The End of the Atomic Age

So, my lovelies, here we are.  The end of an era--small and rather insignificant as it is.  This is the last of the Space Cadet Sci-Fi outfits.  I have found each piece of clothing released by Steady Clothing in this Atomic Space Cadet print.  Dresses, shirts, and skirts, I have indeed and to my knowledge captured them all. 

I have had so much fun putting these together and of course I loved the challenge of searching for them and the reward of finally acquiring each piece.  I have already made another little challenge for myself to begin sometime in the new year, but for the present I am going to sit back and enjoy my success.  It's important to take that moment to bask in the triumph of a project complete.

Since I haven't hammered out all the details yet, I won't give anything away today, but I think you're going to love the things I have on the way for next year's outfit inspirations and brand collaborations.

So, for today's outfit post, I found this black and white space cadet top with that great geometric neckline and form fit.  I paired it with my hot pink satin skirt and of course by ray gun bag just to keep it all geek-chic.

The angular neckline of these tops is so interesting and surprisingly flattering that I absolutely love them and wish there were more styles out there like this!  Too many designers are playing it safe these days with boring styles and prints.  Bring back some creativity and ingenuity to the design world, please!

In that same spirit, I'm rather tired of everything going on this year.  I don't know what this new year will hold, but I'm holding on to the hope that it's something better, and less of the same old 2020 garbage!  Who's with me?!

I hope you've enjoyed this little challenge as much as I have and I hope it has encouraged you to keep looking for those out-of-stores pieces that you loved and lost.  Where there's a will, there's a way, and little patience and persistence will pay off.

Shopping Info:  Steady Clothing Atomic Space Cadet Top, Vixen by Micheline Pitt Skirt, Ray Gun Bag from Amazon

A More Modern Style with Gown Town Vintage

I love these autumn hues in this quiet field.  I thought for today's post it would be fun to try more modern style dress from Gown Town Vintage and this Classic Floral Swing dress with pockets had just the right palette of navy, rust, and turquoise.

Lest you think all Gown Town's dresses are vintage style, I also thought it would be fun of this collaboration to try one of their more modern styles.  This dress is light and flowy with ruching at the fitted waist and a flared skirt.  (Btw, my readers save 15% off this dress with code 155FRITM )

This dress also features cap sleeves, a bow tie at the neck and Pockets!!.  It's a very comfortable dress, great for all seasons.  Next time I feature this dress, I think I'll style it with some teal tights and a rust cardigan.

This is one modern style that I love because it has the fitted waist with camoflaguing ruching and that great flared skirt which is perfect for highlighting the narrowest part of your waist and creating an hourglass shape. 

I think the main take away here is that no matter which style era you favor, Gown Town knows how to create a beautiful, figure flattering dress and an incredible price.

I am in the process of making a video in which I'll compare one of my favorite Gown Town styles with one of their competitors.  For the same price, Gown Town's quality is leaps and bounds better than their competitors.  I can't wait to post the video, because I really want to do a side by side comparison so you can see the difference in the fabric and fit.

Hopefully that will be on the blog soon.  In the mean time, I couldn't resist buying a few Gown Town dresses on my own and you are going to love the styles I have on the way.  It's all coming up in the new year.

Shopping Info:  GownTown Women's Classic Floral Swing Jersey Dresses with Pockets- $25.98 And don't for get to save 15% with code 155FRITM

First Try Fails

This beautiful little driveway is one of my favorite photo spots.  It's beautiful in nearly every season for about a week and I get just one or two days a year to take photos here, so I have to make them count.

That's why I try so hard to plan outfits that will look best here.  I only get to take photos of a half a dozen outfits or so per year here and I don't want to waste that sliver of time.  But, it happens, so I try not to be too hard on myself.

I don't always nail it on the first try with my outfits.  Today's outfit is a prime example.  When I saw this skirt, I started inspiration boarding and this is the look I came up with.  I love the skirt and all the colors, but I'm afraid I went over board on all the coordinate colors.

I don't hate it, but there are so many colors going on and this top is a little rough on the retinas that I much preferred the second outfit that I came up with which is why I posted it first and have already worn it out and about a few times.

 That's just how it goes, you can't always get it right the first time, in fact most of us rarely get it right that quickly.  The important thing is to keep that in mind and rather than getting discouraged, just take it in stride and try again.

It's even better if you can adopt the spirit of loving the process of trial and error.  If it's inevitable, why not endeavor to make it enjoyable.  I may not like all the outfits I try out, but I do like trying out different ways of styling the same things to see what I can make.

Shopping Info:  Top and Cardigan from ThredUp, Rainy Days Skirt from Princess Highway

Fur-midable Fashion

Last spring I promised a follow up post to my Feline Fine outfit that was more work appropriate.  At long last, it has arrived!

In the previous outfit, I was wearing pink paper bag shorts, which were darling, but not something I would wear to the office, so it was a simple fix.  I switched the shorts for a long midi skirt and I did a little color changing and voila! A Furmidable style that is totally work appropes.

I've been working at the same place for long enough that no one is really surprised by my whimsical outfits.  Few people were when I started, but now it's down to zero, which makes me rather happy.

I don't wear things to get attention, I wear things that express who I am and how I feel about myself.  That's what clothes should do.  

