Paper Moon

Looking back on all my childhood favorites, I definitely see a pattern.  My favorite films growing up weren't the typical Say Anything/Clueless/10Things I Hate About You, although I did love those movies back then and still do.  But, the films that really drew me in and carried me away with them, the ones that will forever top my list are the unlikely father/daughter road-trip movies like True Grit and Paper Moon.

If you've never seen Paper Moon starring real life father-daughter duo, Ryan O'Neal and Tatum O'Neal,  then your life is lacking perhaps not all joy, but a fair share that this movie could bring to it.  Based on the novel Addie Pray by Joe David Brown, the movie adaptation covers only a small portion of the original story, but it is perhaps the very best of it too.  Set in Kansas and Missouri during the Great Depression, Ryan O'Neal's character, Moses Pray a.k.a Moze, is a swindler who sell Bibles to widows claiming their husbands purchased them as a gift before they passed and he has come to deliver the gift and collect on the bill.  Tatum's character is named Addie Loggins and her party-girl mother has recently died.  Since her mother had so many men in her life, Addie has no idea who her father is.  Moze comes to the funeral to pay his respects and sees an opportunity to make a little money before sending Addie to her family in Missouri.  What Moze did not foresee is that Addie is  not so easily played.  Learning of Moze's scheme Addie demands her fair share of his earnings.  The two then embark on a road trip to deliver her to her relatives and earn some cash along the way.

Tatum O'Neal's brilliant performance was also her very first time acting. It won her an Academy Award at the age of ten and made her the youngest person to ever do so.  Paper Moon is funny and dark,  tragic yet delightful, but it has very little to do with its title.  In fact, when screen writer Alvin Sargent came up with the title, Orson Welles said something along the lines of, forget the movie, just make the title!  And so Sargent masterfully worked in the 1933 song It's Only a Paper Moon by Paul Whiteman and a scene with Addie having her picture taken on a paper moon, which she later gives to Moze to remember her by in order to make the title relevant.

Having said all that, Selkie's summer collection of the same title has nothing to do with the movie and more to do with the song according to their write up on the collection:   The record player buzzes, glossy French manicured fingers lift the needle to flip it to the other side. A pause, then Jazz explodes throughout the room, high ceilings reverberate sound that pours out through French doors and onto the back lawn. You rush upstairs, bare feet sticky against the marble staircase, through the art deco closet and onto the cool, beige bathroom tiles. Lipsticks lined up, gold tubes next to the mirror, you leave a kiss on the glass and spritz your wrist with a sweet blossom scent. Lacey lingerie (just for confidence) and a perfectly pink silk dress hanging on the back of the door, now pulled off it's hanger and slipped on over your hips....

The end of summer, like a sunset slipping away behind the hills, magical and fleeting, and needing to be soaked up in its entirety, like a piece of sourdough bread soaking up the last of the gazpacho, we celebrate this magical warm time with another all natural fabric collection. Inspired by the late 40's and 50's, dancing barefoot in an estate on the West Coast, and lighting sparklers on sprawling lawns. A collection to pose for pictures, arms wrapped around garden statues, or to step drunkenly into giant fountains with friends, voices cackling loudly, kissing, laughing, yelping into the rolling quiet of the Pasadena mountains.

It's a lovely image of a bygone era and the prints are of course the same loveliness I've come to love and obsess over from Selkie.  In this collection, there were several things that caught my eye like the Hanky/Scotty prints, the Day Dress in For Lamour print, and the Picnic Terrace Gown.  I love how each of Selkie's collections feature a few common colors but so many surprises as well.

More and more I find myself drawn to Selkie's cotton gowns.  I've had to shorten the cotton Ritz and this Terrace gown, by taking 9.5"/24cm off the ruffle on the Ritz and taking 4"/10cm off this gown the moment I got back from taking photos.  Although after trying it on, I probably should have taken off 6"/15cm but it was quite a lot of work and thread so I may just learn to navigate the extra length.

Although this is a very long dress, the fabric is just the perfect weight.  If it were any thicker this dress would be unbearably heavy, any lighter and it would be sheer.  As it is, it's the perfect weight so that I can move freely.

I purchased both pieces from the Paper Moon collection that I now own from Ivory Sheep because I trust Mackenzie to check my items for quality standards and also because she packages each order to beautifully that it's an extra treat to buy from her.

My Lavender Aria Flats from VIVAIA were a bit of a risk because I didn't know if I had anything in my wardrobe that would pair well with them, but I loved the color so much and the Arias are pretty much my go-to shoe now because they're so comfortable that I took the risk. I am so glad I did because I have found so many things that look well with them like this pretty dress.

Unlogical Poem is a place I would love to shop at but they just don't carry anything close to my size, so I for now I have to content myself with their adorable accessories.  I've bought one of these antique doll face rings in nearly every color they carry because I love them so much.

Because I am currently in the middle of a very strict seasonal wardrobe experiment, I will probably fold this dress neatly in some acid-free tissue paper and tuck it into a tub with some silica and lavender sachets until springtime.  I think the length and the colors will be much more suited to that time of year.

