Don't forget to Shine!

This last week I have seen some of the most beautiful women I've ever seen.  It was amazing to see their inner beauty shine through on the outside... let me tell you about them.

One was a mom whose husband was called away to Alabama late Friday.  She took her two baseball kiddos and her third child as her cheerleader to the ball fields on Saturday.  She went to church, hosted a Wildtree Food Prep Workshop and made it to our Church Small Group on Sunday Night.  Despite how tired this stay at home, home school teaching mom was... she shined.

Her look was put together and her eyes told us that "she made it" to the final event of the weekend.  Phew!  But she shined with the confidence that she made it and could get through the busy week.

Here are a few pieces I found online that are similar to her outfit.  She is a Soft.  Look for an idea and see what you have in your closet.

Khaki Cardigan

Khaki Pants

Another woman I met tonight was dressed in navy scrubs (P.S. BEST color for every woman).  She had on a watch and glasses.  She had no other accessories except for medical items like a stethescope around her neck and a pen in her cargo pocket... but she had the sparkle!

She found a way to be personable, kind, and show her inner beauty though being understanding and loving in a tough situation.  She knew that my family was having a rough day and she smiled anyways... and it helps to know that a woman like that is helping my dad tonight. 

This week I hope you can do two things...
1) I hope you can dress up and look fabulous despite the world being crazy around you.
And 2) I hope you can shine in no matter what outfit you are wearing and be radiant in your own skin.

Here are my two things from this week:
1) I have committed to wearing accessories the last few weeks and one of those has been earrings.  I have been such a good follower of Shari's "find a great pair of hoop earrings and rock them" rule that I've hung up on 4 people this week when my swinging hoop earring shut off my touch screen phone.   AND I haven't walked around with just one earring on when I took the earring off to talk on the phone. 

2) I have worn really cute outfits to work (nice pants and cute jacket/top combinations with accessories) and I decided that wearing my chunky steel toe shoes still counts as 2 points on the 16-point Accessory Rule chart so I'm going to not worry about looking too manly.  

2b) I also decided that Accessory Rule points are still points even when jewelry does not match EXACTLY... shiny silver, brushed pewter, gem stone piece... just own the look... especially if they are accessories in different areas like earrings, bracelet and necklace. 

Confidence is 90% of the sparkle factor.   Go out there and shine!

P.S.  I told both women that I felt they were beautiful.  Try it yourself and see the result!

Love ya ladies!

Laura

Supporting Fashion Editor of FashionMeetsFaith.com

Leggings are Not Pants

STYLE RULE FOR LEGGINGS: 

It seems there are some (many) women and teens that don't know this but, drumroll:

LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS.

Leggings are meant to be worn with a longer style top and one that is at least 4-6 inches longer than your booty.

Girls, please don't leave the house in leggings with short, regular style shirts as in picture shown.

And mama, please don't wear them either.

Sometimes a post just needs to be short and sweet.

love you girls!

Shari

www.FashionMeetsFaith.com  

Shari says flats are IN but only if...

Flats.. they are feet snuggly and allow your tootsies a quick escape when the beach or the backyard beckons… but sometimes they are unexciting and just plain drab.

So how do you know which styles to choose?

Let’s start with you Fashion Personality.    

If you like a little quirky, slightly hip with a touch of vintage, and you don’t mind some of the “off the wall” fashions… you might be a Creative Original.

As a Creative Original….Your flats should be the same… quirky, vintage/hip and slightly off the wall.  They could be Minnie Mouse or kittens or paisley or artsy.

If you like classic looks dressed up to current fashions you are likely a Classic Modern.  Keep your styles straight forward with a bow, sparkle, or a ruffle.  Adding a plain shoe in a bright color is fabulous too!

If your style is bling, fashion forward, prints and accessorizing then you may be a Style Fashionista.  Keep your styles on trend and enjoy accessorizing your shoes.  

If your family is happy that you are wearing shoes to a backyard barbecue then you may be our dear Pure Natural.  Go for a simple style that makes you smile... denim, black and white do not count... be bold!

This is just a start for your every day, wear more than once pairs of flats.  If you are a Fashionista who thinks that Minnie Mouse is awesome for a niece’s 3^rd birthday party… then by all means… go for it! 

There is nothing stopping you from wearing something fashionable, fun AND comfortable this Spring.  

Wear your flats with jeans, dresses, work outfits, or even yoga pants... they are versatile and can make you feel like super woman... well at the very least you might be able to run in them (I can hear Shari cringe but that is why I love my flats!... they are feet friendly).

