Mamma Monday: Accessorizing the Bump

Happy Monday!  Most Monday's I'm mourning the loss of the weekend and return to the weekday grind but this week I'm refreshed and ready.  

This past weekend was full of firsts as I went camping in the NC mountains with some gal pals from church. See my Instagram for pics. I have never slept in a tent before much less cooked food over a fire.  But this fancy pants of a lady roughed it (there was plumbing) with the best of them.  I've been looking forward to this wilderness escape since we started planning it over the summer and I had more fun that I ever imagined.  We hiked, star gazed and enjoyed the peace in awe of the quiet beauty around us.

We also shared quite a few laughs!

Being pregnant has it's list of firsts, a long list! And they aren't all glowing. I'll say it - I'm not a fan of the physical changes! It's bad enough I throw my guts up on a daily basis and am so tired I feel as though I'm walking around with weights on my eye lids but the expansion of my figure is traumatizing.  That's a bit harsh - how about just foreign and uncomfortable. 

You see, I've been a very healthy fit person my whole life eating extremely nutritious food and killing it in the gym on a daily basis.  I truly mourn the loss of my muscle tone and ability to do high intensity exercises.  I'm still working out as much as I can but the weights aren't nearly as heavy and there are just some exercises that I just can't stomach. 

But for nearly 26 weeks Mr, friends and strangers point out that I'm much smaller than most Mammas at my stage. I know, I'm literally having a pity party but it's all relative.  

I know I'm not the only gal that misses her bikini bod and it doesn't mean I love baby girl any less - I'm just being real gals. 

So I'm going to do my very best to embrace my new figure and that means dressing it beautifully.

Since maternity dressing is so temporary and comes with limited options I find it important to style the ensembles with accessories. There are very few accessories that can not be carried from pre pregnancy - belts are pretty much it.

So here are some of my favorites for my bump or even when I don't have a bump ...

Statement Gold Earrings - I've wanted these for a long time.  If I don't get them soon I'll probably add them to my Christmas list.  I find that statement earrings draw attention upwards to the face and have an elongating effect. In gold they go with everything transforming a simple look into something snazzy.

Silk Scarf- I'm pretty sure I'm going to be bringing this one home.  I'm not a fan of big thick scarves but rather the classic silk ones.  They're lighter weight and less smothering.  I also love the vintage print and colors on this one. Worn long down the body it can make you appear taller and add interest to a solid outfit.

Locket Necklace - I have this one and it holds very special ultrasound pictures in it.  This makes a great gift too.

Fur Vest - I have this one but in pink! I purchased in my normal size and can still zip it - for now.  Mr, my sister and a few gal pals shake their head and express their unsolicited dislike of the pink fur. I don't care I love it but if you're not as forward in your style this burgundy or navy option are more neutral.  It will keep you warm while still leaving your arms free.

Plaid Poncho - for all sizes of gals in a classic simple plaid, it's a piece you will wear for years.  It's like being bundled up in your favorite blanket.  I like that this one is not so bulky and overwhelming. It's also freeing on the arms.  I'll probably get this one too, especially if it goes on sale.  This poncho is nice on days that you feel more comfortable concealed.

Bow Slides - I ordered these a couple weeks ago and love them! I went a half size up.  They remind me of a tuxedo. And though they are a bit fancy I plan to contrast them with distress jeans and a crisp white shirt.  Slides are the key to shoes for pregnant gals.  Bending is just impossible at a certain point so slip ons are a lifesaver.

Ring Crossbody Bag - I'm about to add this one to my wish list.  Ring bags are a blend of jewelry and handbags.  I like that this one has a cross body strap when you don't want to wear it like a bracelet and has an edgy look with studs.  It will be a nice touch to all my girlie pieces. I only worry it's not big enough to hold my essentials but I can't seem to find it in stores to touch.

Your accessories are a great way to express your personality and look put together.  It is hard parting with your old wardrobe but at least you can keep the extras in use!

Dress Your Bump Beautifully with Accessories

XOXO Sarah Louise 

LBD & Florals

Today is day 3 of wearing this little black dress. 

1st things 1st, THANK YOU! To all that have shared my posts and generously donated, I am truly grateful!!!! 

YOU have made a difference!

It's already midweek and getting ready for the day was more simple but surely not as fun.  Same dress again. And this time it has avocado stains on it from dinner last night UGH.  I didn't wash it but fortunately, I do have a washing machine and dryer in my own home, electricity and running water to power them, and income to spare after buying groceries to also purchase detergent. This is not a reality for all in our community.

Yesterday was a busy day.  I wanted to be out and about so that I could share with those at my go-to places all about LBDI and poverty right here at home.  I was able to chat with folks at Home Depot (who knew plants and poverty talk go together), Trader Joe's, and a local bakery.   Today I've got several more places to go spread the word.

