Spring Was Following

  This winter has been very long and cold.  I, for one, am so ready for spring and warmer weather to be here for good.  Bright colors incorporated in my outfit, either in the bottom or top, are a wonderful way I cheer myself up and remind myself that winter can't keep me down.  Denim shirts are very versatile, you can wear them over t-shirts or long sleeve shirts to add an extra layer of warmth on those days that are a little chilly.  Basically, you can think of them as another jacket or cardigan.  Scarves, too, provide warmth not only around your neck but you'd be surprised how warm they can actually keep you.  And don't forget to keep wearing those booties you've worn all winter.  They'll still look right and dress up this cute and somewhat casual look.  Most importantly don't go out and buy something new.  I'm sure you have these pieces in your closet already.  

1. J.Crew Denim Western Shirt in Pale Indigo, $78  2. Mango Minnie and Mickey T-shirt, $21  3. Nasty Girl Fantasize Earrings, $25  4. Pink Mascara African Tribe Scarf, $48  5. Rag & Bone Harrow Boot, $495  6. AE Striped T-Shirt, $20  7. Gap Broken-in Straight Khakis, $22

Title: "Don't Let It Get You Down" by Johnnyswim

I'm Going to Stand Up and Sing

Five Things I'm Thankful For This Week:

Fundraisers with good food, great friends, and gratifying causes

Dinners with wise women, choice cuisine, and fascinating fellowship

Projects with hand sketches, creative solutions, and plenty of firsts

Puppies with wagging tails, playful agendas, and muddy paws

Maxi dresses and skirts with pointy-toed flats (or boots), interesting details, and the perfect accessories

I'm also extremely thankful for God's timing and his providential nature over everything we do.

He has a plan.  One that is and always will be better than anything I could ever dream up.

Title: "Too Deep to Fill" by Ryan Bingham

I'm Never Changing Who I Am

5 things I'm thankful for this week:

Not waking up and rushing off to work half-awake.

Instead I'm going to channel Amy Adams pretty much all week (or at least pretend to).

Being done with my gloves!!

Well, almost done--I just have to weave in the tails.

Putting on a successful Together We Sing.

The Olive Twig Humanitarian Group raised $7,400 through the event!

Having the opportunity to be apart of a group like the Twigs at such a young age.

These women are truly remarkable!

(Photo Credit)

The slew of gorgeous dress photos I can oogle and drool over this week when I want to procrastinate.

Because guess what... It's AWARDS SEASON! (or at least last night was the Golden Globes)

Title: "It's Time" by Imagine Dragon

Here Comes the Jackpot Question in Advance

     How do you like your shimmer, glitter and everything shiny?  Sometimes it's all about the subtle statement.  While New Year's can be seen as a time to get away with anything you aren't daring enough to wear on a normal occasion, I'd prefer to go in a simpler direction (and maybe a little more edgy).

Dress:  Love Maxi Dress with Cut Out, $64
Necklace:  Kendra Scott Allegra Necklace in Zodiac, $195
Crown:  Limited Edition Rhinestone Headband, $27
Ring:  Low Luv By Erin Wasson Moonstone Ring in Gold, $69
Clutch:  River Island Pearl Embellished Box Clutch, $53
Shoes:  Vince Camuto Madelyn in Bronzite Glitter, $200

Title: "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" by Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt
originally written by Frank Loesser and sung by The Orioles

Sayin' That You Oughta Laugh About It

      I know it has been customary for me to feature a collage on Mondays, but this weekend has been filled with migraine pain and other crazy strange pain (that seems to have something to do with the cold weather--I would never make it in my imaginary homeland, England).  Which all translates to I'm not in the mood for collage putting together time.
     However, I do blog for Click Magazine and if you haven't checked it out yet you should (that was my one shameless plug).  I posted my five favorite fall fashion items--collage style, of course.  So I'm using that as my stand in for today.  If you haven't already seen it, you should definitely click on over.  It kinda has some good advice (final plug I promise!).

     But for those of you who have already seen seen the post, I thought I'd add some original content.  My church had its annual Thanksgiving dinner tonight (I'm not sure what year, but it's probably at least in the late teens).  My mom helped decorate the tables, along with some other extremely talented ladies.

