Warm Colors for Winter

Another Christmas come and gone.  Mine was lovely; I hope yours was too.  Today is the day we put away our tree and restore the house to its dreary, non-Christmas-ness and I miss the lights and warm colors.  I need the bright colors in the dreary seasons, that's why I have such a vast collection of colorful tights like these Rust Tights from WeLoveColors to keep me warm and cheery.

At least this year we're having another little heat-wave just in time for the break and while white Christmases are lovely, I'd much rather spend the entire day outside working on my herb garden so it's ready for spring planting in just a few months.

There's always so much to do around here and by the time I feel rested enough from my other job, I find I'm out of time for the farm tasks.  That's life, I suppose, but I'm still working on a way of making the farm my whole job instead of just a hobby. 

I did take the initiative on one particularly nice day to haul and break rocks from around the farm and then use them to expand my tiny herb garden into something much more suited to sustaining a family both in food and medicinal herbs.   

I've been working on gathering all sorts of wild plants from the woods and roadsides that have medicinal benefits and bringing them to my home so that I'll always have a supply available.  In the springtime I'm going to to some more posts on these plants since they are lying dormant at the moment and enjoying their winter rest.

Until then, I'll just have to find ways to stay warm and occupy myself in my little house and fill my wardrobe up with lots of warm colors while I wait for nature's colors to return.

Shopping Info:  Rust tights-$15 from Welovecolors.com

Just a Few Words

I'm at a loss for words lately.  I've even cut down on the number of posts I've been doing because I just don't have that much to say.  Call it the end-of-the-season busyness, but it seems like there is so much going on and coming up that I have been stretched thin.

There's so much going on at work and my children's schools as the school year draws to a close and summer begins that I hug my pillow tightly each morning and whisper, "I'll see you soon," and count the hours until I can fall into bed again each night and pray that my insomnia doesn't rob me of too much of the sleep I need.

I'd like to think if we can just get through this, it will all slow down for the summer, but I know it won't.  These are the busy years, the ones that go by the quickest and make parents wonder, "where did the time go?"

These are the years when making the effort to slow down and enjoy life as much as possible really counts.  So, I accept the busyness, try to sleep when I can, laugh, and listen a lot since I'm at a loss for words.

 And, that's all I have to say for today.

Shopping Info:  Sweater from Forever21, Dressed with Whimsy skirt from Collectif

Hat & Gloves Required?

You've noticed, you've admired from afar. If you've read this blog for any amount of time you've definitely seen me wear them, and it may have got you wondering, should I wear a hat and gloves too?

I wish style trends could return to the days of hats and gloves being standard accessories for all. There is something about a hat and gloves that adds that extra polish and panache to any outfit. But are they really necessary? The answer depends on you. What is the statement you want to make with your look? For today's outfit I styled this dress both ways.

This RockSteady dress has some very nice vintage design elements in the buttons down the front, the and the layered peplum at the waist, and the pencil skirt, so adding those extra touches like a hat and gloves seems pretty natural to play up that vintage look.  

Hats and gloves aren't in common use anymore which makes them really stand out when someone wears them, and you have to decide if that's the statement you want to make because people are going to notice (and by notice I mean stare...and possibly comment.) Now, comments and stares don't necessarily mean negative attention just attention. Do you want it? Sometimes I can't resist a vintage look. Sometimes I want something a little more subtle.

Personally, I say experiment. Why not at least try them. You might find a new accessory that you really love.

Leather Tops & Printed Skirts

It's FemmeLuxe week!  This is one of my very favorite times of each month when I get to collaborate with FemmeLuxe on some amazing outfits.  Yesterday we talked about some holiday tips and I'll be bringing you more of those later in the week, but for now I thought we'd press pause on the holiday talk for a day, because it's a little early for holiday overload.  So, today's post features one of my favorite and most used items from FemmeLuxe, corset tops and crop tops!

 

You've heard me sing the praises of crop tops before and I've been writing love posts to animal prints for months now.  I thought it was time I combine my two latest fashion loves into one dynamic outfit, and I'm so excited to show you the results.

I've styled Pu tops in black, burgundy, and snake print, but this Black PU Hook And Eye Scoop Neck Crop Top - Mariah is my first PU top that has a hook front and sleeves.  It's unique from the rest in that way, but it still brings that classic vixen edge to any outfit, which is why I love it so.  For today's post, I'm keeping that diva vibe by pairing this top with a snakeskin print pencil skirt. 

Now, I know what you're thinking, December is typically the time of bulky layers of wool and acrylic not form fitting vinyl crop tops and and pencil skirts.  Hello, Shapewear!  I promised to make a mention of it in the outfits that I used shapewear, so may I present the first.  While the snake print does a wonderful job of hiding some of my trouble zones, the shapewear does the rest.  A little tummy slimming and bummy smoothing never hurt anyone, and if it makes you feel better about yourself then I'm all for it.

 

The Mariah Top looks great right out of the packaging.  No wrinkles to iron, it's just ready to wear.  The front hooks run all the way down, so there's no wiggling to get into it, which is nice since I tend to do my hair and make-up before getting dressed for the day, and I've ruined more than a few meticulously styled hair-dos by not planning to put on a tight pullover afterwards. 

