Personal Style 101: ELYCIA on Colour!

Hi, I'm elycia from the blog ♥elycia and in case you don't know me I am a vintage loving cat lady living in a cute house on a quiet street with my husband and our two sweet kitties. Oh ya, and I am obsessed with colour. Wow, that felt like the beginning of a "My Strange Addiction" episode.

I have always been drawn to colour and colourful clothes. When I was young I wore neon like nobody's business. I even had three different coloured pairs of neon slouch socks that I would mix and match so that I would be wearing two different coloured neon slouch socks. I kind of wish I could say that this is just something I made up to be funny but I am very serious. I don't have a photo of the slouch socks to show you but I do have this equally fancy photo of a lovely red ensemble.

When I was in high school my favourite outfit was this pair of extremely wide leg red pants, a bright blue shirt and just in case that wasn't enough colour, a zip up rainbow sweater. Oh and I was probably wearing bright green shoes or something equally as ridiculous. I still have that rainbow sweater...

I definitely have days where I feel like being more neutral but in general I love having multiple pops of colour in my outfit. If you are a bit nervous about colour but really want to start playing with it I would recommend starting by introducing one colourful piece into your outfit. Accessories are a good way to start. You could start with something as little as earrings, a bracelet or a necklace. Colourful clothing can be intimidating but colourful jewelry is a good way to ease yourself in.
Vintage scarves are another good starting point. They are pretty and can really brighten up an outfit and make it more fun!

Are you a colour lover or does looking at my outfits make you break out in a sweat if you imagine yourself in it? If you are nervous about colour give it a try and let me know how you liked it!

Personal Style 101: AMY MORBY on Confidence!

///Here is an awesome guest post from none other than Amy Morby! She is a style-savvy, thrifting guru with some great advice for us today-- Woohoo!///

Hello, all of you pretty readers! My name is Amy, and I run a silly little blog called A is for Ampersand where I go on wild thrifting adventures, ride around town in my 1984 Westfalia Vanagon, and fess up to my cat lady tendencies.

I'm thrilled to be guest posting on Lily's pretty blog today, and I couldn't be more passionate about this subject if I wanted to! Today it's all about dressing with confidence! In fact, every day should be about dressing with confidence.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard "oh, that looks great on you, but I could never pull it off." I think that as women, we're prone to hearing/saying that everywhere we go. But nothing, and I mean nothing! makes me angrier than that phrase. I 110% believe that you can pull off ANYTHING. That's right--anything. No matter your body type, your skin color, hair color, whatever. If you love it--WEAR IT!

Here are 5 little "tips" if you will I use daily to embolden my sense of style and inspire me to be bold!

1. If you love it, nothing else matters

This is the #1 rule of my wardrobe. If I love it and I feel great in it, then that's all that matters! Fashion should be all about what YOU love and what YOU fee comfortable in. If you've got a stellar vintage dress that's a little wild but makes you feel like a vixen, then wear it with pride!

If you look at your top 3 style icons, I think you'll find that they wear things they feel confident in. I know that the most beautiful people I know are girls with wild confidence, and I think that confidence comes from staying true to their style sense at all times.

2. Wear it in public at least once

If you've got an outfit you're not so sure about, give yourself a favor and wear it out in public at least once. It's kind of like the "one-bite rule" your mom forced on you at dinner all those years ago. You'll never know how comfortable you feel in an outfit until you give it a try! And hey--you might just get a flood of compliments! Every outfit deserves one day of glory.

3. Do I love it? And does it really matter if someone else doesn't?

Whenever I'm feeling scared of an outfit, I ask myself "is it the end of the world if someone doesn't like what I'm wearing?" to which the answer is always NO. There are far worse things than someone not liking your ensemble. Plus, if they don't--do you really want their friendship anyway? Nah. I'd rather dress for myself!

4. It works if you work it!

I had an awesome friend in high school once tell me "Amy, anyone can wear high heels, but you have to wear them like you mean it--put some hip into it!" While it was mostly a joke, I've always remembered that comment and have tried to remember that anything can work--you just have to own it! Own that vintage dress with the wild 60s pattern! Work those high-waisted jeans! Walk with the swagger of someone wearing that one-of-a-kind thrift find that was a screamin' deal. I'm willing to bet that if you try a daring outfit and put some confidence into it, people will notice.

And now I give you a challenge--take that outfit you've been dying to wear but haven't been able to find the confidence for and WEAR IT! Wear it to dinner or for a day at the office. Work it, own it, and stay true to yourself and your own sense of style.

