I feel silly, Oh, so Silly!

Fashion is fun.  It is the one aspect of my life I can wear the ridiculous, looking awesome I might add, and I am not ridiculed.  If I decide to act silly... it is not accepted, not that it stops me.  But I pull out tutu and so long as you pair it well you can be celebrated!  So here's to fashion!  Here is to celebrating different!  Here is to having fun with who you are and what you wear!

By Rachel Abi

By Durham Wedding Photographer

Sponsored by: 

Amazing Raleigh roof repair

Great raleigh headshot photography

Fall Must haves 2011

Today I know everything, and I am sharing my depth of knowledge with you, are you feeling privileged yet?  Cause you should be, this is going to be some pretty awesome stuff ;P

Today I will download info that only I can, cause I'm that awesome.  Ok, for real though this post is all about fall basics.  

I like fads and trends but when it comes down to it I lean on the basics and then throw in a few "new tricks".  

Have to haves:

Opac black tights 

Skinny jeans  (if you like boots, other wise a nice trouser cut jean)

Leggings (great for warmth and wearing under skirts)

Go to skirt ( I like to have one that can be dressed up or down, and a little funky never hurts)

Long sleeve swoop neck shirt (great for layering and flattering for most every body type, lengthens the neck)

I included another long sleeve shirt,you can vary the neck line obviously

Go to sweater (I prefer a vintage feel to add "funk")

I included another sweater, you can go any which direction you want (I went button up)

Couple knee high socks

Boots (if I had to pick one pair I'd go black... but my sister would go brown, so it's up to your wardrobe)

Basic jacket (for fall I prefer the lighter side as to not get too hot with sweaters)

and obviously as with any season:

Good undershirt and bra. 

These somewhat few items can be transformed into over a month's worth of outfits

Small things like:

Scarves

Necklaces

Hats

Statement purses 

Statement rings

Written by: Rachel Abi

These next photos are samples of outfits:

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As for hot trends and fads!

This year as there is every year there are a lot to choose from.

 "hint of animal print" 

60's Plaid/ 60's look in general

Fur (this is in every year)

Mustard (pretty much anything in that color)

Pleating

Maxi skirts (especially sheer)

Jade (dresses especially)

Tuxedos (especially white)

Polka Dots

"Hint of lace"

"Working Girl" dress

Parka (not the biggest fan of this one)

Bright bottoms (trousers, jeans,you name it)

My favorites of trends:

Maxi skirts

Polka dots (because they are awesome)

Fur (not really a fad but they like to think it is)

60's pretty much anything (vintage need I say more?)

Now go search your closet, be amazed at the fact you own most all of what you need to have a fabulous and fashionable fall!

By Durham Wedding Photographer

Sponsored by: 

Amazing Raleigh roof repair

Great raleigh headshot photography

Thrifting vintage makes me feel like I am stealing

When get great finds I feel like Gollum... my back starts to hunch as I claw the item to my chest.  I don't pet it... most of the time.

This outfit wasn't any different.  The whole outfit is fully thrifted, thanks to ___ for challenging me to put logs onto the ever growing thriftaholic fire,... ok, save for the necklace: it was a gift from my grandmother.  I got the skirt, shirt, purse at a yard sale and the bracelet was in one of those piles of giveaway that have filtered through my home. 

By Rachel Abi

You can clean in this right?  I guess not but it is great for making your way through your small downtown to a great little spot to write... too bad to, I really wanted to clean?

My poor husband is stuck taking my photos everyday and it isn't his favorite thing...  I make his stop his early morning ritual to come out and take pictures of me in my outfits... and then I act silly, point in fact:

The sad face is because he told me I couldn't smile... so I did exactly that, NOT smile ;P

Breaking out pink

Breaking thrifty yet again.  I wore 5 shades of pink in one outfit... pretty sure that's off the "Ok" list but I enjoyed my ultra girly outfit.  I got the top and necklace second hand.  I wasn't sure how I was going to wear the top but it worked out... or maybe not.  you'll have to tell me.

By Rachel Abi

Wells are chairs, right?

The most irritating ring on the cell phone is blaring announcing that it is time to get up yet again... only I don't want to, I know such a change from the normal #sarcasm.  Walking to my closet I deem that despite my going and picking up durrock, for the bathroom we are redoing, I will dress up-ish.  Is it my fault that I want to feel pretty, at least a little, when going to get essentially concrete and wire mesh?  Ok, so I am crazy but I'm ok with it so it's alright.

Dressed and dragging my poor husband out the door behind me I look around our yard and think, "where should I go today? I know that well looks ripe for the sitting!"  

By Rachel Abi

I love having stories behind accessories.  The bracelet I am wearing was given to by my dearest sister.  She and I lived with each other and shared a room for most of our life and between arguments and irritations we are best friends.  For the first time in our life we were separated for 3 months when she left me for the beauty that is Ireland and when she returned she gave me this bracelet (and 2 shirts)... I can't wear it without thinking of her, and I love it for that if nothing else!

