Changing Ur Clothes

dressing closet, the selby

As usual, I'm always more productive when the husby is away on business. So, hopefully today, I'll tackle some projects I've been putting off for months. One of which will be the closet. I have a plethora of clothing, and wear maybe only 10% of them.  It's a physical representation of how much brain power we actually use at any given time *myth*. Due to changing body shapes, changing styles, changing from working to being a stay at home mom... who knows when I will ever be 'changing' into this things again? (see what i did there, so clever). It's time to shop the closet and get creative, or say 'bye bye'. I love those fun little shop your closet, the remix outfit of the day, cut and resew tshirts, type clothing blogs, but then it's just something else to get addicted too and I really can't let that happen, now can I? Do you have any favorite blogs like that? Right now, I'm lovin' The Daybook, Have a Cute Day, Writing Rainbows,  Totally Tessa, Kristine Machine, Righteous Republic, Clothed Much, Dwelling and Telling, Kendi Every Day, The Sartorialist, Some Girls Wander, Selective Potential,  Delightfully Tacky, Sincerely Jules, MoMoMod.... If so, please link.. or not, I suppose...

the selby

Inspired Fashion: Suspenders

miss indie did a wonderful blog post awhile back on suspenders. With fall accessories getting bigger and brighter this year, from huge ruffles, brooches, scarves, cowls, and such, I thought a throwback to the strealined, classic suspenders deserved an honorable mention. I wouldn't usually consider these to have a sexiness factor at all... until now. I have for sure seen these done in an overly trampy and punk way, but I feel that these examples have a sweet and almost endearing feel. Would you ever go out in a pair of suspenders?

A Few Pretties: It's all in the details

big bow pencil skirt. tutorial. say yes to hobeken

One thing I've noticed, is that these are some classic pieces, in muted, wearable colors and clean lines.
However, they each have an unexpected touch of feminine detail... a bow, a special angled pleated collar, an interesting placket... all things that can really make something pop, without being overly in your face.

I am a jeans and fitted v-neck tee kind of a girl, so while going through my closet, I realized I had a plethora of 'fancier' blouses and tops that I love that have all of these little special details, but I simply never wear. So, I'm going to challenge myself to actually go out once in a while in a nice, unexpected fashion piece.

I'm rearranging my closet to put these blouses up front and push some tee's back. Think you will try to implement some old/new little details to your wardrobe this fall?

loyale shirt. organic via beklina

bow headband. urban outfitters

lace and beaded draped rhinestone heart necklace. (me) jeweled ambrosia

vintage ellen kaye 50's wiggle dress with winged collar and dolman sleeves. ebay

beaded fringe necklace. noble town vintage

regency stays linen corset with wooden busk. esta brooks design

denim blue belt. darling tonia

Ruffle Shirt Tutorial and Layering Cardigans

Sachiko, the talent of Tea Rose Home has a beautiful ruffle shirt tutorial here.  In fact, she has several different ruffle shirt tutorials, and many other tutorials on making wonderful things as well. They are much more sophisticated than my layered lace shirt tutorial. All are beautiful but this one with the horizontal ruffles, and the demure fabric roses is my favorite.

Maybe it's my favorite because how soft it looks, or the calm, grain color, or even how it is paired with this cardigan in the perfect shade of robin's egg blue. Do visit here to see the step by step instructions (with clear photos) on making this shirt. Then, find a nice, light, cardigan you can layer over it. How about one of these?

 vintage 1960's cornflower blue ~ revive vintage

 vintage 60's embroidered sunny yellow cardigan ~ annetheia vintage

 vintage 60's fuzzy baby pink angora cardigan ~ the greedy seagull

 

 vintage 1950's pale yellow cardigan ~ bonjour dolly

Fashion: Hobo Chic

the sartorialist

 For some reason, I've been dressing like a fancy hobo lately. Don't get me wrong, I still wear my white or grey v neck jersey shirts and jeans all the time, but when I dress up... it's always something so hobo chic.

idee fixe blouse modcloth

I'd like to think my hobo chic dressing is somewhat quirky and yet, classy like in these pics... but I'm afraid on me... it looks more like frumpville, secondhand, bag-lady girl. And that isn't a good look. Certainly not a picture worthy one.

ruffle front skirt by love to love you

But, I suppose it's true.. I mean a stress-eating girl has got to find a way to hide a growing muffin top somehow, right? Flowy, loose fitting shirts and low rise pants are key. And no tie back tops... too easily mistaken for maternity. Ruffles always help, and so do cross waisted styles and side ruching.

pocket pinafore ruffled blouse by necessity is the mother

Maybe... I can wear something with a waist soon... It's to the gym after our move in a few weeks.

 

Pin it Forward: What Home Means to Me pt 1

 the white gerbara daisy fine art photograph ~ elr104

 I've joined in with Victoria of sfgirlbybay's pinterest pin it forward sharing. It was a real treat to be a part of this bloggy experiment. Read here to see how it works, and here for the schedule, and you can see the sfgirlbybay boards here. I had so many I liked, I'll have to do it in two parts.

 white bedroom library ~ in the fun lane

 
Visit my pinboard to see more of the things of what home means to me. In essence, it is a serene haven, that is not without it's crazy times, but throw in some family snuggles, faith, sweets, and lots of white and modern vintage quirkiness... and that is where my heart is.

 soft dandelion in a pink sky ~ La Coccinelle (Angie) photography

 no Jesus, no peace. know Jesus, know peace. ~ honey from the rocks

 father n son colonial family portrait ~ modern library

 succulents ~ blog delanie

 it's an anni clothing collection via simple blue print

 vintage aqua glass jars ~ south home window

 birds of a feather print ~ urban pink photography

 tossing and turning in a cozy white bed ~ ivory faces photography

 love of horse friends ~ star lisa

 strawberry ice cream ~ skrocodile

love between cotton swabs ~ white qtip heart ~ teresa marques

The next blogger in my group on the list is milk & honey, so be sure to check her "what home means to me" post on May 31st. Can't wait? Visit other groups pins here.

Natural Pastel Beauty

wish

In keeping with this weeks accidental pastel theme, I wanted to focus a touch on soft, ethereal beauty. As a stylist and make-up artist, I haven't excercised my creativity lately in this way, so my gift certificate to Ulta will be put to good use this week. (Thanks, Mom!)

To get the look, I wanted to start with this lovely pastel makeup. It's so colorful and soft, the nude lips and simple, swept back hair keep it simple and pure. Tutorials : the pastel look, shimmery smokey eye, dramatic lips and lashes,  white frosted eyes, and dramatic basic black eyeliner.

Why does this pastel smudge work? Because the colors are shimmery, blended, in the same color family with soft lines under the brows, and the colors compliment the eye color. I've seen people attempt to acheive this that end up looking more like mermaid costume club makeup, such as here.

A low, easy, soft double twisted bun would work nicely with such bold eye colors, don't you think? Directions on how to get the look on Cookie Mag here.

13 bees 1970's ivory sweater

Throw on a soft blouse or light sweater, a colorful and chunky bangle in blues and greens,

wrapped cotton yarn bangle by Mindy Giehll

1980's teal pencil skirt from max and chloe vintage

Add your choice of bottoms, could be anything dressy from a colorful skirt, or laid back such as some lightly distressed cropped jeans with some green vintage espadrills and you are ready to go with your neutrally colorful look.

vintage green canvas wedge sandals shopREiNViNTAGE

*This dressing guide post is included in Kimba's diy day.*