Fashion on Fridays:Radiant Orchid

Meet Pantone's 2014 Color of the Year!

She was introduced last Fall and I'm just now warming up to her.

In the spirit of my fashion posts,
that is,
searching the recesses of my closet and repurposing items already owned, I am on a roll.

It all started with this beautiful scarf given to me at Christmas by DD#2.



Then in the proverbial closet, I re-discovered a reversible vest (gray/orchid), a striped blouse (black/orchid), a statement sweater, and a navy dress with an orchid-colored yoke!



I didnt even think I liked this color.

What about you?


PS  More pictures later ~

Hidden Art Book Club: Francis Schaeffer's Style

Francis Schaeffer could also be explored as a case study in the crippling evangelical weakness for spiritual celebrities.

Much of American evangelicalism consists of independent parachurch organizations founded by ambitious spiritual entrepreneurs.

These organizations depend on popular support so they must project favorable public images of themselves. This typically involves lionization of the founder, which usually traces back to the founder’s own self-promotion.

Ever since George Whitefield crafted the public persona that made him the first true celebrity of the British North American colonies, American evangelical entrepreneurs have followed his lead.

Schaeffer was no exception.

He created and maintained the public persona of a countercultural sage come down from the mountain with a new word of wisdom from the Lord.


Such a mythic image could only be sustained through the art of illusion.

This began with his costume.













I copied the above paragraph from an article published in the Evangelical Studies Bulletin Issue #70 (Winter 2008-09).

I found the photo of  Schaeffer in his co-authored book, Whatever Happened to the Human Race.  When I heard him speak in 1979 or '80, he was dressed as pictured.  

Bonus link about judging the book by its cover.


Postscript ~
I *like* Francis Schaeffer and do not mean to disparage his reputation by sharing Michael Hamilton's insightful review of two Schaeffer biographies.

Post-postscript added 3/10/15
Link to article about celebrity pastors

Hidden Art Book Club:Mrs Schaeffer's Style

In a time when evangelicals were suspicious of all things worldly, Edith reveled in music and dance, in her neat little figure and in beautiful clothes:

 "I was 5-foot-2 and weighed 102 pounds and wore clothes that looked like they had come out of the best shops" she tells us, breathlessly, as an example of why she didn't measure up to the standards of Christian womanhood at that time, which, apparently, included dowdiness as well as a rejection of culture. 

She was intelligent and full of conviction. She had a lot to say.

As a young pastor's wife and mother, she single-handedly catered weddings, complete with hand-filled cream puffs. She sewed beautiful clothes for her children, read to them from the classics, and took them to art museums, all, of course, while keeping her figure and continuing to wear good clothes, pearls, makeup, Chanel No. 5.

Read the rest of Rachel Marie
 Stone's article at her-meneutics ~

Hidden Art Book Club: Chapter 12

Clothing

Broadly speaking, author Edith Schaeffer is really addressing communication skills in her timeless book, The Hidden Art of Homemaking, which I am reading with Cindy and others for an online book club.

Few things speak more loudly than how we dress.

Because we Christian ladies are representing the Creator, it behooves us to understand that He dresses us and that we should dress for Him.

Once that tone is established, I think most things will fall into place.

Mrs. Schaeffer cautions us to have an approach that is both balanced and serious, yet avoids dogmatism.

She reminds us that fashion can open up lines of communication.  Some governing factors include occupation, climate, appropriateness, comfort, creativity, and beauty.

Finally, Mrs. Schaeffer encourages us to look past the covering and search for what's inside.

Overall, this chapter ties with the one about food as my favorites.  In my blogging, I have referenced them the most.

For a while I had fun highlighting fashion on Fridays.

My premise was to find a piece of clothing that I had not worn in a while and rework it.

Below is the Pantone company's 2013 Spring and Summer recommendations that I am using to organize my closet right now.

I found that by focusing on a seasonal color palette that I felt more stylish. 

