Year One: Happy Blogoversary to Me

This was day one of "I Dream of..."

This blog was born one year ago today.  To the right you'll see what I wore on November 29, 2011.  That day I opted for a jacket, scarf, jewel tones, lace, and boots.

By the time I started this blog I had already been experimenting with my style for some months, but the experience of taking and posting photos changed the way I think about clothing.

I blog as encouragement to challenge myself, live beautifully, and love my life, and I feel like I succeeded at all three this year.  I did not accomplish every element every day, but I have made progress.

Today's outfit was inspired by my first OOTD.  I still have a jacket, scarf, jewel tones, lace, and boots, but this year's choice reflects the happiness and confidence I've found in the past twelve months.  I added an animal print belt, because I would be remiss in forgetting animal print in any retrospective outfit.

 

Trench coat, c/o eShakti.com; top, Younkers; scarf, Target; lace overlay skirt, Target; belt, Walmart; tights, Target; boots, Rack Room Shoes; necklace and earrings, purchased in Cozumel.

 

My style hasn't changed that much in the past year, but my confidence has skyrocketed.  I now wear many of the things I've been too scared to try.  It doesn't always work, but even when it doesn't it's okay.  It's just fashion.  It's not that serious.

 

I completed my blogoversary outfit with the topaz necklace and earrings I wore on my wedding day.  I had to pay tribute to Stephen.  He loves and supports me every day, even days I know he thinks I'm insane.  He really is the best.

 

Thank you for joining me on my journey.  Whether you've been reading from the beginning or found me for the first time today, I'm glad you're here.  Let's see where the next year takes us.

Don't Listen to Kelly Osborne

This morning on the Today Show Kelly Osborne said not to wear animal print this season.  Good thing I wear what makes me happy and not what Kelly Osborne says I should wear.  Half my wardrobe would be eliminated without animal print.

I'll be back later with some real posts.  Keep wearing what makes you happy.

Fashion Worth Falling For (Part II)

My last post about Fall Fashion focused on the unused items in my closet.  Today I'm looking at the trends and elements I'd like to try this autumn and winter.  As usual, I am not constrained by the limits of good taste.

Some trends I'd like to try this fall are:

Chenille rocking a fierce
equestrian look.

• Menswear: I'm a sturdy woman, and I feel like I need to walk a fine line with clothes that are overly masculine or overly feminine.  I'm lusting over a few of the menswear pieces from eShakti because they balance menswear elements with feminine cuts.  I refuse to wear any but the most abstractly masculine shoes.  If I put men's-style shoes on my size 11 feet I just feel like a cross dresser.
• Baroque: I love the ornate, over-the-top look of Baroque styles in magazines this fall.  I'll be experimenting with ways to make the style fit my day-to-day style while still staying ornate and over the top.
• Equestrian: I've always loved the equestrian aesthetic, in part because of how I loved horses as a child, and in part because it's a look my mom has always favored.  I want to explore how this classic style can be incorporated into my wardrobe... at the right price, of course.

Image Credit: eShakti
Menswear done right for ladies.

Image Credit: Target
Baroque without breaking the bank.

Other elements I'd like to incorporate:

• A Peter Pan Collar: I think Peter Pan collars are adorable, but I haven't found just the right one for me yet.  I haven't even decided whether I want a piece of clothing with this style of collar or whether I want to try it as a collar-style necklace.

Image Credit: Dorothy Perkins
This Peter Pan Collar dress is lovely, and
it's on sale for only $17.

Image Credit: Ava Adorn
This Peter Pan Collar necklace would add interest
to any sweater.

• 
  

• Sequins: I'm planning on going to Las Vegas in a couple months, and I think that will be a perfect opportunity to wear something sequined.  I'll be hitting the racks at Goodwill to see if I can find the perfect glittery piece.

• 

  Image Credit: Exquisite Finds, Ebay
  A red, sequined, leopard dress would be
  perfect, but it's Dolce & Gabbana and
  $3,995 on ebay.  

Image Credit: Target
At $16.99 this skirt is more in my price range.

• A Jumpsuit: Am I the only one who likes these?  I've mentioned to a few friends that I'm looking for a jumpsuit and they've all given me some side-eye for it.  When I told my mom that I wanted to try a jumpsuit I discovered that she loved them in the 80s.  That explains it.  It must be genetic.  I found a likely candidate at Target last week, now I'm trying to decide if I have the charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent to wear it.

Image Credit: Target

To keep or not to keep?

