Behind the walls of corporate...

This post may ramble on in different topics, so bear with me......

Here is the latest outfit I submitted to the Effortless Anthropologie weekly reader eye candy. Here are the credits:

Maeve's Lepidoptera Dress - Anthro

Belt - Apt 9, Kohl's

Shrug - Xhileration, Target

Sandals - R2 "Garbo" - The Buckle

Necklace - Lorelei Eurto

When I saw this beautiful butterfly print dress on Anthro's website last year, I was taken back about 15 years. I remember not being out of high school for very long, and seeing a lovely (and similar) butterfly print dress at Banana Republic. Even on the sale rack, it was out of reach for me and I always regretted not getting it. So when I saw this dress, I didn't want that to happen again. I waited patiently for it to go on sale, and see it in person on a trip to Chicago, to convince myself to buy it. The Chicago store had to call another store to find my size and have it sent to my home.

The dress came with an electric blue sash for the waist, which I replaced with my trusty brown belt (which shows up in many of my outfits). The brown shrug I've had...... forever...... and it just goes to show that basics can last for many years and can be made to look different depending on what you pair it with. When talking with a friend about dress shopping, I told her a few of my tips. Many times, I will fall in love with a piece while shopping because of it's print and/or design. Then, often times you get it on in the dressing room and are not quite sold whether it be the look, fit, etc.... So what I do is think about what I can do to enhance it to look it's best. Can I belt it? How will it look with a sweater or jacket over it? Okay, so there's my little bit of fashion advice for today. And just on a side note, this dress (which has removable straps) can stand on it's own. This is an office look for me but if I were going to say, a wedding, I would wear it alone and probably with the blue sash.

The necklace was designed by my friend Lorelei Eurto (link above), but I should point out that she actually sold it through an Etsy shop called My Mom Pattie. This shop is run my Marsha Neal Studio and all of the proceeds to go non-profit organizations in honor of her Mom Pattie. The necklace I bought is actually a pretty collection of Marsha's pottery charms - in different textures and glazes - put together by Lorelei with a mix of other equally awesome beads. I loved supporting a couple of fellow artists, and a good cause, with this purchase.

Since starting to add fashion into my blog, I have been taking the pictures myself by using the timer on my camera with a cool little tripod that can “wrap” it’s base around things. More recently though, I have realized the need to ask others to take photos to get a good variety. This has been a bit out of my comfort zone though because it is hard to explain what I am doing. Even I am still getting used to idea of taking pictures of myself for the sole purpose of posting them on the internet. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a shy and quiet person. By no means do I do this because I am conceited or full of myself or showing off. For me, it is a way to connect with others who enjoy the same things I do. For them to get to know me and what inspires me and my creativity. I’ve also been thinking about how it is a way to document this time in my life, the same way as I documented my pregnancy and growing belly. Because let’s face it, now that I am a Mom I am the one wielding the camera and the focus is on the baby, or the baby with Dad, or the baby with the dogs -  Mom is never in the pictures. I figure I (or Richard) can look back and see what I looked like as a new Mom.

My friend Kristen took the pictures during this session, and we set out to the beautiful park that is behind our corporate office (that is often forgotten about). I remembered there was a row of trees (not sure what they are) that arched over and provided a magical setting. The more we talked, we realized how many other cool settings our downtown area had to offer for photos, so hopefully those will be coming up soon. I joked with her that she’d regret me roping her into this!

Sharing your outfit of the day (OOTD), putting together design boards on Polyvore or Pinterest, or reviewing an item of clothing is another facet of blogging that is popular and helpful. I started doing this only focusing on Anthropologie clothing, but I may start to open it up to my entire closet. It’s a resource that individuals can use for a variety of purposes. For instance: stuck on how to pair up an outfit? Do a search and you will probably find a bunch of styling options. Contemplating buying a special piece? Do a search and you will probably find a blogger who has reviewed it. One thing that I have discovered with these pictures in particular – I see how washed out my bottom half looks by wearing cream colored sandals with a cream colored dress and my pale legs. I now know that next time I wear this outfit, I will pull out my dark brown sandals!