snake prints

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Small Change, Big Difference

Life is going along the way it has and it's not bad, but it's not great. You're tired of the way things are. You want something new, something different. You're not in place where you can make huge changes, but you just can't stay stuck here anymore. What do you do?

I love fashion. It's creative and expressive and it makes for a great metaphor for other areas of life. Take today's outfit for example. I love it as is, these blue and green hues are bright and bold, and that snake print and bow heels add just the right touches, but I think we both know this particular look isn't really expressing the full potential of its various components.

It's much the same way in life. Chances are there are some really great things going on in your life. You're crushing it at some things, doing OK at others, and you have a few places that need work. Overall you just feel that you're not living up to your full potential. So, back to my original question, what do you do?

The good news is that just like with my outfit I don't need to scrap everything; I just need to make a few small changes to make a big difference.

First and foremost, I would say you need to examine your life. Identify the areas where you are strong and/or satisfied and celebrate them. If we're talking about this outfit I would note the great colors, print, beautiful fit of the skirt, the great details in the bows on the heels. If we're talking about life, I would say, I'm happy in my work life and home life. I work hard in these areas and things are going well; I have no complaints.

Next take a look at places that might need work and what you could do to improve in that area. For the outfit, I think I need to ditch the black heels and add a mustard gold heel to break up the monotony. In life I'd say my fitness has taken a back burner so I'm adding some extra workouts to my week and I've joined a fitness class with my family at a local gym so I have incentive and an accountability team.

Ok, now that that's going strong, what else can I do to improve an area where I'm unhappy with things? In the outfit I add a matching yellow belt to really make a statement. In life I'll look at my eating habits and work on a healthy menu and shopping list. Then I'll do all my ordering online so that I'm not tempted to buy junk in the grocery store in a moment of hunger-induced weakness.

Now, step back. Admire your work and see how you feel about things. Don't continue to find things to be unhappy with--that can be habit forming--instead, reach a place where you've made the changes and you can appreciate the way that life, or your outfit, has changed for the better.

Shopping Info: Top from: SHEIN, FACE N FACE High Waisted A line Pleated Midi Skirt, Ivanka Trump Heels from ThredUp Use my link to sign up and save $20 off your first order, Yellow heels from Charlotte Russe, belt is old

Saturday, August 8, 2020

In the Dear Old World

"Dear old world," she murmured, "you are very lovely and I am glad to be alive in you."

~Anne of Green Gables

There are days so perfectly harmonious that I cannot help but feel a great sense of gratitude just to be alive in this world.

With all the chaos it is easy to lose our way, but in this moment I see clearly again.

Just the sunshine, the bird song, and the flowers going into my basket one by one. This is all I need to be content.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Leather Tops & Printed Skirts

Black PU Hook And Eye Scoop Neck Crop Top - Mariah from FemmeLuxeFinery.co.uk

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

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Snake Skin Hype

You may have noticed lately all the snakeskin prints on my shopping lists. There's a very good reason for that...I love them. When it comes to real snakes, I think we get along best when we maintain a cool, wary distance from each other. I'm perfectly fine with my current arrangement with the snake community which is live and let live, stay out of my yard and I'll stay out of yours, although there is a wily black snake who has been stealing eggs from my hen house for over a year and I let him because he's harmless, tenacious, and kind of cute. But, generally speaking, I don't want to touch snakes let alone wear them. Snakeskin prints on the other hand are an entirely different story.

This isn't my first post on snakeskin prints. (You can see that post here along with my 4 Tips for Wearing SnakeSkin) I first fell in love with snakeskin prints when I tried a body-con dress with a retro vibe from FemmeLuxeFinery. This sort of print does an amazing job of being both eye-catching and camouflaging. It's elegant haute couture and demure. It makes a statement and a tasteful one at that, but it's so easy to coordinate with solids in a variety of colors that it really is a must have print.

Snakeskin Printed V-Neck Chiffon Dress from Chic Wish snake skin maxi chicwish

My absolute favorite way to accessorize snake skin prints is with metallics. They're sort of neutral and yet they bring so much to an outfit. For this Maxi Chiffon dress from Chic Wish, I've accessorized with a chunky gold necklace and earrings from Catherine's and these metallic gold heels by Glamorous.

For an evening out, like this one, I think a little cleavage can be appropriate and tasteful, but I don't want to set this dress aside just for date night. So, to make it more workplace appropriate, I would add a black or taupe camisole with a plain scoop neckline, no lace and no v-neck. I would keep all the accessories and the heels though since this dress is long enough that flats would detract from the look while heels bring it balance.

For the handbag, I'd suggest keeping it simple with a solid or metallic color clutch when pairing with a maxi dress. A big bulky bag with a long dress can be overwhelming to your shape. Remember that your clothes should enhance your natural beauty not overpower it, and your accessories should enhance your clothes and your own beauty. Clothes and baubles are not the star of the show, you are.