Metallic Momma

First things first.  I've noticed a distinct slow down in blog traffic.  I was pretty sure it's because I'm, er, in my "soft period" and then I got all indignant and was prepared to write a rant about how everyone is a jerk the "size" of fashion and beauty, and then today I learned something.  Just in time.  Apparently, there's a new Facebook policy and if you don't like or comment weekly, my Facebook posts won't show up in your news feed.  This is annoying and wrong on many levels IMHO and I'm tempted to rant about that instead...  VV Boutique Style vs. Facebook... pretty sure I'd win.  I'm not going to rant because I like to keep things positive (and NOT MANIPULATED, FACEBOOK!!!!!) so just take this news about Facebook FYI.  There are many other ways to connect if you like a slightly soft 40yo wine drinking OT mother-of-three thrifted perspective on fashion:

I use all these social media platforms for every post so don't feel pressured by Facebook, and I won't either.  Let's just proceed as usual, having our thrifted fashion fun!

The last trend in the Looking Lucky Fashion Challenge for me to tackle was metallic.  I am loving metallic pieces, love that fashion mags reiterated that metallic is the neutral for Spring!  I used to be a strictly platinum white gold silver girl, but I have seen the golden light!  I now love accessories and pieces in all metallic awesomeness!  Today, I wore a golden Michael Kors sleeveless knit to work...

 Michael Kors top $4, pleated stripe midi skirt $4.90, Roberto Capucci gold leather sandals $4.90 all VV Boutique.

Oxmo black cardi from my closet.

Like any knit, this top was a bit tricky to style over my lovely lady bumps.  Then I decided I didn't care.  I have some curves and if Michael Kors made a piece that would hug 'em, so be it.

I had a necklace on earlier in the day and took it off to, er, shop because fresh out, then forgot to put it back on.

Notice - no snow!  No coat!

I loved the pieces of this outfit!  The diagonal stripes with the vertical pleats, the netting on the shoes, the sparkle of the top...

This top sparkles more than Edward in the sun.

Today I had a very old and experienced photographer...

I don't know where he gets his serious posing from...

Family of V.S.P. (very serious posers)

Back to business: take a moment to admire these shoes...

So unique and pretty, and perfectly on trend at such an amazing price!!

B.T. (Before Thrifting), I likely wouldn't have considering buying Italian leather gold sandals.  Now, for for less than a latte, I can enjoy the trend with quality pieces. 

What are you waiting for?  Time to go thrifting!

Looking Lucky in Neon Accessories

Some days don't go as planned.  Some Sundays you think you have everything under control - up early, nice breakfast prepared the night before, outfit planned, plenty of time to be on time for church for once.  Then you realize the top you planned to wear for the perfect neon outfit for the Looking Lucky challenge is festering in the washing machine, and plans unravel from there...  Enter Plan B.

Neon jade necklace and earrings by She Does Create.

Tristan and Iseut linen skirt $2.80, Kate Spade loafers $9.80 VV Boutique

Pink stripe top StyleMint $30

and YES I was late for church AGAIN

If you're thinking to yourself, "That's an awfully bad case of M.M.S."... I KNOW, okay!  Under highly stressful situations like having to find a backup outfit at the last minute, Matchy Matchy Syndrome can be a comfort.  Anyway, the jewelry goes a long way towards making up for second choice style!

I like the contrast of the gold fancy necklace with the casual top.

Guess who else has this exact necklace?  NO ONE!  That's the beauty of shopping local. 

Talented designers, great pieces, totally unique and stylish!

The cat would not leave the frame.  Camera hog!

The skirt is almost a neon hue in the right light but I think the accessories are enough interpretation of the trend for someone who wore full-on eighties neon before all y'all were born.  So there.

If I wasn't so old and tired I would dig out a photo of me in my neon the first time around.

It was something like this...

But WORSE

One day, when my originally-planned shirt is dry and the weather is warm and I can zip up my dress, I will share what I had planned to wear today.  My inspiration is on Pinterest - any guesses?!

 Meanwhile, this was a pretty good second choice for a great Sunday!

