Slow(er) Living

For most of my adult life, I made a commitment to getting up early nearly every morning and working out for 30 minutes first thing.  This past year has been the exception to that as I wake at 4:30 a.m., shower, dress, and am out the door no later than 5:30 a.m.   Sure, I've tried to work in an evening walk or stop at the gym on my way home, but I am really not an evening workout kind of person, so I haveb't been consistent with it and it's starting to show.  For me, working out has meant the difference between feeling good and pulled muscles, stiffness, losing flexibility, and poor sleep quality.  That's right, I've pulled more muscles from inactivity than I ever have from being consistently active.  So, my goal for this morning, was to once again begin working out as many mornings as possible.  It's the new year after all, and a time when most of us start thinking about making some positive changes.

Yes, today was my day.  It was going to happen.  And then I slept in.  Because I didn't have to go to work, so for once there was no rush.  And since this past year has been so exhausting, Mr. Bleu and I have developed a Saturday/Sunday morning ritual of making coffee and sitting in the sunshine, indoors or outdoors, where ever that may fall, and catching up on the goings on of our week and the future plans of the coming week, and I'm not in a hurry to give that up.  So, Ok, I had to compromise somewhere, because when I say that I've been in pain for the past few months of inactivity, I mean, it has been excruciating at times.  I chose to have our morning coffee and then have a late workout instead.  I hoped to follow suit the next morning, but this time all I got accomplished was coffee time.

Workout time is important, no mistake about it.  But, I'm also beginning to realize that coffee time is super important too.  I think I've reached a balance by simply making room for two of my favorite things in my life.  Ok, maybe I am working out less, but maybe it's time to slow down a bit and make room for some peaceful quiet mornings too.

Classic Prints with NewBella

There is something to be said for basics.  They're called basics, not because they're, well, basic or boring, but because they're the foundations everyone should have to build their wardrobe around.  Such is the case with a Little Black Dress.  Little Black Dresses are always in style and appropriate for everything except weddings, and even then as long as you're not purposely giving funeral vibes, you can probably pull it off.

The great thing about a LBD is that once you have that foundation, you can do virtually anything with it, including throw in some prints and textures.  For this post, I am collaborating with NEWBELLA, who sent me these darling houndstooth print flats with an apricot & black print and you can save 18% off your purchase with my code BLEU.  This whole look is giving me Audrey Hepburn vibes for sure!  

Combining these print flats with gold chain detail around the bows for that little extra flare, a vintage style textured cardigan and some great accessories like my favorite bow headband, makes this outfit anything but basic.  Quite the contrary, with a solid foundation and the right accessories, you're only limited by your imagination. 

Let me just say of these flats, J'dore!  They are so stylish and chic and they came with heel guards to protect against blisters which I definitely need because I am on my feet a lot.  They are comfortable with a nice cushion, but really for me the selling point is all in the style because I love them so much.  I do feel that these ran a big larger than the other two pairs of shoes I tried from NEWBELLA, so pay close attention to sizing.  

I will be reviewing two more pairs of shoes in this collaboration with NEWBELLA, so meet me right back here on Saturday for the second installment, or if you just can't wait that long, check out my YouTube review to see what other little lovelies I chose for this collab.

Shopping Info:  Mousse Fit Retro Bow Tie Flat Shoes-$59 from NEWBELLA, USE CODE BLEU to save 18% at NEWBELLA.  Girls From Savoy Dress from ThredUp, YeMak Textured Cardigan-$37, SheIn Bow Headband, Unlogical Poem Doll Ring

The Roaring 20s with Retro-Stage

In the 1920s much a of war-weary world decided to cast off previous mores and restrictions and celebrate like never before.  Art and culture were changing as Art Deco came to dominate all forms of design with its unique blend of bold geometric forms with luxurious materials, the economy was booming allowing things like entertaining and travel which had previously been only for the very wealthy was to open up to a burgeoning middle class, and fashion, was following suit by being looser, shorter, and showing a little more skin and a little less restraint.

The 1920s produced some of my most favorite styles and I've been aching for ages to try one of these glamorous sequin maxi flapper gowns.  Since Retro Stage offers so many beautiful dresses from the 1950s, 60s, and my beloved 1920s, when they reached out about a collaboration, I jumped at the chance and was thrilled when they sent this Black 1920s Sequin dress and the best part is that you can save an extra 15% off your purchase with code Leandra15.  

Retro-Stage offers sizes from US2 all the way to US18.  This lovely dress fits true to size.  It is well made and the you can see for yourself from the photos the way the sequins catch the light and make this dress glow.  Wearing this lovely gown, I feel like I've stepped out of the pages of history.  The area where I live was actually a booming vacation spot for oil barons, politicians, and gangsters alike during prohibition and wearing this dress, I feel like I could have rubbed elbows with even the most glamourous party-goers. 

There are more lovely dresses on the way from my collaboration with Retro-Stage and I cannot wait to show you these stunning vintage looks!  Plus my full YouTube review will be available soon as well.

