This Beautiful Now

When my daughters were little, I loved to make up songs for them and everything could be a song.  It didn't need to rhyme and with running on so little sleep, they often didn't rhyme, but we sang them anyway.  

Day after day, with all of our hearts, we sang.  About nothing and everything.  Songs about breakfast and bathtime and a red tractors in the field.  We sang about sunshine and cloudy days and taking walks in the wide, wide world.

Of all those years, the two things I remember best are the long slow walks stopping to look at every little thing, admire, find a treasure, and all the songs.  The words have faded, but not the smiles,  and the sounds of happiness and contentment so joyfully off key.

My yesterdays are so far away, but the sweet sounds of our songs are still with me, carrying me forward and making a more beautiful now.

Shopping Info: Dress from: SHEIN

Deconstructing the Dress

Well, the snow has pretty much melted and while I'll miss that glorious glow of fluffy snow covering everything, the woods have returned to their winter loveliness and still make for a great photo backdrop, plus it's about 20 degrees warmer than it was in the snow and that gives me a little more incentive to leave the fireside so early in the morning.  The clouds have cleared away and the morning sunlight is already coming up over the crest of the hillside.  It's going to be a lovely day and this lighting is just right for pics.  I put together this little outfit as a fun and flirty look for an evening out with friends or perhaps a special event, but as I admired the final product, something occurred to me that I wanted to share with you today.

Very often when I do my outfit photos all you, the reader, see is the finished product of a sometimes long and always very thoughtful process.  All of my considerations and trial and error occur at home or in my mind, so I thought for today's post I do a little outfit deconstruction.  In this way I can take you through the process I use in putting an outfit together to help you better create your own looks at home.  So, let's get started. 

For today's velvet crush post I am wearing the Pink Glitter Velvet Strappy Mini Dress - Beau which comes from my collaboration partner, FemmeLuxe.  FemmeLuxe has such a great selection of clothing, I like their Slinky Dresses and Glitter Crop Tops, and I am so pleased they have added a great assortment of velvet dresses this season so that I can carry on with my velvet crush series well into the new year.  Not only is this Beau dress a lovely velvet dress, but it is such a great shade of bubble gum pink and it has that great little added effect of silver glitter throughout.  This would be such a great dress for Valentine's Day; already I'm in love!

 

The next part of my process is to determine which colors to accent with.  Because the Beau dress is such a strong statement color, I chose basic black for all my add-ons starting with strappy black flats to keep the look a little more casual.  Right away I wanted to add chunky black statement jewelry.   Normally accessories should be last, but when it's right, it's right.  Then I added a belt at the narrowest part of my waist.  

Now, we could stop the look right there and it would look great, but just for that little extra something let's see what it looks like with a crop cardigan.

Notice how the cardigan and the belt are in the same line creating that very strong waistline and giving me more of an hourglass shape.  This really only comes with a crop cardigan like this.  The Beau dress is a mini dress, but it's also a bodycon dress, and while I often like to pair form fitting items with flowy ones, I didn't want to lose the shape that the dress is creating by covering it under a drapey wrap. 

 

Without the cardigan (or a jacket of some kind)  it's still a great outfit.  It's cute and colorful.  And.......

 

Without the belt it's still a great outfit, but put them together and it is a stand-out kind of outfit.  Some things are made to go together and belts and crop cardis are a match made in heaven.

And last but certainly not least, it's time to chose just the right bag to go with it.  A simple black clutch would be perfect, but a novelty bag would be so much fun, so I decided to go with this Betsey Johnson phone purse (yes, the phone really does work as a blue tooth headset, but it's not exactly ideal in this hands-free world).  I've had this bag for nearly three years and I just have not found the right outfit with which to accessorize it.  As I was standing back, looking at all that my closet had to offer, it occurred to me that it was finally this bag's time to shine.

So, this outfit is complete.  I love everything about it, in particular this gorgeous Beau dress  and I have really loved doing this outfit deconstruction post, so look for more posts like this in the months to come.

Shopping Info:Pink Glitter Velvet Strappy Mini Dress - Beau from FemmeLuxeFinery.co.uk, Dream of the Crop Cardigan from ModCloth, Flats from Charlotte Russe, Betsey Johnson Bag

Snow and Satin

I’m coming up on my one year anniversary of my collaborative partnership with FemmeLuxe.  I have so enjoyed our work together and I hope we will partner for many more posts to come.  It occurred to me as I went out to do my pics this week that in the past year, I think this is the first time I have ever snowy backdrop photos for FemmeLuxe.  

