Orange You Glad 🍊

Gals I've got that Friday feeling! Despite that it's a very rainy day, I've got joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart! With Mother's Day on Sunday I've been reflecting over the past several days on the magnitude of the blessing God has given me in making me Vivian Louise's Mamma.
With His help I faced my fears and was brave. I trusted Him and His plan and I was blessed. Blessed beyond comprehension. That's a lot of mushiness so now on to the fashion ....

I love the color orange. Not just any shade but the bright sunny shade of orange ... think naval orange.   Orange was ALL the rage in the 70's and you gals know how I love 70's fashion. And just the fashion (home decor and culture was terrible!) Orange also reminds me of Hermes and that's top tier when it comes to luxury fashion.  Color can be powerful with branding.  Think Tiffany blue for example.

Orange pairs well with purple, pink and blues. Honestly it pairs great with everything.  Again, we're talking bright cheery orange, no burnt dull hues. I even incorporated pops of orange in Vivian Louise's nursery.

So here are some orange pieces I love ...

Bangle
I actually own this one!  I wear it alongside my tennis bracelet, watch and other bracelets.

Handbag
Gals, I just ordered this handbag! I'm going to be stalking my front door for it's arrival!

Sandal
I brought home these cuties today!  Love a simple sleek slide and in a fun color = Chic!
I'm going to wear these with ALL the outfits.

Dress
An actual orange orchard!  I love the asymmetrical print. And the neckline really shows off the shoulders.

Skirt

Such a fun summer skirt! It would look so classic with a crisp white shirt!

Top

Citrus fun! This top can be paired for week day or weekend.

And for your mini this dress is simply precious.

Decor

I have one of these designer inspire glass boxes.  Great for adding color to a room and holding trinkets.

Lamp

Love this sleek mod lamp to add brightness to a room - literally.

Here's a Flashback for you from July 2016!  Wish I still had this dress but it didn't make the cut on one of my closet clean outs.

Sidenote:  What do you gals think about me cutting my lion mane to shoulder length???  This pic has me seriously considering it!

Dress Beautifully in Orange

XOXO Sarah Louise

Mamma Monday: Vivian's Nursery Design

Gals, this week’s ‘Mamma Monday’ post didn’t get posted yesterday – oops.  Forgive me.

The weekend was ROUGH – I was in bed and sick on my stomach ALL day Saturday (I’m constantly telling myself that this baby girl does in fact love me and that I love carrying her - #theStruggleisReal ).  I’m giving up on hoping the sickness with improve but I still battle the frustration of my low productivity levels.  I want to do so much but my body will not let me. Lots of prayer happening!

This week, I want to share with you Vivian’s nursery design.  It was inspired by this Pinterest pic my gal pal showed me last year…

Lavender with pops of tangerine orange.  It was different yet still feminine.  I instantly knew this was the palette for a girl’s nursery. With my own spin on it of course!

Here’s the design I created of what her nursery will actually look like ….

For the walls I chose Sherwin Williams color ‘Inspired Lilac’ a super pale shade of lavender. Lighter is better with paint.

I’ve added pink in the lamp and rug and kept the orange to a minimum with greek key trim on ivory silk drapes, a Hermes decorative box and flecks of light orange in the rug.

The rug is even prettier in person, soft and much lighter in color than online.  It pulls in all 3 colors lavender, pink and orange in a traditional design.

I’m not a big fan of nursery furniture as it is temporary so I opted to incorporate what I have and my traditional taste and am using my antique buffet as the changing table.  It also breaks up all the pale hues with its rich dark wood.

I’m adding touches of gold and glam in the lighting, mirror, pouf ottoman, small side table and frames.

The crib is a classic – just like the one I had as a baby but in white.

The chair swivels and rocks – this piece of furniture is not designed specifically for a nursery. When I found it I felt like I was sitting on a cloud and I seriously wanted to close my eyes for a cat nap right in the store.  For fear of embarrassment I didn’t.  You can choose from over 80 fabrics.  I went with a textured cream. I have plans for this chair to one day be my reading chair in our master bedroom.  