 I stopped trying to wear the style (or cut) of attire that was newest and often not flattering to my figure.

 I started highlighting the colors that were more up-to-date.

Off to work now in Monaco Blue and Poppy Red ....

 My jumpers are in the attic  ;-)

Here's a link to fun article about dressing styles ~

Fashion on Friday

Meet Island Kiss!

She first graced my wardrobe this past Spring but quickly retreated because it was plainly too hot for wraps, or anything around the neck.

Months ago I chose the Island Kiss pattern because it highlighted the 2011 Spring Palette.

Now cooler temperatures have lured this lightweight scarf out of the closet.

As Summer turns into Fall I'm planning to use her as my transitional piece.

Clearly she has the umph to keep the Color of the Year alive and well in my closet.

Furthermore she's tempting me with Bamboo!

Overall I've been quite amazed at the way just  a little color knowledge has helped me feel more fashionable and more organized.

What about you?

Fashion on Friday:Honeysuckle

Meet the Pantone 2011 Color of the Year ~ Courageous, confident, and vital!

Over the summer I tried to incorporate this color into my wardrobe even while recognizing that *pink* is not one of my favorites.

It can easily make me look washed out and tired, unless I'm wearing the right foundation and blush. So in an effort to stay fashionable and not look fatigued, I tended to accessorize with honeysuckle.

For example, OPI's *Party in My Cabana* rescued my toenails.

.

Cover Girl *Rose Pearl* on my lips coordinated the look and made all the other pink shades in my closet reflect Pantone's selection.

Finally, here's how I pulled it together for the annual photo shoot.

The blouse is *OLD*, so much so that one of my daughters suggested I not wear it.  I reminded her that seersucker never goes out of style  ;-)

Now that Fall is fast approaching, Honeysuckle remains on the palette.

I look forward to the challenge of making it work in my winter wardrobe.

Fashion on Friday

Color is popping up all over the gray landscape now that we're just days before the official start of Spring ~

Pantone's Palette comes to mind as I see

yellow forsythia

coral quince

pink magnolias

and that luscious

honey-colored beeswax

home to our friendly pollinators.




But it is still cold.

And wet.

So, I'm dressing warmly in light-colored turtlenecks wrapped with this sheer, multi-colored cotton scarf compliments of Spartina 449.

The blue rain coat is 30 years old and perfect for this time of year.

100% nylon made by Tote, this knee-length poncho washes well, takes up next to no room in the closet, and never goes out of style.

It will always remind me of Charleston, SC where I bought it in 1981.

The heavy coats and dark jackets are put away despite the lingering chill.

Be gone winter doldrums!!

Fashion on Fridays

Temperatures have been gradually climbing this week, now boasting 70 degrees on this Winter Day.

Hence my thoughts turn to the Pantone color palette which I will use to help organize the closet/wardrobe for this coming Spring and Summer.

Today I know better than to dress like it's going to be warm outside.  The fact that the temperature may reach 70 degrees this weekend really only means that the mercury hits that number for one second at three o'clock in the afternoon and then starts dropping again.

So, dont be fooled.

Bring along the coat and scarf as you plan to get outside for that long overdue walk.

Where are you going?

Here I am on Tobler Creek Trail at Andalusia Farm in Milledgeville, GA.  More trails pictures at this link.

What are you wearing?

Still enjoying my favorite color, Turquoise (aka Peapod), which won the 2010 Pantone Color of the Year.

The turtleneck is lavender.

The plaid scarf (barely seen) is purple, pink, and lavender.





Tomorrow I hope to make it down to the Atlanta Botanical Garden for their orchid exhibition.  Lots of walking there, especially the Canopy Path!


Warning ~  Before you act on my Fashion Advice....

Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware) - Saddle Oxfords have been some of my favorite shoes, like Flannery O'Connor's whose artwork I'm highlighting this week in my Fine Art Friday post here.

Doggone this Golden Slipper Contest!  Now we have to wear saddle oxfords.



