Blue Violets

This outfit post is long overdue.  I got this Blue Vine Day Dress last year as a birthday gift.  I immediately altered the sleeves and then, as it was at the end of summer, put it away until warmer days returned.  I don't really hold much to the old fashion rule of "never wear white after Labor Day or Brown after Memorial Day," but I do find that I don't really want to wear white in the autumn or winter.

White is a spring and summer color, so light and fresh.  It seems out of place in autumn's rich hues and overwhelming, even gloomy against all the snow and bare branches of winter.  On the other hand, when all the woods are decked in green and white with violets scattered over the forest floor, it seems only right that I follow suit.

I haven't had much time for making violet jam this year, maybe next year if all goes well, because I did love the taste and color of this springtime delicacy.  I spent a few weeks scouring our woods last year and transplanted a number of wild violets to encircle the perimeter of my herb garden so that I'll have some close by should the urge to make jam strike.

All my relocated plants are thriving this year, so perhaps I should keep it up and simply have a yard full of violets since they seem to do so well and not much else does.  Life really is all about learning to work with what you have and gardening is no exception.

I'm already sad to think that in a few short weeks all the violets will be gone for another year, but I suppose the brevity is what adds to the enjoyment and the beauty of this season after all.

Outfit Info:  Blue Vine Day Dress from Selkie, Teal bow flats from Shein, 

Cameo Necklace is vintage by Avon.

One Morning in Spring

One of my most favorite things to do in the spring is to go outside on a mild morning and just sit and listen.  The nature is so alive and so very suddely opposite of the way it's been for all the months of winter sleep.  I like to sit and just soak it all in.

This morning (not the morning I took these photos, btw) I woke up before dawn, had a quick workout and cool down, and then made my coffee and took it outside on the deck to watch the sunrise.  The mist on the mountains and the sunlight coming throught the clouds were exactly the kind of peaceful beauty I have been craving.

All too soon each day the world fills up with the ugly noise of neighbors mowing (constantly mowing) and ATVs, motorcycles, cars, and ridiculously loud conversations had by slimy neighbors on their cell phones, playing their awful music, and noise, noise, noise.  There are far better things to hear in this world on a spring morning, than the sounds of so many people oblivious to the whole wide world outside themselves. 

Not a moment or two, but a whole hour I was able to listen to the birds and the wind and watch the bluejays build their nest.  I watched the sun kiss the mountaintop good morning on its way into the clouds before I heard the first rumblings of the people waking up.  I wish there could be more moments like this, but I will surely take what I can get.

Outfit Info:  Chateau Paper Day dress from Selkie

Pertinent Pacing Plaid

I suppose it's a little bit difficult to tell in the evening light, but the woods behind me are full of snowy blossoms albeit so high in the canopy the only way I could even get them in the distant background was by standing on top of the hillside.

Spring is finally here, Hallelujah! I am thrilled to see its arrival, fashionably late, as always.  In spite of the decidedly autumnal academia vibes of today's post, rest assured I have been reveling in all my pastels and florals.

You may be thinking that this outfit must be one that got lost in the shuffle from fall, but no, this dress is actually a thrifted ModCloth piece that I thought would be perfect for work.  My work environment isn't really conducive to joyful prints and bright colors.  Which isn't to say that the people there aren't hilarious and lively, because they are, it's just well, not the kind of place for whimsical clothing.

While whimsy may be right out, tasteful and timeless are welcome anywhere, so I have been searching for more serious fare that remains interesting and stylish.  In the 20-teens, I loved the vintage New Girl vibe dresses that ModCloth was producing and still have many of those pieces in my weekly rotation, (even I can't believe how well they've stood the test of time) and am always on the lookout for the thrifted remnants of that era.

I have been on a spending/shopping reduction this year, just basically trying to be very mindful of what I spend and how much stuff I am bringing into my life, so when I came across this Pertinent Pacing Plaid dress, I knew it would be the perfect pairing of vintage style with work appropriateness, but I still waited for a few weeks to think about it before buying.  

The things I take into consideration are 1. Do I really need it?  2.  Do I already have something like it?  3.  Would it be occasional or would I wear it all the time?  4.  Does it go with what I already own or will I have to buy more things in order to accessorize it?

I took two or three weeks, and thought through all these questions and decided that this dress really would fit right in with my existing wardrobe and be a real asset as it checks all the boxes for work.  I have stuggled for months to find the right balance in my work clothes and I think I am finally getting the hang of it at my new job.

