The Last Word by Karen

The Beauty of Flowers/Belles Fleurs

My look:  Jacket,Vince Camuto

                Wide Leg culottes, White House Black Market

                Shoes, Trouvé

Botanist estimate that there are over 240,000 species of flowering plants.  Flowers personify beauty, life and are an important part of our Eco-system.

Flowers are used for beautifying spaces, they are the most common means of adding spice to a table or a party venue.  Flowers are given in celebration of important life events.

I love flowers!  Every year my yard is festooned with  tons of flowers; they are in the ground, in pots, they are everywhere in my yard.  During my second bout of cancer two years ago, I was unable to garden.  Not being able to get in the yard dampened my spirit.  I was  surprised  two years in a row by the kindness of  my co-workers.  I pulled up to my home after an appointment with my oncologist to find my work family, including my boss, planting flowers in my flower beds. I have never been so overwhelmed and appreciative.

This year I was able to plan and plant my own flower gardens and I am grateful.

You can satisfy your flower cravings without gardening.  Flowers are also an integral part of spring and summer wardrobes. Many of this year's floral dresses are shown on dark backgrounds or with mixed media.

Left: Clover Canyon, Saks  Right:Vince Camuto, Nordstrom

Left: Adrianna Papell, Nordstrom  Right:Betsey Johnson, Lord & Taylor

If you have friends, family or someone in your life  who is ill, think  about doing some small thing that will bring beauty and light to their life. Give a loved one a flower, one of Gods most beautiful and amazing creations. With that being said, if  you aren't into flower gardening, wear them!
Add beauty and decoration to your wardrobe. Enjoy the beauty of flowers!!!

On day at a time.

Karen

Chris's/Kris's Closet (Kristin) May 25, 2015

Kris's Closet

In this blog post you will get a glimpse of pieces in my closet, learn where I found them and where I wore them. My name is Kristin. Welcome to my closet!

I love Memorial Day weekend! The holiday usually kicks off my travel season. Monday I went with my guy to Lake Erie to celebrate the holiday. We started at the Walleye Festival in Port Clinton, where we had one of the best fried fish sandwiches either of us has ever eaten. The festival was right next to the water so we spent a lot of time gazing at the water. We left the festival and headed to one of our favorite junk food spots, Great Lakes Popcorn Company where I got some Citrus flavored popcorn that tasted a lot like Fruit Loops. We had Margaritas in Margaritaville in Sandusky, Ohio. In the area we also had dinner at a restaurant that was just okay. The last stop anytime we are in the area is always Toft's  Ice Cream Parlor. The small cone is literally four scoops of ice cream. 

Since I was going to the lake I wore my boat shoes. I wanted to be prepared in case it was cool by the lake so I layered a button up over a tee shirt dress. I love to pattern mix so I paired leopard accessories with my Aztec printed shirt. This was Monday's look.

T-shirt dress: Merona (thrift store find) 

Shirt: Lizwear (thrift store find)

Necklace: Passiana 

Earrings: Birthday gift from Christina by 14th & Union

Braceletes: Haute Look

Sunglasses: Quay Yibrow in gold
Clutch: Ann Taylor (old)
Shoes:Sperry Top Siders

 

 

 

Until next time,

Be blessed! Be free! Be fashionable!

Kris,

Bonus photos from Monday

Walleye Festival in Port Clinton

Downtown Port Clinton Ohio

 

Washington Park Floral Park in Sandusky, Ohio

Enjoying live music and a watermelon margarita at Margaritaville.

Toft's Red Velvet Small Cone

Chris's/Kris's Closet (Kristin) May 24, 2015

Kris's Closet

In this blog post you will get a glimpse of pieces in my closet, learn where I found them and where I wore them. My name is Kristin. Welcome to my closet!

Sunday was a low key day but still a lot of fun. I went shopping for pajamas for a friend who had a baby recently. Then I went to visit her and her son at her home. The rest of the day I spent relaxing in my parents backyard. I took these photos at my parent's house. This is what I wore.

