It is a joy to host my friend Danielle today! My first (and continuing) impression of Danielle includes her friendly smile and her stellar sense of style. Danielle always looks professional, put-together, and classically lovely. I admire that her outfits always seem to be both timeless and on-trend all at once- a difficult feat. But beyond the surface, Danielle portrays the value and dignity that she knows she owns as a daughter of God. Her fashion sense is merely an outward expression of that inner truth. And bonus! Danielle asked her good friend Morgan (also a fellow teacher, also happens to have a friendly smile and stellar fashion sense) to write some tips and reflections on how she has dressed during her first pregnancy. I hope that you enjoy their words as much as I have!
Life is Beautiful Dress Accordingly
For those of you who know Katie, follow her
blog, or have been on her site for even a mere 30 seconds will not be surprised
to learn that her home is truly a reflection of who she is and what she cares
about. In every room you will find history, inspiration, purpose, and of
course creativity. Her bathroom is no exception. Of the many words of wisdom
found throughout her home, a simple framed clothing tag spoke to my heart. It
read, “Life is Beautiful Dress Accordingly”. Those few words spoke a sassy
truth that I could not deny.
I was humbled when Katie asked if I would put
together a few of my thoughts about the importance of dressing for the occasion
of life. After all, there are many cringe worthy photographs of me out
there, especially from my adolescent years, that would destroy any shred of
credibility that I have. That said, I come by my love of clothes honestly
for my mother who has had a “fashion board” for as long as I can remember that
displays outfits pulled from magazines and catalogs that she admires. Do
not get the wrong idea here, these were not outfits she was planning on
purchasing but rather works of art in the eyes of someone who sewed her and her
three children’s clothes for at least the majority of my childhood.
After a few awkward years of hand me downs and
buying trendy things just to fit in, I started to find my style niche when I
began working at The Limited. It was there that I really experienced the
uplifting boost that can come from a correctly chosen outfit and the difference
quality pieces make. An added bonus was that I made wonderful friends
there that helped me learn and build upon the fashion foundation started by my
mother. I could talk about this developed passion for days, but with the
help of some industry icons, I will narrow it down to some basic points to
consider when thinking about clothing.
“Dress shabbily they will notice the dress.
Dress impeccably they will notice the woman.” - Coco Chanel
This is an important thought to consider and one
that frames all of the subsequent points. There is a deep rooted desire
in all of us to be respected, understood, and appreciated for the wonderful
women we are. Your choice in clothing can help to make that possible.
There is a difference between dressing to get noticed or getting noticed
because of how you dressed. Seek to pair together pieces that are not a
distraction but rather a compliment to the beautiful creation God intended you
to be. And if you are more of the practical type, realize that putting on
a flattering dress involves fewer steps and less laundry than sweats and a
hoodie!
“Style is a way to say who you are without
having to speak” - Rachel Zoe
There will always be preemptive judgments cast
from others based on our appearance, but instead of viewing this as a negative,
think of it as an opportunity to invite others to get to know you better.
Your outward appearance should be a reflection of what you value.
It is worth underscoring here that it is not “vain” to put effort into
looking nice. On the contrary, the effort you put forth simply shows that you
have self-worth and value your dignity as a person which is undeniably an
important fundamental truth of Christianity.
"Your clothes should be tight enough to show you
are a woman but loose enough to show you are a lady" - Marilyn Monroe
A little bit ironic that this quote came from
Marilyn Monroe but regardless it is great advice to live by. We are
fortunate in this era to have a variety of sizes and price points available
right at our fingertips. No longer do you have to just settle for what is
at the department store but instead can browse the web exclusively for sizes
that match your need. As someone with above average height and feet to match, I
know all too well the frustration of walking into a store and realizing that
not a thing in the place is going to fit the way it should. For the most part I
go out shopping to find ideas and the occasional deal but most of my purchasing
is done online so that I can get pieces that are flattering and appropriate for
my shape.
"The fashionable woman wears clothes. The clothes
don’t wear her." - Mary Quant
This is where it becomes important to use some
discernment with what you are buying and how you are putting it all together.
If you are uncomfortable or unsure about what you are wearing, that will
inevitably show in your behavior. Avoid walking into a store and thinking
that you have to wear the exact outfit from the display. It is best to
start simple and build a solid base of basics you are comfortable with and then
add in something that makes the outfit special. You can make any white
tee shirt and jeans pop with the right jewelry, shoes, or cardigan.
Bottom line, make sure you put together outfits that help build your
confidence.
“Life isn’t perfect but your outfit can be” -
Anonymous
Let’s be honest here and call out the fact that
life doesn’t always seem beautiful. In a world that is full of
unpredictability it is empowering to maintain control where we can.
Choosing your outfit is one of these areas. On some of the days
when I’m having a particularly negative outlook, I put extra effort into making
sure I look nice. This inevitably helps to boost my mood and at the very
least brings me a bit of joy that may not otherwise be there.
Even out of context people mention that certain
events are worthy of wearing your “Sunday best” but it is important to consider
that each and every day as a Christian you are a visible piece of evidence that
God the almighty creator exists. For some, you may be the only version of
the Gospel they “read”, so take time to make sure your cover is an accurate
portrayal of the beauty that accompanies living a life where Christ is King.
