Color Blocking and Re-Thinking

I've been meaning to try the whole color-blocking look for a while now and when I saw it was one of the prompts of Freckles in April's 21 Day Challenge I decided to go for it!

JJ Authentic dress worn as skirt - FC ($12)
Purple tee - thrifted ($3)
Old Navy orange/yellow scarf worn as obi belt - FC ($3)
Soho Lab wedges - FC ($10)
Vintage Dooney & Bourke purse - FC ($40)
Thrifted chain + DIY fish earring-turned-pendant

Close up of the colors and my make-shift "obi belt"

In these next two photos I switched to my Lucky Brand necklace to tie in the orange in the scarf-belt:

side view

I am really pleased with my first color-blocking attempt, what do you think?  I would say my main inspiration for this look comes from Gucci's Spring/Summer 2011 collection:

via style.com

via style.com

If you are loving this look and thinking that you missed out since Summer is coming to an end, think again!  Color-Blocking will continue into Fall in richer, darker hues and it might possibly be even more fun in the cooler weather (think: tights, cardigans).  Need proof?

Chloe's poncho is entirely color-blocked
via style.com

Bottega Venetta color-blocks a 60s-insipred trench and shift
via style.com

Now, on to the business of the 21 Day Challenge.  I unintentionally combined 2 of the prompts in this outfit: 1) color-block, check!  2) wear something in an unconventional way...dress worn as skirt and scarf worn as belt!  I would, however, like to submit this one to Color Block so I'll have to come up with something else that's unconventional...hmmm...

Anyway, the whole idea of these challenges is really fascinating, so much so that I decided to participate even though I'm a little late.  Let me divulge for those of you unfamiliar:

• I have previously discussed "linking up"...this just means another blogger is "hosting" or allowing you to link an outfit/post/etc. to their blog.  Excellent examples:
• Everybody Everwear
• Spunky Chateau's Thursdays are for Thrifters
• Two Birds' Inspiration Monday
• Colorblind's Thrifters Anonymous
• Cute & Little's Color Brigade
• Challenges involve linking up but they are a little more involved.  I believe Kendi started the 30 for 30 Remix in which you pick a certain amount of pieces of clothing and then are confined to those pieces for 30 days.  This forces you to re-think, re-use and generally think outside the box when coming up with outfits
• Freckles in April's 21 Day Challenge seemed like a good place for me to start.  She provides prompts that should inspire your outfit of the day.

Whew.  A lot of possibly confusing info.  Now I know most of my fellow blogger friends are saying, "duh, Amanda, I knew all of this."  To this I retort:  this info is mostly for my friends and family member fans who quite possibly don't know a thing about blogging!

If you host a link-up or have come up with your own interesting challenge (or if you just know of any that I left out) please let me know about it!!!  I have recently discovered these and a) can't keep up fast enough and b) find myself completely inspired and challenged thanks to you all!