spring ootd

Charcoal & Sienna

May 17, 2021 by The Partial Ingredients

When it comes to personal style, where do you get your color palettes for your outfit or closet? When I’m in need of some aspirational color goals, I usually turn to nature for guidance. This look was inspired by a recent early Spring hike in the canyon. This marled mini dress from TopShop (now sadly closed/absorbed by Asos) was a perfect addition for my neutral color scheme in my closet. Where I hiked in the canyon was just beginning to turn green due to recent rainstorms, and the reappearance of wildflowers added an injection of whites, purples and yellows to the landscape. The overall appearance of this landscape was mostly a mix of reds, blacks, greys and browns, hence the color scheme for this dress. The area I hiked was also home to a wildfire several years ago, and there’s still a lot of evidence of that in the landscape with the blackened trees on the hillsides. Yes, if you were wondering I am a total dork when it comes to colors.

Now back to the ‘fit: these vintage Bruno Valenti shoes add such a beautiful pop of color into any neutrals based ‘fit. Do you ever look back at your thrifting finds, and think how lucky you were to stumble across them? These simple lace-up booties look great with just about everything — from skinny jeans, to skirts, to dresses. They have been an A+ addition to my closet recently. Also love the added vintage vibes to every outfit without looking dated or “costumey.” That’s one thing I try to be aware of and actively avoid when shopping for anything vintage. Does it make you look like you’re an extra in a period movie? If the answer could possibly be ‘yes,’ avoid at all costs!! Or not, you know, whatever floats your boat, lol.

**Outfit Details:** Dress: TopShop; Tights: Target; Shoes: Bruno Valenti; Necklace: Vintage/thrifted; Bag: LeatherStrata

Babydoll Swing Dress

May 25, 2020 by The Partial Ingredients

I’ve never been a huge fan of babydoll dresses or tank tops as they tend to be a bit unflattering for me personally. I see them on other people and they look great so I think it’s just me! I think I am more of a ‘fit and flare’ gal. This babydoll dress from American Eagle is the exception and I love how it fits. It’s somehow very flattering even though its loose and flowy — not boxy or tented out like I would expect. It’s always nice to be pleasantly surprised by a great fit.

Since it’s been warming up here, I have been wearing this non-stop! It’s so light that it is perfect for hotter days. Seriously, I wore this when it was 89 degrees and it was a life saver. It looks great dressed up or down, as a casual look with sneakers or with heels or sandals. I’m partial to the Converse All-Stars myself. Spring days tend to have colder nights so I paired this with a cozy pullover sweater…perfect for late night bonfires during this gorgeous time of year. Today is Memorial Day and it’s great for a cookout or picnic. Make sure to wear it with a wide brimmed sunhat to protect yourself from those rays!

**Outfit Details:** Sweater: American Eagle; Dress: American Eagle; Shoes: Converse; Bag: Leather Strata; Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters

Bedhead & Denim

May 7, 2020 by The Partial Ingredients

This post is all about Spring coziness — bring on the sweaters, messy hair and jeans! It seems like everyone is feeling sleepier and more morose lately. I think we’re in the doldrums phase of the lock down…and it’s taking a bit of a toll on everyone. Could be the boredom, could be the fact that the days are starting to feel the same.

Well thank God we’re still in that phase of Spring where oversized sweaters can still be worn. Can you imagine being in a lockdown in the heat of Summer? Sheesh, no thanks. Comfy sweaters and messy hair are made for this moment! These jeans from Levi’s (721s), while entirely optional at home, are nearly as comfy as leggings since they have a nice amount of stretch to them. Love the classic blue wash too! Oh yeah, and when I do go outside in this outfit, I will be wearing these Birkenstock’s — the comfiest footwear ever! Just waiting for that day to get out and enjoy it. For now I will keep busy with working on the garden and brainstorming more Spring and Summer looks!

**Outfit Details:** Sweater: Forever 21; Jeans: Levi’s; tee: American Eagle; shoes: Birkenstock Mayari

Spring Violets

April 14, 2020 by The Partial Ingredients

Spring is always a weird time–65 degrees one day, snowing the next. This outfit brought to you by the fickle nature of Spring, when you really want to wear a dress and sneakers, but you also gotta wear tights and a cozy sweater because we’re not quite there yet. It’s close though! I can feel it. The rhubarb plant in our garden sure knows it’s Spring, snow and freezing temperatures be damned! I’m always amazed at the early Spring plants that can tough out a freeze.

This sweater, from American Eagle, is a perfect pullover and so soft! I feel like these types of ultra soft sweaters don’t really hold up during the washer/dryer — they get kind of dry and scratchy but this one has held together quite well! The skirt is actually a full length chiffon wrap dress from Abercrombie and I absolutely love the pattern and the quality of this one. It has become a closet staple since you can easily dress it up or down.

Since warm weather is right around the corner, we recently splurged a bit on these incredible linen sheets from Cultiver (which were on sale but still pricey for sheets). I hate being hot at night (I mean, who does) but waking up at 3AM sweaty is the actual worst. These sheets are made from a 100% natural flax fiber that is breathable and helps regulate temperature. I was a bit unsure about Linen as a material to sleep in. Kind of scratchy right? But nope, I was pleasantly surprised that these come soft right out of the box. They are seriously the most comfortable sheets ever and worth the splurge. They come in a variety of colors that are all so gorgeous, I kind of want them all!