Lace on Lace

(I just couldn't put "Looking Lucky" and "Lace on Lace" in the same title but you know that's what this is about!)

It poured rain all day today so my plans for skirts and bare legs were ... washed away (!) and I was left to face the pants.  I'm #afraidofpants following Easter indulgences.  Alas, I went with my basic black trousers which I hardly ever wear because they're so very basic.  However, they gave a nice ... base to the stars of my ensemble, the Spring trend of the day: LACE!

London Fog lace blazer $3, blue lace RW tee $4, black trousers $3.50, patent Sperry's $9.80 all VV Boutique

My 3yo photographer was complaining of a sore hip this am and therefore was not the most enthusiastic about taking pics for mommy.  Mid-photo shoot I realized she wasn't bearing weight on that side and there was a real problem so we shut 'er down.  

I actually feel pretty badly for asking her to take pics at all.  Sniff.

She did a great job nonetheless and I blame these fantastic lace pieces for blinding me temporarily...

In my highly scientific research (i.e., Twitter), I learned that pearls are "in" so what better time to dig these strands from my closet for the day.  I debated not wearing the blazer to work but swapping it for a black cardi then I remembered that the blazer was only three bucks and it's one of my favourite finds and what use is there in saving clothes for special days!!  Don't!!  Just wear them any old rainy day!

Here I am practicing what I preach.

Maybe one day I will pass the blazer and the pearls onto my daughter and say, remember that time Mommy made you stand on your sore leg to take pictures of my clothes? 

Sigh.  

But the lace is really pretty at least...

Read With Me

I don't buy magazines very often because Pinterest.  However, I picked some up for a recent retreat and as I was reading through them, I snapped pics because that's what I do when I read; I take notes, I snap pictures - whatever I need to do so that I can keep the information readily available and hopefully have a better chance of recalling it when I need it amidst my busy life.  In case you're interested, here is a recap of my journey through these fashion mags...

Clockwise from top left:
I have copper bag and sandals similar, so I need a belt and will try to style them like this!
Reminds me of my peplum top.
Reminds me of my vintage mint top.
Reminds me of my slingback mules from Korea circa 1997.  Glad I kept them.

Top shots give me styling ideas for my mint skirt.
I have an orange sleeveless top and will try this easy laid-back style.
Nice look for my BR cropped blazer.

I have laser cut thrifted Miz Mooz!
Reminds me of my good-eating navy Easter dress.
Good thing I picked up my white Matt&Nat bag.
Reminds me of my She Does Create piece.

These pics inspired my Easter pastel look.  
Crochet top over no-tuck shirt with mixed contrasting pastels including blush-peach!

Love the leopard and mixed print with a simple white tee (which I don't have) + bold necklace.
Would like to try cognac with my short sleeve polka dot top.  Need cognac bag!
Cropped denim jacket, floral pants, nude pumps... yes!
Styling ideas for a midi skirt!

All things on my hunting list!  Need patience!

Top photos remind me of my ankle crop pants and confirm they are "art print."
Styling ideas for bomber jackets.
How Armani ties a small square scarf.  Need white blazer!

These photos are all about affirming my inclinations!
I have perforated shoes, I want to wear mint and cobalt, and metallic and geometric are part of Looking Lucky!

As soon as I find silky "pajama" pants, I'm snatching them up!
Look at those colours together - love!
Oh and look how Sandra Bullock wears red and pink together!
Styling idea for a high-waisted skirt!

The best piece of advice for last.

(Most inspiration is from the April issue of In Style with some from RedBook and People Style Watch - all photos taken while reading these purchased mags.)

And now for the other kind of reading!  Books!  I love books and have embarked on Jon Acuff's Empty Shelf Challenge and though I'm not reading as much as I would like, I am making progress!  I finished my latest BookLook Bloggers selection, Watershed Moments by Gari Meacham and found it to be a great read!