Which flats would you wear?  Where are you going and what are you wearing with them... imaginative outings are fair game in the comments... we all love to dream a little don't we?

Love ya gals!

Laura

Now for the eye candy!  You hopefully can find some inspiration from these outfits!

Can’t find enough flat ideas?   Try Polyvore where these fashions came from.

From Drab to Fab...

Hi Ladies!  It is starting to look sunnier outside!  Yea!!!

Today's post comes from a Pinterest pin that I found on a friend's board.  If you don't know the lingo for Pinterest then it's ok... it might be better for you anyways since it IS a little addicting!

I found this Pin from a mom/grandma/seamstress who is in her late 50's... she liked the idea of re-purposing Goodwill type clothing.

The Pinterest topic was showing how you (not me, the sewing inept) can turn a bargain bin piece into a great outfit.

Here is one example of a drab outfit that was made into a fab dress.  Click here to see the ReFashionista post.

I have a question for you though... did you realize that both pictures have the same woman?  That cute spunky young woman on the right is the same woman on the left?

Does the woman on the left look young?  Modern? Do you want to hang out with her?  OR does she look frumpy and old?

Now you don't need to look like a 20-something fashionista who re-creates the latest fashions... but taking a look at what your fashions say about you is a definite way to look and feel younger.

A few things to remember when picking out an outfit.

* Does it fit properly?  Is it too baggy or does it pull?

* Is it in your color pallet?

* Is your chin up and is there a smile of confidence on your face?

If your outfit isn't this awesome then give it to someone who will be able to give it the love it deserves!

A little more info...

Her little black dress post.

Jillian is a master at her craft and that she is helping women in need with her newest fashions by donating the sale of the garments to a local women's shelter. If you plan to visit ReFashionista's website be aware that Jillian shares her re-fashion steps as well as her personal life including social gatherings that toast to her accomplishments.  We hope her site shows you not only how to re-fashion looks but also which looks are great and which looks need a makeover.

What in your closet could use a re-fashionista touch?  Let us know!

With love,

Laura

Supporting and Contributing Editor of FashionMeetsFaith.com

Layers and Lengths

Hi Ladies!

It's Spring… with Jack Frost hanging on in some areas.

It’s the time of the year where it might be chilly in the morning, hot in the afternoon and raining when you think it is supposed to be sunny… well at least that’s how it feels in Michigan.

So how do you dress without feeling like you’re taking your whole closet with you?

Layers!

This weekend I attended a baby shower.  It was chilly outside (almost cold enough for my winter coat).

I wore a shawl over a sleeveless dress.  I also wore bare legs and strappy open toe sandals.

It was a perfect amount of pieces to my outfit!  Once we got moving (and talking) the room got warm and the shawl was left at my chair.  The sandals helped cool me down too. 

If it had been raining I had a towel in my car to wipe my feet and if I was cold I could always go get my coat from the car to cover my legs.

(Skirt) Length!

I love to run around and be helpful.  I love to move.  Skirts and I have had a long Love/Hate relationship… until I found the perfect length for me.

My favorite skirts end just above the knee or just below the knee (Chanel length or your knee diamonds).

They give me the opportunity to sit nicely without worrying that every pleat is in it’s place.  I can move, pick up items from the ground AND I can dress them up with a heel or dress them down with a flat. 

I have a few dresses that are at this length and it is so freeing to know that I don’t have to worry about “behaving”.  Instead I can help carry gifts, sit in a chair with my hands full, or even capture escaping kiddos.

On a regular day-to-day basis I have a few cotton skirts that hit just below my knee and I honestly live in them once the weather is warmer.  I can sit, stand, kneel, run errands and they even look cute with my grey and lime green sneakers!

If this length isn’t your favorite… maxi-length skirts are a great find too.  Maxi-Length skirts (and dresses) are ankle length skirts that allow you to feel cooler (heat-wise) while still being covered.

Maxi-Length Skirts have a warning attached to them!  Choose prints that are in your color pallet.  Prints help women maximize assets and minimize trouble areas (at the same time!).  When wearing this look make sure the cut of the fabric shows that you have a waist (even if it is the seams on the garment… you should look like you have a waist).   Long skirts should be paired with a tank top, fitted jacket or another closer fit top.

 Use Polyvore to find some cute long skirt options here.

Alright ladies!  Question time for you!

·         Do you dare bare your upper arms?

·         What is your favorite skirt or dress length?

Boyfriend Trend and Bra Straps

Hey girlfriends,

I hope your Easter weekend was BEAUTIFUL and that you gave thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who died and ROSE AGAIN for each of us! 

