Spring in February

Something very exciting happened one Saturday evening. 

I checked the weather report and saw a "6" at the beginning of the high temperature for the next day. 

A SIX!

Clearly, it was a cause for celebration (even Paper Bag came back for the occasion).

This is me studying legs that are seeing the light of day for the first time in months. I shaved. It's a big deal, believe me. Just ask my husband.

I accidentally closed my eyes on this one but it almost works, so I kept it. It's, like, whimsical or something.

Okay, wearing:

- lace top by Mudd, bought just this month (with a birthday gift card) at Kohl's on clearance for $3.80. I am really really hoping to find a white or cream shirt to go underneath it that has the exact same shape- it has a gorgeous scoop neck AND back and elbow-length sleeves, and I would love to wear it in the summer. Until then I can layer it with other stuff to make it work.

- cream cardigan with lace trim at the bottom (also from Kohl's)

- pink/white/tan striped skirt bought several, several years ago- it's kind of chevron which is really in right now.

- tan (nude? cream?) satin slingbacks- also old- which I adore because they are the perfect shoe for when you want to wear something springy but it's just too early in the year for white shoes (I'm traditional that way)

- my grandmother's pearl bracelet, which I love because I have freakishly small wrists and so did she so it's the only bracelet I've ever owned (other than bangles and cuffs) that I've never had to shorten.

- a goooorgeous (if I do say so myself) bird necklace from Kohl's purchased the same day as the lace top- I almost didn't buy this but it was just so sweet and only $3.80 and it's one of those things that you just know people are going to think is so pretty because...well, because it is. It just made me happy.

See? Birdie happiness right there. :-)

And then I let my 4-year-old take a photo. 

:-) 

If it were in the 60's on a Sunday in winter where you live, what would you wear?

Have you noticed that [Wearing My] Art on My Sleeve is not like other style blogs out there? Click here to find out how it was born and why it's so weird...

The Snow Queen (or, Happy Birthday AGAIN!)

Wearing:

- white cardigan from Kohl's (several years ago)

- white embroidered 3/4 sleeve henley, Goodwill Outlet

- jeans

- Fergie boots

- pearls & crystals necklace, a gift

- silver scarf, a gift

- bracelets from Sammy Dress

So, I finally had a chance to make up the birthday lunch with my daughter at school, and once again I was going for a slightly magical look.

I kept the jeans & boots (well, different jeans) but I changed up the top. 

In fact, I've never put these two pieces together before- this cardigan is one I usually wear in the summer. I had actually bought it in preparation for a trip to the Bahamas. But I thought it worked out nicely, and it gave me the excuse to wear...

...this! It's sparkly. And it's pretty. And it looks really cool with the button-up top because that top has silver threads running through it.

I felt very royal. Suitable company for my own little princess, who was delighted to see me when I came for lunch, especially because I brought Grandpa (my dad) with me as a surprise!

:-)

The Keeping It Real moment of the day: I just about died laughing when I saw this photo afterward because it seriously looks like I'm examining my belly button. 

My toddler would be so proud.

Do you ever feel like dressing like royalty?

Have you noticed that [Wearing My] Art on My Sleeve is not like other style blogs out there? Click here to find out how it was born and why it's so weird...

Optical Illusions and Renaissance Romance Meets Casual Chic

Let me first just say that this may be one of my favorite photos of myself ever. Do you see how tiny my hips and waist look? Hel-lo! Hooray for flattering angles, that’s all I have to say. And for once I’m rocking all that hair of mine.

Okay, leaving Narcissisia now...

Wearing:

- top from Old Navy, bought years ago for $4. Scooore.

- Arizona jeans from the Goodwill Outlet, which means they cost less than a dollar.

- vintage pendant necklace from Etsy

- brown leather belt I’ve had since college

- black ballet flats from Payless last year- less than $20

- bracelet from a jewelry party hosted years ago by a friend, but I cannot remember the name of the company.

- bronzey earrings

Let us all take a moment to welcome back our friend, Paper Bag, shall we?

And then let’s take a moment to wonder why, for the love of fashion, I keep forgetting to take closeups of my accessories and then, in all my lazy glory, crop my photos into these truly horrific, blurry renderings that make Van Gogh paintings look lifelike? Hmm...points to ponder...

Okay, back to my miraculously skinny waist. Which, when you check out the toe contemplation photo below, you might discover really was just an optical illusion. *sigh* It was fun while it lasted.

I wore this outfit on a day in January when it miraculously got over 50 degrees. This top is fantastic for that temperature, because the sleeves can go long or short, and the wide neckline and jersey knit cotton keep it cool. 

I love wearing a belt with a loose-fitting top because the belt defines your hips and the buckle and looseness of the fabric do a great job disguising any tummy pooch/muffin top issues.

And today’s Keeping It Real Moment is brought to you by my 8-year-old daughter, whose photo bomb is the result, I believe, of her trying to use a play mop toy to get down a mylar helium balloon that had become separated from its ribbon and made a break for the freedom of the open ceiling.

A valiant attempt, my dear. A valiant attempt.

Even Paper Bag looks impressed.

Do you have any clever fashion optical illusions that you use to hide your less-than-attractive parts?

Have you noticed that [Wearing My] Art on My Sleeve is not like other style blogs out there? Click here to find out how it was born and why it's so weird...

Happy Birthday! (or maybe not)

Welcome to my style blog and my first post, in which I show you photos where the lighting is all wrong but at least the outfit’s cute. 

Wearing:

- long-sleeve fitted white tee under a flowing off-white top from Sammy Dress

- clock pendant necklace (also from Sammy Dress)

- dark wash skinny jeans

- gray Fergie boots, which you can’t see all that well thanks to the fab lighting I used. But don’t worry, they’ll show up again, promise.

I decided to go “princess style” for my daughter’s birthday, since I was going to have lunch with her at school. And then when I got there she was in the clinic with a fever, so I ended up just bringing her home. *sigh*

Why am I standing in front of the phone? Am I waiting for it to ring? Who will it be? Am I the only person in America who still has a phone with a cord attached to a wall?

And what is that white thing on the floor under the phone? Why don’t I check these things before taking photographs of myself in my house?

Style blogging: it’s a learning process.

Just so you know, I have since figured out much better lighting for my photos. And I’m getting better at my placement- just took a few dozen times of running to the spot after pushing the button on my camera perched atop a stack of styrofoam cups.

No, really. Styrofoam cups. They’re my photographer.

Have you noticed that [Wearing My] Art on My Sleeve is not like other style blogs out there? Click here to find out how it was born and why it's so weird...