An Easter Rose from Grandma B

Grandma Betty would have loved this floral brocade coat dress from Byron Lars. It's my favorite piece from his Fall/Winter 2015 collection.

This is my family's first Easter without our beloved Grandma Betty. We lost her at Christmas after one final holiday next to her husband of 65 years and surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She lived a full and genuine life, and I'm grateful she'll spend this Easter in Heaven without the ever present physical pain that plagued her for so long. Yet, I know I'll feel her absence at the dinner table today, and perhaps more during our after dinner euchre games (though perhaps I'll finally have a chance to win - the woman was nothing if not a card player...)

Coat Dress (Byron Lars, Enza's Boutique); Purse (Charming Charlie); Boots (J.Lo, an eBay find)

Though she's no longer with us physically, I know that Grandma B remains with me in spirit. In fact, just a few days ago she gave me one last Easter rose. It came in the midst of a no good, very bad, if someone looks at me cross-eyed I'll cry kind of day. You know the ones. In any event, I was cleaning out a desk drawer, mindlessly clearing out physical clutter as a surrogate for the clutter in my mind: expired credit cards; highlighters that no longer highlight; inspiration pages torn from magazines that no longer inspired; more paperclips than any rational person can use in a lifetime; and a single white envelope addressed to me that I didn't recognize. I opened it to find an Easter card and a small white handkerchief embroidered with a rose. It was from Grandma Betty.

Necklace (The Secret Ingredient); I embellished the ivory booties with brooches from Premier Designs (thanks to my friend and Premier Designs jewelry rep Sherrell Bundy Smith!)

I had completely forgotten about it, and cannot imagine how it ever found its way into that particular desk drawer. Inside, she'd written a letter that covered nearly all of the white space. Though dated 2011, Grandma Betty's words were exactly what I needed to hear right that very moment. She always did know just what to say, and just when to say it. Apparently she knew I needed her that day, and there she was with her own brand of unconditional love and even a hankie to dry my tears. An Easter blessing, indeed.

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!

My Easter handkerchief from Grandma Betty is a treasure.

You may also enjoy these posts:

 

London Bridges

Both this Union Jack bag from Charming Charlie and the World Map necklace from ModCloth remind me how important travel is in my life; Pleated leather skirt (Nordstrom); Turtleneck (Kasper outlet); Boots (Diba, Zappos). 

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." ~Mark Twain.

These words resonate deeply with me, and I count my travel experiences among the most educational of my life, be it for study, vacation, or business. This is true not only for more exotic destinations like Australia and India, but also for sojourns wholly American but unique unto themselves. I find that whenever I have stepped outside my comfort zone and allowed myself to be open to different experiences and all types of people, the tapestry of my life has each time become immensely richer for it. As my dear friend Deborah Dorman always says, "Try it. You might like it!"

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it! 

You may also enjoy this post:

 

Tickling the Ivories

These booties were designed by Turkish brand Gobi. I discovered them on Zulilly

Tickling these ivories may just result in a swift kick, even if you're Harry Connick, Jr.... Well, maybe if you're Harry Connick, Jr....

My love for music of all sorts is as deep as my musical talent is shallow. Oh how I wish I could play the piano. And the guitar. And the drums....But you know what they say: if you can't play it, wear it! Wait, I'm pretty sure no one says that but me.

The red leather and calf hair safety pin clutch is from Bodhi (I love it so much I have it in orange, pink, yellow and black, too. Sadly, they are very rare and no longer made so eBay is the best bet to find one); Polka Dot Skirt (Eva Franco from Enza's Boutique)

Music moves me. The right music can make or break my mood. I have theme music that plays on a loop in my head a la the characters in Ally McBeal, though my personal soundtrack is ever evolving and wildly eclectic (my getting ready to go out music, for example, is currently a mix of Bruno Mars, Kenny Chesney, Lenny Kravitz and Maroon 5). 

