Past - Els ... Pastels

It's spring! Hooray! I can't wait until Northwest Ohio has the weather to prove it. Sigh. Oh well, it can't keep me from looking forward to what's to come.

Ever since Martha Stewart took down her fabulous calendar from her website I have been lost as to which days to rotate out my clothes. I have resolved to pick a date though (which is probably good because my floor can't take any more of my winter clothes). My rotate date will be April 20, although there is always the chance that I get too excited and get them out before that, or that I get too busy and just kind of live out of the bins I keep them in for a while.

The main trends I am seeing so far this spring: beautiful pastels, continuing patterns, and billowing fabrics. There are also a lot of platform heels echoing of disco days and lacy additions that both hint at strength in femininity.

Check it out on Oh La La Fashion.

Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant clothes. - Carl Friedrich Gauss 

The Emerald City of Oz

I think it's very fitting that the Pantone color of the year is emerald with Oz The Great and Powerful set to come out this March. Emerald is also my birthstone, and one of my favorite colors. In celebration of such a glorious color, I put together this outfit for you to enjoy, incorporating my fabulous new emerald pants from Target! Enjoy

Vest top by Forever21
Striped cardigan by American Eagle Outfitters
Emerald high-wasted slacks from Target
Earrings from Forever21

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky. - Rabindranath Tagore

Ba-bling Ba-bling

I'm not really one for wearing much jewelry, but I have been making a conscious effort of late to accent my outfits with a little sparkle. I am definitely not one to over do it with a mess of bracelets or a grapple of necklaces dangling around my neck. However, in the ensuing photos I found, these ladies have pulled off a very bling-y look, while still allowing for subtlety.

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.

J. R. R. Tolkien

Style Saturday: Lacey Pink Collar

My friend and I went thrifting at the local Salvation Army and she held up this pink blouse to me, insisting that I try it on. I admittedly was skeptical: it seemed too frilly for my taste. When I put it on over my other shirt though I absolutely loved it.

Despite having to cut out the shoulder pads, this is one of my better purchases at a thrift store. Two lessons were learned this day: trust your [stylish] friends and try things on before you dismiss them.

The Owl Necklace is from Wal-Mart

The Skirt is from Forever21

The Shoes are Steve Madden

The Bracelets are American Eagle Outfitters

The Top is Kathy Che

I fell off my pink cloud with a thud. - Elizabeth Taylor

Opacity

Sheer clothing is a daring feat. Wearing something shear is like wearing something skin tight: you had better be prepared for everyone to see everything that is regularly covered by your clothes. However, I think when it's done correctly it is truly one of the most elegant ways to dress. This also offers a nice way to show some daring skin in a time of the year where everything is covered up.

Because I love this look so much, I have not only rounded up some examples of shear clothing on Pinterest from my Oh La La Fashion board, but I have also found some places you can find these gauzy items (click the images for their look-a-likes).

Opacity is Audacity!

Something similar from Forever 21

Similar on Etsy

Similar skirt on Etsy

Similar from Forever 21

Similar at Vince Camuto

Something like it on Etsy

Kind of like this on eBay

Like this on Etsy

Similar on Etsy

How do you feel about showing some skin through your clothes?

Simplicity in character, in manners, in style; in all things the supreme excellence is simplicity. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Maybe I Am.

I have seen a trend lately of hyper-monotone outfits and I just absolutely love it. I have always been a fan of all black outfits, but I have gathered up a few really interesting ways to go about putting it all together.

Words to the wise: watch out for subtleties in shade differences, they can really make or break an outfit; use a mono-chrome outfit to chose pieces with amazing textures

I wore black because I liked it. I still do, and wearing it still means something to me. It's still my symbol of rebellion -- against a stagnant status quo, against our hypocritical houses of God, against people whose minds are closed to others' ideas. ― Johnny Cash