Rainy Day Blues

Happy 4th day of the 2nd month! IT'S IMOS(International Month of Shoes)!!!!

Today, it's wet, and rainy, and relatively chilly. I'm in the mood for a cozy escape from the rain that's spring-y, but not hello, April spring. Ya know what I mean? :)

So, here's the shoe, -er boot!

I love that color! It's so springy! At first, I wanted something that looked like it belonged in February. Something that said, "Yay, spring is coming, but I shouldn't get too far ahead of myself." Then I saw them. Sitting there so happy and ready to splash in puddles and stop to smell the roses. Then I thought, "Well, what do you wear with rainboots?" This is pretty much how the "conversation" went.

"Self, those are the perfect boots. But how should we style them?"

"Self, I completely agree. I don't wear boots unless it's raining or gray. If it's rainy/gray, I want to a) be bright (light up the world with color, pattern, and all-around happiness), and b) wear something that works in the rain.

"Love it! I'm thinking rain coat. In a bright color?"

"Totes def!"

So that's how it all went down. And because I'm indecisive, and I love both of these, I have two.

{Zara}

And it's on sale! I love the quilted, shiny, champagne color! And because I would consider it a failed post to give you just one option, I give thee an adorable raincoat complete with polka dots!

{Hollister}

I'm so loving the cobalt with the apple color! It seems so fresh! Now for pants/jeans. This is where I really have to think. Should I do skinnies? Black, denim, color? While I decide on that, I have an item that was a complete no-brainer. I mean seriously, a no-brainer.

{Nordstrom}

Thank you, Kate Spade, for only some of the wittiest, most inspiring things ever in the history of wittiness. It's so charming! But I'm a liar. It actual wasn't a no-brainer. I considered this one, too.

It just looks like the perfect bag for a rainy day in February: polished, charming, waterproof, and colorful, but not overly cheery. I heart Kate Spade.

And speaking of Kate Spade, observe. Only the best rainy day iPhone case ever.

I mean, seriously, could it be any more perfect?!

Anyway, I think this outfit needs some earrings.

They seriously look sunny. And how gorgeous is that color?

So. Back to pants. I'm still thinking...

And the rest of the outfit is pretty bright, so I'm thinking not-so-bright in the jeans area. Is simplicity the way to go? I'm not sure, but I think it's getting pretty vibrant, and I don't want too much crazytown.

{Roxy}

Roxy makes amazing jeans. I have some, and I love them! I knew I needed something that was denim, without being too denim-looking. Something that was a relatively solid color. Then I remembered  my Roxy jeans. I know these are solid, but I also know that it's the best look for the otherwise-busy outfit. 

So that's my rainy day mood-booster! What do y'all think? Also, how's IMOS? Good? Bad? Want more? Less? I need to know! :)

Oh, I almost forgot! You can't have rain and Hunter boots without wellies!!!

{Hunter}

I love a little coziness with a rain-ready outfit. Wellies are a must. The apple green required the ivory because, well, it was the only hue that was quiet and didn't compete, but also, it compliments the green. The shade slightly relates to the bag with a subtle nudge, and I'm loving the result! 

I really thought about my multiple options, and I think at the end of the post, I should say what my final vision is. And today, I think I prefer the Hollister rain coat with polka dots, and for the bag, that's your decision. As I mentioned earlier, I'm indecisive. I'm so tied between the two Charm bags. Help me! I know internet dwellers are shy in the comment department, but I honestly want to know what you guys think! Is the color on the travel bag a necessity? Overkill? Is the rain bag too literal? I'm so torn! 

And that Concludes my High Tops Segment...

Wow, Birdy. Two whole posts! Well, it's not as easy to style high as you might think.

Happy third day of IMOS! And my shoe of the day is...

{Minnetonka}

Minnetonka Moccasins! I have some and lurve them! These aren't the exact ones, but they're pretty darn close. I've seen a lot of moccasins lately, and personally, Minnetonka are my faves. They seem authentic. 

Now for the outfit... I've never been really into flares or trousers or wide leg styles in jeans... but one day, I went to AE and bought some (begged my mom for them). Then I had a problem: What shoes should I wear? I know everyone loves wedges with flares, but I couldn't do it. I may be a dancer, but that doesn't mean I'm graceful when I comes to heels. I wobble and wibble and eventually fall. I always laugh (quietly and politely) at girls who wear heels before they're ready. 

So that's when I tried moccasins. Love em! They may not "elongate my legs," but the jeans are really casual, so it wasn't completely necessary. So, without further ado...

{AE}

They are so crazy comfy! I can't even describe how comfortable they are! And I bought a "short" size so I wouldn't trip. So far it's worked. 

And the shirt. It's still pretty brisk, so I'm feeling cozy knits in spring colors. But, you never know.  I haven't found it yet, so it could be a sequin tank top with feathers (it won't).

