Summer Fashion with Fall Expression

     I feel winter coming.  The fallen leaves are just a symbol..  We know it by the chill of the breeze, the frost on the windows, the crunch of the leaves, the stillness.......  The skies are not as clear.  But I'm a rebel.  Every year when the day-light savings time arrives, I revolt and don't change my clock and of course, after a month, I just seem more like an idiot who can't remember what time it really is.  And I'm the same way with fashion.  I'm getting the "oh no, it's winter time" itch and I still want to wear my summer dresses.  But it's not quite summer time anymore.  So I adapt them by creating add-ons.  Which simply means that I add a little of this, a little of that to create weather worthy attire that keeps hope alive.  And what I mean by "hope" is that summer feel during the fall chill.
     Saturday, I wore my new soft yellow summer dress with a brown sweater, a brown belt, brown wooden ear-rings with a yellow design on them, and Brown knee-high boots.  Really, it's all about layers.  You can do this all year round.  I believe you can take an item from any time of year and  reinvent the look.  Don't let the seasons be the reason your favorite shirt, skirt, suite, pants, etc go into hiding like they're in the witness protection program.  Sometimes we really need a reminder that things don't stay the same.  Perhaps hope can come in the form of an article of clothing that's worn "after its time".  Now I'm not  talking about those outdated items that need to be burned in a fire, deep in the woods, and buried six feet deep never to be seen again OR end up in a museum hundreds of years later.   For example, I've seen men wear a favorite t-shirt to it's death like an Apocalypse happened and disintegrated all the clothing stores .  They wear that same shirt like Linus lives in his blanket from Charlie Brown.  And ladies, if your husband has one of those, you have my permission to permanently misplace it.  And if that's too risky for you, Make it into a pillow.
     But that's not the insanity that I speak of.  I mean, "though an item may be out of season, it doesn't make it out of reason".  I challenge you, to experiment.  In today's economy, people can't go and replace their entire wardrobe just because the weather said they should.  A lack of cash can develop creativity, fast. Don't leave all the thinking up to the fashion magazines and super wealthy gurus.  Work with what you have.  Add a scarf, or jacket to a nice summer shirt.  Wear boots with a summer dress and a long sweater.  Though I've never tried this one, wearing stockings with shorts, high heels or boots, and a shirt and fashion jacket can be tasteful and chic.  Whatever you do, make sure that you're comfortable, cozy AND.......classy.  Anything we wear can become tacky without discretion.

So F.Y.I  when taking the seasons with you
          1)  Work your wardrobe. You don't have to replace it.
          2)  Layer up with scarves, jackets, warmer shoes, and seasonal accessories
          3)  Be cozy comfortable and classy

yellow dress - gift
brown sweater - salvation army thrift store
brown belt - $1.00 from salvation army

brown Knee high boots
$10.00 from a local discount store

wooden earrings

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I'm a shining star

I have no words to say.  This is me on a regular day.  

I'm wearing a jean jacket purchased at $2.00, 

a black t-shirt under an "urbanvibe" sequined tank top/dress that cost $1.00

(I'm tall so it's a shirt for me)

A pair of grey leggings of the Alfred Sung PURE brand purchased at $5.00

And Blue wedge sandals

(Every item but the shoes was purchased at the Salvation Army)

My future's so bright I gotta wear shades

I'm a shining star, thanks to sequins 

Reaching for the sky
 just got easier in these stacks

Resting in the sun

This is how I   F.Y.I 4 Less.  My identity doesn't come from wearing name brand items.  It comes from first "knowing who I am" and next, from wearing what is comfortable and makes me feel confident.  If it cost $1.00 or $100.00 dollars, it shouldn't matter.  Fashion is what you do with what you have.

How do you F.Y.I4Less ?  If you have a Fabulous story to tell.  Leave a comment and share your fab find.  

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Have a Fabulous Day!

Fall Day Fab

       For some time I've been considering logging my outfits everyday.  In the last week, I've worn some outfits I really love.  And this is one of them.  To be honest with you.  The orange sweater looked a little weird.  I loved the color but wasn't so sure about the shape. I don't have anything in my wardrobe like it.  But I said "hey!, it's worth a shot".  I can try something new.  Sure enough, I loved it.  It's not my typical.  As a matter of fact, I don't even think I have a typical way to dress.  I just try to be me.  But I'm about as sporadic as the weather in New England.  One day you'll find me in a dress and the next, I'll have on jeans with a suite jacket.........Now that's something I haven't featured yet.  

