Oh man, I had better just shush so I can catch up to everybody who is already over at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday!
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| necklace: a gift from my mother, last worn here "The Ally" obi belt: Megan Mae Designs |
This is my new MMD obi belt's first outing - it's named after another one of my FAVOURITE favourite bloggers, Ally of Shybiker - and it remembered this particular knot well.
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| amber ring: Pages (very dear local shop, since closed), 10+ yrs. ago water ring: some booth or other, ~20 yrs. ago |
I love this colour of amber about the very most, but rarely come across it. A recent post of Joni's at Walking Colours told the fantastic story of her name, and many of us shared our own in the comments. I added, "I was named for my mom's Baltic heritage, though my parents played with the idea of naming me Fleur after a character in a miniseries they loved. Since my dear grandmother's* best pronunciation was "floor," I ended up with Fleur as a middle name." Joni wears a beautiful amber ring as well.
*my other grandmother
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| sunflower print dress: Liberty Art Fabrics, The Bay skirt: Joe Fresh, last worn here shoes: Fluevog Prepare Guide |
All together with these shoes, this obi, and a fresh haircut, plus my necklace feeling like a wee send-up whenever I put it on, I was in just the place to especially appreciate a stunning phrase by Terri of Rags Against the Machine, appearing in her post today: "... subvert the looks we're fed." Thunderbolt! So much wisdom distilled into those five words.
I am also getting ready for Sheila of Ephemera's Dress Week of Horrors! (and holy cow is hers ever fantastic today!)
It looks like almost everyone has created a post today - I see about 20 lined up in my reader - and I can't wait to dive in. I was just saying to Lynne of Practical Paralegalism (who is wearing a Megan Mae Designs obi today too!) that besides being fabulously stylish and cool, I am just in love with how SMART y'all are - I had been really missing these kinds of conversations in my life.
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| dew drops: Mother Nature |
Happy Monday. I hope your week takes you places where you are as warmly welcomed as you have helped me feel here - thank you.
Ohmygoodness. I actually gasped out loud. The obi is perfect with that dress and the Guides. Omgomgomg - so impressed.
ReplyDeleteI think you have a beautiful name. I wish I had inherited my great-grandmother's full name - Malverie Mae, but I'm thrilled to be her namesake and that I actually got to know her (I was nine when she passed).
Like Megan, I gasped. Then I pinned. Then I madly scribbled notes. I love love love this mix of patterns.
DeleteLove.
I was named for a cranky great Aunt (my first name) and the best man at my parent's wedding (middle name). I wish now I knew why Aunt Louise was cranky; I'll bet she had good reason.
Thanks Megan Mae and Louise - I love your name-stories so, so much!!! Megan, I'm glad you think I do this beautiful piece of your work justice. It's lovely to wear. :)
DeleteGREAT dress! The print is FAB! And that little amber ring - LOVE LOVE LOVE!
ReplyDeleteXOXO
-Daisy Nguyen from PS BANANAS fashion blog:
http://psbananas.com
Thank you, Daisy! Hope things are well with you & your daughter, xo
DeleteMy dear as a loyal follower of your blog I have a couple of questions....
ReplyDelete!. What is the amazing place you take your pictures....I am enthralled with it each and every time I see it!
2. What work do you do?
3.What is the origin of your amazing and artistic sense of style?
4.how did you become such a poetic and descriptive writer?
I look forward to learning more about you...I am very intrigued!
I've been wondering the same thing, Tamera! I can't wait to see the answers (good post idea, Amber :)
DeleteThank you Lynne...I hope I wasn't too forward...but I am so intrigued,,,,
DeleteOh Tamera, these are wonderful questions! And thanks for "seconding" that, Lynne. I will surely use these to kick-start my "About" page. As it may be a few weeks before I have time to do a little more than try to keep up, a couple of quick answers so as to not keep you in total suspense: my photo location is in one of the barns at my home, and I work as an expressive arts therapist.
DeleteLove the obi, the dress, the Guides (I have them in aqua!), and you are so dear to link up, thank you! I hope you enjoy the Dress Week! I know I will. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Sheila - and thanks for taking on the extra task of hosting Dress Week! I'm already having a great time. You are totally fabulous in your aqua Guides! I think you must have nerves of steel and / or iron willpower because I would totally be sneak-wearing them off-capsule. :)
DeleteThe warmth in your words is so energizing. I love how comfortable and welcome I feel in this virtual house (or barn) of yours - with the chickens too! Your magnetic charm is truly a gift!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful ensemble as well. But I think the amber and dew drops are my favourite parts.
I am so glad, Melanie - thank you for this feedback!
DeleteYes, both dew and amber have a way of holding light which so appeals to me.
Perfect clash of prints, ahhhhhhhhhhhh so up my alley.
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Thank you, Sacramento! Yes, your Birthday post of this same day had a wonderful dress / belt pattern combination with florals also - gorgeous.
DeleteGorgeous dress. It's perfect with the Guides. Such nice fall colours.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Megan! (my double-shoe twin! Eee!)
DeleteFantastic dress, Amber, and ring of course. I so agree with your comment about the kind of intelligent conversations we get going in the blogging community. They feed my brain! Great haircut too - you are inspiring me to take a leap into a new edgier cut at my next appt. Thanks for linking up to Visible Monday -- it's not quite "done" without you : >
ReplyDeleteAww, Patti, your kind heart just about knocks me over! Can't wait to see your new 'do, although you are lovely and ethereal just as you are.
DeleteOh, my! *blushing* I can't believe how wonderful the belt looks and that you mentioned me. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAlly, you are incredibly dear - I am honoured to wear your namesake belt!
