Tutti Fruiti

Hard to believe the week is almost over!  August has been such a whirlwind with multiple out-of-state trips, back-to-school shopping and preparation for five kids, and so much more going on!! 

Tunic:  eShakti

When life is stressful, I often rely on my clothes to boost my mood, and nothing is more mood-enhancing than fun colors.  This fun color combination of bright fruity colors was just the ticket. 

Glasses:  Coach

The wedge shape of the clutch reminds me of a lemon wedge, and the pompoms on my shoes kind of resemble cherries, which I think makes this such a great summery look, especially with my vacation tan!  :-D

Clutch:  The Limited (old)

Sandals:  Amazon

This past year, I have been wearing a lot of greens and blues.  Maybe it's because I am a water sign, but I really seem to gravitate towards these colors.  I love green in just about every shade, especially teal, olive, and emerald/kelly greens.

While I played up the colors today, my usual way to wear green is to pair it with neutrals, especially black and white/ivory.

Pair green with black tops and white blazers!
Left to right:  Wide Legs and Long Lines; Fall Colors

Green maxi dresses pair well with black jackets
From left to right:  'Tis the Season; Saint Louis Fashion Week:  My Experience, My Fashion

Green jackets in a variety of shades and lengths add interest to black basics and denim
Left, from top to bottom:  Imitation Game:  GabiFresh; The Simplest Workwear Formula
Center to right:  Imitation Game:  Eloquii Fall 2015; The Relaxed Trench

Add fun details like candy stripes or velvet and fringe
From left to right:  Bright Stripes; On The Fringe

For more ways to wear green, check out my previous Color & Confidence series here and here.

See the tunic in another look here.

2015 in Review - My Favorite Posts This Year!

I can't believe 2015 is winding to a close.  This year seemed to whiz by super quickly!  As the year went on, it became harder to find time for blogging, but as I look back at 2015, it is fun to look at my posts over the last year and explore my style highs and lows!

These are my favorite posts from 2015 in chronological order:

Yellow & Red
In 2015, I tried to experiment more with color and to branch off a little from my usual desires to wear all black.  This combination of yellow and red was fun, and this yellow dress is one of my favorites!  This slightly oversized black blazer from Eloquii also quickly became the biggest go-to piece in my wardrobe, so much so that it might need to be replaced in 2016!

Gilding The Lily
I'm in love with the golden pleats on this skirt, and I adore how this look manages to be so dressy and pulled together while still having a cool laid-back feel about it. 

Fun with Zippers and Antiquarian Couture
A moto jacket, fringe booties, and a simple but sexy shift dress are casual, comfortable, and versatile.  Plus, black and white...

This is What A Feminist Looks Like
While this outfit definitely wasn't among my favorites of the year, I loved the post - I've been a feminist since before I knew what a feminist was, and this year, I felt like I was able to come full circle into really understanding what being a feminist means to me.

Snowy Whites
I had so much fun with this winter wonderland look!!  It was so cold and snowy in March, and I just wanted to bring on the spring!!  The floral clutch, tree necklace, and mixed whites made me feel like a spring fairy, trying to bring a bit of spring to the bitter cold.

Unconditional Body Beautiful - Part 4:  My Belly and Me
This year, I've really tried to get over my body hang-ups - one way I did that was through deliberate fashion choices that revealed parts of my body about which I have the greatest anxieties.  My midriff got a lot of exposure this year (especially after #CropGate), but this was probably my favorite of the belly baring looks!

Art of Work
Spring always makes me want to break out with more color, and this past spring, this brushstroke print dress was definitely a favorite. 

Punky Sexy Day-Glo Lady
I absolutely love this kilt!  After several years, these neon yellow heels still feel fresh and fun, and rocking a waist-length neckline as a 37 year-old with a DDD chest just felt sooo punk rock! ;-D

Midis & Crop Tops
This year, I tried to explore hem lengths more.  I have never been one to stick with the most "flattering" hemlines and shapes, but midis have generally been my least chosen.  I wore a lot more midis this year, but this laser-cut A-line shape was probably my favorite of the bunch!

Unconditional Body Beautiful - Part 6:  Body Hair
Summer brought on a first for the blog - a post dedicated to swimwear!!  I was initially unnerved about doing this post (all my body issues rearing their head), but the photo shoot was so fun, and in the end, I just decided to embrace my beach body.  Besides, this swimsuit was just too fierce not to share on the blog!

Black for Summer:  Culotte Jumpsuit
I always enjoyed playing with different shapes when I was thinner, so I don't see any reason that I should have to stick to the same boring shapes just because I've gained weight.  Cropped culottes are "dont's" for both petites and curvy women.  Hmmmm...they're a do for this curvy petite!!

Bringing Color To The Workplace
When you have to be at work during the summer, it helps when you are wearing comfortable clothes that you love.  This blue pleated maxi skirt and embroidered crop top are so relaxed, but the blazer pulls things together.  This outfit was a surprising go-to for work several times over the summer.

Wedding Spectactular:  A Guest Look & Wedding Pics
I got married this year, so of course, my wedding post was among my favorites!!!  The bohemian feel of my dress and hair was a great choice for a summer wedding.

Wild Card Wednesday:  Leather and Lace
The year of really stepping out of my comfort zone continued in September with this sheer lace maxi dress.  I've come up with a few other ways to style this dress, but this version is my favorite. 

Imitation Game:  Eloquii Fall 2015
While I definitely ventured into wearing more color this past year, I also focused on interesting new basics, like this carwash pleat skirt.  I love it when an outfit manages to feel both super professional and stylish, like this outfit made me feel!

