So when you can't decide. . .

I always see these rules in fashion.  The one that has stuck with me since childhood was the white pants after labor day.  There are so many rules in life.  Between work guidelines, school, government... you name it everyone has their own rules that you are supposed to follow.  

I am tired of rules.

I refuse to follow fashion rules.  It is one area of my life that I can say no and do!  Who cares what they say you should do.  Do you feel pretty?  Awesome.  Go for it then!  

I mean really, more than anything else confidence is what makes you glow, what makes people say "wow, did you see her/him".  So if you can rock cut off gloves and love them: wear them.  If you like pants well above your waist line: rock it!  If you like jeggings: get on with your bad self.  But whatever you do wear: 

Wear your clothes don't let them wear you.  Be YOU!

Don't let the "haters" get you down.  You can rock any style you want.  People say you are stuck in the 80's tell them "give it a decade and my style will be the hottest new thing!"  Fashion is circular, don't let them fool you.  There are only so many new ideas so don't let other bully you: just be you and love it!

By Rachel Abi

By Raleigh Wedding Photographer

Sponsored by: 

Amazing Raleigh roof repair

Great raleigh headshot photography

The gift of individual monotony

I love cardigans... legit.  The best part is when packing for a trip I can literally take one top and pants for a three day trip... just need 3 different cardigans.  No one notices!  I tried it.  I got great compliments on each outfit and no one blinked at the same color top and same pants. . . it weird-ed me out.  Now, I will say I am not a big advocate of reusing tops and pants that often that many days in a row but it is a wonderful gift that the cardigan allows... it is your duty to figure out if that is a gift you want to take advantage of.

By Rachel Abi

Don't ask me why

Legitimately I do not know why I decided it was stretch photo time.  I think it just comes down to I feel a little bored of just standing for the shot... so I arch?  Not sure.  Excuse the weird pose or simply enjoy it in humor?

Not sure what the right answer is but this isn't it.

By Rachel Abi

Why yes, this is my sorority girl face?  I do just let myself free and silly in front of the camera.

Residual Flower Child

Growing up with a mother from Lake Tahoe, CA we (my 4 siblings and myself) we were raised in a. . . slightly hippie lifestyle.  I was no stranger to alfalfa sprouts.  I still enjoy a lot of how I was raised, including but not limited to alfalfa sprouts, but there is a residual need to be a little flower child-ish and when these feelings come on it outlets in different ways.

Today it came out in this.

By Rachel Abi

Thepleatedpoppy

Why yes, I do have a lovely shoulder, thanks for noticing

I don't redo photos... as I am sure you realize already if you have seen very many of my poses.  Sometimes I figure I will do something or I am in the midst of . . . I am not entirely sure when Chris takes the photo but I don't like to waste accusations so I move on and show you some lovely "gag reel" styled shots... of which I am quite proud: it is not often then you can look so ridiculous doing something so ordinary. 

By Rachel Abi

Thanks for the challenge Pleated Poppy

My dressy Adidas

Yes, I am not wearing tennis shoes... but I am still wearing Adidas.  Would you have guessed that these crops are Adidas?  I sure didn't I was completely surprised when I saw the tag.  Who knew that Adidas made at least some what dressy clothes?  It weirds me out... will Victoria Secret start making ball gowns?  Will Wonka start making wedding cake?  

When will the weirdness stop?

By Rachel Abi

By Durham Wedding Photographer

Sponsored by: 

Amazing Raleigh roof repair

Great raleigh headshot photography

serene and happy to be here

I love winter. I'm pretty sure all my favorite clothes are in my winter wardrobe.  Layering, boots, sweaters, and LOADS of hats!  You wear a hat in the summer in NC you might melt like the Wicked Witch... just saying.  But in the winter you can don it all.  Deck your halls and all that jazz.  

There are fires, roasted marshmallow, stews, hot chocolate, gloves... 

Yep, pretty sure it is one great season. 

By Rachel Abi

Check out the link up Pretty Shiny Sparkly

By Durham Wedding Photographer

Sponsored by: 

Amazing Raleigh roof repair

Great raleigh headshot photography

Ladies. . . Man?

Sometimes when I put on work attire I feel. . . manly.  Not always a bad feeling.  All the sudden people don't get nervous when I want to go someplace alone.  Why is it that?  Statistically speaking men are attacked more then women are... this could very well be to the severe actions to protect women.  Don't get me wrong I don't want to be attacked nor am I making fun of being careful.  

Here's an example:  There was a young man in his early 20's who went off to travel in Europe for 6 months, alone.  His parents thought nothing of it.  The young man got pick pocketed and mugged while he was there and it was brushed aside with an "ah shucks". 

If it had been a girl, not only would most parents not let her go on the trip at all but if she had gotten mugged and pick pocketed it would have been a federal case.

My question is not really a matter of why is there concern for women but why is there not any concern for men?  "More of a man if they are on the receiving end of some random violence?"

All the same and all very different I know.

By Durham Wedding Photographer

Sponsored by: 

Amazing Raleigh roof repair

Great raleigh headshot photography

An average Wednesday?

An average day... you know taking your sister's engagement photos.  Happens all the time right?