Title: "Sweet Sour" by Band of Skulls

My Love Is Faithful

     I love hats.  They are one of my favorite accessories.  Mostly because you can throw a hat on and in an instant become mysterious and super cool.  That and caps look pretty silly on me, but I can get away with wearing hats (you know the ones without a front bill).  I end up wearing them just about every Sunday as it blocks out the lights in my church's sanctuary that give me a headache.  So I've kind of become the self-proclaimed, stereotypical "hat lady."  (I guess that's better than "bag lady.")  Either way, I've always had a thing for hats and I've slowly started quite a collection.  I tend to stay away from anything big and floppy (though I already have two of those in my closet, I always feel a bit ridiculous in them and they aren't practical for church).  I also always make sure it has a bill (otherwise what's the point) and I love neutrals (or to be a little more honest, anything that goes with a lot of different outfits). And while I adore red colors since I've dyed my hair I have to stay away from them for now.
     I thought I'd share with you the hats that I've been dying to buy for myself these days.

1. Biltmore for Madewell Floppy Hat, $78
2. Brixton Avenue Boater Hat, $50
3. Cumbrian Fells Rancher, $68
4. Brixton Dalila Floppy Hat, $55
5. Bow Trimmed Cloche, $15
6. Staring at Stars Braided Felt Panama, $36

Title: "Silver Moon" by Roo Panes

When We Were Young

     I'm pretty sure I've talked about how much I love kids fashion these day.  I mean seriously, I walk through Target and I see pants/dresses I wish were my size in the KIDS SECTION.  I truly wish I had been as fashionable as a kid.  Even Free People has a kid section.  Jealous.
     Take for example the pants below.  Printed and dark.  Amazing right?  If I have a girl, when she starts going to elementary school... maybe intermediate (at the latest) she's going to be the hippest girl in class (unless she gets made fun of... but she won't cause she's going to be adorable!).

Title: "Broken Brights" by Angus Stone

Neck of Pearls It's Flapper Girl

     Because of my migraines, I'm unable to wear a necklace of any kind (minus my everyday diamond necklace).  Sadly, this means I've been unable to wear the statement necklace trend.  I'm dying over the necklaces below.   I would love to wear any of these guys with just a simple neckline.  And even though my tastes always trend toward the blues, I just adore the ombre affect of the pink necklace.  I'd wear it any day.

1.  Paris Statement Necklace, $475
2.  Valerie Necklace in Lapis, $250
3.  Crystal and Fringe Multi-Strand Dangle Necklace, $189
4.  Athens Statement Necklace, $500
5.  Art Deco Peacock Necklace, $500

Title: "Flapper Girl" by The Lumineers

I Didn't Know How Hard It Would Be

     I have this dress.  It's short, sparkly, and snug, the perfect combination for a gold dress.  It taunts me because I have no where to wear it.  I'm not even sure if it still fits me like it did when I bought it.  As much as I try to cull down my closet to clothes I'm actually wearing, this dress won't be leaving my closet any time soon.  I don't care that finding an occasion is like finding Waldo, it's difficult and may not always happen.  (On a completely separate note, did you know that Where's Waldo has a website where you can play the game?  And a mobile app! Kids these days, they're way too high tech for me.)  If I lived in Free People world, aka in a magazine/catalog or New York, you might see me throw a patterned chunky cardigan (similar to this one), black tights, maybe some socks stick out the top of my folded over cowboy boots (similar to these guys) for work.  For me to pull all of it off, I'm pretty sure I'd have to be model skinny and as tall (as models normally are).  So while I have this awesome picture in my head of what the whole thing would look like, I'm not going to be wearing this to work any time soon.  I'll just keep being taunted by this dress until I can find the perfect occasion.

The Dress

The Cardigan

The Boots

Title: "I'm Getting Ready" by Michael Kiwanuka

Your Heart Won't Lie

     There comes a time in a Southern girl's life when she realizes she is of an appropriate marrying age.  While I believe this happens in every single girl's life, here in the South the marrying age has always been a bit low.  Lucky for me, it moved from 16 to the wizened old age of 18 early 20's.  Even though there seem to be an awfully lot of single girls (at least at my age) the couples that get married young still seem to be the norm (even if they aren't).
     From my fully experienced life experience, single girls tend to fit into two general categories as they grow older:  the ones who start making lists and becoming more particular and the ones who get rid of their lists and becoming more accepting.  Maybe you end up going through both stages, obviously I'm young (and I think I know everything don't know everything).  I find myself falling into the former.  My list isn't very long yet, but I do have one thing in particular:  men's fashion.  I want someone who will wear clothes because he likes them and not because it's in style (and who will venture out of the norm).  I know when I say this I may get a little more than I bargained for, but I'm sticking to it.  (Although, if I could dress him--on certain occasions--that would probably be the most fun.)
     I'm telling y'all this because of the following photo collage.  I've been doing some research for a project I'm working on and I've found that my trendiness works against me when it comes to men's fashion.  The things I love aren't probably ever going to make an appearance in the South.  Very sad day.