•  Chevrons: Chevrons are probably out of style by now, but I'm still looking for something wonderful with a chevron print.
• A Red Dress: I've never had the confidence to really rock a red dress, but I feel like I'm finally at a place that I could do it.  Now I just need to find the right dress.  Maybe a red sequined dress...

(Sorry to anyone who gets my blog in Google reader and saw the unfinished version of this post last week.  My overly-clicky mouse finger hit publish well before I was done.)

Fashion Worth Falling For (Part I)

Georgia is a strange place.  Before I moved to Georgia I never looked forward to autumn and winter.  I dread the cold, and it gets cold in Iowa- sixty-plus degrees below zero with the wind chill cold.    Now that I don't have below-zero weather to fear, I can finally look forward to the nicer aspects of the cooler months.  When I went through my closet recently I found some of my cool-weather clothes, and I am yearning to wear them.  Not to get all Stark on you, but Winter is Coming.  (Laughing uproariously at my own joke.)

• Leather and Pleather:  I have a leather skirt, a pleather skirt, a microsuede dress, and a variety of leather, pleather, and suede jackets.  None of them are appropriate for summer in Georgia.  Some would argue that you can style leather for summer, but I want to be comfortable ,and I don't want to be confined to air conditioning.  I want to be able to luxuriate in the heat without getting squeaking in my clothes.  

With boots, tights, a jacket, and
dark colors I would feel awkward
and overheated wearing this in July.

• Boots:  Between jogging regularly and losing a few pounds, my calves are a little slimmer than they were last winter.  This means I have effectively increased my boot wardrobe for free because my legs fit in more of what I own.  The pair I wore yesterday didn't fit in the spring.  Yippee!  

• Sweater Dresses:  Sweater dresses are basically giant sweaters, and nothing is cozier when the weather is cold.  Add boots and tights and I'm in heaven.

• Tights:  I have colored tights, patterned tights, and lace tights burning a hole in my drawer waiting to be worn.  As you can tell from my Waterfalls post, it is finally that time again.

• Layers:  I've been wearing some layers all summer, but it really is too warm to wear many layers during the warmest months here.  I'm excited to go back to wearing multiple dresses, dresses with skirts, and jackets with anything I want.

• Jackets:  Isn't it a waste that I couldn't wear my tacky wool cowboy jacket until now?  I certainly think so.  It's not the only jacket that was consigned to the back of the closet for the summer.  I have a fleet of them just waiting to be worn.

• Dark Colors:  I wear some dark colors all year long, but some looks, especially ones with large amounts of black, have been missing from my summer wardrobe.

Now that the weather has taken a turn for the cooler, it is probably time to switch out half my wardrobe into winter clothes.  It is still Georgia, after all, and it will undoubtedly be 90 degrees again before winter really comes.  It's a curse and a blessing.

Targeted for Fall

Do you ever feel like a store really has your number?  I hate that feeling.  I don't want to like everything because it's just too expensive and/or frustrating.  Target seems to have me figured out for fall.  I stopped in for a can of tuna fish and was immediately sucked into the clothing.

The first thing that caught my eye was, of course, leopard print on clearance.

Image Credit: Target
This Kirna Zabete trench coat has a
leopard/kiss print.  The leopard spots are made of
kisses!

You should have seen the look on
the sales girl's face when I asked
try on this leopard trench with my leopard
dress, cardi, purse, and shoes.

Next I saw jewel-tone, lace-overlay pencil skirts.  Beautiful!

Image Credit: Target
This skirt comes in black (meh), cobalt blue (!),
emerald green (!), and fuchsia (!).

I tried on cobalt and emerald.
Side note: I probably need a size up,
but all the jogging I've been
doing has been good for my rear view.

I couldn't help but make a bee line for this airy chiffon top.  (I know, I deserve to be pun-ished for that one.)

Image Credit: Target
Can't you imagine it with my bumble bee
necklace and earrings?

Bee-print top and emerald lace skirt.

Close-up of the adorable bee print.

Then I saw a baroque floral print pencil skirt and a sequined mini skirt.  Are you kidding?  I'm working on a post with fall styles I'd like to try and baroque and sequined are on the list!  Target is fighting dirty.

Image Credit: Target
I love this print.  

Image Credit: Target
Sparkly!

They even have a leopard print sweater skirt.  

Image Credit: Target
Warm and cozy and leopard and want it!

Surprisingly I left without buying any of these tempting treasures.  They weren't on my list.  I'll think about them.  I'll lust over them.  I'll probably wait to go back until I think they should be on clearance and instead they'll be gone and I'll be sad.

