Thursday, April 23, 2015

Play!


New combinations lately pop in my head like bubbles. I hang them on a curtain rod, take quick pictures, so I won't forget, and hope to have an occasion to wear and photograph them "properly" (meaning, Justin photographs them). Even though, I still have a few posts which I planned, but have not worked on yet, I felt like doing something a little different today. I felt a bit tired of routine and needed to play. We all need to play - we forget how important it is. Kids never do, but adults do tend to forget. Playing brings us joy and inspires us, it gives us energy, fresh ideas which we can use later when we don't feel as inspired. Finally, play is just plain fun! So I invite you to forget your work and all the seriousness in the world and play with me!


 Outfit #1


What I did here, I combined red and leopard print in two different outfits. Red and leopard can be a little demanding and definitely will call for attention. I don't know if you always welcome attention or, like me, actually like to be left to yourself most of the time, but I sure from time to time feel bold, and today was one such time. That's funny though because I felt bold and playful, and yet not willing to go anywhere. It's my day off from the world. (I make sure that I have plenty of those, so when I miss the world, I actually really look forward to facing it.) When I put together this outfit, I asked Justin who could I be wearing this - a librarian perhaps? His reply was, "You would get a lot of requests for dates" which made me giggle. The red linen shirt is recently thrifted at Value Village (I wrote earlier that I found 4 colorful shirts about $5 each), this one is by Ralph Lauren, no less. The rest of the outfit here is from a year or two ago and I showed all of it in the blog many times. Except for...


...Glasses! 
I don't believe I have ever shown up in glasses in public yet - simply because I don't actually wear glasses. I had 100% vision for all of my life, just like my parents and brother had, and bought the very first pair of reading glasses about a year ago, after I already turned 40. 


I did not even realize at first what was happening - all of the sudden, I had difficulties reading small print. I realized that I squinted when I read books with small print. Then it hit me - I am 40, and now I need reading glasses! I remember that that's exactly how it happened to both of my parents. I'm not sure whether Andrei, my brother, got himself reading glasses at 40 or not - as I already lived in America when he turned 40, and we just never discussed it with him. 

My first reading glasses. Photos from a year ago - March 29, 2014

I must say it felt very unusual to see myself in glasses for the first time. And it was just a simple pair from Fred Meyer, I probably paid about $15 or $20 for it, and to tell the truth, I did not wear them much. But this leopard print pair which I found at Barnes and Noble just recently is super cute, and it comes with a matching case too, and I now like wearing them when I read Hercule Poirot stories or Pride and Prejudice (trying to practice my English) in tiny print.

Outfit #2 

And another outfit - a similar feel, but colors in reverse - red lace skirt and leopard print shirt. I showed both pieces on many occasions before. How is that for a librarian? Playful, isn't it? And if I feel triple playful, I add a leopard print jacket to it, and ready to go! 





What do you wear when feeling playful? Do tell!

Thank you, my friends, so very much for voting for Mom and I - we really appreciate your support! If you haven't voted yet, it will be open till April 29. All you need is a FB account. 

I'm joining a new-to-me link-up party - Throw Back Thursday. Thank you, Alice, for your kind invitation!
I am also linking up to Fun Fashion Friday, as I certainly had fun with fashion today. 
Come to play with us!

Outfit #1
Linen shirt - thrifted
Skirt and earrings - Chico's (old)
Shoes - Rockport (via Nordstrom Rack)
Clutch - Cole Haan (via TJ MAXX)
Ring - Chaos NY
Readers - Sight Station (via Barnes & Noble)

Outfit #2
Lace skirt and Shirt - Lane Bryant (old)
Jacket - thrifted
Earrings, ring, shoes and readers - same as above

***

21 comments:

  1. Animal print... wow! Very feminine. I like this big red ring too. o)

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  2. A nice theme: red and leopard. Both outfits look great, and because of your own colouring, both red and brown tones suit you so well and you can choose if you want the leopard print as a top or skirt (with my natural colouring, I could not wear it as a top)

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  3. You KNOW I love this post! Red, animal prints, playing...what's not to like?!
    I do like your new glasses. They have presence, as do you in whatever you wear.
    I agree, time alone at home to restore the juices is a must for me too!
    We are planning an exciting building project. A quiet space tent behind the garage for me!
    It will be a while coming, but I love the idea ...to play! :-D xo Jazzy Jack

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    Replies
    1. What a wonderful idea - to build a tent for your own quiet space!! We all need our own sacred space. That's one of challenges for I think so many of us, to find such a space. Especially in the world that decided to move fast and loudly pretty much 24 hours a day. So I'm very happy for you!!