For art I’m adding our Anne Neilson painting of angels, and pieces my Mamma and sister have painted.

FYI I have a slight obsession with Jellycat stuffed animals! She already has 4 J

Everything has been purchased for her room with the exception of ordering the chair and gold pouf.  We hope to begin decorating in the next week now that our living room renovation is almost complete – I need to share that fun project with you!

I can’t wait to share the finished room with you later this month!!!

I hope you like it – check out my Nursery Pinterest board and my Maternity Style Board for inspiration!

Dress Your Nursery Beautifully

XOXO Sarah Louise

Day Lace

Lace is a feminine, soft, textured fabric that is just so beautiful with it's intricate design yet I've struggled with it when it come to dressing myself; I embrace the delicate fabric when it comes to my vintage table linens (no doilies!)

The struggle is that it can have that old lady vibe, doesn't move/stretch much and it's primarily designed for cocktail or special occasion.

However, over the past 6 months I've seen lace with a more 'day' design in stores.  Made of cotton, with matching linings and styled casually this ladylike fabric is a lovely addition to your closet.

I hunted for quite some time for the perfect 'day' lace dress.  This one sold me as it was navy (yay for no black - it's my least favorite neutral) so I can wear it all year long, it was lined in matching navy (nude or contrasting linings are definitely for evening wear) and the fabric didn't cling and moved nicely.
Gals, nothing's worse than fabric that clings and forces you to work those abs harder than you should sucking in all day or heaven forbid you can't sit without instantly crossing your legs to avoid the dreaded rip sound. Garments should skim and float away from the body - not hug it so tight that it's practically second skin.

I also was insistent on finding a lace dress with scalloped edging.  Not that the piped hems are bad, I just prefer highlighting the floral design and nature of the lace. The sleeves are also fabulous and unexpected with their sheer elbow length.
Note: I didn't have to wear a strapless bra!  I was concerned at first and there is no way visible bra straps under that sheer lace is ok! A nude racer back bra worked perfectly as the straps went right under the lined edge.

I wore this dress for Christmas Eve church service and dinner paired with pumps and a strand of pearls.
Styled with boots, fun jewelry and a casual jacket and you're all set for day time wear.
I also encourage southern/rustic styling with a pair of cowboy boots and maybe some leather jewelry. That is definitely happening come spring!

See gals with simple changes to your shoes, and jewelry I can take this dress from fancy, to casual to even a little country.  And make it work for all seasons!

Go get yourself a lace dress and embrace your creativity in styling :)

Dress: Madewell More options here here and here || Boots: Sole Society ||

Earrings: Towne & Reese || Necklace: Kate Spade || Bangles: Hermes & David Yurman || 

Dress Beautifully in Lace

XOXO Sarah Louise

Stripes are for Sweaters

Classic, clean lines.  I crave the simplicity and sharpness a good stripe brings to a look.

This sweater is constructed in a tunic design in a longer fit with side slits & a heavy knit, allowing it to lay flat.  In navy and ivory colors with shoulder button details it has a nautical feel.
I tend to wear fitted sweaters but I'm embracing the relaxed modern designs and find that they are quite comfortable.

I paired it with ivory trousers and nude pumps for a lighter look.  Navy and taupe trousers would be equally as nice.  Because of it's longer length I would stick to pants.

For weekends black or blue skinny jeans, or a grey/olive pair of chinos for a casual pairing.

Striped Tunic Sweater: Loft || Trousers: Similar || Pumps: Tory Burch || Bangle: Hermes ||

Dress Beautifully in a Striped Sweater 

XOXO Sarah Louise

Shifting Gears

The shift: A loose, straight and unwaisted dress.

Personally, I almost always wear 'sheath' dresses - a more fitted dress with a waist seam.  The reason being, I carry my weight in my legs/lower body rather than my torso, therefore in following my rule of 'dressing your body' I choose to highlight my upper body with waist defining garments.

That being said, you can't limit yourself to one style.  The key is finding the right cuts for you.  I often hear gals say that they can't wear certain items ... breaks my heart!  It's a crime to limit yourself, you  most certainly can wear a variety of styles (within reason - hot pants aren't good on anyone!) it's all about the right fabric and design!

