Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Each Day is Thanksgiving


Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends and readers!
It is my favorite holiday (I wrote more about it in one of my early posts back in 2013, called PILGRIM). Although, I didn't come to America in pursuit of religious freedom, I can definitely relate to early Americans. Even today, in the age of airplanes and the Internet and all possible ways to connect with my family and friends back home, coming to America was and is still a huge leap of faith. As a newcomer, I do and probably always will feel like a pilgrim of happiness. 


I found my happiness here, in my new land, meeting my one true love, and raising the most wonderful kid with him. And for that, I am forever grateful. I am forever grateful for my amazing family and my good old friends, and yes, for the Internet and all the mind-blowing new technology that gives us this unique opportunity to stay connected despite the fact that in my pursuit of happiness I had to leave not only the town, but the country and continent I grew up in. I also want to express my gratitude to you, my newly found online community, for giving me so much, for supporting and nourishing and encouraging me in my creativity. Please know that you are one of the best things that ever happened to me, so thank you, guys! But my pursuit of happiness does not stop at that. Now I am on a new quest, which I am focused on more than ever these days, and that is my inner happiness. Not the kind that comes and goes as a flickering candle-light in the wind, but the one that stays, no matter how hard the wind blows. Healing does not happen in one step, just by a click of the fingers. It's a process, and it takes time and patience, and I am learning how to get better at it, day after day. This inner journey of mine has been one of the most miraculous ones, and I am infinitely grateful.


I am so happy with this outfit, I just had to share it on such a special day. Maybe it gives you an inspiration for the holidays, as it is really very easy to wear and comfortable, leaving lots of room for a nice feast and stretching out in a cozy armchair or sofa, surrounded by your favorite people. It is a mix of old and new stuff. The polka dot cotton trench coat was shown previously in MARCH 2016 and FEBRUARY 2016, but only now I feel like I really struck a balanced look, combining this amazing jacquard sweater with gathered sleeves (such a beautiful ode to the 1980s!) and these massive faux pearls! Only now I feel that it is really worth having this trench in my closet, the whole ensemble sings! The sweater is again from Target - check out the Who What Wear collection online, lots of fun and affordable pieces. I wear it with a faux leather pleated skirt by Melissa McCarthy, bought long ago for a fraction of its price. The fabric is light and stretchy, and feels very nice. This kind of pearl necklace was my dream for such a long time! I hit the jackpot at TJ MAXX just recently, and twice - the green purse won my heart for the color, but when I looked closely, it is made wonderfully, from saffiano leather, by a famous designer Karl Lagerfeld. You know that I don't know much about fashion, right? But even such a far-away-from-fashion person like myself knows this name. Anyway, I loved everything about this bag - the color, the shape, the size, the details... and the price, with the 2/3 of the original price tag off, was not completely prohibitive. I know it will be a favorite for many years to come!


I would love to elevate this outfit (as well as many others) with my cool velvety boots, but we got so much rain here that I am mostly wearing my leather boots or this pair of waterproof suede boots these days. And, of course, a fun umbrella - one of most relevant accessories in our climate.

If you celebrate, I wish you a wonderful holiday! 
And to all of us, I wish to love and enjoy our life!
There are so many reasons each of us can be grateful that every day can be a Thanksgiving Day!


Sweater - Who What Wear x Target (now on sale for $25, up to size 4X)
Faux leather skirt - Melissa McCarthy (old)
Trench coat - Ralph Lauren (old)
Boots - Aquatalia (old)
Pearl earrings and mother-of-pearl ring - Justin's gifts
Faux pearl necklace - TJ MAXX
Purse - Karl Lagerfeld via TJ MAXX

* * *


SUPERSEAL, our new bilingual book, is coming in 2017!

Illustration by Andrei Lialin

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16 comments:

  1. this is a very moving post and a gorgeous festive ensemble!!!
    <3 <3 <3
    love what you say about pilgrimage of happiness and the prozess of inner healing - and i feel honored to be one of your internet friends!!
    that sweater with this fab pearls is a genius combination! and all the chic pieces you draped around make it even more fabulous. congrats on finding that bag - lovely color - and hey! "karlchen"!
    wish you and your family wonderful holidays!
    much love!! xxxxx
    p.s.: we had so much rain this autumn - i lived in rubber galoshes for weeks......

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    1. I had to smile at Karlchen - because that's exactly what I call him lovingly in Russian manner, Karlusha! :))

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  2. Stunning Natalia! I can understand that you love this look. I love it, too. ;) Gorgeous this leo sweather with skirt and polka dot coat. What shells about rain? Your umbrella is so amazing :). Also I love the internet and all ways to stay connected in our modern world, too.
    I wish you a wonderful thanksgiving my dear friend. Huge hug... Tina

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    1. Thank you, Tina! You and I, appreciators of the Internet and modern wonders! :)

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  3. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Natalia!
    This post radiates joy as well as fabulous style. I'm thrilled with how happy this outfit makes you feel and I'm not surprised, it looks wonderful. xxx

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    1. Thank you, Vix! Shared joy is its own kind of fun! :)

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  4. Happy Thanksgiving, Natalia! I loved reading your heartwarming post! Finding inner happiness is a journey I am still embarking on, and finding you and all those other lovely, warm hearted people online through blogging is one of the best things that ever happened to me. Your outfit is genius, and each layer has been thoughtfully added. The pearls are such a stunning piece of jewellery and I'm loving your Karl Lagerfeld designed bag! It has been raining buckets here too, so no suede boots for me either! Lots of love xxx

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    1. We all are on this life-long path, in our own ways. :)

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  5. What a fun outfit! I love the leopard print with the black and white chevron stripes and polka dots!

    Yes, Thank You, Internet, for bringing people together!

    Happy Thanksgiving.

    Bettye
    https://fashionschlub.com

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  6. Ślicznie wyglądasz:)))bardzo ładny płaszczyk:)))podoba mi się Twoja biżuteria i torebka:)))Pozdrawiam serdecznie:)))

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  7. lovely post, thanks for sharing all those wonderful words on happiness as a process, and the fabulous people you met through blogging!, I feel very grateful for having met you and all the fabulously inspiring blogging ladies!
    And I love your pòlka dot trench, such a cute coat!, and it looks stunning with the leopard top and your chevron umbrela!, such a great ensemble!. And those pearls!, and the bag!! love them too!
    besos

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  8. Love the massive pearls and the leopard sweater ! A fabulous look with the dotted trench and zig zag umbrella! Love the punchy teal bag too!
    I agree,
    We should be thanksgiving grateful everyday !
    xoxo, Elle
    https://theellediaries.com

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