I know it has been cold more than once on my early morning photo shoots, but I don’t recall any other time where my backdrop has been woodlands covered in white, not to mention that it is still actively snowing.  I am not tired of the snow yet, I think it has made all my pics this week look even more lovely and ethereal to be surrounded by the glow of sunrise on freshly fallen snow, which is why I’m so pleased to bring you today’s outfit.

I know what you may be thinking about today’s post and you’re definitely right, you have seen me wear this skirt before.  If you’ve been reading the blog for longer than a few months, then of course you have.  It was quite a prize to find it, I managed to get the very last one on a random re-stock, and I’ve been wearing it as much as possible since that fortuitous day as I think it is one of the loveliest skirts I own.  The search for the perfect top to accompany this skirt has been ongoing which is why you have seen me wear it with so many different tops.  I think, at long last, I have found the perfect top and the search may be over for good.  When I look at this skirt my fashionista heart skips a beat and I immediately think of words like “sweet” and “dreamy.”  A puff sleeve top in dusty pink satin just sounds like it would perfectly fit the bill as the mate for this skirt and the Pink Puff Sleeve Cuffed Crop Top-Halima top did not disappoint.

FemmeLuxe has some wonderful Mesh Sleeve Dresses and Pink Bodysuits, but today’s post is about their crop tops, more specifically the Halima Satin crop top inPink.  The Halima top comes in three colors—green, black, and pink.  I love this style so much I wouldn’t mind having it in all the colors available, but I chose pink first because I so badly wanted to wear it with my bubble skirt.  Halima is a puffed sleeve top with lovely button details at the wrists, and a fitted bodice cropped at the rib cage, and a scoop neckline.   Everything about this top has that old world ear romance to it that I so adore, a touch of the Pre-Raphaelite and the Victorian elegance that I want everything I own to have in it.

I know what you’re thinking right now, she must be freezing with that exposed middle.  Not at all, actually, but while we’re on the subject let’s talk about it for a minute.  For crop tops, I recommend midi waists and high waists to bring a little balance to the outfit.  Do a quick search on midi and high waist outfits in the search bar at the side to see examples of this in past outfits too.  A little midriff showing is sexy and tasteful.  Too much is a big No-No in my book.  A small amount of exposed skin is tastefully suggestive where as a lot of exposed skin is more like a slap in the face.  And for an outfit like this, it’s all about class and tact.  Let the Halima top do the work; your body doesn’t have to.

Satin has always been a luxe fabric.  It originated in China around 1000 years ago and it was once made of silk.  Part of the trade that happened along the so called Silk Road, it was, of course, very rare.  Now it mainly is made of synthetic fibers,  which means that it is more readily available, but the creamy smoothness of this fabric combined with rich colors like this dusty pink Halima top and you know it still has all the glam of the original fabric from nearly a millennia ago.  

We know this is true by the way that it is still widely considered a “special occasion” fabric.  I’m not really the type to save things for that far off someday special occasion.  I’m more of an embrace life and wear your best everyday kind of person, so while I might save my satin for a special outfit, I think just about every day is occasion enough.

Shopping Info: Pink Satin Puff Sleeve Cuffed Crop Top – Halima from FemmeLuxeFinery.co.uk, Bubble skirt from ChicWish, Heels are old.

Sweater Weather

As you can see, it's still winter.  That may seem a little obvious since it's January and all, but in the mid-west, you really never know from week to week, sometimes from day to day how the weather will be.  I wouldn't be at all surprised if we were wearing shorts and tees by next week.  For now though it looks like the snow is here to stay and I could not be happier about it because I feel like I haven't really had much of a chance to do many posts about winter fashion, so hooray for the sweater weather.  Plus, I love the way these woods look so pure and lovely with a fresh layer of snow.

There have been many times over the years when an unexpected snow day has interrupted my plans, but this winter I just so happened to be planning on this particular snow day.  We live above the frost line on this mountain top so we knew that when the forecast predicted sleet followed by snow on the way, it was time to break out some good books, a few card games, stock up on comfort foods and stay home.  It is also the perfect time for comfort clothes--namely gloriously soft sweaters.

 

I love FemmeLuxe's Pink Bodysuits and Black One Shoulder Dresses not to mention that FemmeLuxe also has some of my very favorite loungewear sets.  Their loungewear sets have kept me very warm and comfortable this winter all cozy by the fire in my little house.  I started out just wearing them around the house on my days off, but they have proven to be great pajamas too.  I really struggle to find comfortable sleep wear, but I love my FemmeLuxe loungewear. 