Published (2010) in The Cartoons of Flannery O'Connor at Georgia College.

Fashion Friday

Not your typical Christmas green, I'm having fun with teal and turquoise this Fall/Winter.

The puffy vest is new (onsale), but the blouse is not ~ one of those items re-discovered when sorting through my closet. That's the basis of my fashion posts - giving new life to an old item and thereby adding a punch to my style.

One holiday season, I dressed my four daughters in pink and white.  Again, not your typical Christmas colors.  But it proved fortuitous by making it easy to spot them in a crowd.  That was the year we went to the Festival of Trees at the World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta..... if any of you four are reading ;-)

So, now that the holidays are upon us and many have decorated homes, tell me....

Do you dress differently in December?





Bonus FAF (Fine Art Friday)
Still Life after Harnett
Pencil on Reeves Paper
by DD#1

Fashion on Fridays:Handbags

Introducing

Spartina449's

*Drifter* Shoulder bag

Complete with many of the colors from the Fall 2010 Pantone Palette, she's sporting:

Woodbine
Chocolate Truffle
Oyster Gray
Lagoon

 
 
 
 
 
  Versatile beyond measure, this pocketbook is serving me well this fall ~ zippered compartments, sturdy straps, and a wide opening, I am highly recommending this new brand of leather and linen from a Hilton Head designer.
 
Spartina449 came to my attention from the owner of a local gift shop, The Chamberhouse, newly remodeled and always resourceful.

So, tell me about your handbag and how much you like it .... or not.

OR

tell me about a favorite gift shop in your town.

Fashion Friday:Fall Colors

Autumn officially begins next week.

Wednesday, September 22, at 11:09pm to be exact.

I'm not ready.

It's still hot here.

90 degrees today...



But blogging buddy Carol's wonderful words are urging me on...

Out with the decaying petunias in pots; hello you gorgeous gerberas.

Out with the pathetic wispy plants that always look so good in May; welcome merry mums!

See ya' summer salads; gotta fix some soup and bake some sweet potatoes!

See ya later 8 o'clock twilight; greetings to reading by lamplight!

Who doesn't love autumn?



After reading these words, I promptly bought some hardy chrysanthemums at the grocery store.

I think they qualify as *Golden Glow*.













What do you think?

Fashion on Friday:Exercise

Coral Fusion-colored exercise skirt and top notwithstanding, I have fallen out of synch this summer, even though Living-Coral (Pantone 16-1546) is showing up on the Fall 2010 Color list and keeping me fashionable.


Yes, I have exercised regularly, but my eating habits have gotten out of wack.

I need to retake this test in portion control because,
there's just a little too much of me in this picture.




You're probably thankful that I'm not as brave as Jamie Lee Curtis (link to photo), although I do appreciate her frankness in an effort to be real.

So, it's time to make a public confession by listing my bad habits and shaming myself into shape.


Here's what I look like after walking 45 minutes in my hilly neighborhood.

Pretty red in the face, huh?



Despite the drawstring pants,

I still claim fashion points for sporting shorts that qualify as



Herb (Spring report color) and

Woodbine (Fall report color), okay?



Here's the list of habits to fashion together with this fitness plan.

1) Drink more water.
2) Drink less alcohol.
3) Eat more fruit/veggies.
4) Eat fewer chips/chocolate.
5) Eat more protein at breakfast.
6) Eat less fat at dinner.
7) Increase exercise to 4 hours per week.
8) Decrease telly time to 10 hours per week.
9) Improve the mood.
10) Disprove the scales.


Are you ready?

Set?

Go!!

Fashion on Friday:What Not to Wear

Despite my regular bragging about how I re-vamp an article of clothing taking up space in my closet, I dont think I'm brave enough to participate in the television show What Not To Wear.

And I think Stacy needs to wear her hair shorter.

But that's beside the point ;-)

First introduced to me by DD#2, I have watched occasionally... and appreciated the transformations.