{J Crew}

Thank you, J. Crew, for actually having what I envisioned! Actually, kind of. Originally, I was hoping for Madewell polka dots, a la Kate Bosworth...

But, it's an old (ish- fall, I think) sweater in not-so-spring-y colors.

Also, I know that Solange Knowles love J.Crew knits. If it's good enough for someone related to Beyonce, it's good enough for me!

But that's not all. I have more options! Yay for the internet!

{All from J.Crew}

How's that for eye candy? I crave color. 

The first two are probably best with the shoes and jeans, but sometimes, I can't resist. :)

Happy third day of IMOS!

Simplicity. I mean it this time!

Take two.

How about 80's? I'm thinking exaggerated 80's... shiny, purple, and with a very high top...

{Adidas}

I was not kidding! 

Okay, so, simple. 

{Jolt- Nordstrom BP}

I love Jolt jeans. They are so comfortable! I wear my purple ones twice as much as I thought I could. I'm obsessed.

For the shirt I'm think pretty simple, but not just solid black. Maybe I'll get a little crazy.

{AE}

Yes, I just lost my mind. 

Now for a bag or something... I really want a color/craziness overload!

{Marc Jacobs}

I did it! I'm so proud! I mixed fushia with purple! I've always wanted to do that! Oh happy day! And I'm so jealous of whoever has this purse. I love Marc Jacobs little purses. Especially in bright, vibrant colors. And, hello, there's a birdy on it. How perfect. 

Also, I accomplished another achievement. I styled an outfit with high tops in under 30 minutes! New record! Happy IMOS!!!!!!!

Simplicity.

Happy 1st official day of IMOS! (International Month Of Shoes for those of us new to the party)

Okay, take a breather. Yesterday's post was a little rough. Breathe...

No. No. Nooooo... I feel a letter coming on... it won't go away... about... to... explode......

Dear Lucky Magazine,
1. You are my favorite magazine of all time ever.
2. I love your February issue.
3. I want to be the next Brandon Holley. A girl can dream...
4. You inspired me to do a post that's a bit... different...
Love,
Birdy

*sigh of relief* The internet didn't implode.

Anyway, Lucky did a a page devoted to high tops. I used to play basketball. I had apple green Converse high tops with white polka dots. Loved em! In honor of my basketball years (and of course, Lucky, my inspiration), I'm doing these first few official IMOS days on high tops!

{Bea}

Actually, these were in Lucky Magazine, same color, same brand, same style. What would I do without Lucky?! 

I'm still recovering from my last post, so I'm sticking with Lucky's plan: "A flouncy, floral mini."

Flouncy, floral mini... brain freeze. Where can I find a flouncy floral mini?

Hmmmm... it's spring... the season for florals... 

... a full 60 minutes later...

I checked everywhere... so I finally resorted to searching "floral mini" in Google Images. After some hard core searching, I stumbled upon Hipster Chic. 

{Hipster Chic}

Picture me smiling in approval. The shoes needed something floral, but they also needed some black. 

Okay, now a shirt. 

Oh my gosh, hold your breath...

{J.Crew}

I know what you're thinking. Wow, how creative. A black tank. Let's think. We're wearing metallic high tops and a floral mini skirt. Is an exciting top really necessary? 

Ugh. So much for my "simple, quick outfit." But tomorrow, or the day after, I have something truly quick and easy, but definitely on my wow-that's-pretty-cool list. Cross your fingers, wish me luck!

A Chipper, Cheery Love... Jelly Shoes?

Have I confessed my love of jelly yet? Not actually jelly (which I'm completely opposed to, btw), but jelly shoes and such? It doesn't even have to be an actual jelly shoe. Even if it's just slightly translucent or just plain bright, I love jelly shoes. So for today's IMOS post, I have a "jelly shoe" (yes, that's a technical term).

{Juicy Couture}

It's not a jelly shoe, but it comes pretty close. Like, when-I-first-saw-them-I-thought-they-were-jelly-shoes close. Maybe it's the color... Maybe I'm delusional (it's been pretty warm until, like, today, when it was 40˚. I miss spring!)... but I need a little pick-me-up-spring-is-almost-here outfit. 

A bright shoe requires an equally bright top. Thank you, AE for $10 tank tops. 

{American Eagle}

Actually, I couldn't find it on the website. I saw this picture and knew what I was going for, but I couldn't find this exact tank for sale. I know it's from AE though. :(  This is the tank I wanted to use, but it won't work, so... an alternative. 

Eh, looks cheap (it is), and I'm not loving the color with the inspiration shoes. 

Better, but it's a solid color. I NEED A PATTERN. Deep breaths... deep breaths...