Manic Monday:  Day to Night
While peplums are super flattering, I had grown out of favor of them after they seemed to be everywhere for too long.  This skirt caught my attention though because the peplum was a little more exaggerated than on most skirts.  This cropped jacket is several years old but continues to be a favorite piece in my wardrobe - it's really hard to find a well-fitting cropped jacket when you're so petite!!

Wild Card Wednesday:  Faux Fur & Velvet
Lately, I've definitely been into faux fur, and I love this outfit because of the jacket but also because of the mix of textures - the velvet booties with the more casual cotton twill skirt, for example.  This eyelash clutch has been my favorite since early fall. 

Evening Textures
The last favorite on my list is one of my most recent posts - this monochromatic mix of faux fur, fringe, and lace-up heels.  There's nothing that I don't love about this look!  The dress is so sophisticated, but the fringe makes it fun.  I love looking polished and pulled-together, but I always like to be a little unexpected.  This textured look feels classy but retains a youthfulness!

Do you remember any of my favorites?  More re-caps of 2015 coming to the blog soon! 

Manic Monday: Work Style in Black and White

I think I've made it pretty obvious right now how much I love wearing black and white, and if you're new here, let me introduce you to the reasons why.  :-)

Such a color combination is sleek, sophisticated, and always chic.

Skirt:  Eloquii (Available here)

Jacket:  Eloquii (Available here)

While I love the combo, it can border on boring, which is why I look for more interesting or unique fabrications of my favorite basics - carwarsh pleats, windowpane plaid, layered looks, etc.

Carwash pleats are a big trend for fall, so I was super excited to find this skirt from Eloquii.  It required some alterations (and I'd love for it to be just a little shorter and slimmer fit), but so cool to find a straight from the runway style at an affordable price!

Tee:  The Limited (Similar here)

Clutch:  Target
Ring:  The Limited

Glasses:  Firmoo.com

Heels:  Chelsea & Zoe (Available at Kohl's here)

The windowpane plaid vest has zip-off sleeves, so it can be worn in multiple ways.  Such versatility!!

In addition to the vest, I paired the carwash skirt with a twist on your classic button down shirt and added royal blue heels and a red clutch.  I would throw on a basic cardigan or blazer for work and chilly fall temps.

Shirt:  Eloquii (Available here)

Ring:  Earthbound Trading Company

Clutch:  Vintage

For today's last look, I'm wearing another amazing Eloquii find - a layered look skirt, which I paired with a simple ivory camisole and boyfriend cardigan. 

Skirt:  Eloquii (Available here)

Camisole and Cardigan:  LOFT (Cardigan available here)

I apologize that it was a little dark when I snapped the pics, but I was excited to share this look, which I'll be wearing to work very soon!

Boots:  Target
Satchel:  Target (Similar here)

What is your favorite color combination? 

Unconditional Body Beautiful - Part 9: My Face Is Up Here

Happy Friday!  Today, the participating bloggers in the #UnconditionalBodyBeautiful series are back to talk about our faces.

My relationship with my face has been mixed.  I have generally had a youthful looking face and have also generally found myself to be attractive.  I definitely have not always seen myself as pretty or beautiful, but when I'm in a good place, I would say that I am.  On a really bad day, I may think my face is ugly, but thankfully, those bad days are few and far between.

A long source of grief for me has been my eyes.  On one hand, I think my eyes are one of my best facial features.  They're fairly large and a pretty color, and I've been told that I have bedroom eyes. 

At the same time, I have a lazy eye for which I've worn glasses since I was two years old.  I was told as a child that LASIK may be an option for my myopia, but that it probably wouldn't correct my lazy eye.  As my vision has gotten worse over the years so has my lazy eye.  

Make-up free after the end of a long work day AND yoga

While I accept myself as I am, I can still be a little self-conscious about my lazy eye.  Due to necessity (I see less and less well without glasses) but also my own insecurities, I always wear my glasses to correct my lazy eye.  Sometimes, depending on how I'm focusing or if I'm super tired, my lazy eye comes out even with glasses.

Another major insecurity for me has been my chin.  It's what I call a lazy chin....a lazy chin to go with a lazy eye, I guess.  Except at my very thinnest, I always have had a chin that slopes into my neck, without a lot of definition.  I don't have a "thin" fat face and spent many years envious of my mother and sister who I thought were much prettier than me and who naturally have slimmer faces and necks and more defined jawlines.

As I have gotten older, I have started to see the resemblance I have to my paternal aunts and also to my mother.  I have learned to see the beauty in myself by recognizing the commonalities I share with people I love.  If I can so easily see their beauty, then it's only fair that I recognize that beauty in me. 

I also have a crinkle in my nose when I smile, a crinkle that I have always had and that makes me feel cute. :-)

What is your relationship with your face?  Do you have a favorite facial feature?  What is it and why?

Also, why is it so fun to take silly face selfies?  Ha, ha!

For the other posts in the #UnconditionalBodyBeautiful series, see here:
Part 1:  My Body and I from the Beginning
Part 2:  The Heart (Bust)
Part 3:  My Journey on My Legs
Part 4:  My Belly and Me
Part 5:  My Buttocks
Part 6: Body Hair
Part 7:  My Arms, My Wings
Part 8:  Getting By On My Feet

Catch up with the other bloggers participating in the series this month: 

Katherine Hayward, The Glitter Notebook
https://theglitternotebook.wordpress.com/2015/09/18/unconditional-body-love-part-9-my-face-is-up-here/