For 134,000  individuals in Charlotte falling below the national poverty line access to clean water, clothing and bedding are hard to come by. Can you imagine??!!

YOU can fight this fight against poverty with me by clicking below 

Help Make Poverty Unfashionable

For the third installment on styling a LBD I'm using florals.  Now that it's Spring give me all the pretty blooms.  Adding floral accessories like a scarf, shoe or a light weight topper adds print, color and life to your look.  It balances all the black. When adding florals keep everything else neutral and understated.
I've had this jacket for a few years now and it's truly one of the most beautiful pieces in my closet.

LBD  ||  Floral Topper - Another & More floral options  || Sandals

Dress Beautifully in a LBD & Florals

XOXO Sarah Louise

LBD & Color

Today is day 2 of wearing this black dress.

First, let's recap yesterday's experience.  The day started off exciting and full of energy as I met up with other ladies in the JLC to film about LBDI and what we are doing to fight poverty with a local Charlotte news station.  I then spent the rest of the day at my desk which included sharing emails and lots of social media posts about my participation in LBDI and the fight against poverty.  It was a rainy day here and all I could think is how lucky I am to have a nice rain jacket and boots that I can put on.  Choices are a blessing!  I cooked dinner for my family (trying very hard not to get my dress dirty on the 1st day!), then headed out to an evening meeting and wrapped up the day cheering on the Tarheels! Mr is a UNC alumni so you can imagine the enthusiasm in our home.

The highlight was when after I had clicked 'send' 'post' 'share' online and my family was the first to support my efforts with a large donation! Love them :)  I am so VERY grateful for all of those that are supporting me and the fight against poverty.  We are changing lives!

YOU can help feed children, clothe children, provide medical care and educational tools by clicking the link below
Help Fight Against Poverty

Today I didn't have to walk into my closet and scan through all the colors and garments to pick out my outfit.  My LBD was hanging right on the door.  I'm going to be out and about today and I'm eager to spark conversation around the city.

Here's some interesting info on why YOU are essential ...

In our state of North Carolina, over half a million children are living in poverty.  It is estimated almost 1 in 4 children in North Carolina are living in a household where there is uncertainty regarding access to food.  The Junior League of Charlotte will deliver over 10,000 backpacks of weekend food during the current school year at Reid Park Academy. 

Education on Poverty is Key

This databook contains a wealth of information on national economic wellbeing as well as how North Carolina stacks up against national averages:

http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-the2016kidscountdatabook-2016.pdf

The Junior League of Charlotte has invested over $300k and committed more than $500k worth of volunteer time at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Title I school Reid Park Academy. Our dollars & volunteers helped build a collaborative system of care model that provides families living in poverty access to resources & services to meet basic housing, food & physical & emotional health needs. Why should you give? Because your dollars make a difference in what we do for our neighbors in Charlotte. 

"To help children grow into successful, productive adults, their parents need well-paying jobs, affordable housing and the ability to invest in their children’s future. When parents are unemployed or earn low wages, they may struggle to meet their children’s most basic needs. Economic uncertainty also increases parental stress, which, in turn, can compromise parenting. The negative effects of poverty on children also increases the chances of poor outcomes for youth and young adults, such as teen pregnancy and failure to graduate from high school."  - The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2014 Kids Count Data Book

For the second installment on styling a LBD I'm using pops of color. I chose pink but absolutely any color adds beauty to this dark canvass.  The trick to bringing color to a solid black look is to use shades of that color. The easiest way is with texture and print.  A neck scarf, handbag, shoes and jewelry are all elements that do just that.

LBD  ||  Pink Sandals  ||  Handbag  ||  Scarves  ||

Dress Beautifully in a LBD & Color

XOXO Sarah Louise

Grid Lock

And it's Monday.  New week, new goals (I have a lot to accomplish!) and a whole lot of green in the forecast since it's St. Patrick's day on Friday. Green is my second favorite color to wear (white is #1), because nothing compliments a red mane like emerald.
Side note: Despite my fiery locks and billions of freckles I'm don't have a lot of Irish in me - I'm primarily German and English (according to Mamma) ... Maybe one day I'll check into one of those ancestry searches.

So I told you my gingham game was going strong, and clearly I'm not exaggerating.  But this dress while advertised as a gingham print, to me 'grid' is more appropriate.  It's such a large graphic pattern.  Gingham is better saved for a smaller scale. In classic black and white these crisp lines make a great palette for style!

While the dress is sharp and fitted I wanted to contrast with soft elements and color.  So I added a silk scarf in a gold hue that has it's own architectural sense with black angled lines and an emerald green topper coat. I've shared with you gals before that almost all of my silk scarves are vintage and while hunting for treasures from the past isn't for most, I'm happy to share that these pretty printed squares are making a come back in stores!