Please don't make the mistake of thinking you have to be a certain size to feel good about yourself and in turn that you have to feel good about yourself before you can wear what you want.  Whatever size you are, wear what makes you feel good--right now, today. 

 

Let's face it, some clothes just look awful on you.  I don't know anyone who can wear anything.  All clothes are limited in what they can do and on whom they will look best.  That's no one's fault, really, it's just how it is.

What I do know is that You are worth a little time and effort to find clothes that best show off your shape so you can look and feel amazing right now, no matter what your age, size, or situation in life.  Take the time.  And let the world see just how amazing you feel about you.

Shopping Info:  Cat top by Retrolicious, Classic Simplicity A Line Skirt from Chic Wish, Jean Bolero Shrug from Collectif

Aliexpress Hearty Dot Dress

In December I started a post about trying three Aliexpress dresses.  That may not sound like a big deal, but the real risk with Aliexpress is that you never really know what you're getting because most of the shops are using stock photos and they don't post pics of the actual product you're buying.  It may be an amazing bargain; it may be a total scam.  Whichever the case it is always a gamble.  I like to try my luck now and then and share the results with you to make your shopping experience a little less risky.  So, to the left you'll see the photo that the shop used when I was looking to buy some dresses.

I was browsing Aliexpress to try out a few of their dresses a few months ago and I came upon this lovely polka dot heart print dress.  I loved the stock photo and hoped, hoped, hoped that the real thing would look as lovely.  And, well, it did and it didn't. 

You'll notice that it's not nearly as full in the skirt and it doesn't have the bustier top.  It's just a very basic dress with a nice print.

So, while it isn't as gorgeous as the photo, it's still a pretty cute dress and for this post, I'll show you two different ways to style it.

Teuta Matoshi's dress Hearty Dream Gown seems to be the original inspiration for this dress and it carries a whopping $690 price tag which doesn't include tax or shipping. Whereas this hearty dress came in at $20 + $4.39 shipping.  Huge difference, but as you know from reading my past posts you will never get the same level of quality from the cheaper version.  When the price tag is lower, corners were cut to save money.

With that said, for a $24 dress this one is very nice and the level of quality is what I would expect.  The cups are just a gesture, soft and really, they don't do much or sit exactly where they should, but it's close enough.  The straps are nice and stay tied, and the material is soft but there isn't layer upon layer to make the skirt nice and full. 

If you want an amazing gown, definitely go to Teuta's web store and get the original design, you won't be disappointed.  If, like me you were just looking for something cute and inexpensive, then this is a nice dress with some of those great vibes.  Not mind blowing, but cute and easy on the budget.  Hopefully, if I can really save my money, I'll be able to do a post comparing an actual Teuta dress with an imposter in the new year.

Shopping Info: WEPBEL Love Dots Ankle Length Dress from Aliexpress.com  Hearty Dream Gown from Teuta Matoshi

The Day After Yesterday

Yesterday was Christmas.  And now, everyone breathe a sigh of relief or dismay, Christmas is over.  It's December 26th, the day after yesterday, and I've heard it said that this is the busiest day of the year for returns and bargain shopping.  I admit that I've never had the energy or desire for more shopping the day after yesterday.  

On the surface that sounds rather sad to me, so many ungrateful people, unappreciated gifts, but I get it.  I've been guilty of returning, regifting, or just giving away things I didn't need and would never use.  Maybe my expectations are too high or maybe I just don't like waste and clutter, but I can tell you that I have a strict tradition of doing absolutely nothing the day after Christmas.

All the hustle and hurry of Christmas is over.  December 26th is the day to help the kids put things together, play with their toys, for the grown-ups to test out new gadgets, or just lay on the couch for a homemade pizza and Lord of the Rings movie marathon.    

We've just spent weeks preparing for Thanksgiving and then Christmas, and oh yes, New Years is just days away.  Why not take today to just relax?  I thought it would be best to talk about this particular subject through photos from my weekend getaway in October.

This little street was so quiet and soothing with its ivy covered walls that we paused a moment from our exploring to just sit and chat and catch our breath before pressing on.  And that's precisely what December 26th, the day after yesterday, should be.

No judgement if you like to get out the day after Christmas and hit the sales with all the money you got for Christmas (or from returned gifts).  I get it; it's not only savvy shopping, but I encourage you to do what you love.  Just don't forget to make a little time to pause, reconnect, and recharge before pressing on.

Shopping Info:  Shark dress by Retrolicious from Poshmark, envelope bag from Amazon, pink tights from Shein

In the Bleak Mid-Winter

In The Bleak Mid-Winter ~ by Christina Rossetti

In the bleak mid-winter

Frosty wind made moan;

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak mid-winter

Long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him

Nor earth sustain,

Heaven and earth shall flee away

When He comes to reign:

In the bleak mid-winter

A stable-place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty —

Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim

Worship night and day,

A breastful of milk

And a mangerful of hay;

Enough for Him, whom Angels

Fall down before,

The ox and ass and camel

Which adore.

Angels and Archangels

May have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim

Thronged the air;

But only His Mother

In her maiden bliss

Worshipped the Beloved

With a kiss.

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am? —

If I were a Shepherd

I would bring a lamb;

If I were a Wise Man

I would do my part, —

Yet what I can I give Him, —

Give my heart.