Since this snow has no intention of leaving anytime soon, I thought today would be a good day to showcase an outfit that is both comfortable and stylish, something I could wear to work if I absolutely had to go in to the office on a day like this.  And that's why I chose this Black Knitted Turtleneck Mini Jumper Dress- Elmore from FemmeLuxe for today's outfit focus. This Black Knitted Jumper in Elmore is a chunky knit, very warm and quite nice for a chilly day like this.  

Black is a basic neutral, goes with everything, and is always a classy choice.  The turtle neck on the Elmore Jumper can roll down or be left up and scrunched so you have some options on how to wear it, and I love the extra long sleeves.  They come in handy for burying my cold fingers in top warm up when I have to be outdoors.  When buying this top I opted for S/M (8/10 UK) instead of my usual XS.  A top like Elmore comes in sizes like S/M or M/L because it is meant to be worn quite loose.  The rule for wearing something loose is that only one article of clothing should be loose.  

Always pair something flowy with something form fitting to avoid looking sloppy.  Unless you have the flu and want everyone to it, there's no excuse for looking bedraggled.  The Elmore Jumper is a stylish but comofortable piece, my favorite kind, with a loose fit I chose some leggings to wear with it.  And, since I see them being worn improperly all the time, I'm going to reiterate the rule about leggings—Your top should cover your bum.  (This Elmore top fits the bill)  Remember to pair leggings with mini dresses or tunics, not regular length tops.  If you want something form fitting for a normal top go with skinny jeans for their thicker fabric.

For this top I chose some sleek snake print leggings for a look that says Chic.  I've only just added snakeskin prints to my wardrobe a few months ago, but they have quickly become a go-to for creating an couture look.  Walking out here in the woods for pics, I was pretty comfortable without a coat.  You can probably tell it was still slightly snowing, but I didn't mind.

Shopping Info:  Black Sweater from FemmeLuxeFinery.co.uk, Leggings from: SHEIN, hat and flats are old.

The Difference Between Mini Dresses & Tunics

Today was another snow day.  Huzzah!  All this lovely snow creates the perfect backdrop for photos and what better way to break out some great winter styles than set against a winter wonderland.Today's post involves a fair question and one that virtually every savvy shopper and even the most devoted fashionista has had to ask at least once:  What exactly is the difference between a Mini Dress and a Tunic?

The reason we've all asked this question can be found in the answer itself--not much.

Mini dresses and tunics are so close to one another that it is easy to get confused.  Fortunately fashion is forgiving and experimentation is encouraged!  Tunics are typically thought of as very loose, long shirts while mini dresses can be either form fitting or swing skirt style.  But in modern fashion trends, we now find that there are plenty of tunics that are fitted, with some even having a built in waist or a peplum. and plenty of babydoll style mini dress.  (checkout my babydoll dress post from 2016) 

Since there is so little difference between mini dresses and tunics, I thought I'd kick off FemmeLuxe week with this Pink Knitted One Shoulder Mini Dress- Macie worn as both a mini dress and a tunic to demonstrate the subtle difference. FemmeLuxe isn't just my favorite shop for cute mini dresses, I also love their Mesh Sleeve Dresses and PU Leggings.  Every month I look forward to FemmeLuxe week as it presents me the opportunity to really focus on fashion topics and get a little experimental with current trends as well as revive some of those vintage styles I love so much.

So, let's say we've found something spectacular, can't-do-without-it, how do we style it?  The rules for this are pretty simple: Style a tunic with leggings or skinny jeans; style a mini dress with bare legs or tights.  Going based solely on length, my average tunic top is about 28-31"/77-78cm long.  A mini dress is generally defined as a dress that is falling no lower than four inches below the buttocks, which for my height (5'6"/167cm) is about 29-31"77-78cm.  Anything shorter than 4"/10cm below your bum is a top, so please, oh, please, do not wear tights or leggings with it; wear jeans or trousers.

I chose this Macie Mini Dress for this little demonstration for a couple of reasons.  First off, I love the color and the wonderful thick cable fabric.  It's perfect for this time of year, which as you can see, is quite chilly.  I woke up this morning to a fresh dusting of snow on the ground, so a sweater dress was the perfect pick.  Even though it was snowing while I took photos I stayed warm and hardly noticed the weather and that makes an outdoor winter photo shoot so much more enjoyable. 

I wanted to basically keep everything the same in this outfit except for the one main factor that separates a mini dress from a tunic and that is leg wear.  So, for outfit number one it's just the dress with a few little pieces added to finish the look.  I kept the color palette simple by only using black accents in the form of black ankle strap heels and accessories.  I chose a thick belt and wore it at the narrowest part of my waist.  It's important to use a thick belt with chunky knit fabric like this because a skinny belt would not create enough contrast to really show off the waist.  Instead it would be lost against the cable knit.  

