Category: Fashion

Thankful for Happiness!

After a day filled with family, laughs, and lots of food it was nice to take today to just slow down a bit. Got me thinking about how often we take care of our physical bodies so much and sometimes forget that the mind goes right up there with it. Honestly, I neglect my mental health quite often. Feel free to call me the queen of overthinking…I tried to have that rhyme, but I am pretty sure it didn’t…so anywhoooo. Last year I did a post about this topic, but hey why not make it a tradition!

Every September (YES…I know it is November…but at least I’m still posting this!) Tashira, Creator of the blog Politics and Fashion (sidenote, if you are not following her you need to change that ASAP!) She created an amazing 21 Day Happiness Project where you dedicate yourself to doing one thing that gives you joy each day. The main goal of it is to keep it minimal on the money you have to spend and really focus on the simple things that gives you joy. Guys no joke every year I do this project it is always alot harder to stick to!

I always have to play the elimination game of actions that cost money that give me joy and get down to basics. So I wanted to give you guys a bit of a recap on the actions that I try and incorporate into my weeks that give me that warm and fuzzy feeling of happiness. The point of this post is not to be like “oh hayyy guysssss look how happy and wonderful I ammmmmmmm!” Because let’s be real life has its up and downs for sure! This project really helps me get back on track all thanks to Tashira! I hope that you all can take 10 minutes or more to give to yourself! (insert big virtual hug)

Morning coffee with my boyfriend
Hugging my Mom
Going to lunch with a friend
Calling a friend just to chat
Signing up for a library card
Going to the Farmers Market
Running- Ok, lets be honest more like a slow jog
Trying a new recipe- never baking though…I am an awful baker
Planning outfits for future blog posts
Doing an at home facial
Going to the beach
Reading to my nieces
Complimenting a stranger
Trying a new restaurant/food
Singing in my car
Buying myself flowers
Going for a hike
Face timing my sister
Sharing my love for fashion with others via my blog
Listening to music
Strolling around little downtown’s such as Annapolis or Old Town with a hot cup of coffee just to window shop

Also, may as well wrap in a Thanksgiving vibe with this post…I am thankful for the feeling of happiness and that I am blessed to be able wake up and experience these feelings that I take for granted at times.

Ok, also what does the pictures of this floral maxi have to do with this post? Well, I met with my friend Kelly-Lynne, fellow blogger of the Low Low Style, to do photos together and we laughed and truly had such an amazing time. So there you go this is a snapshot of me in the midst of a feeling of joy in my creativity. Oh and while we are at it may as well do a round up of fall maxis that need to be in your closet this season! Have a great weekend everyone!

Catherine

Fashion

Self-Conscious Chronicles Part 2: Stripes

Post author By dreamyrealist
Post date November 19, 2018
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Welcome to part 2 of the self-conscious chronicles. Today’s subject we will be chatting about stripes. I remember reading an article in probably what was one of the variety of teen magazines like Teen Cosmo or something when I was about 16 talking about what you can’t wear depending on your body type. Which is where the fruit comparisons come in of your body type…now that is a whole other topic that I could go on a rant about, but I will save that for another post.

This article was specifically about if you are fruit blah, blah, or blah you shouldn’t wear stripes because it can make you appear bigger. Flash forward and it cracks me up that when I was in my late 20’s this mindset still followed me with my choices of outfits. Luckily the streak of this silly mindset was broken when the very Parisian inspired horizontal striped tops came into trend a couple of years ago. With just a simple purchase of a black and white striped dress paired with a cargo jacket and man let me tell you how refreshing it was to stand in that mirror and be like “Yeah, I’m feeling this” also what a shame to avoid a trend that can come in so many cute looks like dresses, jackets, skirts, and more!

So if you share this same mindset currently just realize that it is all in your head! With the right pairings of a jacket or accessories can compliment any version of a striped look. For incorporating stripes into your wardrobe I recommend a look like I am sporting below. I am a fan of the larger block of stripes with a variety of colors. The look can just speak for itself without the need to over-accessorize. Have fun with it though! Stripes come in many ways and dwelling in the unique cuts and styles of looks like with a chic wrap dress or a funky pair of high waisted pants is a great way to start. Check out some of my looks below with the variety of styles of stripes I spotted on Rent the Runway which is where this Hutch romper is from!