Why did I choose this book:

The subtitle of Watershed Moments by Gari Meacham is what caught my eye – “Turning points that change the course of our lives.”  I’m personally interested in learning how to be content and attentive in the present and thought this book might help me to that end.   Meacham describes a “watershed” moment as “the moments God uses to mark us, move us and alter us for good,” “the moments we encounter God,” or “a point from which you can’t turn back.”  She uses Biblical stories and examples as she describes seven kinds of watershed moments: change, awareness, rebuilding, control, approval, overcoming and belief.

Notables:

• Watershed moments of change are often preceded by a period of feeling stuck.  This helps to reframe those periods of life; when it seems like God is absent, like nothing is happening – that is a clue that God is giving a “gift of time” to teach and prepare us, to allow us to seek Him, pray and develop belief, trust and obedience.
• Watershed moments of awareness are when God gifts us with insight into ourselves and others.  We can let go of over-analyzing and striving for our own understanding and rest of God’s understanding, then acknowledge and accept what we’ve been “bestowed” with and count them as blessings that “give way to truth.” 
• Meacham frames watershed moments of rebuilding  around developing Godly vision or “vision crafting.”  She suggests that we do this unabashedly, visioning what God has planned, and looking for what God is building knowing that he is building something worthy.  This is not an effortful process but rather recognizing the initial inkling of a vision then praying about it.  This can be a long term vision or just hope for the next moment
• Meacham’s discussion of watershed moments of control included a great explanation of godly submission.  Surrendering to God means acknowledging that we can’t control everything, we can’t do it alone but we CAN do it with God’s help.  Meacham suggests women move from trying to control to being an influence – embracing the gift of opportunities to build people up - and the end result, which God desires for us, is peace.   
• Many of us struggle with being people-pleasers or letting approval from others guide our actions.  Meacham suggests that watershed moments of approval from God help us to break free from the captivity of living for others, and allow us to live contentedly in God’s approval. 
• Watershed moments of overcoming any evil or negative influence are marked by embracing God’s authority and having the ability to respond to any circumstance with calm resolve.

Bottom line:

Though Watershed Moments doesn’t always flow smoothly, Meacham’s scripture examples and discussion prompt the reader to reflect on one’s own watershed moments and move closer to fulfilling our godly purpose and ultimately experiencing the joy and freedom that God desires for each of His children.

I am a member of  BookLook Bloggers.

In exchange for writing a review, I received this book for free.

Looking Lucky - Easter Pastels

This is going to come out of left field, but I chose Easter Sunday to wear pastels for the Looking Lucky Fashion Challenge.  Totally unpredictable, that's me.

Old Navy peach popover blouse new-with-tags $3.50, crochet top $4.20

Kate Spade loafers $9.80, Matt&Nat bag $9.10 all VV Boutique

Mint skirt $2.50 Hope Missions Bargain Shoppe

She Does Create earrings, bracelet and coral pendant

Mixed metal on the bag is a win win.

I've been "studying" the pastel looks and have concluded that anything goes.  Pastels look good monochromatic, mixed or with pops of primary colours.  Today, I decided to mix 'em and see how it felt.

I like the mix.

It reminded me of Black Out Style when I learned that you can just throw colours on together and it will most often look good.  Less matchy, more mix = more interesting.

 

Snowy noticed I was posing and got in on the action.

Despite *needing* more She Does Create pieces, I was pleased to find perfect complements in my closet for this Easter Sunday ensemble...

Oh yeah, the coral bracelet strand is from VV!

Coral + pink = peach, right?

Sometimes you can find thrifted handmade pieces; 

this crochet top is not handmade but still a cool find though I don't exactly know what to do with the pockets...

I felt this look was a bit Ruche-y, which is a good thing in my opinion.  I liked the layers, the relaxed fit (a requirement following two Easter meals).  I haven't worn peach since I inadvertently wore a lace mother-of-the-bride suit to my high school graduation but this outfit showed me I'm ready to try again.

But if you see my husband in a peach tie while I'm wearing peach, I expect an intervention.

Now, just a quick Spring trend Looking Lucky recap:

Graphic from Sarah's Real Life, so much more interesting than a list...

So far I have covered:

• local love
• tribal print
• cropped
• florals - twice!
• geometrics
• fringe

Looks like I'll be wearing some lace, neon and metallic this week!