Outfit Post: Inspired by India

I was feeling inspired by India and on a roll after the dinner party outfit recently...Here's something with a bit more color I threw on for dinner out with family in town.

When going for an Indian-inspired look- more is always MORE with color- as it's such a huge part of the culture. The sky's the limit- have fun experimenting with combining rich, vibrant colors together!

So I think I will take my own advice and really go for it with even more color next time- loving this second image especially:) Stay Tuned!

Details:
Silk dress (made in India :)- consignment store- gift from Therese
Pashmina scarf- gift from Therese
Elephant purse- thrifted
Gold choker- Steinmart
Wedges- Ralph Lauren via Macys (purchased with christmas gift card from Therese)

Image source for orange/pink here.

Image source for multi-color here. 

Outfit Post: Dinner Party

The husband and I recently attended a dinner party for South magazine out at a local Indian restaurant- Pakwan (excellent food!). To get into the spirit of things, I dressed accordingly, with a little help from my thrifted sheer tunic. This piece has a special memory attached to it... I was late to a date with my husband when we first met because I was thrifting and couldn't pass this little gem up!

Uploading these pictures reminds me that I read the other day in my latest issue of Marie Claire that Indian-inspired fashion is a current trend of the moment. Think gilded embellishments, black and gold color combos, and tunic dresses layered over leggings or trousers. To really go all out, you can add much more embellishment than I did here (and trust me I will!) Use sheer fabrics or saris, load on the embroidered and jeweled details (headwear, sandals, clothing), and pile on bold jewelry of gems or gold via ornate necklaces, earrings, and bangles/arm cuffs!

P.S. That face above is the one I like to do for my husband to play around :)

Details:,
Sheer tunic top- thrifted
Belt- borrowed from another dress
Clutch- vintage via yard sale
Leggings- H&M
Black tank-Target
Black stretch mini- Charlotte RusseBlack socks- Gina's beauty supply
Platform wedges- Steve Madden @ Macys

Linking up at Ta-dah Tuesday! 

Outfit Post: Around Town

Was off to our new studio to get one of the wardrobes in and do some sweating! But not before a quick photo shoot...

Details:

Snood- Gina's Beauty Supply $2

Earrings- Gift from Therese

Shorts- H&M jeans stolen from husbands closet and cut up

Belt- thrifted

Canvas flats- Dollar General $6

Purse- Primark (London)

Tank-Belk

Sports bra- Hanes

Retro Toys!

One of my favorite local places to stop in every now and then is Planet Fun. It's a little store selling everything from Supermario Nintendo games to comic books and cabbage patch sheets! Here are my current favorites that remind me of yesteryear (or growing up in the 80s/90s)...

Yes these are Barbie poodles that of course, come in their own carrying purse!

Anyone remember Goosebumps?

The husband and I rented an episode at our local library last year and it was this same title- Night of the Living Dummy. It wasn't exactly how I remembered it, but it was still a bit scary and definitely fun to see the kids 90s fashions!


I'm still in awe over my little ponies! Oh the pastel candy colors...the glitter....the hair...and those lashes!!!




Upon searching my little ponies online (because I just had to), I came across something pretty interesting...



Someone had modernized this beauty by taking the butt stamp they already had to a full on tattoo, complete with custom headpiece! (Image source here).

And just when did they go from bright- eyed to sultry-eyed??? I liken this transformation to the Bratz fashion dolls glitzified, sexified, lush-lipped reincarnation of classic Barbie.

Now for more pony highlights:
Remember any of these?

• Twinkle-Eyed Ponies (small rhinestones in their eyes)
• Twice-as-Fancy Ponies (patterns covering most of their body)
• Brush 'n Grow Ponies (longer than usual mane and tail that's stored inside the body). Huh???

Popples...what a cool concept with the thing folding up into itself. What kind of animal is it supposed to be anyway?? I guess just a "Popple". And who can forget those creepy cute trolls!

 Planet Fun is located at 23 E. Broughton St. downtown in Savannah, GA....and it's a must-see in my book!

What were some of your favorite toys or books growing up?