Shopping Info:  Picnic Terrace Gown from Ivory Sheep-$261 or at Selkie for $325, Aria 5° Flats in Lavender from VIVAIA-$79, Doll Head Ring from Unlogical Poem-$27.59

The By-Gone Blogging Days

Let me just start this post by saying how much I miss bloggers.  Gone are the days when I saw a dress and fell hopelessly in love, all I had to do was type in the name of the dress to Google's image search and low and behold a blog would pop-up with tons of photos of the dress: the store display, being worn, being styled. and an accompanying review.  And now? Gone.  All Gone.

And back in the waaay back, a person could pretty much devote themselves just to one brand or shop and it was fine.  One of my favorite blogs was called Effortlessly Anthropolgie.  My girl, Roxy, just went into Anthropologie with each new collection release and tried stuff on and took pics in the mirror and then wrote reviews about how everything felt and looked.  And I trusted what she, a real person with a real body, had to say more than a store description and photos of a model.

The best part of it was that it was out there forever, so even when the dress left stores and moved into the resale realm, you could still look up the reviews and see how it looked and decide whether or not it was worth the price long after the store's customer reviews had disappeared from the shop.  I loved it and it was tremendously helpful.  And now it's gone.

 

Now, if I see a dress it has to have a huge cult following to make it onto a YouTube review and even then I'm unlikely to find it unless the reviewer has fifty thousand followers.  And don't even get me started on the reviews themselves.  I once watched this greasy haired co-ed eat a cheeseburger in a Matoshi dress and then get some video footage of her cat taking a nap on another, because she "just didn't feel like doing a try-on" of that one.  Disgusting may be too harsh of a term to describe it, perhaps disappointing and underwhelming are better but no less accurate.   Most aren't nearly as bad as that, but they're also not nearly as thorough as blog reviews used to be.

I get it; our attention spans are too short to read a six paragraph review, but I still want the details, the all angles photos and the line after line of description. It's why I've kept my own blog for all these years in spite of scaling it back.  It's also why so many people steal my photos and use them when they're reselling their clothes.  It's way easier to track down my photos than it is to try scrolling through Instagram hoping to stumble across a pic of the dress you're selling.  I don't mind when people use my pics, I only wish they'd give me credit, but that's a whole other story.

So, in honor of fashion blogging, all that it was, and all that it has meant to so many fashion lovers out there, let me give a quick review of this out-of-stock Selkie Coat of Arms Cottage Puff dress just in case you find it on a resale site like I did and don't know anything about it or ever remember seeing it in the store.  This dress features a lightweight cotton layer on top and two organza skirt layers underneath in matching print.  The bodice is lined in yellow cotton and the dress fits true to size.  I ordered a size small and it was approximately two sizes too big, so I altered it myself.  This dress is also very short, so I'm sporting cotton bloomers underneath.  With this neckline it's almost impossible to find a bra that doesn't peek out, so save yourself some time and just find one that looks pretty when it does show.  Originally priced at $295, this dress isn't easy to find on the resale sites, but I see them here and there for a significantly reduced price, so if you did miss out, don't give up.

Shopping Info:  Selkie Coat of Arms Cottage Puff Dress from Poshmark, Harriseve Flats from Amazon, Collectif Strawberry bag

Sweater Weather: MAK Sweater Outfit #6

It's the last day of outfits from my MAK Sweater haul and of course, it had to be windy.  That's my least favorite part of my all my favorite seasons, but so it goes.  So, please excuse all the wispy hair in this post.

Unboxing this sweater haul from MAK, I got a few surprises and a few styles that I don't normally gravitate towards but have loved trying on because now I have new favorite styles.  It's good to get out of our comfort zones now and then.

I usually go for the button down cardis that stop at my waist to wear with my dresses.  This one's longer and has an open front but I love how I can wrap up in it when I take my evening walks to unwind from these stressful, very busy days I've had an excess of lately. 

Even though I wasn't sure it would look well with my dresses, it still goes perfectly all my pretty midis, case in point, this girly print from Emily & Fin.  I think it is a perfect pairing.  This cardigan is so warm and soft and this baby pink is just too lovely.

After nearly ten years with this brand, I think it's safe to say my love for them is still going strong.  If you're not a cardigan person, become a cardigan person.  At least for autumn, because this is the perfect time of year for them and MAK has something for every taste and style.  

Shopping Info:  YeMak Womens Open Front Cardigan-$23, Aria 5° Flats in Pitaya-$79 from VIVAIA, Emily and Fin Dress is old

Sweater Weather: MAK Sweater Outfit #5

Life is comprised of many milestones, but for me, the most meaningful things happen in the tiniest moments, so it's not unexpected to hear that my most adored belonging and pieces of clothing are the ones with the little details.

The wonderful people at MAK Sweaters sent over a bundle for me to unbox just in time to welcome the change in temps and the arrival of sweater weather.  I didn't know what they would send for me and as I unwrapped this lovely, I immediately loved the color, but as I unfolded it and gasped at the cherries all over the front.

This lovely crochet knit sweater is one of my favorite styles from MAK because it is just the perfect blend of vintage and modern, and this teal color is just perfect for all seasons, but my most favorite part is the little cherries all over the front.