I've worn a piano skirt from Modcloth with argyle boots in the winter and sandals in the Summer, but the piano shoes plus the piano skirt might be a bit overkill even for me; Lace Cardigan (Macy's); Striped Bag (Kate Spade)

A catchy tune in the grocery store will have me dancing unconsciously in the aisles...last week at Meijer a favorite Prince song resulted in a sideways glance and a chuckle from the elderly couple looking for laundry detergent next to me. I'm sure I blushed a bit, but when I rounded the corner to pick up toilet paper one aisle over I didn't slow the spring in my step. Music makes the mundane more manageable!

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!

You may also enjoy this piano-related post:

Hoops & Boots

My beloved Hoosiers play their first NCAA tournament game tonight, but my candy stripe Adidas warm up pants look a little less than lawyerly...

So when I want to show support for my school but maintain office appropriate professionalism, I might pair a cream and crimson T with a conservative black blazer, a classic Burberry skirt, and monogrammed riding boots.

Big meeting with a Kentucky fan I need on my side? No problem - button the blazer and the "pitchfork" hides underneath like the "S" hiding under Clark Kent's shirt and tie.

As for those candystripe warm up pants - they'll be back on by game time, and following a Hoosier victory I'll crawl beneath my candy stripe flannel sheets (not even kidding) for "Sweet 16" dreams.

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!

You may also enjoy these posts:

 

Lucky Lime Limericks

There once was a girl with red hair.

Stories online she did share.

Plus hats and heels;

Even handbags of teal

And all sorts of fun fashion fare.

She started a blog on a lark,

To nurture a creative spark.

Her style is her own,

Whether custom hand sewn,

Or found at a fair in the park.

Whether dressed in a soft cotton knit,

A Goodwill find or a runway hit,

Remember this, you must try:

"Fashion is only what you buy;

But Style is what you do with it!"

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!

You may also enjoy these posts:

 

Cheetah Kisses

Hat and Sunglasses (Queen Bee Vintage); Cropped Jumpsuit (Steinmart); Red shirt (Sleevey Wonders); Safety Pin Clutch (Bodhi Bags, eBay); Boots (Diba, Amazon.com)

It's a bird; it's a plane; it's a frog... A frog? Whuuuut? When I first laid eyes on this hat at local Indianapolis boutique Queen Bee Vintage, all I saw was a cheetah print. On closer inspection, I discovered the leopard's "spots" are actually lipstick prints - not necessarily my typical aesthetic, but I couldn't resist the "rorschachian " (is that a word?) element of the design.

The heart shaped glasses are also from Queen Bee. I found both pieces while playing around in the boutique's quirky collection of vintage hats and novelty glasses as I waited for a friend to meet me next door at the Thirsty Scholar (great coffee, cool atmosphere - check it out if you're local!) I didn't need another pair of sunglasses, but I collect sunglasses the way Cruella collects puppies.

Speaking of Cruella, when I actually built an ensemble around the accessories (yes, I know that sounds backward), the overall look struck me as less cheetah lips and more dalmation spots a la the infamous Disney villain...

Whether cheetah, or kisses, or spotted dog, at least there's no mistaking my hat for a flying frog...(forgive the obscure cartoon reference from my childhood - sometimes my mind just goes where it will!)

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!

You may also enjoy these posts:

  

Where in the World...

The cotton and tulle dress came from a local holiday bazaar; I scored the moto jacket at Style Swap Indy; Boots (Nine West; Zappos); Hat (Marigold Clothing in Broadripple)

Ever get a song stuck in your head that you can't seem to shake no matter how you try? That was me when I topped this ensemble with the fedora. 

Sometimes I hear Joe Cocker's famous little ditty when I wear a hat. I love that song. But this time around the endless loop in my head was a cartoon anthem from my childhood. Can you guess what it was? 

I blame the necklace. The combination of this silver "map of the world" necklace from Modcloth and the incognito chapeau had me singing Rockapella's "Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego." Over and over again. All. Day. Long. 

At least I skipped the thieving villain's trench coat in favor of a cropped moto jacket, though it actually was a steal! I scored it at last year's Style Swap Indy. In fact, the dress and hat are also local bargain finds. Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? Apparently she's been shopping in the Circle City!

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!

I'm linked up with Hat Attack this month!