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 

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

Image Roundup: DIY Furniture Updates

I am really really missing working on my furniture so I am doing a Pinterest round up from my craft and furniture board today to ease me through my sorrows. I love using Pinterest because it makes my life so much easier and frees up a lot of memory on my computer (since I don't have to save all the things I like). Check out my House Stuff board and my Crafts board and tell me what you think! Hopefully when I'm back in Ohio I can get back to work (and I still may be able to convince my mother to let me at her furniture).

I would love to dress my simple bar stools up a bit with fabric and paint or stain

this is possibly my favorite before-and-after I have ever seen... I love everything about their final product!

this just blows my mind... fabric spray paint!!

mod podged, book page covered table. brilliant. 

mod podged lace fronts, and then painted over. I must try this

Thoughts on home décor: Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house. - Henry Ward Beecher