Take Me to the Candy Shop # 6 | Inspired + Outfit

This look was inspired when I stumbled across the umbrella picture from above and I realized I had a scarf that looked just like it. Instead of going color overload, as I have with most of these looks, I decided to switch it up and model the color palette off of chocolate covered cherries and keep the style beachy to match the whimsical striped beach umbrellas on the scarf.

I love this top as an homage to the architecture that you find in old candy shops. It's all about showcasing and highlighting the candy on a stage worthy of it's star and it's all done with strong lines and soft curves. Much like the pleats and flutter sleeves of this top. All combined, I feel like I'm ready for a day at the beach in the 1940's. A fact that doesn't surprise me since I have been slowly building to a slight obsession with late 1930's to early 1940's fashion. I'm dreaming of the perfect tea dress that drapes and cinches into total vintage elegance. It's been eluding me for months and months! Le sigh. Maybe some day.

Does anyone have any plans for the weekend? Tell me and let me live vicariously through you! It appears I will be hunkering down for a night in alone, a situation that is never pleasing to me and often leaves me feeling anxious and dreadfully bored. It's easy to slip into unhappy thoughts when you're without the company of the ones who fuel your heart. Blerg. Maybe I'll order a pizza.

Shirt: Mocloth | Shorts: Thrifted (similar) | Shoes: DSW (similar) | Scarf: Modcloth (similar)

Take Me to the Candy Shop #5 | Inspired + Outfit

I have always called this dress jelly bean green. Which, seems very appropriate now. I'm probably revealing that I associate my clothing with little random bits of life. Jelly bean green, sherbet print dress...it all adds up to me being way too attached to my clothing. It also means I have to wear certain things for certain occasions because how can I not wear my jelly bean green dress in a candy shop themed series? Yeah. Thought so.

 

It's that shirt that really takes me to the candy shop though! It abstractly reminds me of all those little candy containers stacked up in front of the candy shop windows in the Dells that started all of this. I thrifted it awhile back and had mixed feelings about it. First I was like, "funky!" Then I was all, "tastelessly old ladyish?" And finally I was like, "who cares! It's half on the Goodwill tag sale!" After looking at it in my closet for a while I realized it reminded me a little bit of Samantha Pleet's designs and for that reason I landed square on loving it. Go tag sale!

Shirt: Thifted (similar, similar) | Dress: Modcloth (similar in straight sizes, similar) | Shoes: Bait Footwear (similar) | Bow: Amazon | Lips: Colourpop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Donut

Take Me to the Candy Shop #4 | Inspired + Outfit

There was a personal tragedy in my family this week that has left some of my loved ones completely devastated and the rest of us in shock and scrambling to help in a helpless situation. You can see the full story on their Go Fund Me page. It's all I can think about these last few days and instead of trying to come up with cheerful things to say, I just want to remind all of you to be grateful for everything you have because it can be lost in a second. It's hard to remember that on days when your house is trashed and the kids are screaming and you just want to get in the car and drive as far away as possible but the little pieces of your home, your nest, are the tangible comforts, love, and memories that you fill your life with. Treasure them because they are not a guarantee.

Like my clothing, it's a collection like any other collection. I don't display it on shelves or in cases, but I do curate it, hunt down desirable items, and form connections to every piece. It's not a collection of pricey knick-knacks or valuable memorabilia but it is definitely the same thing. Losing it would mean years of lost effort and love. These shorts, for example. They're just shorts to some but to me they are the long-awaited high waisted, vintage inspired shorts that actually look good on me. I searched for years for shorts like these and every attempt looked more like mom jorts than cute pin-up girl. Everything in my closet has a similar story. Whether it was a long hunt or an unexpected treasure, each piece is special.

I know everyone can come up with bunches of things they would be heartbroken to lose and I think that's why the community response to this tragedy has been a sweeping show of support. That's the glimmer in the heartache. Your family, town, friends, co-workers, heck, people you've only met once or have never met at all, they are your community and it's wonderful to know how much we love each other.

Cardigan: Thrifted (similar) | Shirt: Thrifted (similar) | Short: Maurices (similar in plus) | Tights: Target | Shoes: Tom's | Scarf: Kohl's (similar) | Lips: Colourpop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Donut

Take Me to the Candy Shop #3 | Inspired + Outfit

Here's to the freakin' weekend and one full week of candy covered pretties! I have to say that these pictures have not been easy to take since Mother Nature decided to it's winter again here in Wisconsin. On and off snow, cold temps, high winds. A whole pile of blah that makes picture taking a chore. But it is worth it because I am so full up on happy with the results. Nothing worth having is easy, right?

I've actually dubbed this dress my sherbet dress because it reminds me of *drumroll* sherbet. Specifically, my most beloved Edy's Berry Rainbow Sherbet which I chowed down on pretty regularly for a solid two years. I over did it and had to give it up but, every time I see this dress I start to crave it again. It just looks like the kind of thing someone would wear to dish out sherbet if dishing out sherbet were an occasion to dress for.

 I have now said sherbet so many times that it has lost all meaning. That is until I look at the dress and then I remember the meaning is "mmmmmmm..."

I hadn't planned on wearing a cardigan with this look but, as I said before, cold temps and high winds were a thing this day. So, I donned my trusty blush cardigan which does a good job pulling out the pinks and peaches in the dress and highlights the warm and cool tones playing off each other. Look at you go, blush cardigan. The collared shirt is there for it's collar because everything benefits from a cute collar, especially sherbet themed dresses. Trust me on that. I just might be an authority on sherbet dresses.

Enjoy your weekend, loves! Drink up if that's your thing! Chow down if that's your thing! Party excessively or be still like vegetables (lay like broccoli). The next two days are for you!

Dress: Kohl's (similar, similar skirt) | Shirt: Kohl's (similar in plus) | Sweater: Thrifted (similar) | Shoes: Kohl's (similar) | Lips: Anastasia Beverly Hills in Pure Hollywood