Let me know how it goes! And if you've got tips on dressing with confidence I'd love to hear it!

Personal Style 101: Be Bold, Be You

It doesn't matter what other people think. In fact, they respect you more when you keep it real. At least I hope so! I get a lot of funny looks for some of the things I wear. I go to a school where most people dress in black and gray. I stick out like a sore thumb, but I get the impression that I am having a lot more fun that an lot of other people.

My clothes are me and I am them and they look like all my dreams. (Have you read The Big Orange Splot lately?) Sometimes when I shop, cashiers ask me if I am going to a costume party. Nope, I just like silly things!

So where do you get the courage to be bold in your dress? 

The first step is accepting your self: Your Body And Your Flaws. 

Like most women, I have had my own closet full of body image issues. We all have things we don't like and things we compare to other people, things we are embarrassed about. Girl, that's you you're judging! 

Accept those things you can't change and learn to love them as just another facet of who you are. 

I have millions of dark moles all over my body and a huge nose that takes up most of the camera frame. The only thing that can keep my jiggly parts from jiggling is flash photography and lets not even talk about my teeth. But hopefully you'll be too distracted by my confident smile and pretty clothes to notice any of that!

Personal Style: Updating Your Closet

It takes time to make your wardrobe truly personal. It takes replacing pieces one by one until everything you wear, everything you own represents who you are.

We all have things that don't work for us in our wardrobes and we all need to do ourselves a favor and replace them. Don't you despise staring into your closet and seeing nothing you want to wear, then going to the dresser and it's the same story?

For most people the idea of replacing everything we don't like with stuff we do like is dauntingly expensive. So don't do it all at once. It may take a year or more to replace everything, but it's just an ongoing project.

Tips for Updating Your Closet:

1. Have a clear mental picture of what your ideal wardrobe would look like. I find it helpful to a have an inspiration source for my style. I used to just have a folder on my computer. Now- Pinterest!!! I love it because I can click through to the source of anything I like. That is so handy!(Email me if you need a pinterest invite because I have a few.)

2. Decide on a number of versatile garments that can translate into many looks. The perfect jean, the bold blazer, the little black dress. I have chunky, button-down sweaters (from Old Navy) in bright colors that I wear with different outfits at least every other day. See?

3. Have a list of what you need on-hand when you go shopping. Even if the list is in your head. Once you pitch those things you never wear or that just don't express you anymore, there are literal gaps in your closet. Put some thought into exactly what you want/need and let the hunt begin!

4. Replace the things you HATE right away. Find a trash bag and donate it today. Today. That khaki dress that's been hanging in my closet for a year and half- never worn- I'm taking my own advice and letting it go.

see my pinterest boards for these great looks and many more!

Personal Style: Measuring

I like to wear vintage clothes, especially dresses. In addition to combing local thrift stores, I scout for new looks online. Sellers often tell you the bust, waist and hip measurements in the listing, but they will give you more if you ask. Do you know your measurements? If not, keep reading :)

1. Bust:: Measure over the fullest part of the bust and then straight across the back.

2. Chest:: Measure around the body, directly under the arms and across top of the breasts.

3. Diaphragm:: Measure around the body, halfway between the bust and the waist.

4. Waist:: Measure the thinnest part of your torso.

5. High Hip:: Measure 2" to 4" below your waist over top of hip bones.

6. Full Hip:: Measure at the fullest part of your hips. Measure from waist to full hip to establish "hipline" which is usually 7" to 9" from waist.

7. Back Neck to Waist:: Measure from prominent neck bone down center back to waist.

8. Back Width:: Measure across back from arm crease to arm crease.

9. Front Neck to Waist:: Measure from hollow between neck bones to center front waistline.

10. Bust Point:: To establish position of bust point (this would be useful if you were making a dress with darts), measure from prominent back neck bone and over shoulder to bust point, and from bust point to center front waist. Record both measurements.

11. Shoulder:: Measure from base of neck to shoulder bone (hinge). (tip: Etsy sellers often list shoulder length by measure from top of sleeve to top of sleeve with the garment flat. You might want to just measure a garment that fits you correctly this way to get the measurement for online shopping.)

 12. Arm Length:: Measure from shoulder bone to elbow and on to wrist with arm slightly bent.

13. Arm Circumference:: Measure around fullest part of arm, often about an inch below the armpit.

14. Wrist Circumference:: Measure around wrist at bone.

15. Neck Circumference:: Measure fullest part of neck.

(tip: A lot of sellers measure the garments flat, so you have to double whatever they put for the waist, bust, hips.)