Obvious by the photos I was super happy be the one they chose to capture those moments.

By Durham Wedding Photographer

Sponsored by: 

Amazing Raleigh roof repair

Great raleigh headshot photography

The last day

Got to love when you can pack small and look good.  I recently had to go on a trip and found this little black shirt and these perfectly awesome skinny jeans as my key.  I wore them both the two days I was there.  All I did was change the over lay.  Once with a sweater and another time with this top to dress it up a bit.  My goal when I pack is to take as much as needed and as little as possible all at the same time.  Though I do respect the goal of packing everything, "never be too safe".  I hope the last day of November is treating you well!

By Durham Wedding Photographer

Sponsored by: 

Amazing Raleigh roof repair

Great raleigh headshot photography

Quick, Simple, Gone.

Simple.  Not always on my list but when I'm in a rush it is my best friend.  You don't have to go elaborate to look cute but it can be fun.  Not so much fun when in a tush though.  

I often start an outfit with one piece.  Something I really want to wear.  This particular outfit: was the greenish sweater.  I recently got it and I wanted to make it's debut.  Then based on the sweater and how it was going to lay I chose the pants, then the undershirt because of it's neckline then came the boots (had to be boots since it's that time of year), head band and necklace.  It all came together in less then five minutes!

Quick, simple, gone.  Can do.  Go do!  Have fun see what happens in 5 minutes or less... if nothing else it could be super silly!

Written by Rachel Abi

By Durham Wedding Photographer

Sponsored by: 

Amazing Raleigh roof repair

Great raleigh headshot photography

All in one

This is one of those outfits that makes me feel so pretty and somehow still comfortable.  I am not sure how they manage this but I'm all for it, twice!

By Rachel Abi

By Durham Wedding Photographer

Sponsored by: 

Amazing Raleigh roof repair

Great raleigh headshot photography

I feel pretty, Oh so pretty

 Not so much witty and gay... but feeling pretty's alright on it's own.

This one might become a "default outfit" for the fall... 

It is so much fun and it was super easy to put together.  So I usually like to start with one article of clothing and then pair the rest together to finish the outfit.  This outfit started with the outer layer top and then went from there, got it all out in less than 5 min, I love quick outfits!

Written by : Rachel Abi

Soft as a glove

I am not a "proper" girl.  I am a bit to blunt for my own good, or so I'm told by my friends.  I figure sarcasm and being extremely blunt don't bold well to making me a proper lady.   So, I compensate when desiring to have an air about me and wear my fresh water pearls.  I love my pearls, they were a gift from my maternal Grandmother, but whenever I put them on I feel like I need gloves and tea.... Which is nice because gloves make for some pretty skin ;P

Written by Rachel Abi

Lasso Ladies

So I don't like country music... I know, I'm a horrible person.  Especially because I live in the south, it is almost mandatory to like country music when you live in the south... or so I am told.  

This outfit is about as close as I get to liking country, so all you out there who think I am crazy... well, enjoy the closest I can get ;P

Btw, I think that people who don't like pop are crazy : D

Written by Rachel Abi

By NC Wedding Photographer

Sponsored by: 

Amazing Raleigh roof repair

Great raleigh headshot photography

Wrong but the glass is full

Today I woke up feeling a bit sick, as to counter my feeling I decided to dress up a bit.  That and had crackers... And of course the cliche thing that comes to mind is "well, I guess it's a good diet"?  How wrong is that... I guess it is ok on the whole "looking for the glass half full side"... maybe

By Rachel Abi

Twirl around, bright eyes

Dressy for no reason and out on the town.  I got this dress recently, second hand of course.  I love a dress that is simple enough to put on, ability to diversify and makes you feel pretty all with ease.   Do you have dresses that make you feel like a 4 year old self, back in a flowing dress twirling around?  I miss desiring to twirl for no reason...

By Rachel Abi

Random and for no reason at all

Do you ever get one of those tops that make you want to wear it... even if you don't think you will be able to pull it off.  Who cares anyway!  I wanted to wear this top.  I don't care that it isn't built for my body type.  I wear this for me.  I wear this cause I want to. I wear this because I can!  Go random pieces of clothes that make you feel defiant... for no apparent reason.

By Rachel Abi

Thanks for the challenge ladies: Pretty Shiny Sparkly and Pleated Poppy

The awesomeness and not so awesomeness

I love when I find a cute dress for super cheap or in this case free!  And I love my necklace, my Father #2.  The great thing about dresses is also the worst thing about dresses: you can just throw them on.  Why that's a negative is there is a lot less diversity.  You can only wear it so many ways it, which is great for throwing it on but no so great for minimalism.  I'm personally a fan of dresses but I try and keep my dresses to less then 10 so I have more room in my closet for diversity in skirts and other bottoms.

By Rachel Abi

Before and today

Switch up on a fall back.  I love this skirt.  It is fun, cute, feminine but casual.  I have worn it before many a time and have featured it before.  But not this way... I love how deserve a few items can be with just a few changes.  Before and today. 

By Rachel Abi

By NC Wedding Photographer

Sponsored by: 

Amazing Raleigh roof repair

Great raleigh headshot photography