, I only want this sweater, ever), and a light jacket, and grabbed this roomy vintage rucksack from Omnia Vintage for an afternoon of errands and an Ikea date (which is not actually a date, it's still just errands but there are meatballs involved). This bag is reminiscent of a bag of my moms that I've always coveted. I love a good, simple leather backpack, and the forest green color just makes it that much better.

I'm so excited to be partnering with Omnia Vintage today for a giveaway! After three years selling on Etsy, OV proprietress Naomi has opened a brand new online boutique chock full of vintage bags, clothing, and incredible jewelry. Naomi is kindly offering one lucky winner $75 to use towards anything in her shop! Pretty amazing right?

To Enter: Visit Omnia Vintage and take a look around, and leave a comment on this post with a link to your favorite item from the shop. Good luck!

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Tiny print: Giveaway ends on Monday November 11th  at 10pm. One entry per person. Winner will be chosen using a random number generator. Winner will have a 48 hour grace period to respond to email notification before a replacement winner will be chosen.  Be sure to leave an email address in your comment if you do not have a blog where I can EASILY reach you. The winner will be chosen in a timely manner, and notified, but I reserve the right as proprietor of this blog to announce the winner when and if I see fit. Winner is responsible for any additional costs associated with prize (shipping, additional amount spent).
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