seriouslystoffel

I'm starting this post with a quote from Oscar de la Renta, since I kind of love his work...

"Fashion is about dressing according to what's fashionable. Style is more about being yourself."

And that is what this little blog is about... Style.

So, I was all about Marie Kondo's Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up before we moved across a few states recently to clear my house and mind.  It was great, and we hauled about 11 loads to the landfill, donated countless items, and gave several things away.  While I'm feeling much better about what surrounds me right now (I'm not kidding anyone here, my house is still a mess with dogs, kids, and me), I wanted to work on putting meaningful pieces in my closet.

I have tried Stitch Fix, and enjoyed it for the most part.  However, I didn't feel it was very personal, and I just wasn't getting quite what I wanted.  NOTE: this could be largely my fault for not attempting to work harder at communicating what I wanted.

Enter Trunk Club for Women.  One night I thought I would give it a try for one month and see how I felt about it.  To my shock and awe, a live person stylist started chatting with me during the sign up.  She asked legit specific questions about what I do, what I wanted, what I look like, where I shop... Um, these are things I ask my clients for photo shoot styling!  I was impressed.

My stylist put together items and I could review them before the trunk shipped.  Those $300 silk shirts... deleted.  Don't ship them.  I have kids, and dogs.



My trunk arrived a few days later, and here's some of what I got (in awful low quality photos):


 

 

I tried them all on, and had a couple of immediate "no"s, and a few maybes.  I walked away.

I let them all float around in my thoughts while I worked, and went about my life for a while.

I came back to my closet, and this is where magic happens.
Since I'd thought about each piece in context of my closet, and then had them all right there to try on with things in my closet, I could easily see where they fit in with the rest of what I own, what they'd replace, or what I didn't need.  I also had easy access to accessories and shoes I already owned.  I am one of those gals that likes to buy in outfits, so this keeps me from over buying (oh, I already had a leopard scarf and tan shoes).  It also lets you see how versatile something might be with other items you already have.  And finally, it helps you to dig through your closet and find things to revive or donate.

Here's the real winner-winner-chicken-dinner from my trunk:

 

 

I loved a few other items in the trunk, like those black Seychelles booties (which I had asked for fall booties), but they were sadly not the right fit, and I would prefer brown.  I may give my stylist this feedback, and see if she can send some next time.  Like other subscriptions, there's a label in the trunk to send what you don't want back, and you have 5 days to try everything on.
I recommend giving yourself one or two of those days, at least, to consider some items.
The styling fee is $25, which gets credited to any item(s) you choose to keep.

AND, I really want a fitness trunk... which they now have! So maybe I'll do some workout stuff, maybe start rocking the red dress a bit better? Just a thought.  I am going to make sure I have some wine in the pantry.

Go get yourself a Trunk Club subscription, and choose clothing pieces that are your style.

Brandy

Life is full of style.  Everywhere, there is a pattern, a color, a lack of color, a shape, a smell, an angle, that evokes joy or disdain in you.  The things you surround yourself with affect your mood, your productivity, and your outlook.

As I prepare to move from the North back to the South, I have been flooded with emotions, divine and deafening.  Memories from childhood through the present have invaded my dreams with relentless assaults on my subconscious.  Who I was, and who I am are in direct confrontation about who I will be.  I look around my home as we prepare to bid adieu and I need to digest the years here that have nourished my character and prepared me for the next home.

I'm just fascinated by houses. In another life, I'd have probably trained as an architect. If I had enough money, I'd collect them like other people collect teapots. I don't know why I love them so much. I'm just very interested in the idea of a house as a metaphor for the way one lives.
-Frances Mayes, author

When we bought our original "fixer upper" she was a foreclosure, abandoned, and neglected.  But Ryan and I saw potential, a challenge, and a beautiful location.  Over the next two and half years, we (along with wonderful family) created a landscaped yard, took the kitchen to the sub flooring and started over, painted the walls, and replaced the banister, flooring, appliances, hardware, fixtures, and more.  We made it ours.

Beau Meyer Photography

Katie Heaney aptly opined about "matchy matchy" group attire in her book, Never Have I Ever: My Life (So Far) Without a Date:

"It has often been hard for me to know if people are serious when they talk about making T-shirts. Just to be clear: Nobody ever means it, ever. Making and wearing matching, themed T-shirts is embarrassing. Unless you want to make some with me right now, or something."

 When taking group pictures, even if just the kids, it is often difficult to decide whether to match or not.  If you decide to match, how much is too much? And if you don't match, how do you compliment each other without looking like Bert and Ernie?




If you opt for really matching (twins, for instance), go with neutral colors.  This will eliminate the distraction of matchy-matchy colors or patterns that may overwhelm the subjects of the photos.


Notice how bright colors against light colors stand out and allow you to see where one person ends and another begins.


 You don't have to stick to any color scheme to have a great family photo.  I mean, most families don't walk out of the house on a Tuesday color coordinated, so maybe you don't want your photos to be either.  Things to keep in mind when going rogue: what colors look good with your skin tones (orange has never been my color), consider who you want to stand out more for the brightest color/pattern, and lay out the clothes next to each other before picture day to see how you feel about them together.

Whether you choose to match, or not to match, here are some universal tips for better family photo style:

• For the love, stay away from logos (t-shirts, hats, hoodies)
• Your shoes will show up-- neon colored Nikes may steal your spotlight
• If you want to hang these on your wall, consider what style and colors your home is
• Dress for the season (if you are freezing at a photo shoot, it will show in your face)
• Be true to your own style - If you are a Rachel Ray, don't be a Kim Kardashian for picture day!

A friend of mine once told me, "I haven't changed, I've just become more myself."

And I'm happy to report, she's a greater friend today than 10 years ago when she said those wise words.

We all have difficulty identifying who we are from time to time.  I love to quote Alice in Wonderland, as is evidenced in the about me page of this blog, because it so whimsically describes the process of discovering how uniquely qualified, and flat out awesome we can be.

When you consider what you want your home to look like, whether you will wear a dress or jeans in your next family photo, or what your favorite book is, please remember its more than ok (its encouraged) to be for real with who you are right now: whether that is a skater dad, a momma's girl, a lumberjack lover, a hipster, or one half of a dynamic duo.

Kaley Rae Photography

Kaley Rae Photography

Tumbling Sparrow Photography

Tumbling Sparrow Photography

Tumbling Sparrow Photography

I'm SO incredibly excited about Joanna Gaines' new paint collab with Kilz!
Its time to repaint the ENTIRE house, y'all!




But I don't want to stop there.  Here are two outfit style boards inspired by the Magnolia Home paint line colors (you can find all the paint line colors here) :