I spend alot of my time posting over at the Fashion Meets Faith Facebook Page so this dear blog here gets a little neglected at times so I thought I'd post the last 3 facebook entries to help you see what's going on over there...and to get you up to speed on some fashion issues as you prepare for Spring.

So here goes.

 Boyfriend Trend

The Boyfriend Trend is a popular look. It's like crossing your favorite jeans with a pair of capris. The look is fresh, new and fun, especially if you get them in a pretty color like these from Old Navy. All body types can wear them.

 

Bra Stuff

Have you taken an inventory of your Bras lately? Here's a few bra tips. A flesh color bra is best as it will go under everything without showing through your clothes. The band should go straight around evenly, not hike up in the back. Every woman should have at least three bras. The one you're wearing, one in the wash, and one that is resting. Resting, you might ask? Yes, resting. You should only wear a bra one day, (not two or more days in a row), so when you're not wearing it, you allow it to 'rest' for a 24 hour period to maintain its shape! Your bust line should sit between your elbows and top of shoulder.

 

Style with Confidence Modesty Tip

 Keep your bra straps hidden. One should never be privvy to them...no matter if they're clear, yellow, red, blue or polka dot...invest in a strapless bra or strap trap (clip for holding your straps together at the back) for tops and dresses that otherwise would show the world your straps.

 Hope you're enjoying this weather as it warms up!

Love you gals,

Shari

FashionMeetsFaith

 

Did You Accessorize with Kindness Today?

Did You Accessorize with Kindness Today?

The Spring Newsletter from Fashion Meets Faith went out yesterday and in it I wrote an article called 

Does What You Wear Affect Other Women?

Did you read it? If not, here it is:

The Bible has such wise advice when it comes to dressing ourselves. One of my favorite verses comes from Colossians 3:12, it says,
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

How we dress affects other women. Yes, I said women. Consider your friend who isn’t confident in her appearance; consider the woman at church whose husband isn’t faithful to her (with his eyes or otherwise), consider the mom at your child’s school who struggles with her weight. If you walk into a room showing off your assets in a not-so-modest way, you may affect the way another woman sees herself. All of a sudden, she feels even less confident in the way she looks. She didn’t see herself as pretty before she left the house and now her self-esteem has sunk even lower because she’s comparing herself to you.

This Spring, as skirts get shorter and tops get skimpier, I challenge you to consider others when you pick out your clothes each morning. Be kind and compassionate when you dress and consider how your choice of clothing may affect another woman; maybe even your BFF or your daughter who isn’t built like you. Consider those around you who could benefit from your gentle spirit and sincere humility. And if you’re the one who is affected by the way others dress, wouldn’t a little kindness from others go a long way in what they choose to wear?
 

  My friend and CIC graduate Sharon Woryn made a comment on Facebook yesterday, after reading the article, and had this to say:

"I pray each morning that the Lord would line my lips with encouragement for others and my eyes with compassion."

I love that!

The thing I want to get across in this article, is not that we shouldn't dress nicely (for goodness sakes!) but when we dress each morning, we need to examine our HEART and perhaps the reason we're dressing a certain way. If we choose the low cut top because we know our friend's cute husband is in the room, we have a heart issue even more than a clothing issue...make sense?

So, tell me, how could you accessorize each day with one of the qualities that is described in Colossians. Say it in a sentence like Sharon did above. I can't wait to hear your responses!

Love you gals!

Shari 
Fashion Meets Faith  

The Lioness and the Lamb

In the Midwest, kids are taught that March comes in like a Lion and out like a Lamb.

The Lioness and the Lamb

When we think of Lions we think of commanding, ferocious, unblinking and unyielding.  They say look at me. 

When we think of Lambs we think, soft, soothing, young inexperienced, meek and bashful.

In Christian fashion we want to walk the line between these opposites. 

In fashion we do not want to be lionesses --- commanding (revealing), ferocious (immodest), unblinking (slutty) or unyielding (disrespectful).  

We also do not want to be lambs --- soft (frumpy yet comfy), soothing (no-waist), inexperienced (no-makeup), meek (hidden in the wrong colors), or bashful (hidden in the extra clothing).

We want to be right in the middle

Where natural makeup meets shapely attire. 

Where comfortable becomes powerful yet polite.

Where hem lengths kiss knees and sizes are spot on.

Like the tug of war in the seasons we also find ourselves in the tug of war in our fashions.  We need to show off as a lioness with her majestic and regal attributes and to appear as a lamb who is approachable and kind.

What does your Fashion say about you today?

                                                             What other ways have you heard about Lions and Lambs?

