Making it Work: Peppered and Striped

Good Evenin', mah dears!

It's been awhile, I know...since my last post, and since I've done a making it work feature.

As you know, if you follow, I've been doing an inordinate amount of work on

a couple special projects and not near enough dressing up. =)

To fill in the space, I thought about working up a few polyvore sets, then realized it

would be much more interesting to ask some lovely ladies out in the

blogging world to help me with this special feature.

If you follow these ladies, you've already seen these pictures,

but I thought putting them together in one place would be nothing short of a visual feast.

They are mothers, professionals, bloggers, and newlyweds

wearing the Peppered and Striped skirt from Anthropologie in beautiful and diverse ways.

Courtnee

Anthro Pick a Bunch Cardi, her own shoes

This was the first styling I saw of the skirt, and is still one of my faves,

mainly because it is so quintessentially her--such a genius at mixing colors.

When I met up with Courtnee last November in Cincinnati,

I got to see her mad styling skills in action and it didn't take her 20 seconds to pull this together.

If ever you need new inspiration on how to combine different colors, she's your girl.

Kim

J.Crew Cardigan, Anthro Dotty Cluster tights, Mia Mary Janes

Last January, February and March, I was pretty much stuck in my house

recuperating from a double neuro-surgery. It was an overwhelming time

during which I felt weak, useless and not-pretty (if that's an expression).

I came across Kim's blog one day and have followed ever since.

She has a unique ability to spin every piece into it's most feminine, pastel version,

and like her styling here, manages to incorporate lavender wherever she can.

Tara

J.Crew cardi and tank, UO Suede Pumps

I discovered Tara's blog only a couple months ago, but she always

inspires with her words, beauty, and more often than not, a brightly-colored pair of shoes.

She has this amazing knack at putting a glamorous spin on every piece.

Her outfits always stir the imagination and leave you wondering, "Now, why didn't I think of that?"

Carol

James Perse Blouse, Mui Mui Pumps

I adore Carol. For starters, she's been with me from the beginning, but more than that...

She's funny. She's smart...and we both love LOTR (translation: Aragorn).

I'm always teasing her, "Everything you recommend, I find myself

rushing out to buy, or at least wishing I could buy."

I think it's because we're both mothers that I have a certain affinity for her style.

She gets it. Everything she pulls together makes me think,

Wow, I could wear that and be a mommy, too!

Jinah

J.Crew cardi and socks, American Apparel tank, Her Majesty Seychelles

Jinah just looks fabulous, doesn't she? That color cardigan is perfect, and I love that

she doesn't shy away from socks with pumps, 'cuz this has been coming

for a long time.

Jan

LOFT blouse, Land's End Heritage Cardi, Target Merona Marylynn Pumps

Jan is another mother who's "layering ways"I find absolutely adorable.

We are both girly girls trying to raise two sons, and I love her blog

both for her humor and well-coordinated taste. Plus, like me, she's petite,

so I always enjoy getting her take on what works and what doesn't.

Tien

Anthropologie Jam Jar Cardigan, Bush Berry tights, Poetic License shoes

Tien is impeccable and creative. Whenever I feel like I need to

look a little more like a grown-up, I look to Tien. She's a master at pulling together

the details; of evoking an emotion in you simply with what she's wearing.

The posts on her blog always leave me with the sense that

I've just experienced a work of art.

Me

J.Crew tank, Anthro Wish You Were Here Cardi and Lost Glasses tights, UO belt

So, obviously, I'm not gonna sit here and expound on myself,

especially when I just posted this outfit a couple weeks ago.

But here's the take-away value of this post.

A simple wool skirt isn't just one skirt--it's six or 10 or 12.

It's the base for as many looks as you're brave enough to wear.

So, go buy your wardrobe a gray, wool skirt, 'cuz it really wants one,

it just can't figure out how to tell you...=)