Catherine

Tags Hutch, Rent the Runway, Stripes

Fashion

The Magic of a Little Red Dress

Post author By dreamyrealist
Post date November 9, 2018
No Comments on The Magic of a Little Red Dress

I agree there is nothing better than a classic little black dress. Of course it can be worn year round and is an easy go to. Now I would like to introduce you to a color that can be worn year round, can be perfect for any holiday occasion, and looks fabulous on everyone. No it is not millennial pink…wait, but that is super pretty too. Ok, back on track…I am chatting about red!

Before I grew into my confidence of playing with style and color I despised wearing the color red. I felt like it made me look bigger because of the bright colors that drew attention to areas that I was super insecure about. I literally remember when I was probably around 18 saying “oh no, I look awwwwwful in red!” But why though? I wish I would have considered that question. It is so funny these thoughts that form in your mind of your own perception but in reality it’s a super contemplative color!

Right, I know you are probably thinking “Ok Cath cool post, just chatting about a color…borrrrrrrring.” Sometimes there are times though that I like to show my appreciation for something just as simple as a color on a dress. Red has so many positive qualities to how it can be worn and the statement that it makes. Most importantly in my opinion it looks amazing on everyone’s skin tone and hair color. Yes, even you gals that have that beautiful red hair…you can sport that red blazer girl!

Even think of holidays and occasions red can be worn for a majority of them like the 4^th of July or Christmas of course and you know what why not rock it on any holiday you choose to celebrate! It is also a color that can transition flawlessly from season to season. Whether if you are in that red boho maxi dress in the summer at a barbecue to the cocktail dress that you are sporting on NYE while grooving to Dancing Queen. Note this song is totally in my head because I have recently become addicted to the show Dancing Queen on Netflix. If you watch Ru Paul’s Drag Race…this show is a mustttttt. Of course this blog post wouldn’t be complete without me mentioning a Netflix show that I am currently binging on as I am literally writing this post.

I did a bit of a round up of some of my favorite red pieces that I have spotted on Rent the Runway, which this Eva Franco dream of a dress is from! What colors have you grown into loving…even though you may not have always?

Catherine

Tags Little Red Dress, Rent the Runway

Fashion

Self-Conscious Chronicles: The Mock Neck

Post author By dreamyrealist
Post date October 29, 2018
No Comments on Self-Conscious Chronicles: The Mock Neck

I try to invest in items that I can pretty much wear year round. Obviously this does not apply to all pieces of clothing. If you see me at the beach in a bathing suit and turtleneck in 90 degree weather, please feel free to slap some sense into me. Since the weather has been unseasonably warm (which actually really concerns me) I have waited to switch over my closet to bust out the sweaters and boots. It is no joke though you guys with some of the memes that are like, “Nice and cozy in a sweater in the morning, sweating bullets in the afternoon…welcome to fall in DC!” I think I just made that one up, but you all know what I mean.

Finally I took this dress out of my fall clothing bin in storage when changing over my closet last weekend and a new idea hit me! I am going to start a series of chatting about styles or cuts on clothing that I have had a hard time with at one point in my life past or present. Why not share this journey with you all on how I am working them back into my daily wardrobe with confidence! My hope is that some of you can relate.

On this first post let’s chat about mock necks. Of course in a majority of my posts I am sharing the good vibes of how to have the confidence to wear anything no matter your age, size, style, etc. Don’t get me wrong a mock neck is the perfect in between of a regular high neckline and a turtleneck. Kind of like frozen yogurt…ice cream without the guilt.

As we have all dealt with our own body image issues one of mine has been my neck. With it being short and quite round not a lot of necklaces fit that well and wearing turtlenecks makes me feel like a literal turtle. Not like one of those cute lil baby ones either. Ok now I’m googling how much a baby turtle would cost…ok someone stop me! #futureTurtleMom

On a real note, even though I struggle a bit with this cut I have decided to put my feeling aside on how I think I look and to focus on how stunning the design, print, and feel of a dress can be like this one that I know that you all have seen before in a post about two years ago. This was from the first collection of Who What Wear x Target.

Before these photos I actually wore this dress to an event. Feeling so self conscious about the mock neck that is all I felt like I could focus on. Turns out this dress was such a conversation starter for me that I made like 5 new connections in one night! Goes to show that how we think we look in a negative way is really not how it may be to the outside world. Step outside of your own head sometimes and you will see such a different side to your own self confidence. I know this is about a dress, but I feel like this moto can go towards a lot of different situations in your life whether it is work, relationships, health, etc. Who knew it could all start with a lil convo about mock neck dresses.

So in the spirit of my love for Who What Wear x Target here are some of my fall favorites from this years collection!

Catherine