There is a lot more to say, but I want to be
sure and save some space for a special look at dressing while you are pregnant.
There are numerous traits I appreciate about my friend Morgan, but
without a question one of the first things I noticed was that every time I was
around her she was wearing something I wish I had hanging in my closet.
Now just over a month away from giving birth to her first child, she is
still rocking outfits I wish I could borrow.
Pregnant Thoughts
”Pregnancy is such a miracle!” ”It’s the most
beautiful period of your life!” “You’re practically glowing!”
Yes, I 100% agree- it IS a miracle, it IS a gift
from God, it IS amazing to see how an actual person grows by the day inside of
me. But when the little miracle that grows by the day has you constantly waking
up with the question, “What’s going to fit and/or look right today?” it starts
to feel a little less beautiful.
I am accustomed to having a full closet (let’s
be honest, a closet and a half...) of clothes to choose from that I have
meticulously pieced together. Now suddenly I’m faced with the realization that
either:
A. I need to spend thousands of dollars on a
brand new wardrobe that I will only wear for 5 months (most people can get away
with wearing MOST of their pre-pregnancy clothes, to some extent, for the first
few months with the help of a Bella Band and some ingenuity), or
B. I need to come up with a game plan of how I
can work with what I’ve got, and then invest in some classic pieces to mix and
match and hopefully use again in subsequent pregnancies.
I’m a third grade teacher, therefore, in all
aspects of my life, I’m a planner. Before I even needed maternity clothes
(remember, you don’t have to do all your shopping the minute you see those two
pink lines!), I started my research with a few questions in mind and here’s
what I found:
Which
store has the best deals?
- Hands down, Old Navy. Typically, you can get
between 30-50% off on any given day, combined with free shipping (when you
spend over $50) and rewards dollars (from my pre-pregnancy Banana Republic
addiction), I found my best bargains from here. These perks, along with free
returns (in case those pants, that they said would fit in your “pre-pregnancy
size,” wouldn’t slide over your newly sized hips-remember, it’s a beautiful
time!) makes Old Navy an ideal place to start.
Who
has the cutest/most normal looking maternity clothes?
- In my opinion, Ann Taylor Loft. As one whose
personality and attitude is expressed firsthand through the clothes I choose
for the day, sticking to my pre-pregnancy style was a must for me. Though
often more expensive, Loft maternity wear makes me feel the most “normal”
during a period in my life that is so abnormal. On the plus side, you can
usually catch a good 30% off sale to make the purchase not so daunting, and if
shopping enough ahead of time, you can wait for some things to go on sale.
Where
can I get fastest shipping?
- Because, let’s face it, there will be days when
all of a sudden, those pants you just wore three days ago, won’t slide over
your hips, and you need something to wear to work ASAP. I found that Loft
has the fastest shipping, without having to pay an arm and a leg extra.
Where
can I get good “basics?”
- I found that Gap had great basic tees for
layering, especially crew neck tees, for a decent price. It seems like an
odd request, but when your bust grows a few extra sizes, it’s kind of nice to
not have to layer up with a tanktop under a v-neck (Why do so many stores
insist on only carrying v-neck tees for maternity attire??). Otherwise, Target
has a good selection of basic tees, but I will warn you, they’re all v-neck!
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Find what works, wait for it to go on sale, then buy it in every color.
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As I said before, I wanted my pregnancy style to
stay as similar as possible to what I wear when not pregnant. I love clothes, I
would even say shopping is my top “hobby,” but I also know better than to spend
too much on something unless completely and absolutely necessary (I can’t be
the only girl who has justified a purchase by doing the age-old math equation:
price of garment divided by number of times I plan to wear it).
I have tried my best to continue shopping at the
same stores I did pre-pregnancy, but sometimes you do have to step into that
dreaded store: Motherhood Maternity. Here I found a couple gems: a great pair
of basic dark, skinny jeans (an absolute necessity), a swimsuit (for $12 no
less! Trust me, wait for the sales on this site), and a cute pair of Jessica
Simpson flowy shorts (finding the perfect pair of maternity shorts could be an
entirely different article).
By shopping early and holding out for sales I
was able to start a good base wardrobe complete with basic tees in various
colors (Gap!), black and navy pants (Old Navy!), and a few cotton dresses
(Target). I then worked on layering these basics with accessories and items I
already owned. Even if those cardigans or jackets don’t button, layer them
anyways! Switch out the sweater or jacket for a fun printed scarf or a
statement necklace and you have a brand new outfit.
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With a few scarves, you can make countless outfits out of maternity basics.
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Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t stop with those few
items! But at least having a starting point helped me build a solid maternity
wardrobe for the upcoming months that I was both comfortable in, and felt my
best.
Pregnancy is truly a miracle, a gift from God,
and a blessing. Dressing beautifully during this time only adds to the
joy of the beautiful life being created day by day.
I loved hosting Danielle and Morgan today! How have you found your own style niche and stuck with it during different events and times in your life? Chime in the comment box with your tips!
If you are curious, you can go back and read the posts from last year here. And make sure you come back for one more unique post tomorrow and beautiful things giveaway on Friday!
