Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Funky


Before I start writing about today's outfit, I would like to invite you to see how stylish women wear their sneakers at Jill's and Adrienne's "How I Wear My..." event which they hold every month. I participated a few times and encourage you to do it too!


Now back to dress madness!
Dresses are definitely easiest to wear and to style - one piece versus two or even three pieces to coordinate or combine in any fun way. I used to wear dresses a lot when I lived in Russia - mainly I sewed them myself or ordered from a tailor. It was always such a fun process to come up with a style, and even if you find a pattern in a magazine (we used Burda Moden a lot), you still want to do your own modifications. Then the process of finding a fabric, or sometimes the whole thing actually started at having a piece of fabric (especially in Soviet times when we had deficit of just about everything in our stores)... Finding little things like buttons, zippers, fabric for lining... Then making it, trying it on, undoing, redoing, etc. Fun and frustration, but more fun, because every last piece is not actually the last one, and often as soon as you finish it, you are on to the next thing.


I don't even remember when I sewed anything last time, and what exactly became that very last piece for me. I know that for a few years, when I worked for a newspaper, I had quite a few dresses tailor-made for me, and I adored them. But then I changed continents, and it all stopped. I think at first, I just couldn't find dresses which were to my taste when I moved to the US. It is not easy in the beginning to get to know all the options, to familiarize yourself with new brands and styles when you immigrate. The reason is as simple as that - the preferences are very different. I am sure you notice it when you visit other countries - every one of them, with no exception, has its own flavor in fashion. Russian flavor, at least 12 years ago, was in general much more feminine and less practical. Oh the dresses I wore to work! They seem so completely office inappropriate to me now - so flirty, sometimes even daring... 


I started buying dresses here in America only a few years ago as I think of it now - just 6 or 7 years ago, really... This one is by Chico's, like most of dresses I have. What I love about this brand is their bright, bold, funky patterns and colors, like this one. And easy care for most of the fabrics, again, like this one. As much as I love natural wool, linen, cotton and silk, I still appreciate good quality un-fussy polyester as well. 

Have you noticed how the pattern of my necklace repeats one of the patterns of the dress? And how my funky shoes echo the V motif of the dress too? I enjoy little details like these. They don't have to be too "thinky", not in artificial way - just thoughtful enough to make the different parts of the outfit to talk to each other. :)



It was a changeable weather, and I wore tights which are in reality green color, but always look too gray in photos. (Justin explained the tricks of light - apparently, the color of foreground and even of my legs "cancel" the greenness of the tights. Isn't it wild?) I also loooove my denim jacket. I wear it with practically everything, and I actually was eager to wear it with this particular dress as this pattern is on the loud side, and I wanted to tone it down a bit. I think it helped, though when I stepped into a restaurant (I picked up Justin from work to have lunch together), everybody stared at me, not one or two people, but the whole little restaurant. Well, at least that's what Justin claims. But he is in love, what does he know, right? :)


Dress - Chico's (2 or 3 years back, love their current version). Jean jacket - Chico's (still on sale for only $30 in size M or 12 US), I can't get enough of it! Watch - Chico's (on clearance for $20) Earrings - also Chico's... Frog ring - Lane Bryant (their $4 basket, last year). Purse - B Makowsky. Tights - Hue. Crazy shoes - Jeffrey Campbell, and I think of Vix every time I wear them. :)


34 comments:

  1. The shoes that brought us together, as I shall always think of them! They look wonderful with that dress and the corresponding necklace. A fabulous outfit, a rich tapestry of texture, print and some of my favourite colours.
    There is a huge Eastern European contingent in my town and I love to watch the women shopping in charity shops and car boot sales as their taste is so very different to the typical Western one - pinstripes, rhinestone trims, lace and red are really popular purchases.
    Have you tried wearing a different colour tights underneath your others? Its an interesting way of intensifying the colour or creating a new one entirely (and it keeps your legs warm on a chilly May morning!) xxxxx

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    1. I'll have to try it, Vix, thanks for the tip! And for your lovely, interesting comment (I definitely can imagine those women shopping and picking the things you've described! very observant of you!).

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  2. Now, those shoes are cuuuuuuuute!!! Love everything about this outfit Natalia. FABULOUS!!!!!

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    1. Lovely shoes, just not very comfortable to wear them with tights - slippery! :) I'll wear them in the Summer more often. :)

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  3. this is the natalia we know! RADIANT!
    no wonder people stared - it´s not only the chic outfit - it´s you! no wonder justin is "running around with pink glasses" :-)
    i love all of it but especially the green color scheme and the frog ring. and if someone would throw the shoes after me i would take them with a happy grin...

    with the sneakers - i own to pairs. one stone old nike air which i not wear anymore and just keep because memorys and one white canvas sailor style ones that i wear ashore when wander canoe our faltboat: http://bahnwaerterhaeuschen.blogspot.de/2013/07/ferien.html (no shoes visible but our beloved boat)

    my designs are still inspired by the fabric - i see a piece of wool, cotton, linen, silk... and then i start to dream what i can do with it :-)

    xxxx

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    1. I still remember the joy of browsing in the fabric shops... We got many fabrics and furniture from Germany - high quality! It was really very inspiring, and now you reminded me of that. :) Hugs!