More entertaining though is to read this article about the reality show from Salvo Magazine.


Which prompts me to develop my own Fashion Meme.


1)  Have you ever watched What Not To Wear?

2)  Where do you get (or not) your fashion sense?

3)  What's been your favorite outfit this summer?

4)  What's your fashion weakness?

5)  What's your fashion strength?

Fashion on Fridays:Turquoise


Meet the 2010 Color of the Year!

Dont take my word for it, read all about it in this Pantone Color Report announcement.

I have always loved this color, but not been bold enough to wear it always.

Imagine a seafoam turquoise like Carribean resort waters, not the southwest American Indian blue turquoise.

True to the premise of my fashion outlook - I focus primarily on what is already in my closet - I'm promoting the idea of refreshing my wardrobe s.i.m.p.l.y.

Choosing the right color is the answer!

While these capris are new (for the upcoming family reunion), I recently wore an old navy blue linen suit with a turquoise T-shirt instead of the standard *white* - and felt more stylish.

So, identifying a new(er) color or hue is sooooo much more economical that purchasing skirts/pants in the newer cuts and styles every few years.  There are always over ten fashion colors to choose from.  Surely you can find one that you like.

Furthermore, consider updating with accessories: like a watch with a colorful band or a new pocketbook.

Make a statement.

  










Afterall, handbags are like girlfriends ~ one is never enough!

Fashion Friday:Tartans

In honor of the Kerr line in our family's genealogy, I hope DH will wear this handsome tartan tie for his mother's memorial service on July 3rd.


DD#1 has been on a mission this Spring to pin down the exact birth, death, and marriage dates of members of Grandma's family tree.





In addition to online research, she made a special trip to the Canadian Archives in Toronto.  Which in turn opened doors into the Vital Statistics of Manitoba. 

The real bonus in all of this puzzle is a new friend named Maggie.  Thanks to her we have scans from local genealogic records, pictures of headstones, and her own account of the life and times in Ninette.

Now we know the rest of the story.





Here are the details about the tartan which I purchased from Mountain and Sackett.

The Kerr Wool Tartan necktie is cut from the finest Scottish wool, and is handmade in New York City. Each tie is 3 1/2 inches wide and 58 inches long. The Kerr family, said to be of Norman descent, is recorded in the Borders in the 12th century. The two main families were the Kerrs of Cessford, now represented by the Duke of Roxburghe, and the Kerrs of Ferniehurst, represented by the Marquis of Lothian. This authentic Scottish Tartan is a timeless classic whose historic design has withstood the test of time.

How about your family tree?

Any tartans?

Fashion on Friday

When I looked at these colors last Fall, I couldnt get excited about them.

However, I'm glad I remembered to revisit this palette because it's been THE most helpful factor for organizing my closet for the Spring and Summer.

Even though the colors look slightly different on various monitors, it's NOT difficult to see them when I'm out and about.  And with the continued chilly temperatures, I'll admit that I've been tempted just to wear the same.old. wintery stuff.

But I know better than to let the doldrums rule.

It's as simple as getting dressed.

So, after claiming Coral Fusion (OPI calls it Hot and Spicey) last week and plastering it on my toes, I looked to see if I could find another one of the colors already in the closet.

Bingo!

Turquoise!!

I found it in the jewelry box - something I'd picked up at a drug store five years ago and worn rarely.  I mention those details to let you know that 1) the jewelry was not expensive, and 2) the Pantone report gave me confidence to step out of the box.

Here's how I paired a necklace of turquoise stones with a white sweater (cable knit turtleneck) and black pants. 










Later in the week when I was trying to decide which scarf to wear with an off-white sweater jacket, I chose the one with turquoise in it.

What are you doing with the new Spring and Summer colors?

Fashion Friday:Color

Fusion Coral is my choice for Spring and Summer Fashion this year.

I'm seeing it everywhere.

Just buying a new nail polish made me feel updated





and ready for the new season that starts officially on Saturday at 1:30pm.


