The Green Door

There's a very old part of town that I like to take photos in.  It's right around 150 years old, I know that's not considered old in most other places in the world, but here it's down right ancient.  

The care with which the people here put in to maintaining their homes is very dear to me down to the charming green paint on this door.  I've made it my goal to live a deliberate life and I admire others who do the same.  I admire them even more if they're so proud of the work they've put in that they don't mind letting me pose for a few pics now and then.

Shopping Info:  Black and Ivory Pencil dress from StopStaring.com

Where Summer and Autumn Meet

I suppose it's only natural that once summer begins to fade we turn our thoughts and styles away from all things nautical and look instead to the woods and all the lovely leaves and creatures they hold at this time of year.  It's not so easy for me though, I love the sea.

So, I say why not combine my love of the ocean with my adoration of autumn?  The trees are just beginning to change and already they're a lovely deep red, just the kind of red that matches the lobster print on this Sandrine Dress from Collectif.  

Is it ok that I love dresses so much?  Is it ok that I don't want to just write a post about everything going on the beautiful world around me, but I also want to stop and talk about the beautiful thing on me?  I can't think of many material things in this world that I have loved so much or so long as my dresses.  This particular dress has been on my list for months and months.  I wish I'd bought it in the summer time, but I'm sure I can find ways to layer it up and style it for the cooler temps on the way.  

Today was positively the perfect day for this dress too.  Warm summer sun and cool autumn evening.  I imagined wearing it on the beach for our summer trip to the seashore and even had some lobster accessories made by hand for the occasion, but today seems like an even better day for it, even if it's not exactly what I planned.

While out for my evening stroll last week I spotted the leaves on this row of trees changing for the season and remembered that they were also at the head of the class last fall for changing their colors and knew they'd make a great photo spot.

The dress is of course by Collectif.  I only learned about Collectif a year or two ago, but they've rocketed to the top of my list of favorite brands and the Sandrine dress definitely delivers.

This dress features a full skirt and fitted waist.  I'm wearing a size 6 UK and typically wear a size 0 in US sizes.  Occasionally I can wear a 4 or 8 UK depending on the item, but typically I'm a solid 6.  The bust for this dress is a bit roomy, so if you have a small bust it may not be flattering for you without some padding. 

Beyond that, the print is crisp, the lobster is a patch not a print, and the overall dress quality is excellent as always with Collectif.  And, of course, the style is a knockout and bound to get you loads of compliments.

Since this nautical autumn experiment has gone so well, I think I may try to keep it going year round and do a nautical themed outfit each month until next summer rolls around.

What's your favorite seasonal style to wear out of season?  Comment below :)

Shopping Info: Collectif Dress

Halloween Costume: Fleur Delacoeur

Supernatural print, Magic Notebook, Labradorite Necklace, Magic Potion

The Moon has awoken 

with the sleep of the sun,

The Light has been broken;

the spell has begun.

~midgard morningstar~

I wish I could say that this Fleur Delacoeur costume from Harry Potter was my idea, but I just happened to see it on Poshmark or somewhere and since I hadn't put together anything for this Halloween yet and I already had the skirt, blouse, shoes, and tights, I thought this would be the perfect costume.  Plus it's in keeping with my unintentional theme the last couple of years of Literary Ladies in Blue (i.e. Miss Peregrine and Alice in Wonderland).

There weren't many reference photos out there, so I could see how the costume ends, below the waist and in the end, I had to rely on a Fleur Delacoeur Barbie doll photo to help me figure out what shoes and tights to use.  I had to purchase the hat and decided not to splurge on the wand as well.  Since I'll only be wearing this outfit one day, I think a regular old stick will suffice as a wand.

I have to confess that I've never read any of the Harry Potter books or seen any of the movies except the first.  I went to see the first movie because I was living in England at the time and all my friends were going crazy to see it, so I went along.  It was enjoyable and I like the idea behind the franchise, it's just something I've never made time to read or watch.

 Since choosing this costume though, I'm having a change of heart.  It's funny how just this one somewhat obscure character could entice me to a whole series, a whole world really, but maybe it's time I made time for Mr. Potter.

Shopping Info: Crush on Casual Bowknot Cape Sleeves Top in Blue, and Classic Simplicity A-Line Midi Skirt in Blue from ChicWish, The Zest is History Heels from ModCloth, Hat from elope

Autumn Picks from EShakti

BOW-TIE CONTRAST TRIM COTTON DRESS-$69.95

FOX PRINT CREPE SURPLICE DRESS-$84.95

OMBRE STAR PRINT EMPIRE DRESS-$74.95

RUFFLE FEATHER PRINT SATIN DRESS-$79.95

CONTRAST TRIM POPLIN DRESS-$59.95

Every Sunrise

The sweetest memories aren't always the ones we intentionally make, but rather they come from the things for which we intentionally make time like waking up at dawn so I can pick apples before my day begins.  

The stillness of the air, the cool dew against my feet as I walk down the lane to the orchard, the quiet songs of a hundred different creatures all in perfect harmony, and crisp sweet apple tarts with breakfast when I get home.

Every Sunrise Embroidered Midi Dress in Cream from ChicWish

This is a form of meditation to quiet my soul so I can weather the chaos of each coming day.  Every moment is a prayer of thankfulness,  every bite a gift of praise and every sunrise is a beautiful memory. 

Shopping Info: Every Sunrise Embroidered Midi Dress in Cream from ChicWish

Velvet Crush

photos from Etsy.com

You know I get these fashion crushes where I just fixate on some print, color combo, or fabric and I can't get enough of it.  Right now I have a serious velvet crush going on and not just because I'm drinking a velvet crush as I write this.  In case you're not familiar with that drink, it's grape Kool-Aid and Gin and I don't love it nearly as much as actual velvet.

Anything in particular that I'm crushing on in velvet?  For the moment mostly blouses since velvet trousers seem like they would be too baggy although I haven't decided against trying them, and most velvet dresses are bodycon instead of swing skirt which I prefer to bodycon for day to day wear.

Beyond that, anything goes.  I've been steadily collecting and acquiring tops from Forever21 and SheIn and that's when I saw this ombre purple skirt that perfectly matched the XXI top I'd just bought the day before.  How Fortuitous!

So, in the coming weeks and months, at least as long as the cooler temps last, look for my posts with the label "velvet crush" to see what velvet picks I'm styling this season.

Shopping Info: Skirt from Shein, Top from XXI, necklace is handmade by me, heels from amazon.com

Double Duty Dress

Beautiful city streets are in short supply in this part of the world.  This particular street happens to be a huge tourist shopping spot, so of course they want to make it look nice, but I do wish that there were more close to home in the way of well cared for streets and towns.  

As it is I typically have to drive 30 to 60 minutes to find anything remotely this lovely and this little shopping dive is even further away which is why I always bring a stack of outfits to wear and photograph while I'm here.

I love visiting here in autumn.  The tourists are mostly gone for the year and the streets are a little quieter, and something about these autumn rainstorms always make the world look a little more colorful after they've gone and washed away summer's dust.

It's chilly today, a crisp autumn chill, but it seems like such a waste to spend three quarters of the year covered up in a coat.  This little wool dress does double duty being warm and thick like a coat, and being a stylish dress I want to show off.

I don't know why it's taken me so long to think of this; I'm rarely ever too warm even when I'm inside because it seems like everywhere I go but my own home likes to keep the a/c on until December and then turn it back on again in February.  I pretty much layer up year round. Maybe now I won't have to.

Shopping Info:  Vintage Style 1960s wine red fit and flare unique swing dress