Listen to Your Mother

I spend a lot of time in my garden, and when it comes to color, I like to take my inspiration for both decorating and outfits from Mother Nature. I mean really, when was the last time you looked at a flower and said, "Whoa, that is a really ugly color combination?" This spring I have been noticing how pretty yellow, orange, and pink look together. Now does that mean I would wear an orange shirt with pink pants? Probably not. I would, however, wear a white top with pink pants and stacked orange and yellow bracelets and a yellow necklace. If I was feeling less bold, I might wear the white top with denim capris, pink shoes, and yellow and orange jewelry. So, next time you feel stuck for color inspiration, take a walk in your garden, down the street, or in a park. Mother Nature has lots of ideas she can't wait to share.

 

Shirt: Old Navy, Pants: Sears, Jewelry: Burke's Outlet

Going to the dentist today...

Tank: JCP, Skirt: Sears, Vest: local boutique

For those of you who now have a Sesame Street tune running through your head, no, I don't own a llama, but I really did have to go to the dentist today, and like most people, I was dreading it and needing the extra boost of confidence that wearing something dressy can provide.
Back in the day, I took a Color Theory class: a cool professor, a class full of girls, and surprisingly few Fine Art majors. Perhaps because of the class composition or maybe just because she wanted us to see the role that color plays in real life, our professor brought in a professional color consultant to "do our colors" for us and tell us what "season" we were. I remember this being the day when even the most disinterested among us took copious notes. I also remember how that day affected my fashion choices from that point on. You see, it turns out that I am a Summer and that wearing black is not a good choice for me. Remember those uniform-suits I talked about wearing to work? Well, they were always navy, charcoal, or dark chocolate brown, and I always wore them with a bright pop of one of my best colors: fuchsia, turquoise, indigo, or plum. I lived by the rules. I was safe. I was afraid to make a mistake. And, to be quite honest, wearing black does make me look like someone getting ready to try out as an extra on The Walking Dead.
So normally, this top wouldn't have gotten a second look from me, but I love vests and that was my first thought when I saw it on the mannequin. "That would be a great vest!" Also, I absolutely love the drapey look and the fact that the back is lace. I'll admit, I'm uncomfortable wearing it because I feel like I am breaking the rules, but then rules are meant to be broken right? Black is not going to become a staple in my wardrobe. I will, however, find ways to work this vest in with other colors that don't wash me out just because I love it.
To find out what colors are best for you:
Start here: http://www.colormebeautiful.com/seasons/index.html?gclid=COGYgM7f7bYCFQNlMgodCUcAiA

Get the full scoop here: http://www.collegefashion.net/fashion-tips/how-to-find-your-perfect-colors/

Color Blocking

I am going to start by saying two things. 1) I hate having my photo taken and doing it myself was really and truly awkward. 2) This is probably not the most flattering outfit I own, but it is a good example of what I wear around the house every day.
As pretty much everyone who is not living under a rock knows, Color Blocking is a big trend right now. For someone who came of age in the late 80s, wearing two colors together is NOT a new idea. In fact, I'm happy that the idea has finally come around again so I can think of myself as trendy. I've read a lot of discussion about how to figure out which colors look right together and using a color wheel, etc. to make such determinations. Honestly, I think the best thing to do is to just hold the pieces up together and see if it looks ok. If it seems too bright or too bold, don't do it. Some people will be more comfortable wearing brighter combinations than others. When in doubt, ask a friend. One color I am liking that is popular right now is cobalt blue. It looks good with the mint that is also trending, fuchsia, yellow, turquoise, etc. Obviously, I also like fuchsia and turquoise together.

Ok, if I were just around the house, I'd be barefoot and the bracelets would be laying on the counter waiting to be put on if I went out to run an errand. The shirt is St. John's Bay, and I bought it last year on clearance from JCP. The capris are Erika brand from Sears. For some reason, the cotton capris this year all seem to be super baggy, but since I live in South Louisiana, a little air flow is a welcome addition to my summer wardrobe.

The shirt features a little bit of lace which is also a big trend right now. Rather than go out and buy one of the many super lacey shirts that I've seen in the stores (not practical for my daily activities), I've gone through my wardrobe and sorted out all of the pieces that have lace or crocheted embellishments to wear this summer. "Shopping your wardrobe" is one of my favorite catch phrases these days.

Shoes: Easy Spirit

Bracelets: Claire's

You are never too old to have a little fun with your clothes. When I saw these, they made me laugh, so I bought them when they went on clearance. I also have more "serious" bracelets in these colors that are more appropriate for less casual days.





Why Fashion?

I am not now, nor have I ever been a fashionista. In fact, I grew up on farm in rural Wyoming during the early 70s through the early 90s. It's safe to say that my youth was pretty much one fashion disaster after another, starting with paisley corduroy pants and ending with a purple rat-tail. My mom wasn't interested in fashion, nor were any of the other adult women I grew up around. A cousin who was a few years older than me taught me how to apply make-up, but then I rarely did it because women in Wyoming just don't wear make-up for the most, and I still rarely do.
I went to university and studied humanities. I became a college instructor. Women in higher ed quickly learn to dress in the female version of what their male counterparts are wearing for fear of being mistaken for a secretary. Neutral pant suits are the name of the game. And, of course, college instructors are not supposed to concern themselves with something so shallow or frivolous as fashion. We are supposed to be too busy thinking about the meaning of life, I guess.
Wearing this "uniform" to work made life easy. Then I quit teaching on campus. For the first time in my life, I was faced with the challenge of learning how to dress myself. Like any good academic, when faced with something new and troubling, I turned to research. I found a lot of blogs about fashion. Some of them contained some good advice. Many of them focus on keeping up with the latest trends. I still haven't found one that offers good practical advice for me, the average American housewife who doesn't want to spend her days in yoga pants and t-shirts, so I decided to write my own blog.
But why? Why write about fashion? Because all women care about how they look. Even if vanity is not a part of who we are, we know that we are taken more seriously if we are well dressed. We know that we feel better about ourselves, yet many of us deal with the emotional aspects of just getting dressed every day. I thought it would be nice to have a place where the real issues are dealt with honestly and with a little common sense.
This blog is for women with imperfect figures, women with tight budgets, and women who clean litter boxes and change diapers. Real Woman: this blog's for you.