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  4. That dress enhances your gorgeous figure to perfection, myu dearest Natalia.
    Don´t forget to join Share-in-Style: pink on Saturday the 10th, will you?
    Love and sunshine ALWAYSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

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    1. Will do, my dear! Thank you for your wonderful words! :)

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  5. Oh I adore this outfit! and I bet you did turn every head in the restaurant! you are absolutely stunning! the dress is divine on you and shows your beautiful hourglass figure so well and it's gorgeous with the denim jacket too! and I need to say 'hello' to your shoes! fabulous! x x x

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  6. Of course everyone in the restaurant was looking at you, Natalia - you look so amazing! The dress is perfect on you - colours, print, shape, everything. I like details in an outfit to speak to one another too, so the repeated stripe motif and the pattern of your necklace work so well together. And the funky shoes are always a joy!
    How interesting to observe the differences between cultures/nationalities in terms of style preferences. We take it for granted that certain shops, brands, etc, are known for particular styles, but when all of that is new and unfamiliar to you, it must take some time to get used to it.
    Yes, denim jackets DO go with everything - it's a fact! xxxxx

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    1. I realized that a denim jacket is exactly what I needed to wear my dressy dresses more often - I feel more comfortable/casual with the jean jacket! Thank you thank you, my lovely dear friend! :) For both - the denim jacket inspiration, and your kind words!

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  7. I imagine opening your closet door and a giant colorful rainbow bursting out! You are the master of color my dear(wink)

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    1. Glenda, I have just reorganized my closet last week - it really IS colorful! Lots of green too. :)

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  8. I like to make the pieces talk in my outfits, too. The dress is so eye catching I would wear it all the time. Alwaus believe your husband when he talks! I see many russian women inCrete as tourists. They are sooo feminine and how they love to pose! Great shoes,too!

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    1. You speak wise words, dear! Thank you! :)

      It seems that femininity is in our blood. :)

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  9. That dress is amazing Natalia and goes so well with those shoes. I knew you would be wearing your new denim jacket often. How did you manage before you got it? xx

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    1. Thank you, Jayne! I wore lots of other jackets/blazers etc before, I have a bunch! :) But it's hard to beat a good denim jacket!

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  10. Justin does love you but he is right. You are a stunner so everyone in that restaurant was staring at you! I love that dress and those shoes and the denim jacket with it-just perfect! I have to admit I hate polyester though I do have some items of it. I love natural fibres but it isn't easy to get the kind of colours and patterns I like in them. I admire things on someone else and then find I can't buy similar for myself because I just can't bring myself to buy the polyester. However, I'm having to change that attitude if I want any clothes. I also have huge troubles with dresses and need them tailored to fit me, which means making my own and altering the pattern and that is beyond my ability or interest. So I wear more skirts than dresses. Being taller than average my torso is longer so the waist of the dress never hits me in the right spot and is usually too high, or if it is empire waist it goes across the middle of my bust instead of under it. Often I have to buy a size 14 for my bust when the rest of me wants a size 12 or 10. It's just too much of a hassle.

    So I am going to be very admiring and very envious of all your dresses this month. I already am and we are only just beginning. You look gorgeous!
    xo

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    1. Shawna, I know what you mean! It's not easy to find mass produced clothing which fits well... But it's a fun process though. Have you experimented with Old Navy dresses yet? They are very comfy, inexpensive, and they do come in Tall sizes. Maybe just start with some cute dress on sale, and see how it goes for you?

      Thank you for all your kind words, dear :)

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  11. Wow, you look stunning in this dress! What an amazing print! I would buy such a dress instantly for myself too. And you styled it perfectly - those shoes, the necklace - they seem to be made for this dress.

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    1. Aww, thank you, Olga! It means a lot to me. :)

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  12. Hotness! Natalia this dress deserves all the staring they got, you look gorgeous in it! I'm with Vix too, these shoes dang girl they are sexy! I think people in the Pacific NW are super casual so when you dress up at all they stare and let them you look good! Chico's is where I go if I wanna but something funky for my Mom she loves that store. I think out of all the mall stores that chicos wins for bringing the funk!

    Speaking of different styles of dress in different countries, I love when you talk about living in Russia. I can't imagine all the effort you would put into making a dress. A designer I adore who incorporates some Russian elements in her creations in Susanne Bisovski. I could wear her stuff to the grave!

    I wanted to also say thank you for all your kind words recently I wish we were neighbors taking pictures together and sharing recipes. I'd lovingly eat your Soup!
    Lotsoflove
    Xxxxooooo

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    1. We'll have to get together some time, Krista! We are not as far apart as US and England. :)

      I am more familiar with that designer's interiors, but her clothing is also fantastic - very expressive! Hugs and love :)

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  13. How wonderful to find you through Shoe Shine, Natalia! I love your style and I do the same kind of thinking about patterns and colours in my outfits! Love your frog ring and those shoes are stunning - as are you.l

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    1. Thank you so much, Sheila, I am very thrilled to hear it from you! :)

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  14. Your dress is gorgeous and I LOVE the shoes so much!!!

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    1. Those are some funky shoes which prove to bring some funky people together. :)

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  15. That's a fab outfit, every piece so well thought through! The dress is so pretty, and the shoes are amazing!

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    1. Thank you, Val! The shoes and the dress were made for each other it seems! :)

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  16. Perhaps it is the deprivation that really stirred so much creativity and inspiration for you. In the end, it does seem like it is made you a better person and a very wonderful stylist. I absolutely love this tribal print dress on you and the way you mixed it with those very funky sandals. You were looking great Natalia!
    XX, Elle
    http://mydailycostume.com

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    1. Thank you, my dear Elle! You are very, very kind and generous soul! Who knows, so many things help us to become who we become... It didn't feel like deprivation back then - it was all we knew! I can only now compare what our life was there to what my life is here now... :) xxx

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  17. A marvelous outfit- and the shoe's chevron with the dress chevron print = brilliant! Love them!

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    1. Bella, coming from you, my dear, it's a very wonderful compliment - you are the Queen of mixing prints! :)

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