Having these questions ready and taking the time to really think about them so that I am not spending money emotionally or impulsively has been incredibly helpful.  That's not to say I don't sometimes slip-up and make a silly purchase when I'm having a bad day, but I can tell that I am making strides toward getting things in balance and that is exciting.

I am also getting the hang of finding pieces that I feel comfortable in wearing to work.  It's taken a year of trial and error, but if a thing is worth doing then it's worth seeing it through.

Outfit Info:  Ecosusi Bag (Bow added by me) Shoe Carnival Flats, Ye Mak Honey Comb Sweater, Pertinent Plaid Dress by ModCloth

Sewing Corner

It's been a few years since I've done a post at my sewing table.  Mostly because it's been a total mess and more recently it has been the place we've stacked everything from other rooms while we were renovating.  But, now, Huzzah!  It's clean again and newly remodeled with a fresh coat of paint, new floors, and an accent wall.  

Recently I've rediscovered a wonderful brand called Joanie Clothing.  I remember them as being carried by ModCloth years ago and  loved them back then, but their size scale does not include me, so I didn't purchase at the time.  Then I saw this sewing theme dress and knew I had to have it and made up my mind I would make any alterations necessary myself.

And now you see the tie in with using my sewing corner as the back drop.  I actually did alter this dress from a size 10 to a 0.  Not an easy task, but certainly it went far more smoothly than I feared and the result is something that fits perfectly and I am totally happy with.

As much as I wish that more brands carried a full size range, I understand that it's not always financially feasible for them to do so and that's one of the reasons that I took up sewing years ago, so I could get the perfect fit in the prints and styles I love without having to rely on anyone but myself.  And make no mistake, I really do love Joanie's prints.

I understand all too well the aversion to experimenting and possibly failing at making alterations.  Sometimes it's worth it to take a risk in order to get what you want.  I have made plenty of mistakes and had to take out and resew things over and over again to get to a place where I feel comfortable with my abilities, but in the end it was entirely worth it to me to feel comfortable in my clothes.

I recently watched a TikTok video in which this poor young woman has a total melt down over her jeans buying experience.  Oh, that dreaded combo of jeans and dressing room lights/mirrors!  We've all had our fair share of disappointment there!  So the girl cries, hates her body, and attacks clothing makers for not making clothes to fit her.  Oh, girl.  I think everyone has been where you are at least once in their lives and I totally sympathize with that feeling, but rather than getting sad about it, take matters into your own hands and learn to make the perfect clothes for you.  Then you can feel good about yourself and your body instead of waiting on the whole fashion world to change.

Outfit Info: Sewing Print from Joanie Clothing

A Fashionable Act of Rebellion

Fashion has always been about expression.  Sometimes we use it to express our feelings.  Sometimes we use it to express our membership in a group or tribe.  And sometimes we use it express our individuality.  But, for some reason, there are those who look down on others for doing anything differently than them.

We currently live in a world of unprecedented availability of goods.  Never before have so many people had access to a wide variety of food and clothing items from luxury to fast fashion.  You would think that more people would be dressed to the nine, but sadly, we also live in an never before seen time of "comfort clothes."  On a recent trip to the grocery store (it was a Wednesday morning for reference) I counted 17 pairs of black stretchy pants being worn ounder sloppy tee shirts topped off with greasy hair under baseball caps.  I don't really care what people wear, I but I do believe that dressing that way is not only horrible for one's self esteem and self image, it indicates a society in decline.

The trouble is, anyone who tries to breakout of this apatheic mire quickly finds themselves the subjectof scorn as people turn a side-eye, scoff and say, "Oh, so you think you're better than me?"  The truth is, most people who choose to dress up aren't thinking about others negatively at all. They're too busy enjoying their own lives.  For those just starting out and unused to this kind of immediate and foundationless contempt, it can be daunting enough to cause them to give up and fall in line with the lazy world.  I would encourage you to please, please, stay the course and not get too bogged down by the opinions of tacky inelegant strangers or friends.  

Who cares what strangers think, and friends will eventually get comfortable with a more fashionable you and maybe even seek to emulate your newfound panache.  A Fashionable Father is someone who popped up in my Instagram feed and I have loved his words of advice and encouragement.   Just for the times when I need a little reminder that how you look is more often than not about how you feel.  Dress for yourself, for your own confidence, enjoyment, and spirit, because you love your life and want to live it to the very fullest.

The Problem with the One-in/One-out System

For the past year or so I have been doing some serious decluttering and trying to curb my shopping habits.  I have listened to a lot of videos on shopping addiction, minimalism, decluttering, etc. and have put a number of recommendations into practice in an attempt to find a combination that works for me.  For a while I was sticking to the One-in/One-out system, but I noticed that it has some problems.

