Style Imitating Art: Freedom from Want

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Norman Rockwell's Freedom from Want was chosen as this week's SIA inspiration as a reflection of the true gifts of the holiday season. It's not cheap electronics sold to us on Thanksgiving day by employees who are forced to work holidays to pay for their own family's presents. It's the joy of being together. It's the love and the care we have for each other. That's worth more than all the Black Friday deals in the world. Sure it can be easy to get caught up in the sales and the binge buying but, the more we fuel that version of the holidays the less the season exactly means. 

I couldn't be with my family on Thanksgiving as several of them work in retail. Their store opened at 2 o' clock on Thanksgiving day because people had to have five dollars off a toy twelve hours earlier than they got it last year. If we really thought about, is that worth it?

I'm not saying that we can't indulge in holiday shopping or aim for that sale that means we can give someone a present we wouldn't be able to afford otherwise. These are not inherently bad things but, they can be when we make them a bigger priority in our lives than time spent together or time spent helping others who don't have the blessing we have. If we all thought about what the holidays meant to us personally and acted accordingly, if we all stopped seeing our "wants" as our "needs" and instead thought about what really fuels our souls, we would see a season that more reflects the simple happiness portrayed in this painting. We would be people that could, if only momentarily, experience freedom from want.

I have always admired Norman Rockwell paintings and in this particular one I love how the soft, cool colors of the environment highlight the warmth and the genuine feeling of togetherness. For my interpretation I based the foundation on the whites and blues in the painting and then added the warmth with the scarf. I kept it simple, soft, and cozy to evocate the feeling of a good meal with family.

 

Sweater: Kohl's | Skirt: Modcloth: similar, similar | Scarf: Zulily similar | Tights: We Love Colors | Shoes: Thrifted similar | Lips: Colourpop's Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Beeper

Happy Thanksgiving!

For some it might just be Black Friday's Eve but, to me it's meant to be a day for family and friends. A day when the mundane takes a break and we can find respite in the company of our loves and piles and piles of rich, delicious food. Every year we go around the table and say what we are most thankful for and it always takes a moment for the well of words to flow but, once they do, they start happily tumbling out of our mouths as we realize the scales of good and bad have been tipped in our favor this whole time. That's a holiday that's worth celebrating.

Sometimes, when things are going well Jupiter aligns with mars, I can afford a splurge on a the kind of holiday outfit that makes me giddy. When I saw this skirt at modcloth I felt like I had just seen my soulmate across a crowded room. "Hello...it's you I'm looking for..." and can we all see why? This skirt incapsulates everything I love. This skirt defines me. It's black AND colorful and that print! Foxes and deers, oh my!

And the best part is the skirt is the perfect Christmas print with the deers and the bright red yet, the birds and sunflowers make this the kind of piece I could easily wear any time of the year or even for multiple holidays! That's what makes a skirt like this so worth while. It's entirely unique. Believe me...I searched everywhere for a cheaper option. Even fabric stores didn't have anything near the beauty that is this skirt. I couldn't help but dust a little Christmas skirt magic on Thanksgiving because today deserves some of our holiday best too.

Skirt: Modcloth | Top: Eshakti dress worn as a top Similar | Cardigan: JCP Similar |Tights: Walmart Similar | Shoes: Target Similar

Winter

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A few weeks ago, during Mucha inspired SIA, I had said that I really wanted to interpret the winter panel of "The Season." Well, this weekend it snowed..and snowed...and snowed and I immediately got that tinkle of inspiration in my eye. I grabbed my outfit and dragged my reluctant husband outside to use the sparkly fresh winter candy as my back drop. 

I actually put this outfit together before the SIA was posted and I didn't initially see it as a "wintry" outfit. Yet, it was a great match for the panel so, now I will never see this as anything else. Yay. Mostly, my accessories are out of the necessity of warmth but, I used this statement necklace because it reminds me of dripping icicles

Winter has arrived. It's for real and oddly enough, I'm kind of happy about it. I feel unusually festive this year and it fits my mood. Bring on the snow! Bring on Christmas! Let's get our cozy, twinkling, yummy party on!

Dress: Modcloth similar | Cardigan: Shopko similar | Tights: Walmart similar | Socks: Asos similar | Shoes: Thrifted similar | Necklace: Target similar | Hat: Old similar

20th Century Scrapbook

There is something truly satisfying about mixing decades that creates a quirky and dynamic outfit. Between the stockings, the dress, and the vintage hat, the whole outfit has a very 20's-40's vibe. By adding the 90's jean jacket and the bright modern pumps, I'm taking what could be costumey and nudging it into a wearable outfit that highlights some of the best styles of the last century. Basically, I'm a 20th century scrapbook and since I'm not a real scrapper, this will have to do.

Curating styles that you love from all the decades and incorporating them into a modern wardrobe is an excellent way to have a lasting style that transcends trends. Even though trends can be a lot of fun to play with, your style is the definition of you. It's taking what's inside your brain and turning it outward for the world to see. Of-the-moment trends can't encapsulate an entire person. Drawing from the deep wells of fashion that span entire centuries and cultures will give you limitless possibilities. Helping to create a complete and authentic picture of you.

Dress: Kohls, similar (on sale and up to size 4X) |Socks: Torrid | Jacket: Forever21 similar | Shoes: Target similar | Hat: Vintage similar

Style Imitating Art: Capax Infiniti

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This has got to be one of the prettiest murals I have ever seen. It's clearly obvious why Capax Infiniti by Faith 47 was chosen as this week's SIA inspiration. My original outfit was inspired by the colors used in the shading but, after I bought this shirt from Modcloth as part of my Christmas outfit, I couldn't resist using it. As the eternally clothes obsessed the first thing that drew me in about this mural was the delicate buttons on the dress. The dress had little buttons, my shirt had little buttons. It had to be. 

I was rather swept up in the neutrals and the draping of the woman's dress and did my best to emulate those qualities. I also complemented the look with brick red accents to pay homage to the building. After all, the beauty of a mural must be symbiotic to the architecture it adorns.

Top: Modcloth | Skirt: Old Navy similar | Scarf: Modcloth similar | Belt: Target similar, similar | Shoes: Payless similar | Necklace: Charming Charlie | Lips: Coloupop Cosmetics Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bumble

Illusions

A lot of times when we post online we edit, adjust, and angle ourselves into an idealized version of ourselves. We do this to both provide enjoyable content and avoid being shamed for our flaws because the Internet is a tough place, yo. But, the unintentional consequence of this is putting forth a false image of perfection. Sometimes, that image is too good and makes others feel their lives are inadequte. I know I've been on the envying side of the screen more than I'd like to admit.

Every one of us lays in bed looking at Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram wishing our lives were as stylish and put together as some stranger's with perfect blonde kids sitting in a pristine white room, not a single smudge of jelly anywhere. But, that's probably not real. The mess is probably all shoved into one corner that is obscured from the camera's view (I can't be the only one that does that). It's intentionally put together to be beautiful for our entertainment. It's not a snapshot of real life.

So, I can go pose in front of cool backgrounds that, in my mind, provide visual interest and highlight the hardwork and creativity I put into styling myself. It may make me look put together but, the truth is...I only shaved one leg for this outfit. Just the leg by the split. Why? We were late. I was in a rush. Mostly, I was lazy. Then the wind happened. I am only one good wind gust away from a total mess. That's real life.

Dress: Boohoo | Hat: Boohoo | Shoes: Toms | Bracelets: Thrifted Similar