I have worn the skirt and tee on the blog previously, but this is my first time wearing them together. I played down the skirt by pairing it with this Grace Jones t-shirt. I felt like some height so I wore my blue wedges. 

Grace Jones tee: Accidental Genius Clothing

Skirt: Elle (old thrift store find)

Belt: thrift store find

Earrings: Birthday gift from Christina by 14th & Union

Cut Out Wedges: Zigi Soho(old)

Sunglasses: Quay Yibrow in gold

Until next time,

Be blessed! Be free! Be fashionable!

Kris,

Chris's/Kris's Closet (Kristin) May 23, 2015

Kris's Closet

In this blog post you will get a glimpse of pieces in my closet, learn where I found them and where I wore them. My name is Kristin. Welcome to my closet!

 

It was an eventful holiday weekend starting with Saturday evening. I went winery hopping with my sister and my guy. We had to eat first so we stopped at our favorite Amish restaurant, Der Dutchman in Plain City. My sister had never been so she had a great time shopping at the onsite bakery and looking through the gift shop before we were seated for dinner. We ate, then we were off to our first winery in Plain City called Eldchrist Winery. That is where I stopped to take these photos. We planned to visit three wineries but were only able to make it through two. The second stop was Blend of Seven Winery in Delaware, Ohio. We had such a great time but after the heavy comfort food and the wine, we were ready for bed. This is what I wore.

My look was simple and comfortable. Wrap dresses are great for any body type and when it's made of tee shirt cotton, it can't get any better. I whole heartily believe in wearing flats when I plan to consume a decent amount of wine. Wineries tend to have a lot of rocky or uneven places and heels and wine don't always mix well. 

Dress: Lizsport Wrap Dress (thrift find)

Sandal Flats: Alfani (old)

Necklace: Was my grandma's

Earrings: Birthday gift from Christina by 14th & Union

Bracelet: Was my grandma's

Sunglasses: Quay Yibrow in gold

Hamburger Clutch: New Look from ASOS

Until next time,

Be blessed! Be free! Be fashionable!

Kris,

Bonus Photos From Saturday

Saturday Selfie

Eldchrist Winery

Blend of Seven Winery

Style Crush

Ugo Mozie Launches Jewelry Line w/ Frank Wilder

Photo Credit

About 2 months ago I did a series of Black History Month posts spotlighting African-American fashion stylists. One person I featured was Ugo Mozie, a celebrity fashion stylist known for working with Chris Brown. I recently received an email with news that Mozie had collaborated on a dope new men/women's jewelry line with Rogue Jewelry Designer Frank Wilder. As a jewelry designer myself, this quickly sparked my interest.

The "Eagle Collection" features Wilder's pioneering technique, which merges the traditional process of lost-wax casting with the modern process of 3D printing, which made a truly cutting-edge beautiful collection of silver and gold bracelets,necklaces, and rings. The collection draws inspiration from a variety of sources including velociraptors, the movie Jaws, Pablo Picasso, and travels to Bali. Below I will share with you some of my favorite pieces.

Justin Bieber quickly noticed this line and began donning it right away. I love that eagle ring.

Photo Credit

For more information, check them out:

Frank Wilder: Instagram   Twitter   Facebook   Website

Ugo Mozie:    Instagram   Twitter   Facebook   Website 

Until Next Time, Ciao!

*Chris*

The Last Word by Karen

Flared Jeans and Culottes

The resurgence of 1970 styles

My Look: Top, Jacket & Flares by White House Black Market, shoes Nine West

As fashion trends re-emerge,  you wonder why you didn't keep the clothing you previously owned. Just think, if you had the space to store clothes from the 1970's would you?  I'm sure the flare jeans and culottes sold back in the day have changed slightly from the items being sold in 2015.

Flare Jeans 

Flares from my high school days. Hanging out with grandma.

I have worn skinny jeans since they became popular in 2007, I have now decided to throw in a couple of pairs of jeans with "flare".  My previous flared jeans were never worn "as is", I decorated them with ribbons, hands and flowers in high school and college,  I embroidered my astrological sign and symbol on them along with my initials and the initials of my college sweetheart. My mom thought the jeans with the hands were a little crass.  When people asked me to embellish their jeans I complied, then I stopped wearing mine. I wasn't trying to look like 

  everybody else.