Blessings,

Laura

Supporting and Contributing Editor of FashionMeetsFaith.com

Fun in 5 Minutes

Hi Ladies! 

Laura here, reporting on some great products I have been using and wanted to share with you I want to share with you!

In no particular order...

Almay Eye kits... They are available for all eye colors.   This "paint by number" kit is great for an every day or an evening look.  The case itself shows where the eye shadow goes and viola!  You are good to go!

As a hazel eyed beauty I have also opted to purchase a L'Oreal eye color kit for the green eyed ladies, it makes the green in my eyes pop.  I found this kit at a big discount at Ulta in the clearance aisle... I had to dig so don't be shy!

I have a confession.  I have had a habit of biting my nails for a very long time.

This product has helped me keep my nails looking good.  I have not broken the habit, even after 6 straight months of this product, however, as long as I remembered to put this on I had good looking nails.   It appears as a matte finish and can be found at CVS.

Because my natural nails looked great I was able to try out the Shellac nail color.  It is supposed to last 2 weeks... and it did!  My cuticles needed some maintenance after 2 weeks, but the color stayed beautiful!  The manicure ran me $30-40 but it was worth having the nice looking nails for 2 weeks.

On a whim I found this great lip color product, CoverGirl Outlast.  It is a two part system where I put on the lip color to dry lips and let it stand 2 minutes.  I then nourish my lips with the "chapstick" type lip gloss.  I now have two colors of this lipstick, one for evening and one for day time.  My day time look is very close to my natural lip color only a little pinker (and more even) and my evening color is a dark berry color (not suitable for working with a bunch of guys).  It makes my lips dry but it is worth it to me to just carry around chap stick instead of dealing with lipstick throughout the day.

I love the CoverGirl lip color but as I mentioned it dries out my lips so I use the Satin Lips from Mary Kay.  Exfoliation for my lips and a sweet balm to nourish them.

Alright ladies...those are my 5 tips in 5 minutes.

Let me know if you use any of these products or similar products!  We love great tips to try out!

Laura
Supporting and Contributing Editor of FashionMeetsFaith.

Do You See Margaret?

Margaret laughed to herself as she stood solo among the group of women. Her laugh was not one of happiness but one of mockery at herself and those around her. They didn’t even see her. They didn’t notice she had worn the same outfit for the last three weeks. They didn’t observe her as she lingered by herself each time she had come.

Margaret was new to the area and decided to visit a few local churches and bible studies before she landed on one. But it all seemed to turn out the same everywhere she went, no one noticed her. She was shy and introverted and it was hard for her to be the first to start a conversation with someone. “Why oh why, doesn’t someone talk to me?” she thought to herself, feeling awkward as she poured a cup of coffee in the entry way.

Have you ever found yourself in this situation? Have you ever gone somewhere and feel absolutely invisible?

My son started a new school a few years ago and I found myself in a similar situation. As I attended the PTA meeting for the first time I looked around the room, not knowing a soul. As I continued glancing around, I noticed I wasn’t the only one by myself. There were other women who appeared not to know anyone either. Each one, standing or sitting alone, pretending to be comfortable, yet not looking upward or outward, but tending more to her refreshments than having to seem comfortable in this most obviously, uncomfortable situation. Except for the loners, everyone else was talking and laughing in groups of two’s and three’s, unaware that there were isolated women in the room, oblivious, in fact.

Recently I had a conversation with Margaret and she was reminiscing with me about the time she felt so alone in that room full of women. She said she actually wore the same outfit on purpose for those few weeks in a row, just to prove to herself that it just didn’t matter because no one remembered her anyway.

How does it happen that we become so involved with ourselves that we forget about others in the room who might be new or lonely? I think about the times when I really don’t want to go somewhere because I’ve been to that meeting so many times before, or because I just don’t feel like it, or because I’m so caught up with my hair or outfit not being just so, and the list goes on and on. And then I think about Margaret’s story. I wonder, “Am I so caught up with what’s going on with me that I forget that it’s not all about me?” That maybe God wants me to go to that particular meeting because a “Margaret” might be there? Perhaps the meeting, the bible study or my child’s school party isn’t all about the girlfriends I already know but about reaching out to someone who needs a welcoming friend.

I challenge you to look beyond yourself this week. Wherever you go, look around the room and find someone who is by herself. Walk up to her and introduce yourself. Ask her some questions about how long she’s been coming and how you might help her find her way in that particular situation. She may be just the assignment God has for you today.

Let your inner beauty shine, girlfriends.

Love you,

Shari

FashionMeetsFaith.com