A Good Wrap

Now that we are almost through the first week of this series on being a lady, I thought I would address a common concern: the ubiquitous time crunch. It is true that at times the idea of being ladylike can feel exhausting.
It is for this reason that I genuinely appreciate having a few tricks--like large sunglasses (thank you, Audrey, for the idea). And scarves.
The reality is that there are days when you just feel like wearing baggy jeans and cotton t-shirts. Days when even lipgloss seems like too much effort. You know the days I'm referring to: Saturday morning bagel and coffee runs, late night ice cream jaunts to the convenience store...any of the days requiring Midol.
It is on these days that I appreciate a good scarf. Soft, colorful, with perhaps a little embellishment. There is something very je ne sais quoi about a good wrap. It can add some flourish to your cotton tee, and spruce up even the baggiest of pants (although please, please do not wear sleepwear out in public--not even pashmina can atone for that error).
A good wrap, frankly, is something every lady should have in her fashion repertoire.

And as a final note...when I say "wrap," I Do Not mean a Snuggie. Yes, I realize that they do, technically, wrap around you, but shapeless ultraviolet fleece is not exactly what I have in mind for ladies. So please save your snuggies for the sofa, and consider a scarf for your outings instead.

And with that, I bid you adieu! Happy Friday!
--steph

Interuptions on Being a Lady

I had a post all prepared for today's "On Being a Lady" series. It was about wearing jewelry...
Personally I'm a big fan of giant rings. The bigger the better. Layered on one finger.

Basically I want to have trouble lifting my hand.
And yes, I know it is a pain sometimes to put on the gems. Those extra two minutes in the morning can be precious time spent otherwise.
Like, say, spending it with him.
Or him.
So, sorry gold necklace...I know that you would look oh so lovely hanging from my ladylike neck, but right now I have other important things to do.

You understand.

Come back tomorrow to read about my favorite winter accessory--and no, it's not a Snuggie.

Creative Hour: cocktails and dresses (but not cocktail dresses)

Perhaps it was my fling with the red dress, but lately I've been hankering for a bygone era. An era of party dresses and the cocktail hour. Nevermind that I don't actually like cocktails (I'm more of a beer and wine kinda gal--).

So in lieu of cocktails, I thought I would whip up some cocktail napkins just in case someone else wanted to entertain with them. Someone, for instance, who might win this week's raffle...

Alterations
And while I was at the sewing machine, I figured I would put on my "alterations" hat and try to amend a very cute summer dress I picked up this spring while I was in L.A.

This dress is nothing more than a cotton tank sewn into a navy blue linen skirt. And while both my friend and I agreed that it would be a great summer addition to my wardrobe, the top was a bit annoying. Annoying as in it draped too low in the neck and under the arms. And while I thought I could fix it with a camisole worn underneath, eventually I decided that adding layers in the summer wasn't such a hot idea.

So I picked up a better-fitting tank at the store for $5, cut the bottom off, cut the original out, and swapped 'em. The only tricky part was making sure I sewed the shirt to the elastic instead of the linen. Ten minutes later, I had my cute summer dress minus the necessarily cami.

Cherry Pie
And finally, I made it down to the kitchen where a frozen bag of pie cherries had been calling my name for months. Purchased from the farmer's market last year, I was long overdue for baking them into a pie.

So I dumped some flour, butter and water into the food processor, dunked the cherries in a sugar syrup...rolled, poured, covered and pricked...and Presto! dessert for the week!

Tell Me!
Tell me what you've been up to! Any projects you're working on? Any pictures you want to send me? (you can, to shillberry@stephaniehillberry.com) Share about them by commenting below!

Previous Related posts:
Lime Green Shimmer
Dining in Style
Sewing in Good Company
The Creative Hour

Accessories (Part 2)

I mentioned yesterday that I like to swap out my room accessories (usually via slipcovers) from season to season to freshen up my living spaces and keep me from getting bored.  Incidentally, I usually do the same for my wardrobe every year, only I'm not always as resourceful.  For instance, last year I stood in my closet, looking at all the spring stuff I had from years passed, and inevitably felt like something was missing.  So,  I headed out to the shops to liven things up with a couple new shirts, a skirt, or a dress.  

Partly this routine is preening--you know, the practice animals do when they get all dussied up for mating season.  Similar to the birds, I think I picked up on this habit in high school, when I was eager snatch up a prom date (Not so much for mating, of course.  More for dancing and having fun.).  The habit remains to this day.  

This year, however, I don't have the cash to spend on new shirts and dresses.  So I decided to apply the same principle--swapping out accessories--for my wardrobe as I did for my house.  Instead of getting clothes, I snagged a cute pair of red wedges (with a peep toe, of course!), and a fedora.  Both of them coordinate with almost everything I own, and cost me about $30.00 together.  And I'll get a lot more mileage out of those $30 than I would from the same amount spent on a new dress or shirt because I don't have to wait for laundry day to wear them again.

I know, I know--this is Fashion 101.  But getting back to the basics this spring has been refreshingly good for both my pocketbook and my look!  It is also helping me get ready for my next series, Recessionistas (starting soon!), since pinching pennies without abandoning creative expression is a Big part of persevering through economic dips.  Stick around to hear more, coming soon!

Previous Related Posts:

Accessories (Part 1)

Pinching a Pretty Penny

Super Spring Fashion Finds (in case you do want more than just accessories...)

Flowie Style

I have a special affection for textile designers, so when Sunset magazine introduced me to a new favorite this month, I thought I'd share.

Her name is Yaling Hou and her design line is called Flowie.  I love her nature-inspired drawings, which she sketches when something catcher her eye during walks around town or in the park.  As for her finished products, I really like her bags--especially the cute little ones.  She has a lot more to offer than just bags, too, and at reasonable prices.

I write a lot about women who take their creativity to the market.  Yaling is one such woman.  Take some time to check out her shop at flowiestyle.com.

This post is part of August's Summer Squeeze series.

Share with me your favorite designer, or a female entrepreneur you admire by emailing me at shillberry@comcast.net