Culottes

photo courtesy of stylishtwo.com

Culottes have also made a comeback. According to Wikipedia the women's fashion industry has taken a word that has historically been used to describe mens garments to describe a split, bifurcated skirt or any garment which hangs like a skirt but is actually pants.

My Look: Top & Culottes by White House Black Market, shoes LAMB

If you didn't like 1970's styles the first time around, give one of the trends a try. It will give you additional options for your wardrobe.  Maybe you saved old pairs of gently used flares or culottes, if not,  buy the 2015 versions.

There's nothing new under the sun!

One day at a time!
Karen,

This Month's Obsession

This Month's Obsession!!!

Often I see a trend or an accessory that takes over my mind. I see it, I fall in love with it and then I obsess about it. Once the feeling hits me, I go into research mode then I must have it, so I buy it. Then I buy it again in three more colors or variations in styles. Yes, if I love it then I need to have many options; soon after, I have moved on to a new love. Today my obsession is... 


Identity Pendants!!!

In case you are asking, "What is an identity pendant?". Well, for me it is anything that speaks to who you are from a factual stand point. In other words, personalized jewelry.  We have been sporting initial monogram necklaces and other accessories for a while now. Carrie Bradshaw, brought back the name pendants that we wore in the 80s and 90s.  People are buying more birthstone jewelry. Now I am noticing a growing popularity in wearing the state that you live in or love around your neck. It showed up around 2013 but now you find these state necklaces everywhere you go.
I love all of these things and lately I have been wearing less statement pieces and my identity pieces have become my go to pieces. They may be simple but simple can be elegant. They are easy to wear with anything from denim to dressy. Check out some of my favorite looks and learn a few things about me.

 
You know my first name is Kristin and that I live in Ohio from reading the blog. A few things you may not already know that you should gather from these pendants, my middle initial is N and I was born in Florida.  I fly two state flags, so I had to represent both Ohio and Florida. How fun, right?

Get the Look!!! Kris Picks!!!

I am all about supporting the etsy community so all of my selections come from Etsy and from United States sellers . I have decided to feature the best shops instead of individual pieces. I am a little jealous because the cuts of some of these items are so much better than my pieces. I wish I would have found these shops when I was shopping for my pendants. 

State pendants are perfectly cut, even the curviest of states at Ivy By Design.

The shop also carries country pendants and monogram necklaces.

Monogram necklaces come in a few sizes but I love the 2'' extra large that is offered at Personalize Me Jewelry. The sterling silver pendant is sold with your choice of chain length from 14 to 35". They also sale personalized name necklaces in sterling silver and sterling with 18kt gold plating.  My mom bought my necklace for Christmas in 2013 from this shop.

If  you are looking for something with a little more color, Sassy Southern Gals has fun acrylic monogram necklaces with different pattern options and three options for chain material.  You can also shop colorful patterned monogram bracelets and earrings.

For a truely personalized necklace, you can have you own hand writing turned into a necklace at Mackenzie Treasury.  This is a great idea for a late Mother's Day gift. The shop can do a message or  it would be cool to have a name pendant in your signature, that is if it's legible.

Remember when everyone was wearing dog tags? I still love these things but I have no idea where mine went. I think I may want to revisit these but class it up in sterling silver.  

Hearts of Silver allows you to choose from six different fonts and the dog tag pendant comes with a sterling 24'' beaded chain.

We have seen celebs rocking personalized items on reruns of Sex And the City and weekly on the Wendy Williams Show. I have admired the state pendants since I first saw Eva Longoria wearing her Texas pendants a couple years ago. She must really love her state because she has been seen wearing more than one style of Texas pendant. These pendants are really fun pieces and they are items that we will probably wear for a long time because they aren't just about style or trends, they are about us. 

Until next time,

Be blessed! Be free! Be fashionable!

Kris,

photo credits: theinbetweengirls.com, theroot.com & myfashionjuice.com