This dress is fitted to the body, constructed in super stretch making it a comfortable and flattering fit.  The bodice is designed with a cut in shape at the shoulders but don't let that intimate you.  A racer back bra (a must have) aligns just right.

This look balances the starkness of a graphic black and white print with the softness of silk and color.

Grid Dress  ||  Sandals  ||  Similar Jacket  ||  Scarf (Vintage) Similar  ||

Handbag - Similar  ||  Sunglasses  || 

Dress Beautifully in a Graphic Grid Print

XOXO Sarah Louise

Boyfriend Mix Up

You invest in quality, timeless pieces to be worn over and over, mixed and matched.  But what about the weekends? You left the office behind and don't want to face it again until Monday.  And you don't want to put money into pieces that can be worn only on Saturdays and Sundays after church nor do you want to look sloppy.

Solution: Boyfriend jeans. Swap out your trousers/pencil skirts for a pair of roomy, maybe distressed boyfriend jeans.  They're loose = comfortable, distressed =  modern, and casual = NO office feels!

By mixing the classics with casual pieces you have a very chic and stylish look that makes the most out of your wardrobe.

This ivory blouse can literally be worn with everything, the blazer is neutral and clearly can be worn with everything and the loafers are not only sharp for work but they're comfortable for running around in too. Remember this designer shoe look-a-like post from a while back? I am loving these Gucci like loafers and so does my wallet! No compromise on quality or style here.

It's all about the mix up!

Don't limit your pieces to the desk atmosphere.
Except for the distressed jeans; those can't be reversed to office wear, but you can swap out your daytime flats or sneakers and fancy them up with a snazzy top and heels for evening.

Accessories: ditch the work tote for a hands free crossbody bag and add print with a scarf.  Big scarfs aren't my thing (I feel smothered) so I opt for the small silk square ones.  This one is a favorite I found in a vintage shop several years ago when Mr was studying medicine in DC.  Actually, all my silk square scarves are vintage.  They were a standard (along with a strand of pearls) mid-century and I'm so happy they're coming back!

Details are important, so choose an accessory that exemplifies your style.

Blouse || Blazer || Jeans || Handbag || Loafers || Scarf (vintage) Similar || 

Dress Beautifully Combining Classic & Casual Pieces

XOXO Sarah Louise

Silk & Shoulders

I've decided that this year is the Summer of shoulders! While shorts and tanks will always be a go-to in dressings for hot sunny days, showcasing your arms and legs have taken a back seat to shoulders.

Off the shoulder and even one shoulder tops, dresses and rompers are center stage and I couldn't love it more! The shoulders are universally an attractive feature on us ladies.  You're not as exposed as strapless designs while still showing off the neck, décolletage and it also draws the eye upward to the face and smile and that's where you want the attention :)

Crisp white cotton is on the top of the list of classics.  This dress combines both the coolness of cotton and the trending shoulder baring design. You can also pull the neckline up to cover the shoulders for a more modest look.  I wore it this way to work a couple of weeks ago.

Silk scarves are something I've been collecting for over 10 years now.  I prefer vintage and have hunted some beautiful treasures over the years.  Silk scarves were huge in the 60's through the 90's worn on your handbag or around the neck and/or shoulders.  Personally, I'm happy to see these printed squares making a come back!

Adding the scarf around your neck breaks up the exposed shoulders and adds fun color and print. Try replacing your typical baubles with an unexpected silk scarf.

FYI: These lace up shoes are amazing! Super comfortable with a block heel and soft suede.  They come in several colors.  A few of my gal pals have gone and purchased and love them as much as I do!

Off the Shoulder Dress: Banana Republic (Sold Out) Similar || Shoes: Vince Camuto || 

Silk Scarf: Vintage Similar Options ||

Dress Beautifully Showing off Your Shoulders

XOXO Sarah Louise

Scarf Blouse

I have a thing for silk scarves.  I'm talking the silk, square, hand rolled edge scarves.  My favorites are those designed by Vera.  I am always hunting for them on my trips to vintage/thrift shops.

This blouse reminded me of a silk scarf with it's dot pattern and striped border design.
I wanted to show of the print, so rather than my typical styling of tucking a blouse into a pencil skirt I opted for a relaxed look.  I left the blouse untucked and toped it over a flared shorter skirt.   The flared shape of the skirt prevents a boxy silhouette when leaving the blouse untucked (especially since the print is in a rectangle shape).

I kept my pumps neutral and complimented the blush stripe in the blouse with a matching handbag.

When highlighting a pattern or embellishment keep everything else solid and neutral so that it shines without competition.

Blouse: Loft || Skirt: J Crew Similar || Pumps: Cole Haan || Handbag: Tory Burch ||

Dress Beautifully in a Scarf Blouse

XOXO Sarah Louise