Leather Ties
Sexy Watches
Owl T-shirts
Knitted Ties
Mangles

Title: "History's Door" by Husky

Take a Look Inside My Heart

I LOVE the fall trend of leather (I love leather in general!).
1.  Vegan Leather Handbag, $109
2.  Neon Leather Geometric Necklace, $72
3.  Gorjana Graham Leather Triple Strand Bracelet, $68
4.  Rachel Roy Oxford Pumps, Jacqueline, $295
5.  Cavalier Original Leather Duffle, $1,695
6.  Cole Haan Riding Boots, $498
7.  Geometric Earrings, $40
8.  Jewel Geometric Earring, $38

Title: "Don't Give Up on Us" by The Maine

Cult and Culture

     One thing I always find fascinating around this time of year is Fashion Week!  Although it is a little confusing if you think about it.  Fashion week was just last week, but it was for Spring 2013.  Am I the only one that think it's a bit weird?  I guess for buyers and manufacturing purposes I can understand why they have to be a whole season ahead, but when I'm looking at fashion I want to know what is about to come into play, not what I can wear in six months when the weather starts to get warm again.  I'm the epitome of the American public, wanting demanding everything right now as soon as possible.
     I think my favorite thing about Fashion week happens even before any of the models walk down the runway.  My favorite part is the release of the new Pantone colors each season.  Pantone is a company who uses color for "accurate color communication" basically "Pantone" colors are the standard in design, fashion, media, anything that has to do with colors.  If your job involves the manipulation of color you've probably heard of Pantone.  Before each fashion week, Pantone releases a prediction of what ten shades will be most popular on the runway.  You can see these ten colors everywhere.  (Pantone recently teamed up with Sephora to create a collection full of color.)
     I wanted to compare how much things have changed over the years (two years, four seasons).  In their report, Pantone also uses input from designers and has multiple sketches of outfits by different popular designers to show off how the color might be used.
     I am so sorry that the sketches I'm showing you are turning out blurry.  Once upon a time, I made sure that my blog knew to have pictures a certain size and now I'm stuck to it and I don't know how to get out of that size.  Once I figure it out I will have the images fixed, but until then you can always click on the link to see the sketches at their true glory.  The sketches I have provided are by no means the only sketches!  They are just a few that caught my eye and made me gasp.

Women's Colors Spring 2013

 Men's Color Spring 2013

 Grayed JadeMonaco Blue

Nicole Miller

Women's Colors Fall 2012

Men's Colors Fall 2012

Ella Moss

Barbara Tfank

Women's Colors Spring 2012

Men's Colors Spring 2012

 Nanette Lepore

Tommy Hilfiger

Women's Colors Fall 2011

Men's Colors Fall 2011 

Mackage

Tommy Hilfiger

Title: "The Paper Trench" by Admiral Fallow

I Wear a Demeanor Made of Bright Pretty Things

     Now that I know how to really make photo collages, I have a feeling it might become a weekly feature.  However, I'm pretty sure next time I'm going to talk about each of the things instead of just giving you the links.  I thought about giving you examples of every item in my last post, but I figured some (actually most) of the items you could picture on a model.  I do have two favorite items that I have been looking for just the right piece so that it fits me just right and makes me look like the gals in the pictures below.
     I've been looking for high waisted jeans that fit me just right (not too low and not too wide-legged).  Trying to find jeans for me like that are pretty difficult.  I have to find just the right cut so that they don't add unnecessary bulk.  I would so much rather have a high waisted flare too.  I just love the look ever since I ran across the picture below in a magazine years ago.  I'm pretty sure the jeans are vintage, but I love the whole look of the outfit.  It looks very put together but effortless.  A look that I love.  Plus anyone who knows me knows I'm a huge sucker for a hat.  I have one like this will a smaller rim, but I would love another hat that has this exact rim size.