My fear with shift dresses, was that my petite frame would be lost in the fabric.  Key things to look for when shopping for a shift:  The fabric should skim the body not cling or swallow, the hem should hit above the knee (proportions make or break a look), and there should be interest (detailed neckline, print, embellishment etc...)

This dress is in a crepe fabric and lined, it skims the body with a longer hem in the back (love this feature as I don't feel so boxy and exposed when moving), and it has a unique neckline with a deep V (elongating) and mock collar. I also adore that it has sleeves - helps conceal undergarments and great for transitioning into cooler temps.

Speaking of transitioning - this is the last unofficial week of summer Noooooo! I'm not ready! Gals, wear your whites because after Labor day those brights are off to storage til Easter.
FYI - this dress is Ivory so appropriate for all year wear.

My personal world is also embarking on a new season.  I'm back to city living in Charlotte, hunting for a new career, joining back up with my church & Junior League and braving life without Mr til next Summer.  Change is scary but it's great for helping us grow.
I've learned over the past 2 years as a military wife, that new adventures bring learnings and blessings you just can't imagine - so I'm diving in with arms wide open to God's perfect plan.

Maybe you need to shift gears in your wardrobe or in your life or maybe even both :) Do so beautifully!

Shift Dress: Nordstrom || Booties: Louise et Cie Similar  Here & Here ||

Earrings: Towne & Reese || Bracelet: Hermes || Gold Cuff: J Crew ||   

Dress Beautifully in a Shift Dress

XOXO Sarah Louise

Floral Length

Florals and Midis - they're flattering and pretty.  

This floral midi skirt is a part of the Milly for Kohl's line.  Florals are easy, there's a bloom and shade to fit every style.  Midi's are a bit trickier.  For those gals that are tall, no worries but for us petites we've lived by the rule of hemming right at or above the knee to elongate.  

The way to elongate with a skirt that hits below the knee is to keep the waist high and for the hem to fall at the top of the calf - any longer would look matronly. Also choose heels.  With this fit you still achieve a long line and the pieces hit at the smallest part creating strategic focus.  

Also keep in mind the volume.  For shorter gals stick to pencil and a-line cuts.  Full volume skirts can overwhelm. 

This midi pencil skirt is super stretchy for a shapely fit.  The floral print is flattering as it camouflages, creating a smooth line. 

Dress it up with a blouse or keep it casual and style with a tied chambray shirt. 

Skirt: Milly for Kohl's || Chambray Shirt: Target || Pumps: Nine West ||

Clutch: Similar || Bracelet : Hermes || 

Dress Beautifully in a Midi Floral Skirt

XOXO Sarah Louise

Match Set

I'm loving all these designer lines presented at the big box stores with affordable price points (I'm not going to discuss the Lilly for Target too Cra- Cra!) 

I've always loved Milly but it is definitely something I purchase on sale or for a special occasion. So I was pretty excited to see this Milly line for Kohls. It was inspired by the designer's trip to Capri, Italy and I couldn't wait to get my hands on a few pieces. 

My store didn't carry the full line so I may have to order online but I did bring home this beautiful blue and white matching set.  It's not my typical nature to coordinate to a tee but in this case I'm Matchy-Matchy all the way! The print reminds me of italian porcelain pottery.  It has that 60's vibe but in a modern design.  The cotton sateen finish is polished and comfortable. 

The crop top is shorter but not so short it's inappropriate.  The pant and top meet with a slight overlap - note I'm short waisted and barely 5'2" with my puffy hair. 

So for taller gals or for the office, pair shorter tops with high waisted pencil skirts or trousers.  Try layering a button down underneath. 

I'll be splitting these pieces up pairing each with white, navy, black and gray colors.... maybe even yellow :) 

Crop Top: Milly for Kohls || Capri Pants: Milly for Kohls || Heels: Franco Sarto Similar ||
Bracelet: Hermes || Clutch: Tory Burch || Earrings: Kate Spade || 

Dress Beautifully in a Matching Set

XOXO Sarah Louise