Ageless Style: Inspired by a Song
Welcome to this month’s Ageless Style linkup where each month, ten women share their sense of style. This month Jodie of J Touch of Style selected the theme: Inspired by a Song!
I chose The Avett Brothers song, “Pretty Girl at the Airport.”
It’s a melancholy song with lovely harmonies and melodies. I love a sad song. The band themselves (and yes, two of them are actually brothers) are bluegrassy/indie folk rock-y, so I envision these two heartbroken souls at a small-town airport with like cows on the runway. In my mind’s eye I see her dressed a la “grandma chic,” so that’s how I came up with this outfit.
This brown-toned plus size ditzy floral dress from Target gives me all the small-town feels. Layered under an understated brown grandma cardigan it has that girly + old-fashioned look I love. The juxtaposition of feminine + frumpy (ha ha, like that’s a bad thing) is a long-time favorite.
The chestnut loafers with this outfit are not quite right to me (is anything ever?) – I would prefer a brown brown, like the chocolate brown of the cardigan. When it gets too cold for bare legs I can wear it with brown tights and my brown clogs. The clogs look weird with bare legs and a dress, and my Keds are just looking grungier and grungier every day, so for now, the chestnut flats were the best choice.
The 1940’s faux alligator suitcase is from my vintage clothing selling days. I love it so much and actually use it if I’m just doing an overnight by car. I wouldn’t fly with it and let it get tossed around with the other luggage.
Are you familiar with The Avett Brothers? One of their songs, “I and Love and You,” was my theme song as I made my move alone from my sweet little house in the suburbs of Long Island to the wilds of Brooklyn 11 years ago:
Ah Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in
Are you aware the shape I’m in?
My hands they shake, my head it spins
Ah Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in
That’s the song that introduced me to them and now I have so many favorites of theirs. I hope you’ll take a listen.
What I’m Wearing
- Target Plus Size Floral Print Tiered Dress, size 2x
- Old Navy Cozy Open-Front Long-Line Plus-Size Sweater, size 2x in Into the Woods
- Kelly&Katie Jordi Loafers in Brown (but really they’re chestnut)
And be sure to visit my blogging pals who are doing this same theme today:
Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits Blog, Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest
Bettye ~ Fashion Schlub Blog, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
Daenel ~ Living outside the stacks Blog, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter
Debbie ~ Fashion Fairy Dust Bloglovin, Blog, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter
Jennie ~ A Pocketful of Polka Dots Blog, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Bloglovin
Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style Blog, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter
Julia ~ When the Girls Rule Blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram
Kellyann ~ This Blonde’s Shopping Bag Blog, Instagram, Bloglovin, Twitter
Shelly ~ The Queen in Between Blog, Instagram, Bloglovin, Pinterest, Facebook
Shugunna ~ Nzuri N* Simplicity Blog, Pinterest, Instagram
Amy Johnson
I have never heard of this song or the band, but I really don’t know most musicians or music as I listen to mostly Christian worship songs. But gosh, I LOVE this outfit! I like your description of it too: “Grandma chic”. I would wear this in a heartbeat!
bettyewp
I have another dress that I call “Depression Chic,” ha ha, cuz it totally looks like something out of The Grapes of Wrath (oh that’s funny I’m actually eating grapes right now – I SHOULD GO PLAY LOTTO).
Kimberly F Malkiewicz
You’ve nailed your inspiration song. This dress and cardigan look great together. The suitcase is such a fun addition. I know what you mean about not being happy with shoe selections, or fill-in-the-blank, haha!
bettyewp
Thanks, Kim! It seems like it’s virtually impossible to have The Right Shoe for every outfit! And when they’re not right, the whole outfit can feel off to me!
jodie filogomo
Dang, that’s a great song. I’m not much of a music girl (ironic that I picked this theme then, right?) but you give the description so perfectly and that suitcase is ideal!! I love that you still use the suitcase when car traveling.
OXOX
Jodie
bettyewp
NOT A MUSIC GIRL?!? Really? I would have thought you’d ALWAYS have music on – peppy, happy, toe-tapping music! No? Wow.
I love music, but don’t have it on all the time the time. Most of the time I prefer silence (or just the sounds of the outdoors). I don’t like the tv on unless I’m going to sit down and watch a specific show; I know a lot of people like that ambient sound around all the time.
Rita
Grandma Chic, I love it, both the outfit and the description. And by the way, you look really good in brown. I’ve never heard of the Avett Brothers but that little snippet sounded nice. Some days a sad song just hits the spot.
bettyewp
“Some days a sad song just hits the spot”
Me: Every day
I do love brown (I mean, chocolate, amiright?). Sometimes it’s seen as on the dowdy, old fashioned side…but I love that vibe.
Michelle
Love that dress on you!!! I’m feeling chocolate brown this season too. It’s so warm and homey, but also rich. I’m hoping to find it in a velvet blazer.
“I and Love and You” is such a great song, and now I like this one too.
bettyewp
Thanks, Michelle – I’m happy I got it. It goes with like five other things in y closet so I can wear it lots of ways OR on it’s own.
Ooh, velvet blazer sounds sumptuous.
The Avett Brothers have tons of good songs, though I admit I haven’t looked for any new music from them in a while, and it seemed like yesterday when I was looking for a video to share that there were several albums out since I last looked. Will have to have a listen! I think I and Love and You is their only song that got real “general public” recognition and actual radio air-time (remember radios?). It’s so good.
Laurie E
I love that dress. The pretty print, flattering shape, great length and the sweater goes well with it. As far as the shoes go, they read brown to me and a flat is appropriate for the sweet look.
Lovely
Wow! You look fab! You are truly the personification of that song. The faux alligator suitcase is an interesting piece.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
bettyewp
Thanks, Lovely 🙂
Penny
I think you look so good in dresses and this one is lovely Bettye and what an amazing suitcase – just wow! The whole combo is so stylish and flattering.
bettyewp
Thanks, Penny 🙂 Dresses are my favorite 🙂
Shelbee on the Edge
Bettye, I love this feminine meets frumpy outfit! What a description! But seriously, it is so cute. I love the ditzy floral and the shades of brown are so good. That vintage suitcase though! How cool is that! I would use it, too, for car trips only. These photos are magnificent as well! I don’t think I am all that familiar with the Avett Brothers but I pretty much adore any Appalachian style music. I am going to check them out, for sure!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
bettyewp
Thanks, Shelbee! I’m so sorry that I do not still have my whole vintage suitcase collection 🙂 I think I had 4, all slightly different sizes and shades of brown…they were great for stacking, storing things, etc. BUt over the years, with each move, more things go. Sigh. If I thought there was a heaven I’d love to think I’d be reunited with all my favorite things 🙂
Bettye <- quite the material girl
Kellyann Rohr
Grandma chic? Yes, please! I love this type of dress – just speaks to me, apparently I am all in when it comes to grandma chic – who knew? Genius, Bettye, genius!
I love your hair this way too – it is fabulous!
xo,
Kellyann
bettyewp
Grandma chic, grandpa sweaters, shabby chic, I find all that old, “not fancy” stuff so…endearing.
Iris
Love the dress – and of course the sweater is always great. The dress looks good on you.
Grace & Peace, Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
bettyewp
Thanks, Iris 🙂