We're getting there. I'm loving the colors and stripes. I wish it was a tank top, but hey, you win some, you lose some.

Interesting. I like it. It's not exactly the angle I was going for, but I like it. The colors are vibrant and spring-y. Intriguing.

Well, I have no choice. I'm changing the shoes (*collective gasp*). Plot change! 

Ooooh! Aaaaah! They're the exact same shoes... but in a different color palette! 

Now for shorts... it was going to be jeans bright shade of watermelon, cobalt, or any color that requires sunglasses, but we'll see how it turns out!

Wow. I love it! With the shoes... not the shirt. It's okay with the shirt/shorts combo... but I'm not sold. It may be extremely casual, but it still needs a little surprise! Who knew flip flops and a t-shirt took so much thought?

Pink? 

I never thought I'd say this, but I think turquoise, tribal-printed short shorts are definitely freezin' my popsicle! Don't get me wrong, I've always loved these shorts, but I never thought my original jelly shoes would somehow get mixed in with them! I'm pleasantly surprised.

Wow. This post has definitely taken a path of it's own! Of course, I wouldn't wrap up a post without my full approval. I approve. And love. Some of these IMOS outfits I would wear. Some (*yesterdaycoughcoughyesterday*) are more like an enjoy-from-the-sidelines looks. This is totes my casual look: A little bright (maybe neon), comfort (jelly shoes!), a surprise twist (THE shorts), and of course, I'm forgetting something... 

ACCESSORIES!

Hello, my loves!

Worn with irony... 

And bicycle earrings... because I can :)

Much better! Maybe throw in a few more necklaces, and big bow in your hair, and a pitcher of lemonade... ahhhh summer... :)

*apologies for the very hard-to-follow post! I'm a little rusty!

**double apologies for the very AE-heavy post. What can I say? I'm captivated by color!

Getting Crazy

Good Morning, Birdies! I don't usually (ever) do two posts a day, unless it's something important. Well, this isn't exactly important, but I've been thinking about the technical side of my blog lately. It's a bit- well, boring. So recently, I've decided to change it up! I want my blog to be as pretty/Birdy-ish as possible. So today, my theme is the IMOS outfit I posted earlier today. It may stay that way for a week or a month or a day, but I want to find a great look that I can keep! Also, there's a blog called In the Fun Lane. I'm obsessed with the colors, birds, and chevrons! That's probably as close as you can get to perfect Birdy-ness. But, for now, I can't do it because a professional did hers, and I am waaaaaaaaaay far from being a pro at anything technical. So I'll try my best, but I need feedback! If you love it, tell me! If you think there's room for improvement, tell me! But not "Birdy, I hate the new look." More like "Hey Birdy! I love your blog! I really liked that time when                ." Or, "OMG Birdy, I love this new design! It's sooooooo perfect! I love it because               ."

Thanks so much! Love you all!

P.S. What color palette should I use? suggestions? Colors to avoid at all costs? I need to start somewhere! Also, did you guys like the fish? Should I invite them back? I wish I could do a cool pattern- I'm definitely lacking in the pattern department.

Shoes Aplenty

I love shoes. Surprised? Ya, me neither. As a result of my shoe obsession, I declare February National Shoe Month. How's that sound? Wait, I have a better name: International Month of Shoes. Peeeeeeerfect! So for a little taste of IMOS, I have a some very happy, cheery, springy, and colorful shoes.

{Sperry Topsider}

How cute are these? I love me some happy shoes, and BANG! Via the internet, I give you..... happy shoes.

I'm not the crazy-preppy type, but a very preppy outfit well... popped into my head. Thank you, shoes, for your serious inspiration and making me want to go to boarding school.

Since I can't just wear shoes, today's pre-IMOS outfit is all about major prep.

I'm thinking white ruffles.

{Hollister}

And.... for the the final act.... a pretty pink polo for the preppiest princess on the planet.

{Ralph Lauren}

And if Ralph Lauren isn't your thing *coughcough*, I'm thinking button downs. Honestly, any color imaginable (not literally. Burgundy is not spring green's bff) would work. Yellow? Check! Magenta? Check! Blue? Check! But, I'm feeling pretty preppy today... so I'm falling back on an old friend... pink.

{Hollister}

Truthfully, I'm 13. I am not wearing a Ralph Lauren polo before I have to. Hollister may be a less... preppy (I'm getting tired of that word)... but the shirt fits the bill... tuck it in, add a belt...

{Anthropologie}

... And, viola! Turquoise fabulousness (lovin' the yellow one too)! The bow was the icing on the cake. Delish! 

Wow. I went from a quick little post about some awesome shoes to an entire outfit with multiple shirt options, a belt with a bow, and a white lacy, ruffly mini skirt! 

So my one pair of shoes a day morphs into an entire outfit. Typical :)