Vintage Vogue Covers

Spied these vintage teens and twenties Vogue magazine covers at my new favorite antique store, Wright Square Antique Mall  (walking distance from me ;) and had to snap some photos...



This dark-eyed 1927 beauty in creme is my favorite and I'm considering going back for her! She's modeling the iconic 20's makeup look- pencil thin expressive eyebrows, heavily made up eyes, circle-blushed cheeks and red cupids bow lips.




Loving the colors and florals in this 1910s cover look! In particular, I'd like to have the middle look in my closet- shoes and all. Love the blue and gold and all the trims and texture going on in her outfit!




Love the excessive exoticism in this 1917 cover look. From her headdress, to the shape and print of the dress, down to the trims of her riticule purse and pointed red slippers- Poiret's oriental influence abounds!




What an inspiring image of summer... Love the face-framing hat worn by this twenties beauty sipping her drink through bee stung lips! Twenties hats such as this one and the popular cloche (helmet-like style) were all about framing the face in order to show off the dramatic makeup and sleek bobs that were so fashionable.




This 1911 cover is my other favorite. I love the turquoise/red color combination and of course the drama of that mile long feather in her turban! Another strong example of the exotic and orientalist influences that so defined fashions of the 1910s.

Which is your favorite?

-Jenn

Bathing in black & white

Off to a poolside birthday party...



I like to try to stick to a color palette if possible when going poolside. Black and white combinations always promise plenty of drama...



I find that sleek, pulled back hair or loose who-cares waves are the only ways to go. I covered up my puppy dog tail bun here with a coordinating bow!




My poolside makeup routine (yes I wear it!) is all about fresh, dewy skin. My must-haves are a high SPF tinted moisturizer, bronzer to sculpt, and a pop of coral blush to brighten.


And yes-I often do a cat-eye (because it's quickest) and finish the look with coral gloss.









Outfit details:
Top- Old Navy
Bottom-Target
Coverup- hand me down from Kim
Sandals- New directions @ Belk
Hat-Nine West @ Belk
Hair bow- hand me down from Therese
Makeup- Lancôme Bienfait Multi-vital tinted moisturizer, Lancôme bronzer & black liquid liner, Stila coral custom color blush, Armour lip gloss in Anne Margaret (gift from CW).

What's your go-to look for the pool?

Lamp skirt DIY

I refashioned an old mini skirt into a lamp shade cover...



Exhibit A: inappropriately tiny skirt



Here's how you can:

1. Figure out what old shade you want to cover up or spruce up.
Measure how wide the top is and the length. (My medium sized shade was about 9 inches wide and 9.5 in length).

2. Find mini skirts.
The shorter the better- (think teen sizes). If you no longer have your old high school duds you may want to hit up local thrift shops! Look out for stretchy or adjustable waistbands that can fit over your shade's width & will cover the length. If not exact length you can add trim or cut it and add trim. Search out the color you would like and look for fabrics and textures that coordinate with the space. For the most part, the dressier the fabric the better. Don't forget that prints make a great impact as well as skirts with lots of detail like ruffles, tiers, lace, and so on.

3. Put a skirt on it.
Yep, that's it.

4. Accessorize if needed. 
Use brooches or trim applied with fabric glue to be done with it.

Outfit details:
Skirt- Abercrombie and Fitch (will be vintage in about 8 years)!


I look forward to sharing more DIY recycled projects in the future with you!
One disclaimer though:
I'm real lazy and will not spend oodles of time on any project. Another confession- I can't sew (yet). So in light of all this, any project I share will likely require minimal skill, time and effort. I am not about perfection- I just want the "look" and to go on with my life!

Inspiration to Outfit

Have you ever noticed that a look is usually more interesting when it mixes multiple references?

Inspiration:

           Edwardian elegance   +   40s casual  =   ???   
                

                                



     

My look:

Outfit details:
Lace camisole- thrifted
Shorts- stolen from husbands closet
Belt- borrowed from another dress 
Straw clutch- thrifted
Slingback flats- thrifted


Inspiration image sources: 
Edwardian dress via Etsy seller My Favorite Vintage 
Edwardian sitting lady via Lady Audley from the text- Decades of Fashion  
1940s girls in shorts & Butterick shorts patterns via cemetarian