DeleteIsn't it great how a fresh haircut and kickass accessories can make the day ever so much better! Crushing on your outfit - love the layering of skirt under dress, and your namesake ring, and the shoes, omg, the shoes. I live my vicarious shoe life through you and Megan of the Fashionable Bureaucrat. I very much enjoy your writing, which is articulate and creative, and I am also curious about the place you take your photos. It's such a fun backdrop and really adds to the appeal of your photos.
ReplyDeleteOh Shelley, truly! Sometimes having on an outfit that kicks butt is the only thing keeping some of these days from kicking my butt! FAQ / About page coming soon, hopefully within the next month or so. I've already taken a few close-up shots of my door there in preparation!
DeleteP.S. I think we all live our vicarious shoe-lives though Megan!
I love the pattern mixing, and you just gave me a great idea for styling my boring black shirt dress over another dress. THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteThanks, too, for the mention. I get kind of awed when any of y'all link to me because you are so incredibly stylish and have way better shoes :D
Oh Lynne, you sell yourself short, ye of fantastic style!
DeleteI do wear shirtdresses this way quite often as you'll see - I like the bit of extra volume it gives the lower half and hate the pulling / gaping buttons factor when there's not quite enough fabric in the skirt. I love the styling ideas you've already posted for yours!
Yes, I agree with Lynne. I love your take of dress over skirt, so simple and so effective. I am definitely going to re-look my closet for that mix. And I'm doing my best with shoe recovery... Your (Megan Mae's) obi looks wonderful with it all too.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! And I am honoured to be an inspiration, especially to someone whose ideas and skills I so admire. :)
DeleteI love how you've styled the pretty floral dress. I would never think to unbutton part of the front and wear a skirt under...and it looks soooo nice worn this way. The obi is a perfect complimentary piece to is as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Lisa! I do like the element added by a skirt underneath, and I'm wildly in love with my MMD obi!
DeleteLOVE everything and how could I not?! The colors so delightful and those SHOES, oh em gee. I have a thing for Mary Janes!!!! xo!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Rachel - our admiration is mutual, and how awesome of you to visit and comment!
DeleteYou Canadian gals know know a thing or two about interesting layering! I am watching and learning.
ReplyDeleteI really like the shirt dress over the skirt, and the mix of prints. And the ring, the beautiful amber ring - I sound a bit like Gollum there (my precious!)
I like the intelligent, articulate, kind and thoughtful conversations which occur amongst the blogging community too (or at least the part I inhabit). That's why you fit in so well, Amber! xxxx
Oh, Curtise! *melts into a puddle* How fabulous it is to be feeling so connected and accepted when I thought I'd be nattering away to myself in a vacuum for months and months. I feel incredibly lucky to have "met" all these dear (and SMART and stylish!) people.
DeleteLove your layering! And I always appreciate a nice big ring.
ReplyDeleteThanks, WendyB - the total champion of the most spectacular big rings in the entire universe, omg!
DeleteBeautiful!! I love the layers. I love Megan Mae's creation. I love hearing about your name ("Floor" LOL). I really like Fleur a lot. It's a name we never hear.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Lynn
Thanks, Lynn! I didn't meet many "Ambers" at all while I was growing up, though unfortunately there was quite a famous stripper by the name of Amber Lynn. I didn't actually meet her, but many people who met me had that particular name-association, lol. I meet waves of younger Ambers, but I've only come across one or two Fleurs.
DeleteAmber--the Ally tie is perfect with this dress. And the Fluevogs like Sheila's favorite pair! I've often admired pieces of amber--especially those with an insect preserved inside--but have never owned a piece myself. Does your amber have something within it?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Terri! Yes, Sheila, TFB Megan, and Sally McGraw all rock'n'roll their Fluevog Guides!
DeleteGenuine un-reconstituted amber with identifiable inclusions is super-rare, although my great-aunt had a spider ring. A lot of it will have little flecks of bark, or other bits which catch the light. It's wonderful stuff, and purported to have healing qualities particularly to do with the throat and chest.
Ohhhhhhh, this is my favorite outfit that I've seen yet on you. Lovelovelove!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Audrey - I love YOUR style!
DeleteOh my, that dress is remarkable, just like the wearer :)
ReplyDeleteAww, Izzy - you are so completely dear! :)
DeleteThis is such a lovely outfit Amber! The prints are great together and the obi really accentuates your waist! I love the amber ring, but it's the water ring that caught my eye: I had one exactly like it. It's too smalll now so my daughter has it, but it's an identical twin!
ReplyDeleteThe other day I came across one online seller of Fluevogs in Denmark and I was wondering about how roomy they are. They don't look particularly narrow, but looks may deceive! So, before I order I wondered if you find them wider than average shoes?
How awesome that we are ring twins at such a distance!
DeleteThe width of Fluevog shoes really depends on the particular shoe "family" (or model) - the way they fit is not consistent across the brand. Some are quite narrow and others are totally reasonable, and depending on the shoe, I might wear a 10, 10.5, or 11. If you come across a pair you like, I suggest that you contact Fluevog staff (through the Fluevog website) and ask for their comments on how that specific shoe fits.
Good luck!
This outfit is amazing. The obi (I love Ally) with the dress is perfection. And the dress layered over the skirt is more perfection. And you made me realize that I need a pair of blue pumps (blue shoes are my favorite). So, yeah, love this.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gracey! I KNOW - how can one not love Ally?! Blue shoes make me unreasonably happy as well! There is something about them, though green and red ones are awfully nice too. :)
DeleteI came over from Megan Mae's post… your look is so sharp and funky… love it!
ReplyDeleteHi and welcome - thank you so much for visiting and commenting!
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