Outfit Post - Be Mine

Sorry to have been a bit MIA here, darling ones.  I came down with an awful flu about three weeks ago that I couldn't seem to shake..and then it turned into pneumonia (yuck!).  I'm finally on the mend and starting to feel human again, so I was moved to post my outfit for the day :)

Create 365 is moving right along, though at a slower pace than I anticipated before getting ill!  I have been working on writing my very first fair isle knitting pattern for a pair of wristwarmers and I hope to complete them and have the pattern up here on the blog very soon.

Wishing you all a love filled Valentine's Day!

Hugs and Smooches,
D

The Outfit Post that Wasn't..

I had an outfit post ready for today and I scrapped it.  Friends..I am having a crisis of style.  Growing pains, if you will.

Here's the situation.  I love whimsy, eccentricity, color.  The posts you see here are generally of me "toning myself down" a bit (believe it or not) because I work in an office environment.  I'm actually quite good with numbers.  I'm organized (in my own unique fashion), efficient and I am well suited to this kind of work...if you could lobotomize me and remove my personality.

My creative side balks at having to be restrained.  Professional suits make my skin crawl.  I do not own a pair of "practical" shoes.  THIS is my idea of conservative.

Timeless Vixen Vintage

In the past, I've taken a sort of "it is what it is" approach.  I take my style down a few notches during the week and express myself on the weekends, but as I enter my "late 30's", I feel like it's time for my style to grow up a bit (you know..so strangers stop referring to me as "sweetheart" and people actually take me a bit seriously).  The problem is, I'm not entirely sure how to do that.

There is such a lack of style inspiration for creative women once they pass 35.  It's like you fall off the map until you turn 70 and then you can start to be as eccentric as you please again.  In my opinion, many women appear to be either trying to look 20, trying to blend in with the men, or they simply stop caring and give up altogether.  There are a few exceptions.  I do love Cate Blanchett.  I think she does an amazing job of blending creativity and class.  She's slightly edgy, but always feminine.

Credit

And Ginnifer Goodwin (though not quite 35 yet) has a great sense of style.  (And I WISH I could pull off that haircut.  It's so fun!)

Credit

I think, perhaps, what these two women have in common is that they edit their style to one or two amazing statements per outfit.  A neat collar detail, a great accessory, really beautiful garment structure or a breathtaking color or print.  Perhaps that's the lesson I need to learn going forward.  Not that I need a total outfit overhaul, but maybe with a little editing, the "special" parts of my outfits can still stand out and be appreciated without looking too young or over the top eccentric.

I'm a work in progress friends.  I'm going to continue researching, finding out what feels right and when I feel I've struck upon the right combinations and feel comfortable in my skin again, the outfit posts shall return.

How about you?  Do you have any style inspiration suggestions for me?  Have you passed into "no mans land", and if so, how did you change your style (or not)?  I'd love to hear from you!

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Amelie

Umm..I kinda, sorta trimmed my bangs a little too short ;)  They remind me of Amelie  (If you haven't watched this movie, you should!  It's wonderful..)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Let it Snow!

I'm wearing my most winter-y outfit today in the hopes that the weather will get the hint..I reallyyyy would like a white Christmas ;)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Hoot

This outfit always makes me feel like skating.  It is the perfect swirly, twirly skirt for it :)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Free as a Bird

I like birds..That is all.

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Monochrome

I love color (mostly red, as I'm sure you've guessed by now) but all colors are wonderful. 

I love to mix and match, pair them in different unexpected combinations...but after a while, I find myself using the same color combos over and over again.  When that happens, it's time to "cleanse my palette" with some good old neutrals. 

After a day or so of not worrying about color pairing, new combinations suddenly become clear to me again.  I'm looking forward to spending the weekend gathering color ideas to see what fun pairs I can come up with next!

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - There's No Place Like Home

I got some serious grief over these shoes, friends.  They're red..they sparkle..the men in my life asked if I was worried about flying monkeys or witches.  I care not..they're flashy and they make me smile ;)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Kitten

This is my brand new coat from Lady Jane Vintage...I LUURVE it :)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Peacock

I built this entire outfit around this pair of tights.  True story.

