Making it Work

Ya know when all the stars line up and you get your Kate-Moss-I-just-slipped-on-this-dress moment?  It seems to happen to me in this dress.  It's just so easy to fall into my artsy/chic style and feel great.  Unfortunately, I haven't had much luck with my other purchases this season~

Cases in point:  The I-thought-this-would-work-as-a-vest-shirt, the cowgirl-esque silk fuchsia fun blouse, and the New-New Look peplum top.  Just meh.  Nothing like I envisioned any of these.  Yet, hope springs eternal~

Maybe with a few tweaks, I can make these work.

How is your season going?  Are your style visions coming true, a-la Kate Moss?

Partying and Polka-dots

I had to dig back to some older pictures to find my one and only polka-dot item in order to join in party with my blogger friend--Tammy over at Silverstyle--for "Through the Decades."  Polka-dots go with anything, don't you think?

And of course, I want to party with Patti over at "Not Dead yet Style" for Visible Monday.  Looks like Patti and I are mixing with the polka-dots.  Polka-dots are on my list for fall--I loved the Marc Jacobs polka dots that I've been seeing around.

Maybelline Colorsensational Amethyst Ablaze

My dirty little secret to being visible?  I'm sporting PURPLE lipstick.  Yup, you heard me.  Purple.  Now just bear with me--it actually works.  Not as some funky, weird, not-human type of lip color but as a HUMAN pink that stains my lips and stays with me all day!  Who would have thought?  

Profound Thought ~ Photography

Lee Miller Portrait by Man Ray (solarization)

I went to a great exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum on Man Ray and Lee Miller.  I decided to go to get inspired as I just started taking a  photography course.  Of course, now I am obsessed~

I got all the books at the library on both of them.  I am particularly taken with the process Man Ray developed that he called "solarization"; it gives a sooty outline to the subjects (as in the photo of Lee).  I love manipulating photos and am jealous of the apple app called "instagram" that all the fashion photographers were using during fashion week.

I'm sharing this with you because I'm hoping to improve my photos for my blog.  Right now I have a very inexpensive camera (Samsung TL205) and may find I may need to upgrade to improve my photos.  I don't know enough about what cameras have to offer to know whether or not I NEED a new camera or if I can just improve my knowledge and get better photos.

In the morning before work, I spend all of 5 minutes taking my outfit shots.  I may take 3-5 pictures and use a tripod.  I run around my yard looking for the best light but I don't always get the colors right.  My indoor photos are really boring--not like some of the photos I see in the Anthropologie catalog! (my inspiration)

How about you?  Have you taken a photography course or do you just point and shoot?  What kind of camera do you have?  Do you like the photos it takes?  Is the photography a large or small part of your blog?  Love to hear from you!



Paula's Solarization

 

  

TOO Visible

top~thrifted, Francie's Boutique
skirt~thrifted
stockings~Marshalls
shooties~Anthropologie

Sometimes I think I become TOO visible (segue here to Not Dead Yet Style and Visible Mondays).  I go too far.  I have fun while doing it though, and I don't know I've gone too far until I walk the mall.  (or any public place for that matter!)

This outfit started out with the inspiration of the cinched waist and a full skirt--al-la the New New Look.  I bought this second hand silk blouse and ripped off the collar and sewed up the back.  It has great details and love the peplum.

I felt great when I left the house, but BOY, did I get horrification looks when I went to the mall!  I asked myself--where did I go wrong?

Abstraction no. nine-one-six

So I abstracted myself in a sketching.  And I could see I had a lot going on.  Too much pattern and texture.  Bit of a hot mess.  I am going to try take two.

I did get a lot of compliments on my triple-layered necklace though!

And thanks to Patty for putting together the Visible Mondays.  Anyone else out there TOO visible????

Honking Big Belt and Dior's New Look



dress~Modern Millie thrifted $24
shoes~Off Broadway
belt~small local boutique eons ago 

You may remember one of my favorite trends for this season is the cinched waist and full skirt of Dior's New New Look.  I found this dress at one of my favorite thrift spots and after a few minor alterations, whala!  Dior--revisited.  The dress is not actually vintage though; the tags inside are modern. 

The shoes modernize it a bit.  And can you believe I am almost lacking in any color???? Take note of my earrings though--they are a bright blue.

And my honking big belt!  It has to be around 20 years old--I'm so glad I saved it.

Have you found any of your favorites yet this season?

Over-50 Mini-skirters Vindicated!

I am so jazzed!  Yes, it's true--the over-40 (and over-50) mini-skirters have been vindicated by a Lucky Mag staffer--Jean Godfrey June!  After being asked, "..over 40, how short can dresses and shorts be? in her "Dear Lucky" column, she answers, ..."Sixty-year-olds with great legs should most definitely wear short skirts! (Hello, Tina Turner!)".... And how perfect is this for "Visible Monday"? 

Her answer to the question gives a lot more great advice--unfortunately there is no link to the article, but its' on page 44 of the October Issue.  I felt empowered after I read her response and I am already thinking of the stockings and sweater I can wear with my favorite mini of the summer!

Oh, what qualifies my mini's above?  I gauged them at more than 1" above the knee--not a mini by a twenty-year-old's standard, but enough for me!

Thanks again to Patti over at Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday.  Hey Patti, how about a mini-skirt Visible Monday???? (although I know minis aren't for everyone!)

 

Cutesy--Good or Bad?

dress~Rockport Boutique--on sale, $25.!!!
jacket~Koh's
shoes~Off Broadway

How do you feel about being cute?  Is cute a bad word for those of us over a certain age?  Should it be reserved for those under 10?  I'm mentioning it because this is a CUTE sundress. 

It's probably these little embroidered flowers that really punch up the cute vibe.  And today, I am embracing the cute in me.  I guess it's one facet of my personality--not the majority of my style, but a piece of it.  I do remember those days when all I wanted to be was sexy....those days are few and far between....

I've worn this dress for different occasions; out to eat (bottom photo),  work (top photo).  In the work version, I funked it out a bit with the jacket and the shoes--more my style.

How do you feel about cute?

Repeats

The belt is different in all three pictures.

Repeats.  As a fashion blogger, they are hard to avoid. To keep it interesting, I know I think about repeating the same outfit.  And really, I can't avoid repeating because in real life we wear the same clothes over and over again.  Unless, of course, you have a money tree in your backyard.

I wear this skirt for 3 seasons, so it gets a lot of companions.

Most of the time, I always want to change my "repeats" just enough so they are not exactly the same.  I like the creative process of looking at my clothing in another way.

This was my favorite shirt this season; just a simple chambray--goes with most.

Sometimes though, I wear the outfit the exact same way every time.  Because it is perfection. 

How about you--do you like to change it up or wear it the same?

Oh and I almost forgot!  This is a Visible Monday post!  You can see all of us over at Not Dead Yet Style--here's to you, Patti!

My Blue Period

Hey, Picasso had his blue period and I guess I'm having mine.  I don't know if it was the toe nail polish or what, but I'm doing a lot of blue!  Denim, that is.  I've been further inspired by the trend of mixing different denims  (Reva of Revasrags2roses has this trend on her great post the other day of current trends that you can see here).  And wearing jeans is sometimes all about the backside, no?

As fearful as I was of not imitating the past as seen here

Derek Lam Collection

I took the plunge and experimented with different denims--not the matching denim of the past.

shirt~thrifted
vest~thrifted and cut from jacket
jeans~cut from pants

I have the light denim in the vest, the soft color blue in the chambray shirt and the dark denim of the capris to make up my blue period painting of sorts.  I'm not afraid anymore.