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Try Something New

I saw something on Pinterest the other day that really appealed to me: a nautical style blazer with lots of chains. I thought it was a great look, a way to make the sporty stripes really elegant.

I wondered what would happen if I threw some chains on with a striped shirt and cardigan for a day of office meetings and pastoral calls (ie, a very casual day). Why not try some? I’ve been feeling really crummy this past week (I found out tonight I have bursitis in my hip as the result of wiping out on the ice a month ago) and I thought stripes and whimsical shoes would give me a little lift. Why not add some chains and see how it worked?

The necklace is a bit heavier than I would like so I’ll swap it out for a lighter set of layered chains the next time I do this sort of thing. I like it.

I will definitely work with the layered necklace and striped top with a navy blazer for a dressier day. Put my hair up properly and add some heels. I think that will be nice.

The shoes are ridonkulous but they make me happy. From Bass.

Thinking about appearance is not something apart from reflecting on your ministry. Any time you pause to consider how you look you are pausing to consider your ministry, your presence, the way God is putting you together with others for a specific purpose. Anything that gets us off auto-pilot is a good thing. Creative efforts is a form of prayer.
Try a little something new! Send photos!

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Trashness: Awesome Men’s Fashion Blog

I forgot to include this image in yesterday’s post on mixing patterns. I found it on a very cool men’s fashion blog called Trashness, which you should definitely visit for inspiration.

Meet my imaginary husband right here in his fabulous mixed patterns and textures. He’s very busy talking on the phone so he doesn’t remember that he’s supposed to come home for dinner. Like, ever. Because he doesn’t know I exist. I hate when that happens! [Click to enlarge]

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Comment Of the Day: Avoiding Caterpillar Body

This, by Rev. Gidget, made me snarf my Paul Newman’s Morning Blend:

My go-to preachin’ shoes have always been a variation of the Standard Black Pump. Naturalizer. A heel that is about 2 inches, substantial but not chunky. Pointed but not pinchy toes. I have learned to wear some smokey or off-black hose with them if I’m wearing a dress. I saw a picture of myself in dark dress, lighter hose and this serious, dark shoe, and my body appeared to be in segments, much like a caterpillar.

So right, my dear! Creating a nice line for the eye to follow from head to toe is one of the challenges of dressing well. I am currently enamored of the black shoes with black tights with black shirt paired with whatever you like by way of a skirt. The black leotard effect created by the black shirt, tights and shoes make a gorgeous long line. Slimming, chic and a bit Boho. I haven’t tried it on myself yet but you can see an example on my Pinterest board under “Ministry Looks.”

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Patterns

I much, much prefer solid garments to patterned. There’s a lot of ugly patterned fabric out there inflicting itself on innocent garments, and solids have always seemed so much more chic to me. I had dinner with my sister and two cousins on Good Friday and noticed that all three of them – all of whom have amazing personal style — were wearing solid garments in subtly well-designed styles. SisterBang favors empire waisted babydoll dress tops and my cousins had some pretty drapey tops on. I was wearing one of the big floral print cardigans that I favor and I clashed terribly with the decor, which is all Southeast Asian and Indian with tons of gorgeous textiles and patterned items (my cousin is an importer).

ANYWAY, I realized that I do, in fact, love patterned textiles and fabrics — just not many that are mass produced for retail clothing.

Don’t be afraid of pattern! So much of it is wonderful! And fun!

Nautical stripes are always so classic. You can do a lot with them.

Pretty snappy, eh? You’d better have the personality and presence to carry off something this dandified!

Super sharp:

God loves pattern! Patterns are in whale and bird song, patterns are in rocks and shells, patterns are in language, in music, in DNA, in the stamen of a tulip, patterns are in heartbeats, and patterns are in your little thumbprints. Pretty cool. Go groove on the amazing beauty of patterns, doll babies.


I think I actually wrote a post about patterns really recently but it’s been a long winter and I got newly inspired. Some sunshine and fresh air will do that for a girl.

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Serengeti: A PeaceBang Catalog Review

Honey lambs! It’s getting late but my body feels like it thinks it’s about 4pm, so I think this Daylight Savings Time is going to take some adjusting to! Why does one stinking little hour make so much difference? But it does! I’ll be awake ’til the birdies chirp.

So, it is that witching hour of the night when one turns with puzzlement to catalogs one gets in the mail, wondering “What did I ever do to deserve this?” Serengeti is just such a catalog, chock-full of “Oh Honey, No” clothing like this:

And these Jesus Wept Jumpers:

Remember when I preached against the evils of long A-line skirts? Here they are in their frumpifying glory. No one who loves women could have possibly designed these. I just know it was some man who had a mean mother and was jilted by his fiancee:

The catalog proclaims this “fashionable,” and I agree. It’s a fabulous look for a prison matron:

But I believe in redemption, darlings, and I believe in God’s grace even upon such assemblages of ugly clothes. So one of my favorite creative challenges is to look through a catalog like Serengeti and to pretend that I absolutely must outfit myself or someone I love in their clothing. I have to choose at least three garments that I could style in a way that works for a day of ministry. Let’s have at it! Let’s play Fashion Redemption!

If this sweater has a bit of spandex in it for shape, I would totally wear it with dark bootcut jeans or a pencil skirt and my acid green Fluevogs to funk it up a bit:

This next dress is cute. Not for a shorty like me, but for a taller gal, I can see it for a summer day at the office:


You don’t want to get too cutesy-poo, so pair it with something with a bit of a rough edge to it, like a fitted denim jacket. A cardigan would be too Girl Next Door. And please, no ballet flats with a super femmie dress like this. You’re a community leader, not Leslie Caron. Espadrilles are a much better choice.


[This next pair by Toms are actually affordable. The previous two were in Imelda’s price range. – PB]

One more. It was SO HARD. But I found this sort of Vincent Van Gogh “Starry Night” skirt, which hopefully will not cause you to fall into a deep depression and slice off your ear:

I think it’s that horrid flammable material but I’m not sure. You can’t look too closely when you’re playing Fashion Redemption. After all, you’re not actually buying these garments, you’re just styling them.

To counter the flowy goddessy vibe, again, balance with a bit of edge. This denim moto jacket and these funky Antelope shoes (either the sandal or the oxford – yes, the oxford. It’s not my favorite look, either, but it’s very in right now) would bring this skirt into 2013:



Fashion Redemption is fun and free for the whole family!