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Oranges and Leopards

Today, I included a picture of my coat, because it's one of my absolute faaaavorites!  I got it at an estate sale last year, and the fabric is an amazing tapestry of browns and blacks.  Plus, it's SUPER cozy :)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Gray November Day

Welcome to November..it's pretty chilly here and we have gray skies and no leaves post Hurricane Sandy, so I'm wearing my toasty warm wooly dress with nice thick tights and just to brighten things up a little, a bright red scarf :)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Wine with Everything

Wine is my new color obsession.  Especially in rich textured fabrics like wool and velvet.  I plan to add a lot of it to my winter wardrobe this year :)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Absinthe

Up until a few years ago, I firmly believed that I could not wear the color green, as I was certain it washed me out and gave my skin a yellow cast.  Until I discovered this particularly vibrant shade (kelly green, maybe?) that brightens up my face and makes my eyes look peacock blue.  Now I'm totally in love with it ;-)

Do you have a particular shade that you like to wear?

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Hooray for Fall!

The weather her in NH has finally started to cool down!  I'm in the process of transitioning my fall wardrobe over and packing my summer items away.  When I came across this jacket (a favorite!) I knew I had to wear it today :)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Channeling Daisy Buchanen

Since cutting my hair short (and subsequently wanting to grow it long again) I've noticed a decidedly 1920's influence on my style.  I'm still in search of the perfect drop waist dress, though!  I may end up having to make one myself.  I did purchase a really nifty 1920's sewing book in my travels last weekend ;-)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Hey look! An Outfit Post

I was feeling colorful and outfit-post-y today.  So here you go!

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Bobbed Hair and Coral Scarf

It's been a while since I did an outfit post!  Bet you were forgetting what I looked like ;-)  Well, here I am with my brand new haircut.  A little shorter than I'm comfortable with, but after it grows a little, I think it will work just fine.

I also finished up my coral scarf using this pattern.  It's VERY simple and great if you just want something to work on without having to thing about it.  I may try it next with a bigger hook and larger yarn for a more tree branch-like effect.

Hugs and Smooches,
D

The ConstantlyAlice Manifesto Revisted

Today, it struck me that it has been some time since I've done a Pin up Plan post.  I sort of left it off somewhere in the middle of the "Art of Seduction" series and haven't been able to motivate myself to finish the series.

This led me to think about the ConstantlyAlice Manifesto I wrote in January and all the plans I had for this year.  I decided to take another peek at it and track what I had accomplished thus far, and then tweak or revise the things that weren't working for me.

 

1.  30 Day Make Over challenge - I haven't started this just yet..I think because the fall is my favorite time of year, perhaps Sept. or Oct. will be a good month to tackle this project.

2.  Vision Boards and The Signature Style Project - The vision boards are ongoing!  You can check them out here on Pinterest. (The trick, however, is to DO something with them..more on that in future posts..I think I need to do something with them here for accountability ;)  The Signature Style Project is all wrapped up.  You can check out the series, if you haven't already, here.

3.  Home Ec Posts - These have slowed down a little..the most recent one being a paper necklace tutorial done over on the French Press Vintage blog.  I'm trying out a few new projects and plan to start adding a few more of these posts.

4.  Modeling/Pin up Plan - I have added an outfit post series and gotten in front of the camera a LOT more..however, I have revised my intentions for this particular goal.  Modelling for the shop itself seems a bit more than I can handle (especially since I'll require a photographer!)  I also prefer to be the "creative force" behind the camera.  SOO, I will continue to be the "head model" for the hats, etc., but the clothing will either be modeled on "Esmerelda" my dress form, OR, on my oldest daughter and her friends (depending on the outfit and the size.)  We'll see how that works out ;)  In regards to the Pin up Plan..I don't think my heart is in it right now.  I have so many other things to focus on (including my goals for the "Slim Down, Pin Up", project), that I don't feel I have the time to dedicate to really fleshing out this series..it's going on hold for a bit and I may revisit it later.

5.  Disney! - I went, I saw, I conquered ;-)  Here are some of the photos from our trip (and a lovely video of the "Bug Butts" song and dance).  I did not, however, manage to get around to making my wardrobe...I think this goal may shift to the fall.  I would like to make up a few new items for the cooler weather..more to come on this.

6.  Go Ask Alice - Finally, the "Go Ask Alice" feature, where I post responses to questions regarding, vintage, styling, sewing, and misc. "ConstantlyAlice" related features.  I'm working on the logistics of this and hope to launch it before the winter ;-)

Phew!  Not too shabby, considering that we still have another 5 months in the year!

Is there anything special YOU would like to see here on the blog?  Let me know by leaving your suggestions in the comments!

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Outfit Post - Rainy Days and Mondays

Hooray for haircuts!  I'm so relieved to have my hair back in some semblance of order.  I always THINK I want to grow it out again, but the truth is, I really love the ease and tidiness of a bob ;-)

Hugs and Smooches,
D