This is what I wore Wednesday: thank pleated poppy.

Chick fill moo

Now today is just a silly post.  Late to posting this but Chris and I went to get the most awesome thing: Free food.

Chickfila cow appreciation day!

Aren't I perfect.  Aren't I vogue chic?  Isn't it the most amazing outfit you have ever seen!

By Rachel Abi

I even blacked out an eye for the occasion! 

Breaking Thrift Fabulous?

Glam fabulous, those were the words for which you were looking.  I took on a challenge today from three amazing bloggers.  I took on "bloggers do it better" by Pretty Shinny Sparkly, I took on "Thriftaholics Weekly" by Meet Virginia Design and I took on "Breaking rules"  but Clothed Much.  

When I read the bloggers do it better challenge I was so sad because for the life of me I couldn't think of a Glam skirt that I owned... I was baffled at the gaping hole in my waredrobe!  How is it that I don't have a "glam" skirt.  Then I realized I did... only it wasn't one you would think of.  You know those weddings... "those" bridesmaid dresses, well one of mind was a two piece so I accepted the challenge and was going to make this less than fabulous skirt, glamorous!

Now the thrift challenge did just as she wished it got me out thrifting.  Instead of breaking the thrifting habit her goal is to get you out and thrifting and I did just that I picked up this belt and shirt!

When I read the "breaking rules" I decided I might as well accept the challenge since I already was to a point... I mean, I'm pretty sure that some where in the long think fashion dictionary that rewearing a "prom" like dress skirt is a no no let alone putting it with something casual enough to actually wear out!

By Rachel Abi

I may have failed but the process was enough fun that it was worth it... You can let me know:

Was it Glam/fabulous as you know well

or

Was it .... something else ;p

Dress me up

Everyone played with dress ups...ok well maybe not everyone but I sure did!

This dress, believe it or not is actually from my childhood dress up box... it didn't fit me as a child, boy I would have been a large child if it did!

I love retro dresses... but I don't like the price tag that comes with it, well mainly I can't afford it.  I have a "zero" budget for clothes.  Ok, it's not really zero but it is pretty close.  Thus making dresses and begging for hand-me-downs.

By Rachel Abi

What's really funny about it is I feel like my young self all over again when I put this dress on.  A world full of possibilities... I feel like I can be the actor/doctor/model/cashier (yes, I really wanted to be a cashier... at a grocery store) that I wanted to be.  That an hour is a lifetime. But mainly I feel pretty.  Did you play dress up?

I WoN!

People often say they don't win things.  I really don't.  I can tell you right now I have one two other things in my life.  First, I won a ribbon for being the FATTEST baby in the county in which I was born.... such loving parents ;P   Second, $25 dollars at Andy's a local burger joint.  

Statistically I was do ;P 

Thanks to Viva Fashion Blog I won an Olay gift basket!  It is great.  Not only is the basket full of stuff but the basket is great for organizing under my bathroom sink!  It came with a whole bunch of Anti-aging stuff (their advice is to start early on the fight against wrinkles), a shower radio for all of us with "lovely" to encourage singing in the shower!  It came with a turban head towel thing... never could remember what they are called.  Body wash, soap, lotion, a Olay bag... 

Point being I am so glad to random statistics ;P

Written by :Rachel Abi

Oh, and I forgot it came with a to go tumbler too!  Very useful but sounds like a dolphin, so I let my husband use it ;P

All sewn up

From concept to reality (*big announcer voice).  After weeks of hard work? Well, work all the same.  After weeks of putting the pieces slowly together... 

The...

Wait for it...

Dress is done!

By Rachel Abi

Ok, so last I left was the skirt part was done, needing zipper and getting attached to the belt.

So after attaching the belt to the top and the skirt to the belt I noticed it was off a little?  Ok, so it was a bunch.  Decision time: do I undo all that I just do or do I leave it (imagine as I say it a grossed out face)

So I ripped up the dress I thought I had just been close to finished.  BUT only in a section to the left of the zipper so that it would match the right side.

After I ripped it out and I sewed it back, ripped it out and sewed it back... second times the charge?

Then on to pinning in the zipper again!  Ouch my fingers!  Pretty sure I suck them more than the dress

Zipper sewn in now to get the "tags" down

Perfect? I think not

I had extra material round the zipper so I snipped it out!

So here is my dress: ON!

My dress is not perfect... at all!  But I am proud of the first piece of clothes I ever sewed.  What's yours like? Silly yes, and why thanks I do look like I walked out of Sound of Music.  No, it wasn't my goal.  Yes, I am ok with it.  Why?

another beautiful day

Out and about.  Not something I would wear were I to be outside for a long time.  It isn't a hot outfit but NC is HOT (well to me) so I tend towards wearing super thin materials.  What's special about this outfit? nothing. That's the whole point.  Remember you can make beautiful and unique outfits with ease: let loose, who cares if you cause a few fopas on the way?   

By Rachel Abi