If you're not familiar with the One-in/One-out system it basically means that you have a set number of items and in order to get something new you have to get rid of something existing.  This system may work really well for those who have kicked their shopping addiction but with those still struggling, it really only creates a mental mind game of constantly getting rid of things so you can get more.

It also basically sets a number of things one can own and strict rules like that can create more stress than simply having what you have because it's what you want and need.  It's sort of similar to being on a diet and only having a certain food set.  Not only does it create more stress, it can actually make you obsess over everything forbidden to an extent that you never would if you could eat anything you wanted.  Make sense?  

Well, after playing all those mental mind games for months and months, I decided to press pause on the One-in/One-out system.  It was just stressing me out way too much and I found myself getting rid of things I really didn't want to part with just so I could get something new.  Enough of that.  At least for now.  

Now I take a lot of time to really think about an item before I purchase and if I decide to get it, I can definitely look through my things and see if anything can go, but if not, that's OK too.  There's no magic number of pieces of clothing or number of hangers to fill.  I am just trying to be mindful of how much stuff is in my closet and how much time and money I am spending.  And things are actually going much better.  No pressure.

Sometimes the best way to change is just to relax and do one little thing at a time, forgive yourself for when you slip up, and keep on going. The most lasting changes are the ones we make over time as part of making new good habits.

Outfit Info:  Classic Skirt in Whimsical Garden from Son de Flor, J Crew Top from ThredUp, Beige Flats from Shoe Carnival, Rifle Paper Co. Edition of Pride and Prejudice.

Is Thrifting Better?

The internet started out as such a fun thing.  It was a quirky little place where you could have fun and meet people or find things that were unusual.  It quickly became a way for everyone to be in everyone else' business and all these strangers seem to think they know what's best for everyone else.  Eesh!  Thrifting seems to be another one of those topics which sparks some pretty intense emotions, especially from people who seem to think that buying second hand gives them a moral advantage over everyone who does not.  

So, here's the deal with thrifted stuff--it really is NOT a MORAL ISSUE.  Like nearly everything else it's not a matter of right or wrong, but merely a matter of each individual weighing out the pros and cons, factoring in their own budget, lifestyle, item availability, goals, and personal beliefs.

1.  It is cheaper.  Yes, when you buy things second hand, they cost a little bit to significantly less.  And it is incredibly fun and satisfying for bargain hunters such as myself to find a beautiful piece at a great price.  The trade off for many things in thrift shops though is that the price is reduced based on how much life they have left in them.   Items that have been worn and well loved may be on their last leg, and it has happened more times than I care to recall that I bought something second hand and it tore or fell apart within just one to two wears, so it was basically wasted money.

2.  Brand names will always cost more.  Yes, even thrifted, brand names tend to cost more.  And, yes, as mentioned above you can score an amazing bargain now and again, so never give up.  However, every time I go into my local thrift shops, I find things with brand name tags on them and hefty price tags to match that are stained, faded, or have holes in them,  I've even found some things that should have been thrown away, but they were still put on the thrift rack and still cost a lot because they're a name brand.  Now and then you can find good bargains, and it never hurts to keep an eye out, just be a savvy shopper and if you wouldn't buy it without the label, don't buy it just because of the label. I mention this because I paid $35 for this Anthropologie red shirt dress thrifted and it arrived from a major thrifting company with all of the above flaws, it is stained, has holes, and is faded in spots.  But, because it's Antro, they sold it and I very stupidly bought it thinking it was just a good price, not in horrible condition.

3.  Someone has to pay full price. Clothes can't just start out in thrift shops so we can all buy second-hand.  While it's wonderful to reuse items of clothing and save landfills from unused fast or slow fashion, the simple matter is that someone out there has to pay full price and then eventually decide to either donate or resell that article of clothing in order for others to get a good thrifty deal because companies can't afford to start out their products at thrift prices and we can't endlessly recycle the current clothing in the world.  So, the idea that we should all be thrifting all the time has some serious logic flaws. 

Personally, I love to combine all forms of shopping to have a wardrobe I love at prices I can afford.  Sometimes I thrift, sometimes I buy new, and sometimes I pay through the nose to support a small batch local brand.  Sometimes I resell my expensive stuff, sometimes I donate.  None of those options make me a good or bad person.  And while I am all for thrifting, there is no such thing as a perfect or one-size-fits-all solution to anything.  Do what works best for you and don't worry too much about the rest.

Outfit Info:  Thrifted Anthro Shirt dress, Samantha Pleet Illuminated Corset,

 flats from Shoe Carnival