I wasn't sure how to pair this cardigan so, I took it to my closet and thought I'd spend some time trying things out, but instead I saw this pale green Collectif dress and immediately knew it was meant to be.

In keeping with the vintage theme I styled it with vintage-esque T-strap heels and hairstyle on this chilly morning.  I know I'll keep finding pieces the compliment this pretty sweater and I can't wait to wear it as a Christmas-y style cardigan.  I'm so grateful to MAK for sending all these great sweaters for us to try!

Shopping Info:  Cherry Sweater-$23 from YeMAK

Sweater Weather: MAK Sweater Outfit #4

We all need something to make us feel cozy when it starts to get chilly out and I love nothing better than to wrap up in a cozy cardi with a hot cup of tea as I walk around my little property greeting all the animals and giving them a scratch behind the ears with my free hand.

Sweater weather is well and truly upon us and as much as I love summer, it is a sweet parting to spend some time with lovely crisp autumn.  The leaves are changing and the mornings are later and later in making their appearance while the evenings arrive earlier each day.  So, I've brought out my cozy MAK sweaters in preparations for the changing of the seasons.

Oh, dear, MAK knows me so well.  The lovely people at MAK Sweaters sent me a little surprise bundle of sweaters and this beautiful Camel Cardigan has been on my wish list since last autumn and now I can finally wear it with my plaid skirts in the crisp fall air.

Of course, I love vintage styles all the time and cardigans are a year round staple of my wardrobe, but there is something about fall that just makes me ache with nostalgia and crave my swings skirts with chunky knit cardis like this one.  It looks exactly like the styles I love so much from a bygone era.

If ever there was a collaboration that perfectly suits me, it must certainly be this one with MAK.  I have been wearing their sweaters for nearly a decade and I love them all, and I can think of no better time for a sweater haul that the beginning of autumn.  I have a couple more sweaters to show you from this haul, so keep checking back with me for the rest of September.

Shopping Info:  Cropped Cardigan in Camel-$25 from YeMAK, Parisienne Espresso Flats-$122 from Charlie Stone

Tired of Being Tired? WISKII Active Wear

Fitness has been such a saving grace in my life.  It's certainly improved the quality of my life and may have even extended it too.  Before I started working out regularly, I felt tired all the time.  I know it sounds counter intuitive to say that the best cure for fatigue is exercise, but it really is the perfect way to get more energy.

 

Being tired makes it so much harder to start something new, but even if you have to start with something basic like ten minutes of walking, you have to start somewhere, so just get to it.  Start with an easy walk, but commit to do it at least three to five times a week.  Once you're able to be consistent with that, then it's time to add on a little more time and maybe increase the difficulty of your workouts until you're seeing results.  

Having something pretty and comfortable to wear while you exercise may just be the proper motivation to get you started on a fitness regimen.  I love my Active wear from WISKII.  Unlike some sports bras that really sqish my chest, this Victoria Corset Sports Bra has moderate support but the padded cups and mesh straps hug my curves with no squishing. These Training Mesh Leggings have a high waist with just a little tummy camouflage, so I'm fully focused on my workout, not my trouble zones.

WISKII is the only active wear I've ever owned that made me feel body confident instead of body conscious.  I love that they have leggings, skirts and dresses as well as sports bras and tops.  There is so much to choose that is beyond just functional, it's fashionable too.  And now you can save 15% off your purchase with my code BLEU15.

If you're tired of being tired and ready to live your life to its fullest, it's time to get moving, and WISKII Active can make you look good all along the way of your fitness journey.

Shopping Info: Victoria Corset Sports Bra-$59, Training Mesh Leggings-$79 from WISKII Active

Sweater Weather with MAK: Outfit #3

My recent wardrobe experiment began for the very best reason.  Simply put, I was stuck in a rut.  With so much going on and my mornings being so busy, I often raced from the shower to my closet in search of something and being so overwhelmed by my options, I ended up wearing the same tried and true pieces over and over again and it felt like something needed to change.

 There's nothing wrong with tried-and-true, no need to get rid of those pieces, but sometimes the routine needs a little shaking up.  Today's outfit is a prime example of what I would grab when I was rushed and didn't have time to make up my mind.  This black and white stripe top with the high-waist black trousers looks good on me, and feels so comfortable it almost feels like I haven't dressed up.  I'd never get rid of them, they just need a little color and that's where MAK Sweater comes in.

The lovely people at MAK sent me this gorgeous lavender cardigan and it adds just the perfect bolt of color to an otherwise safe-to-the-point-of-boring ensemble.  And since this cardigan goes so perfectly with my Lavender Arias from VIVAIA, I decided to keep the color going.

This cardigan is soft and lightweight with a V neck and matching buttons running down the front.  It also has long sleeves and is longer than most of my MAK sweaters.  I like the length on this because sometimes it's nice to have a little bum coverage.

Small changes make big differences.  With just a little color, my outfit transforms from the old stand--by to a more polished look that seems like I spent way more time putting it together than I actually did, so I look chic even when I'm rushed.

Shopping Info: Long Sleeve V Neck Cardigan-$22 from MAK, 

Aria 5°flats-$79 from VIVAIA