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  4. Leopard with red is one of my favourite combos.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  5. Great set:) Your glasses are very nice.
    Have a wonderful and playful weekend!:)
    xxxx

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  6. You look absolutely fabulous ! Great outfit . Have a lovely weekend :) x

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  7. Fab looks! I really like that first one with the bright poppy shirt and glam leopard skirt! Amazing combo! Thanks so much for sharing with Fun Fashion Friday!
    OXOX
    Dawn Lucy
    http://fashionshouldbefun.blogspot.com

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  8. I believe strongly in the benefits of play at any age. You play so well! We should have a play date.
    I like how you reversed your looks, red on top, red on the bottom. These are both bold and fun and people who see you in these would definitely admire you and wonder who you are.
    Glasses - sometimes I love them, sometimes hate them, having worn them, or contacts, since I was young. When I think of a writer, which you are, I think of glasses. These suit you well. And yes, I, too, have added reading glasses to my lineup. They really save me.

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  9. You look gorgeous! The outfit is bold but that always works on you and the clothes never wear you. I like the leopard glasses and I think that picture looks like a good candidate for my portrait series!

    I had to get reading glasses at 38. I hadn't noticed that I was having troubles reading or that my arms were getting too short but I had an ocular migraine and went to see the eye doc, and found out I needed glasses. I have a very slight distance prescription for my left eye so I tried progressive lenses but I don't like them much. I do wear them when I leave home though.
    I really like your older glasses too!
    xoxo

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  10. Wow Natalia, you play up well! ;) The leopard skirt is perfect on you, and then I see the leopard shirt with the red skirt and Wow, even more knock-out! Both are great looks on you, you should definitely play with these pieces more.
    I love your glasses and generally like the look of glasses on people. I've wanted them all my life but only wore drugstore readers until last year when I needed tri-focals. Ugh!

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  11. Red and leopard print are a fantastic combination - visible, yes, and sexy too! I love the fact that you reversed the combination with each outfit, that made me chuckle!
    You really suit your reading glasses, and I agree with Justin - you'd have a queue of men at your library desk waiting to ask you out! xxx

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  12. leopard and red look fabulous on you, elegant with a twist!, and love your 'variations on a theme' vice-versa combo, that's really funny!. It's a great idea to take pics of whatever you're planning to wear, I'm used to take a note or draw a sketch, but that's better!
    Lovely glasses too, they fit you nicely and you look really trendy and cool!
    besos

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  13. Gorgeous play outfits Natalia! I think you could be a teacher too :-) I really like the leopard printed shirt, it fits you like a glove - and those lovely red lips, hot!!!

    I've worn glasses or contact lenses all my life. Unfortunately I'm allergic to contact lenses now, so I'm stuck with glasses forever. I've never felt sexy with them. It would be so nice to do that, maybe I should go for a cat pattern next time?

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  14. so ok, how do you make the fabulous RED + Leo combo better? I did not know it was possible. But you did, by doubling the leo and the scale of each! Super!
    Love the glasses on you, too!
    I agree, stay playful!
    xx, Elle
    http://mydailycostume.com

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  15. Love the subtle texture on your red skirt with the great leopard print. I am starting to notice that small prints are harder to read...I am sure reading glasses are not too far down the road for me.

    Alice
    www.happinessatmidlife.com

    Hope to see you Thursday for TBT Fashion link up.

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  16. Playing as adults is a skill we all should have, it brings so much to our lives. I very much enjoyed the results of your playing ,red and leopard always a favourite of mine and you wear them so very well. Enjoy your glasses, they really suit you.

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  17. Playing as adults is a skill we all should have, it brings so much to our lives. I very much enjoyed the results of your playing ,red and leopard always a favourite of mine and you wear them so very well. Enjoy your glasses, they really suit you.

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  18. Playing as adults is a skill we all should have, it brings so much to our lives. I very much enjoyed the results of your playing ,red and leopard always a favourite of mine and you wear them so very well. Enjoy your glasses, they really suit you.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Playing as adults is a skill we all should have, it brings so much to our lives. I very much enjoyed the results of your playing ,red and leopard always a favourite of mine and you wear them so very well. Enjoy your glasses, they really suit you.

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  20. we all need to play...that is so true! Wonderful text as usual...you inspired me!
    As for leo print, I absolutely adore it...Both leo outfits are great...I can't say which one I like more, the one with a leo skirt or the one with a leo shirt.
    ...and you look cute with glasses.

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