Autumn Rainbow Patchwork and Penelope Garcia

This outfit was based around this new-to-me patchwork sweater that I picked up on the weekend. 

 I embraced the colour, as you can tell. Let's add more colour as the days get greyer - make our own sunshine!

• Sweater - Artisan de Luxe, consignment; purchased here for $26.98
• Skirt - J. Crew, thrifted; last seen here in a classy equestrian look in March
• Boots - Prepare Map, Fluevog; last worn here in a purple and floral look in January
• Leather jacket (below) - Danier Leather; last seen here in September

I was leery of all the wool content in this sweater, that it might be itchy to wear in the office. I am wearing a cami under it (a mustard one, because I know it's there).

 But it was fine! I loved wearing it - it was not itchy at all. The neckline is super-flattering, the cropped sleeve keeps it from being too overwhelming, and the shape is not too bulky. It's actually fitted. Happy dance! Disclosure: I did twirl my tassels at a few of my trusted co-workers (hi, Emily, Christina and Trisha!).

 The skirt came next when building the outfit - I felt like doing a neutral instead of one of the darker colours in the sweater (which I will probably do at some point). It is insanely nice quality, and the thickest wool. I live in fear that I'll get kitchen gunk or pen on it, but deep breath, Sheila, it is only a skirt, and it's not the end of the world if it gets ruined.

The purple boots came next - the marled blue and red squares in the sweater read as royal purple. The boots have little orange beads on the ends of the laces, so then it was duh, of course the rust ribbed tights! I've had these for seven? years. A long time!

Outerwear - like I'm going to wear a boring jacket! Didn't I say, embrace the colour?

"Leaving, eh? Let's see what I can chew on."

First wearing of my new navy blue fingerless gloves - I bought them specifically to go with the navy faux-fur head wrap, which was super-cozy in the fog this morning.

• Head wrap - thrifted
• Fur scarf - thrifted
• Gloves - Parkhurst

Also the first wearing of this Muppety fur scarf. I realized this morning that it can also be worn as a head wrap. Didn't need any of these accessories for the walk home, and I even had my jacket undone.

As I was walking into my office building this morning, the security guard stopped me and said I reminded him of Penelope Garcia on "Criminal Minds." I thanked him, but I don't watch that show, and I had no idea who she was.

"These shoelaces are mighty tasty."

Turns out, that's a character played by Kirsten Vangsness - and I do dress like her! I very much enjoyed this spirited post (here*, it's short, read it) by blogger Holly Richmond*, and am sharing this quote with you because it really resonated with me:
Linking 'cause I love, of course.

Garcia’s aesthetic has an empowering subtext: You can be sexy and smart. You can be feminine and professional. You can be vivacious and whimsical and amazing at your job. You don’t have to sacrifice color or style or silliness to be successful.

YES! I am all about the empowering subtext! Thank you, Holly, for this inspiration.

The stuff:

 Colour, style, silliness...check! We have it all in these wondrous purple boots. Note that the extra-long "kitty spaghetti" leather laces and temptingly delicious orange beads are tucked inside the boots, away from you-know-who.

Mixed bling:

 Accessorizing a crazy outfit is tricky. I wanted simple lines and natural materials.

• Leather/steel cuff - Rimanchik
• Wood/silver/crystal earrings - Plum
• Wood/acrylic ring - consignment
• Silver/opal ring - gift from Mom & Dad, Mexico, early 90s?

I had totally forgotten that I owned this silver ring. It's quite tarnished, and it's possible it hasn't been worn in a couple of decades. It has lost a lot of its "fire." It's marked .925 inside, and "Mex" and a few other illegible marks.

Happy to have it back in rotation. I left the other ring in the picture because I love the Klimt image in it.