Shopping Info:  Black 1920s Sequin Flapper Maxi Dress-$59.99 from Retro Stage  Save an extra 15% with my promo code Leandra15.

Positively Purrfect Holiday Season

I thought I'd start the holiday season with an unconventional spin on the classic LBD.  I usually shy away from hemlines that go below my knee because I think they make me look dumpy, but I know that the Abigail Dress from KarinaDresses.com is the exception to the rule.  Karina always makes me look fabulous and I absolutely adored the Abigail Dress in Forget Me Not that I wore in our June collaboration.  It is so figure flattering, not to mention nice to have that longer hemline at this chilly time of year, that I pounced on the chance to collaborate on another Abigail Dress.

Coco Chanel said you can never go wrong with a little black dress and I say you can never go wrong with a Karina dress.  When you put those two things together, you've got a dress that works for any occasion, and since this is the top time of year for fancy parties and family get-togethers, I thought the Abigail in black would be the perfect Little Black Dress to cover any and all occasions that might arise.  

Whether you keep it simple with some classic pearls, or dress it up as I have with gloves, you can't help but look stunning in this style, but I've also added a playful extra touch.

I love adding little whimsical touches to my outfits and while I know cat ears headbands are a little less traditional for holiday wear, something about them just made this outfit say, "Me-Ow!"  and I had to have them.

No matter how you celebrate the holidays, or how many times you celebrate them, this dress is right there with you, bringing an elegant look and a comfortable fit and you'll look positively purr-fect with or without the cat ears :)

Shopping Info:Abigail Dress - Black from: KarinaDresses.com, Claire's Lace Stone Cat Ears Headband - Black - $7.99, Claire's Black Satin Ruched Gloves - $9.34, heels from ModCloth

Put a Bow on Top

The holidays are just around the corner which means at least one classy soiree or two and that means shopping for that perfect dress.  Shopping for the perfect LBD for those upcoming parties of the season shouldn't fill you with apprehension.  This is supposed to be a time of celebration, right?  So, why not enjoy this part and FemmeLuxe take the stress out of it.  When it comes to stylish wares for any occasion, FemmeLuxe has you covered.  I'm a devoted fan of their Little White Dresses and Mesh Dresses for special events, but it's a little black dress that's going to be making my season merry and bright this year.

 

It's not too soon to start searching for that perfect dress and let's face it, starting early and giving yourself plenty of time to look around takes a lot of the stress out of shopping that you'll find if you wait until the very last minute.  It also gives you way more selection and that de-stresses things too.  As part of a series I'm starting this year about holiday dresses, I'm starting with this Black Bow One Shoulder Midi Dress-Stacey from FemmeLuxe.  You know I adore midi dresses for that figure flattering shape they create and I'm partial to one shoulder dresses as that element alone creates a bolder statement, but the icing on this yummy cake has to be the bow at the shoulder.

If you've spent your life as a shy fashion violet, maybe it's time to blossom a little and make a bold statement and a little black dress with some bold accents is a great way to start. Black is low key and always in style, but when you start adding some standout accents it elevates your outfit to something more couture.  Start with a one shoulder style.  Whether it's attached to a bodycon dress like this one or a swing skirt style, the one shoulder draws the eye more than a simple two strap piece. 

 

Then top it off with a large accent like this bow that drapes tastefully from shoulder to bust.  This bow is too, too chic.  I love it!  It's tasteful and well blended to the shoulder and the dress as a whole.  It reminds me of something Audrey Hepburn would have worn in Breakfast at Tiffany's.  All I need is a hat, some pearls and of course some sunglasses to recreate that gilded age Hollywood glam. 

One thing I particularly appreciate about this Stacey Dress is that  it's doing all the work.  It is made of a thick material, so it holds the bow shape perfectly without any fussing from me.  Too many times I've seen a great dress with an accent which literally cannot hold up in person.  Typically I sit hunched over it at the last minute with a needle and thread trying to sew the trouble piece into place, but not so with the Stacey Dress.  Perhaps the best perk of this thicker fabric is that even though it is a bodycon dress it does some camouflaging to trouble areas.   I'm also thinking ahead to chilly evenings and having a dress with a thicker fabric will allow me to take off my coat or wrap and enjoy the evening without shivering the whole time.

So, now that you've decided on a standout dress, how should you accessorize it?  I'm so glad you asked, because the answer is quite simply--very, very minimally.  Again, the dress is doing all the work.  You don't need a necklace at all, and because of the large bow accent, I don't think dangle earrings are necessary, just some pearl or diamond studs and perhaps a ring or bracelet are all you really need.  As far as bags go, a small clutch, perhaps something with rhinestones or pearls as well, is preferable to a bulky shoulder strap bag.  For make-up it's more of the same.  Keep it simple of the eyes and do opt for a colorful lip shade that coordinates with your nails.

And Voila!  A simple, stress free look that will take you all the way through the holidays and beyond.

Shopping Info: Black Bow One Shoulder Midi Dress - Stacey from FemmeLuxeFinery.co.uk