I have had fun the last two days creating outfits around the new clutch my boss brought back from Italy. I found out that she bought it at the original Coccinella store where the brand first launched in the 1800's. I thought that was a fun piece of history to add to an already well loved gift!

I wore yesterday's outfit (pics 1-2) to get my hair cut, then out for dinner with my friend/hairdresser. The new-to-me, thrifted silk blouse is a little more toned down IRL than these photos show. The red/orange is more faded looking and is the only orange I can wear near my face - I guess there is just enough red in it, and it isn't bright. The cream in the top is also a very interesting shade - quite a taupe-y white. I have a complicated relationship with white so I wasn't quite sure if it was off. Still, I really loved the colors and felt it was worth the $8 to try. I also enjoyed pairing it with my green clutch (worn as a cross body for this outfit)! My adorable photo bomber/photographer is wearing a true, bright red shirt, so that might also help show the color of my top.

Today's church outfit (pics 3-5): I have mixed feelings about this one. I desperately want to love it. The dress was something my boss bought years ago in Europe (the tag says Noa Noa) and the cotton has an amazing feel - sort of soft/crunchy like a linen, but thicker, and has a sheen to it. It is also an unusual shade of what I like to call baby blush. I really kind of love it, but on me it is crazy ultra low contrast. This dress was a gorgeous long dress with a sort of bubble hem that had these tiny little gathers every so often from the knees down. It was truly original and so cool, but I never wore it. In my life there hasn't been a scenario where I felt comfortable wearing the long version of this dress. So I cut it off in what I'm pretty sure was a crime against fashion, and the designer. I just realized that I needed to either cut it off and wear it, or get rid of it. I can play with the belt - maybe bring it around front. This time I tied it in the back. I'm also not a big fan of going sleevless, but thought that was better than adding a topper into the mix (and it was delightfully comfortable in this heat!). To bring some contrast I added all of my favorite greens and green/blues. I've given you some close ups to show both the low contrast of the dress, my skin, hair, shoes, and bits of gold in the accessories, as well as a set to show the contrast of the colors and accessories. I love both of the detail photos so much more than the overall look (excuse the perplexed/annoyed look on my face - between the sun and directing my impatient photographer, I couldn't think about my face). Perhaps there is enough happiness factor for me in the details that I can get past the overall outfit flattery? What are your thoughts?