 

The Mariah Top is a crop top, so for the next few outfits  I put together with it, including today's, I'll be wearing it with midi skirts, but I would also recommend high waist jeans.  Maybe I'll try that next, because I also love FemmeLuxe's high waist jeans.  I would also recommend a balconette bra for this top.  A balconette is perfectly hidden with this scoop neck, whereas any other type will probably show at the sides, and you don't want that.  This top is making quite a statement on its own and you want part of that statement to turn into hey, look at how wrong my bra is for this outfit.

There's a reason we shy away from form fitting apparel at this time of year, and I'm not exception to that rule.  Typically I like to stay bikini ready year round rather than perpetually be in a state of “trying to get back into shape,” but this year, the workouts just aren't happening, but the invitations to places where they'll be serving delicious meals seem to be pouring in.  That's ok, I'm not one to shy away from rich home cooked food.  I'm going to enjoy my curvier body this winter and show off my shape a little.  That's why I love FemmeLuxe.  With their Satin Dresses and Co-Ords I always feel confident, not matter what the numbers on the scale say.

For accents, I've really been sticking with my pearl strands lately.  I just love the classic elegance they bring to any outfit.  Pearls are the LBD of jewelry, you can never go wrong wearing them.  Ankle strap heels however, aren't for every outfit,  They work best with taller girls and shorter hemlines as they can tend to make short girls look even shorter, so wear them with a touch of caution, but I do think they bring a classic elegance to this particular style.

Next week I'll be bringing you pics of this Mariah top with a different printed skirt and it promises to much more comical.  (hint, hint)  I can't wait for you to see, so join me right back here next week for that outfit.

 

Shopping Info: Top from FemmeLuxeFinery.co.uk, Skirt from: SHEIN, heels are old

The Golden Age of Hollywood

Hollywood starlets have been inspiring style for decades now.  Women the world over wanted to copy Clara Bow's "Cupid's Bow" lips and short bob hairstyle.  Jean Harlow's platinum locks had women flocking to salons asking for the same.  It didn't take long for couture designers to get on board and before long stores like Macy's had their own "Cinema Shop."  My favorite Hollywood era of all is arguably the 1950s.  Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, Joan Crawford.  That's an impressive list as it is and yet I could go on and on.  If you're a lover of all things vintage and want to relive a little of that Hollywood glitz from days gone by, there are a few key style elements that can help you recapture the era.

The Bardot Neckline

A Bardot Neckline was named after French actress Brigitte Bardot and refers to a wide open neck that exposes both shoulders and occasionally a hint of cleavage.  In my opinion the Bardot neckline looks more feminine and visually interesting when it also has something of a slight V at the center or a criss-cross in the front.  Going straight across the shoulders can be a bit bland at best and can give the appearance of a flattened bust at worst.  The criss-cross with a V breaks up that straight line and creates a flattering and tastefully suggestive curve.

A Striped Top

Even now we think of that basic white top with navy blue or black stripes as being a timeless suggestion of casual elegance.  This look, also known as a Breton stripe was first introduced in the mid 1800s as part of the uniform for the French Navy to help spot a sailor who had fallen overboard.  We've come a long way since then and now those stripes are used to help spot a modern day fashionista.  Coco Chanel made it into a casual look for women and a quick google search for Classic Actresses + Stripe Top turned up photos of every 50s starlet I adore: Donna Reed, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Doris Day and yes, Brigitte Bardot.  So, I found something that combined these two style elements of the Bardot Neckline and the Stripe top into one to create my Golden Age look.

A Midi Pencil Skirt

With a top like that you need the right skirt to compliment it.  We've had a rough patch in our recent style history where it was all about super skinny and straight lines instead of feminine curves.  Starlets of the 50s weren't afraid to show off those curves.  I'm glad FemmeLuxe feels the same way.  FemmeLuxe has some stunning skirts, and for this post I went to their Midi Skirts to make my selection.  The reason I love midi skirts is because they sit at the narrowest part of the waist which can really accentuate your form in a positive way and a pencil skirt like the Black PU High Split Piper skirt I'm wearing shows off those curves in a way those iconic starlets would approve of.  By now you've heard me talk about  ways to tone down leather with lace, but what if we'd like to keep that edge and add a little Hollywood glam?  Simple darling.I like the faux leather look with this top.  It says, "I could be the villainness if I wanted, but I've got too much class to bother with you."

Classic Accessories

Not so long ago, if one wanted to find 50s style accessories the antique stores and vintage thrift shops were the only options.  There are so many shops out there that cater to that vintage flare nowadays.  Cat Eye Sunglasses, pearl necklaces, scarves, Gloves and peep toe pumps--these are all great choices for that classic Hollywood Glam look.  But if you're ever in doubt, ask yourself this simple questions W.W.A.W.--What Would Audrey Wear?  If she wore it in Breakfast at Tiffany's you really can't go wrong emulating her.  Come to think of it, you really can't go wrong emulating her in any film or photo shoot...ever.

Shopping Info: Skirt from FemmeLuxe (gifted),Top from: SHEIN,   

Research taken from Encyclopedia.com, and Stylecaster.com