So if you're in the market for some of the items above, check out Target's selection.  If you're trying to avoid spending every penny you have, consider yourself warned.  

Dilemma: Should Pastel Peacocks Stay or Go?

I bought this dress thinking I would alter it.  I thought I would remove the sleeves or the bow, or maybe I would alter the neckline.  I bought it at the Salvation Army thrift store without even trying it on.  I immediately loved the peacock-like print (though I'm not quite sold on its pastel hues).  When I got it home and tried it on, I came to a shocking discovery.  I really like this dress just the way it is.  I like the pleated skirt.  I like the bow at the collar.  I like the length.  I like the fit.

Is it better open...

Or tied?

Are the sleeves too short?  Would it look better
sleeveless?

Do these lovely ties stay or go?

In case you can't adequately appreciate the lovely pattern.

Now I have to ask myself, do I want to alter this hideous dress that I like, so it will draw fewer disapproving looks?  Do I let my freak flag fly and wear it as is?  Or is this dress a horribly unflattering discard from a bygone era that should banished back to the thrift store hell from whence it came?  

First Class, Second Hand Fashion Show

I had so much fun at the Salvation Army First Class Second Hand Fashion Show.  I wore a vintage blue dress with polka dots, paired with my yellow bow belt.  At the end of the night I bought the dress ($4.49, score!).  

There were around a dozen models overall, but unfortunately I don't have many more photos.  My friend Chastity joined the fun as well.

I hope this event exposed some new people to the joys of thrifted fashion.  Thanks to the Salvation Army staff for working so hard to set up this fun event, and to my mom for taking photos of me and Chastity.

Friday Four

I have many reasons to be ecstatic about life right now.  In brief, here are four things that are making me happy today.

Friends.

1. Stephen and I booked a trip to the Dominican Republic with some of our closest friends for later this year.  Time with my hubby and our friends Joe and Angie = score!
2. I am going to be a model and personal shopper for fashion show tonight at the Salvation Army Thrift Store.  That is so completely up my alley.  (Hence the not-too-subtle clue earlier today.)

3. 

   Fun nails.

   Sally Hansen Salon Effects nail polish strips continue to rock my world.  This time around I tried the Laced Up pattern.  It will probably jinx me to type this, but I have not broken a nail since I tried these the first time.  I think they might be reinforcing my natural nails because usually by the time my nails get this long I start breaking them right and left.
4. I was a little bored last night, so I converted a child's dress into a fun market bag.  Yay sewing!

Before: dress

After: bag

My Thai

Mmmm Thai food.  Dinner was tasty and the company was divine.  There was wit, style and charm.  I was there too.  I am incredibly jealous of the dress Chenille was wearing last night.  I immediately went home and searched for it on Target.com.  Out of stock!

 

I asked Chenille if I could snap some pics of her gorgeous outfit, then I proceeded to sing RuPaul's Covergirl for modeling inspiration.  Is she fabulous or what?  Maybe if we ask nicely Chenille will do a guest post on this blog.  Please..... (Public, social blackmail...)

Obligatory chick pic.

Beyonce's Mom & Spring Cleaning

Enjoy today's photos.  You now know what I look like without makeup or sleep.

I don't wear jeans very often.  Most of the time I only have two clothing speeds: dress I could wear to work and sweatpants.  In preparation for my trip to Iowa I decided to buy a pair of jeans because right now I only have one pair, and they are falling apart.

Jeans.  I think these will work.

I went to Walmart because I didn't feel like digging through the denim at Goodwill, and I wanted them to be inexpensive.  I don't wear or enjoy jeans enough to spend much on them.

I found this pair from Miss Tina's Walmart line.  Miss Tina is, of course, Beyonce's mom Tina Knowles.

While at Wally World I also checked the clearance rack and found a couple Miss Tina dresses.  I haven't quite decided whether I will keep or return them.

Leopard & chain print is a keeper
for me

Probably.  It has a certain va-va-voom
charm.

Probably not.  I've been wanting
to try a peplum style, but maybe
it's not the look for me.

Each of the dresses was under $10, so, whether or not I keep them, I didn't break the bank.  

I also started my spring cleaning of my wardrobe today.  I have a giant pile of clothes that I have photographed, and I'm getting ready to list on ebay.   I also have two pairs of Born loafers that I'm going to be listing.  I will shamelessly cross promote those listings when I get them up.  

I guess the lesson is that you can get a lot done when you sleep less than two hours and get up at 5 am.  I still wouldn't recommend it.  Ugh.  I hate insomnia.