      But Change is good. It happens with or without you. Trying new things is even better.   However, that's no guarantee   It's about as scary as a grandma wearing fish-net stockings.  And if you happen to be one of those, well.....good luck with that.  But hey, fashion is all about self expression.  There are no limitations, but there should be.  I think there really should be a fashion cop,  Pleeaaase, somebody write some tickets for the wrong people wearing spandex, or wearing stockings like they're leggings.  But what's the use of freedom if you can't be FREE.  One of the world's most famous books says "It is for freedom that we were made free"  That's GOOD NEWS!  But it should've came with a caution...."Some people might take this to an extreme. I've also heard that "there's a reason for everything.  Perhaps we need those people because how would we know what normal is without them?  Then, once we find what normal is, we reinvent it.  So, Here's to Freedom, Being normal, Being weird, and ........just being Who We Are!   

Grey t-shirt $0.99
Orange vest - gift from a friend
blue jean skirt $5.00 or less
white leather ALDO boots - $60.00 Christmas gift at half price
Sunglasses - $5.00

earrings $2.00
necklace $1.00

leafy shadows - FREE
Sunlight - FREE

Height - good ol' fashioned  DNA

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Have a Fabulous Day!

Zero Dollars Down

       Just when I think I'm at a standstill, an unexpected gift lands in my hands.  We all go through these seasons when, like Autumn, things start falling off and life takes a "chill pill".  We can't always do life full speed ahead like it seems to be in those summer vacation days. We transition from stage to stage just like nature.  And sometimes, our source of money dries up like the leaves of the trees and crumble beneath our feet.  What do we do?  Do we go into hibernation and sleep through the dry, dead seasons of life?  Do we wait for our finances to be in full bloom again?  No.  We trust that life will bring those surprise "Indian Summers" where an unexpected warm day invites us to breathe easier, soak up the sunshine, look at the sky above us instead of the problems among us.
     The gift that landed in my hands was like that.  It reminded me that good things happening is not a product of the money that you have.  It is not a servant to your means. It is just life, or God or Grace smiling down on you. What ever word suites your fancy.  Something beyond your control drops a reminder that you are loved.  You are special.  You are seen.  And sometimes, it's the fruit of the kindness that you've shown others.  When you give, sometimes, it is given back to you.
   But why is our pride a little shaken when someone gives us something?  I'm not ashamed to accept a gift, however asking for help can be a little unnerving.  I used to say no to offers of kindness and then one of my friends gave me a firm "talking to".  She might have even used a few choice words to make sure I knew that if someone offers me something,  I better take it! So what gifts or opportunities have you passed up recently?  Was it a matter of pride, or embarrassment?  Get over yourself!  Take the help!  "What if I don't need it", you say?  Then consider it inspiration to "pay it forward".
Gifts are little footprints of love.  I'm not saying that as a 100% fact.  But even if you don't believe it for yourself, take the opportunity to leave some footprints of your own.
     I recently accepted a bag of clothes from an unexpected source.  I was amazed at how personal all the items felt.  Like they were hand picked for me.  I can admit, I felt loved.  I felt visible.  Not everyone will understand that.  But to those who will; someone sees you.  Their are gifts waiting for you too.  And they come with Zero Dollars Down.
 
F.Y.I.   During this season, many people change their wardrobe to accommodate the changes of temperatures,  styles, and colors. It's the perfect time to clean out your closet and donate what you no longer want or need.  Give A Gift.  Accept A Gift.  And Remember, You Are A Gift.


                                                                      Featured Sweater                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

       

Gold Cowl neck sweater 

gift from a friend

blue jean leggings $5.00
Genuine Gold leather high heels $10.00
discount store

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1 Dollar Green Day

     I love green.  It happens to be my favorite color.  To me, it represents life, beauty, vitality, hope, expectancy.  Every time I see a little green leaf appear on a tree after a harsh winter, I know that the times for new beginnings are near.  There are so many different shades.  The Evergreens speak endurance, Olive green like oil for your soul, Basic Green like energy, Forest green of mystery, Neon green like hyper happiness, Apple green deliciously teasing.  And let's not forget Kermit the Frog Green, for the common everyday person that blends into the world around them.  I don't know, but when I wear it, I feel refreshed and whole like a flower fulfilling its purpose.  It has nothing other than the responsibility of standing and growing and yet, without them, our world is lacking something.  

     So here I am in my green sweater dress, enjoying my day in the freshness and cool sunlight of the beginnings of fall in South Portland.  It's nothing extravagant.  Nothing to brag about.  But it's me feeling comfortable among the trees and grass and breeze.  That's the way we should dress when we're not busy falling in line with the business of life.  We have to break from our routine and put on a kick-back outfit and just be.  Just Breathe.  Just sit a little while and be no one else but who we are.  

That is green.  Living life and loving living.  Not just existing.  

When's the last time you had a Green Day?

The best part yet:

 Is that the cost of me to blend in with the world around me, was just 1 dollar, and the time it took me

 to look up and find one item out of place, in the midst of a shoe rack, and realize it was a gift just for me, 

that came unexpectedly.  

1 dollar Olive Green Sweater dress

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Have a great Day!