Plus as I put away the Fall and Winter clothing, it seems easier to find the more fashionable colors in my existing wardrobe once I've reviewed Pantone's List of Colors.  There are lots of good suggestions in the article, especially for a non-Fashionista like me ;-)

1) Turquoise
2) Amparo Blue*
3) Violet
4) Aurora
5) Fusion Coral*
6) Tomato Puree
7) Pink Champagne
8) Tuscany
9) Dried Herb
10)Eucalyptus

I just love the names.

Fusion Coral is my first choice:  wearing sweaters and tops in that shade with black or brown pants.

But I'm finding the the Amparo Blue (bright!) is easier to wear than I thought ~ meaning I bought that color T-shirt at Walmart when I otherwise would have ignored it.



It *helped* me finish my 2.5 mile walk/run yesterday.





DD#1 wore Tuscany-colored patent pumps to a wedding last weekend, making her outfit *runway- perfect.*


Now I want some ;-)





Having worn uniforms during my schooling, I'm very tuned into dressing up a limited wardrobe with small accoutrements that can  make a big difference.

How are you addressing Spring and Color?

Fashion on Friday

Winter is almost over.

Here in north Georgia, we have had a winter to remember...

colder with more snow than usual.

This outfit is my effort to transition from heavier to lighter weight fabrics;






get one more use out of this comfortable dress; and enjoy framing the wintery iron-gray with the springy brighter-yellow.

Check out the Pantone Color Report for Spring 2010.  It was released last September, which was about the last time I posted on fashion.

My old scarf blends two of the new shades:  Aurora and Violet.






What's your *new* favorite color?



I'll reveal mine next week.

Fashion on Fridays

Costume parties usually provide more fun than ordinary gatherings and long ago there was one such one for me that did just that and remains very special.

While I'm not fond of the current holiday (or anything scary/horror for that matter), Halloween brings back romantic memories for me. It's the anniversary of our first date.

Flip the calendar back to the Fall of 1976, when I was starting my second year of college. We had a large group of friends that socialized together. (Here's a link to a group photo.) It centered around one of the smaller dorms on campus - Koon Hall - thirty plus fellows with a wide variety of interests (football players to yearbook editors) and activities (keg parties with professors)

On October 30th, they hosted a costume party and I was invited. Earlier in the week (Wednesday breakfast, to be exact) a certain resident of said dorm asked if I would accompany him to the college play at 8p on Saturday followed by the costume party.

It was a magical evening.

I could write lots more about every.single.detail.

But I'm not the Pioneer Woman.

I'll let this photo speak its 1000 words.

Thirty-three years ago today.....





















Costume made by yours truly and fashioned after one of my mother's 1940's party dresses. I needed it for one of my sorority's rush parties.

I was NOT responsible for DH's costume which was a total surprise, by the way.

His sense of humor has been a blessing over all these years.



A few weeks later - more costumes!
















Happy Halloween!!


Dont forget to change your clocks!

Fashion on Friday: Romance

Two hearts that have beat in unison through childhood's hours and school-days bright decided their 'troth to one another without further delay.

The original plan was to wait until the holidays and make a tour West.


However, early on Saturday afternoon, October 16th, Dr Albert O. Linch and Miss Dorcas Giles motored to Lafayette, AL,

where at seven o'clock




"The silver hammer smithing two lives into one, fell on Hymenaios's Altar,"

and they were united in marriage, a resident minister officiating.

Mrs. Linch, a young woman of many lovable traits of character, has been engaged in office work at the State Capitol, for the past five years.

Dr. Albert O. Linch, surgeon at Grady Hospital, is a young man of sterling worth and rare ability.

The couple formerly of Flovilla now resides in Atlanta.


Copied from an unidentified newspaper clipping.





How about that 1920s' fashion?

Read more about my maternal grandparents here.

See this nuptial portrait of my paternal grandparents here, noting the dark dress and army uniform.