So, with a chunky belt and a chunky knit, all that was needed to accessorize was some chunky jewelry.  One shoulder dresses make such a strong statement at the neckline on their own, there's no need to accessorize further with a necklace.  However, statement earrings pair quite nicely with this neckline which is why I chose these glossy black paisley earrings.

For outfit number two, the mini dress becomes a tunic with the addition of leggings.  Remember when you wear leggings, your top should be long enough to fully cover your bum, especially if the leggings are made of a thin fabric.  I chose these fun novelty print comic book leggings just for the demonstration, but you could easily wear solid color leggings or skinny jeans instead.  I just happened to be feeling a little whimsical today but, who knows, maybe next time I'll try some PU leggings.

Shopping Info:  Macie dress from FemmeLuxeFinery.co.uk, Leggings from: SHEIN, Belt from ModCloth

AmorDress

Acorn Oak Leaf Necklace, botanical grasses, autumn leaves, Vintage Lusterware Candy Dish from Etsy.com

At least once a year, I try to buy a few things from AmorDress on Etsy.  I gotten to know the proprietress a little through our Etsy transactions and she is a lovely woman who makes beautiful things at a reasonable price.  How could I not support that?!  This year I chose three dresses and this is the first I'm going to feature here.

I chose this brown dot dress because of it's autumn colors and vintage style.  Doesn't it look just like a 1950s housewife hostess dress?

Keep checking back with me in the coming months for posts about my other Amor Dresses.

Shopping Info: Brown Dress Polka Dot Swing Dress Vintage 50's Inspired Tea Dress Brown Bridesmaid Dress Brown Party Dress Plus Size Dress -XS-XL,Custom

The Depth of Winter

Velvet pumpkins, Wood Bead Tree, Fall Wreath, Felt Acorns from Etsy.com

I never realized before just how beautiful the dogwood tree is.  Full green leaves and white blossoms in the spring, red berries in the summer, and dark red leaves each autumn, it truly has become one of my favorite sights during each of the passing seasons.

My hilltop farm is more than just dotted with dogwoods, it's positively loaded with them, and they add so much spirit to the scenery.  I was reminded of their color for my latest velvet crush post.  This wine color reminds of that feeling in the air as November gives way to December as though the world is drinking deeply of this last taste of color.  It's difficult to put into words, but the deepening of the evenings, lengthening of the nights, and the stillness of the world and the intensity of its beauty as autumn becomes gray winter, just brought me here.

And then of course I am surrounded by the wine red dogwood leaves, never so lovely as just before December arrives and the leaves teach us the beauty of letting go.  I'm going to make that my goal, my resolution if you will, not for next year although it's not to far away, but for right now and whatever is left of the year to find the beauty in letting go of past hurts, lost loves, faded dreams, what might have been and what will never be.

Instead, I'd like to enjoy the intense beauty of this season in my life as my children grow and find the wind that fills their sails and takes them out into the world and their destiny, as I find the freedom to say what I mean and be who I am, and to give love freely, expecting nothing in return.

Shopping Info: Velvet Puff Sleeve Top-$12.99 from Forever21, Plaid skirt is old from RoseGal, The Zest Is History Heel  from ModCloth

Siren Song

Sometimes when I sit down to write a post, I have that little nagging feeling that I've done this all before.  Same title, same topic, maybe even the same outfit.  Have I?  More than likely, I'm reusing titles and topics--it's not easy to come up with a thousand unique post titles--but I try to mix it up a little on the outfits so that even if they're similar, they're never exactly the same.

Today's post will be short and sweet and perhaps a little familiar as it is a subject near and dear to my fashion heart--mermaids!  I've done a number of posts about mermaid prints or siren inspired outfits, so forgive me if I repeat myself.  Forgive me if I repeat myself.  

This little outfit came together at the last minute.  I had this gorgeous skirt, just begging to be worn and I couldn't quite find anything I liked to go with it.  So, I grabbed this mermaid print top and an orange cardi and dashed out to do some photos before the sun had set and I missed my chance.

Coming back in to the house to edit them, I really liked the overall effect.  There's a lot of color going on to be certain, but it seems fairly harmonious to me.

And this skirt is absolutely heavenly.  It's made of stretchy fabric so it's comfortable, but that high waist is so chic!  And the color is perfect for so many outfits.

I can't wait to show you all the great outfits I'm coming up with for this skirt.  Since taking these photos, I've already done another set and changed up the outfit just a bit.  Coming Soon!

Shopping Info:  Mermaid Top, Dream of the Crop Cardigan, and The Zest is History Heels from ModCloth, Skirt from: SHEIN, Headband from: Claire's