     The other item I wanted to include was a denim shirt.  There are so many ways that you can wear a denim shirt, especially if it's from the men's department.  You can wear it as a jacket, as a blouse, as a cropped shirt, and as a tunic.  Basically, if you get it large enough you can do anything with a denim shirt.  While I love the free people tuxedo style shirt, the men's shirt might win my vote.  (Maybe I can get both since they're so different!)  I love a good button down that you can layer, particularly in the fall/winter time.  I know that I could never live somewhere like Hawaii because fall is my favorite season.   I love wrapping up in sweaters and layers and FLANNEL!  Oh my goodness, flannel is one of my absolute favorite fabrics.  I have to limit myself to one flannel piece a year.

Four ways to wear denim shirts:
1.  As a jacket layer
2.  As a blouse
3.  As a cropped top
4.  As a tunic

Title: "Something In the Water" by Brooke Fraser

You Look So Good

1. Del Forte Dark Blue Laurel Organic Jeans, $216

2. Free People Doma Emerald City Leather Jacket, $856

3. Steve Madden Troopas in Tan Leather, $100

4. Gap Men's 1969 Vintage Western Shirt, $55

5. Free People Blue Velvet Chambray Button Down Shirt, $118

6. Zara Leather-Effect Jegging with Zips, $79.90 

7. Intimately Free People FP ONE Free To Shine Slip in Midnight, $58

8. Intimately Free People Voile Trapeze Slip in Copper, $88

Title: "Rosie" by The Kooks

It's Nothing But the Truth

Five Things I'm thankful for this week:

I was able to relax this weekend

Just me and the animals

I think I'm getting things set up a little more professionally on here

So I'll be posting the morning instead of night
(In case you're unsure of what this is... it is the blog post I have written and set to post tomorrow)

(Photo Credit)

I only have 3 weeks and 2 days until my 23rd birthday

Which will mean when I accidentally tell people I'm 23 I will no longer be lying
(Yes, I want a birthday cake.  No, it doesn't really have to look like this one, but it is cute, no?)

(Photo Credit)

This will be the second week in a row that I do not work on Monday

Yay!  I don't think that will happen pretty much ever again
(Not how I feel just an extremely awesome "Monday" named company.)

(Photo Credit)

I'm a beyond inspired fashion-wise for fall

Now for the weather to start cooling off!

Title: "All I've Got" by Lucy Rose

You Light Up My World Like No Body Else

      I absolutely hate it when I've been trying to avoid a song, only to hear it on the radio and want to know what it is every single time.  I feel like I'm just being a follower instead of actually liking it for the music (and then I get over myself).  It's the way I was with Adele, One Direction, Justin Bieber, and I'm sure a few others that I can not name off the top of my head.  That is exactly how I am with Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know."  It has a very interesting feeling to the music that always drags me in before I realize what it is (or I use Shazam to tell me).  I also really enjoy this beat for some reason.  (And I think that it's relatable.)  But Gotye's song is just too sad for me to use as the title.  Instead I thought I'd use One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" because every girl should pretend it's being sung just for them.  We all need a little reminder that we're beautiful.

     When I woke up this morning I thought today might be a final relief from the marathon of pain I have been feeling this past week.  I even packed up to journey down to Oxford for an impromptu visit of a friend.  After I got everything packed up I got a migraine.  So I'm still in Olive Branch for the night and I am going to Oxford headache or no tomorrow afternoon.
     While I was still headache free earlier in the day I managed to complete my shawl and finally finish off the baby hat.  I have to weave in the ends on both but that is all that's left (and I hate weaving in the ends).

I'm also working on a striped scarf for my mom.  My goal is to have this scarf finished and maybe one more shawl/scarf finished for her before she leaves for Germany in like 3 weeks (maybe more like 2).  We'll see how I manage.  

This scarf has one more of this set to go (plus an extra blue).

To finish the above scarf I still have the one section of blue that I'm working on, green, pink, green, and blue.  Then I'll be all finished.  It's been really relaxing to knit because it doesn't hurt my head and I can do it when I have a headache so I'm not just lying around or sleeping all of the time.
    I love myself a good maxi dress.  I think all of them are wonderful and love layering them.  I'm debating getting the stripe maxi below.  What do you think?  They also have a dress where the stripes are blue instead of red.

Dress

Title: "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction