Too soon

Necklace: bought at DragonCon | Top: Old Navy | Skirt: Target | Tights: Target | Heels: Urban Outfitters

In the last two weeks in Cardiganland, we went from snow and ice and two snow days to mid 70s and sunny. The last few days have really thrown the trees (and my horse) for a loop, and daffodils are blooming, coats are shedding, and pollen is rising. But in a couple of days, the temps are supposed to dip into the 20s at night and will most likely kill any flowers that have begun to bloom. This area, a personal favourite, is probably going to see a quick death very soon, so I'm getting some outfit photos in while I can.

Living the milk life

Scarf: gift from S. | Cardigan: Target | Tank: Walmart | Belt: Target | Skirt: Target | Wedges: Target

I'm basically just in love with this scarf. Clearly. But can you blame me?

Style Imitating Art: The Milkmaid

I looked in my mailbox today and I was SO JAZZED to see all the women who have submitted looks to this week's SIA! Oh my god, the joy. This week's inspiration was The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer and I think I speak for Salazar, Jen and myself when I say that Vermeer is a favourite around the SIA parts, so we were all equally pumped about this one! Here are all the outfits from this week.

First up is Erin from Loop Looks. I was stunned in the best way ever to see the details of her boots, so make sure you click through to her blog!



Lisa, who writes at The Somewhat Domestic Goddess, also has amazing shoes. I swear if everyone has amazing shoes I'm going to be bitter because I wore really boring shoes.



Kezzie over at KezzieAG looks adorable. I'm really glad that she was able to incorporate the mint on the sleeves of the milkmaid--that's one of my favourite details!



Jen, from Librarian for Life and Style, is...um, the best? Yes. I love the pose!



There's a new girl in town, y'all! Grace from Living with A-Holts (lololol oh man) is here and she has the coolest skirt. And necklace. And everything, basically.



Isabella's photo makes my heart happy. Amazing. She blogs at Adventures in Hel and you should definitely read it, even if only to see Animated Cardigan being referred to in Finnish as "Jessin blogista". I will remember that forever.



SIA co-creator Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey is always so charming, and this week is no exception.



Aaaaand then there's me. I really love this outfit, y'all. I wasn't expecting that at all but I think the scarf makes it happen.



Thank you all for being a part of this week's Style Imitating Art! Everyone looks so beautiful. Keep an eye peeled next Monday for Salazar's pick!

SIA: PSA

The Milkmaid, by Johannes Vermeer
Oil on canvas, c. 1658

That blue skirt was all it took.

Email me your entries by the evening of Monday, February 24th! I can't wait to see how you all interpret this one.

Brr

Hat: Target | Sweater: Boden | Mittens: Target | Jeans: Target | Boots: Target

I'm not wearing these mittens and covering my face to be cute. I am wearing mittens and covering my face because I am cold.

Preparations

Necklace: Target | Top: J.Crew Factory | Jeans: Target | Boots: Target | Scarf: J.Crew Factory

Once again, the snow has returned, and once again, my boss bounded about in the cold with me to get some outfit photos. The estimations on how much snow we're supposed to get tomorrow keep creeping higher and higher--Cardiganland is currently estimated to receive somewhere between 8 and 14 (FOURTEEN!) inches of snow, and the record is 15 inches. Although some may perceive my behaviour as gluttonous or greedy, right now, I am actually very, very happy that I have checked out about 12 books from work in the last week or so. I've been stashing them like a squirrel stashes acorns. I am ready.

Put a snowy owl on it

Scarf: Etsy/gift from mom | Shirt: Target | Belt: Target | Skirt: eShakti | Tights: uhhhh Target? | Wedges: Target

This is the perfect time to have the snowy owl as inspiration for SIA, because 1) it's supposed to snow a lot in Cardiganland over the next couple of days, and 2) because This Guy was seen hanging around outside my library last week. Everyone--and I mean EVERYONE--was talking about how it was eating a squirrel on top of one of our light posts. That's what I want to hear on a Friday afternoon. Yep.

Check out Jen's SIA post that will be up tomorrow morning for more SIA outfits! Spoiler alert: we have a lot of ladies taking part this week, and I'm really amped about it!

SIA: PSA

Plate CXXI (Snowy Owl), from Birds of America by John James Audubon
Watercolour and pastel on paper, between 1827 and 1838

If you've ever looked at a painting of a bird, or ever googled a picture of a bird, or seen a photograph of a bird on Wikipedia, chances are good that the image you saw was in some way inspired by John Audubon. Audubon, the namesake of the National Audubon Society, was a professional ornithologist, and when he came to America from Haiti in the early 1800s, his goal was to catalog and illustrate every type of bird in America. Audubon set about this by using fine shot--delicate bullets from a slender gun, which kill rapidly without damaging the body of the bird--and then using his extensive taxidermy skills to create realistic, mobile poses. He was a detail-oriented artist, and spent copious amounts of time illustrating each bird. His skill, talent and dedication paid off, and he is now one of the best known naturalists of all time. OF ALL TIME.

Jen selected the Snowy Owl plate from Birds of America for this week's Style Imitating Art, and I'm so excited. This is such a beautiful piece. Email Jen your inspired outfits by Monday, February 10th, and head over to her blog for some Superb Owl notes. (lolz) Enjoy!