I recommend you keep a record of all of these measurements near your computer because many etsy sellers will not accept a return based on a bad fit. Having this resource makes online shopping so much easier.

For more tips on buying online check out Leigh Ann's series on Freckled Nest and this guide from Red Velvet.

Personal Style: Unmentionables

By unmentionables, I mean undergarments. They should fit right, be comfortable and do their job: Support!

When you purchase a new garment, do you think about what you will wear under it? Do you have a  variety in your lingerie drawer? I tend not to think of underneaths as fashion because no one will ever see them (except James), but they are the foundation to everything we wear and they determine whether our clothes will look right.

Beyond the basics, I added some items to my closet in the past year that I can't imagine living without now. I can wear strapless, backless dresses/tops and still have sufficient support. Previously I thought only perky, non-mothers could wear those! It's basically a backless, strapless bra that extends down to the waist with ribbing for support. Also, I found a pair of vintage slip-shorts in baby blue. Best thing ever. They are pretty, short and discrete and I am modest No Matter What. (I also now own a girdle and I love it.)

Do you have clothes that you have never worn because you don't have the right unmentionables? Time to shop!

Make sure that your undergarments are the correct size! A well fit bra should be comfortable and give you a nice contour. It shouldn't cause any bulges across your back or under your arms and it shouldn't ride up if you lift your arms. It absolutely shouldn't interfere with your breathing. In fact, you should be able to comfortably slide your finger under the band.

Regardless of your size, try out a girdle. It will refine your curves and give your silhouette a smooth look. It's okay if you call me old-fashioned.

One more thing: Beyond being practical and necessary, undergarments that are attractive and neat will boost your morale. Invest in little lovelies for your own sake.

Personal Style: Fun with Shapes

One of the most important things to consider when dressing is your silhouette. Know your shape and find clothes that flatter you! Use shapes to accentuate your best features and camouflage the ones you wish to hide.

Do you like wearing dresses? There are many styles to choose from: Experiment! Try out the classics and try out something new. There are so many fashion trends at any given time that you are sure to find something that looks great on you and you feel like yourself in.

Here is a breakdown of the shapes in the graphic above. Remember that these are conventional guidelines. Rules are meant to be broken.

Top row from left:
-Asymmetrical Closing or Wrap-Around. Regardless of height, this shape should flatter a large framed figure and girls with large bosoms.
-Low Waist. This shape flatters girls with either a short or long waist.
-A-Line. This is a classic, favorite shape as it gives you a smooth feminine silhouette. It is particularly flattering if you have a large bosom, short waist, long waist and/or large frame.
-Shirtwaist. This looks great if you are skinny with a small bosom or large framed with a large bosom.

Middle row from left:
-Shift. This shape looks great if you have a large bosom, are short waisted or long waisted. However, girls who are skinny should avoid this shape.
-Princess. If you are short waisted with a large frame, this is the shape for you.
-Tent. Wear this shape if you are skinny with a small bosom, but avoid it if you have narrow shoulders.
-Sheath. This shape looks great on girls with large bosoms, but avoid it if you also have large hips. (Disregard if you are Christina Hendricks because conventional rules do not apply to you.)

Bottom row from left:
-Blouson. This shape flatter girls with large bosoms as well as skinny girls. However if you are short and short waisted with a small bosom, this shape should be avoided.
-Tunic. This shape is not particularly flattering, but it does look better on tall girls.
-Empire: This shape is most flattering on short girls with small bosoms. If you are tall with large bosoms, broad shoulders and a large frame, this shape should be avoided. (This includes you, Christina Hendricks.)
-Yoke. This shape is said to look best on skinny girls with small bosoms, but for some reason, my husband doesn't seem to find it attractive on me. (?)

What shapes do you find yourself drawn to most often? Are they the shapes convention says you look good in?

Coming Soon: Personal Style 101

I'm so excited to share this with you finally! For the new year, I will be doing a series of posts about developing personal style. We will delve into topics like how to wear color, what shapes work best for your specific body type, how to enhance your wardrobe with the perfect accessories, tips for online shopping and so many more. There will be a number of guest bloggers and plenty of pretty things to look at. :)

I hope that you will enjoy this as much as I do! I'd love for you to send me pictures of how you have used the elements I post about and share your own tips, too!