Surprising March

Happy International Women's Day to all my women friends and readers!

March surprised us with the weather even more than February did - we had snow again! Not a big snowstorm, but it was snowing on and off all day long just a couple of days ago, even here by the sea. The pictures are from this weekend when we went grocery shopping, and it was a cold and windy (notice the upright flags!) day out, so even a fur collar did not feel or look out of place.

My little mirror is very old, brought from Russia where it was carved out of bark of birch trees, not very different from those on my photos. Doesn't my jewelry look like a set? They aren't, actually. I found these vintage clip-on earrings at an antique mall for only $5, and they are some of my most treasured accessories. The glass/metal ring and bracelet are from a modern brand, but they look surprisingly similarly. I am well aware of today's tendency to wear mismatched accessories to not look matchy-matchy, but I sometimes prefer the old-fashioned coordinated way. We don't have to always follow the same pattern - we can be as free in our dressing as we like to be! (It's good advice to ourselves in any creative endeavor, and in life itself!)

My new Mary Janes are by Dansko, made of nubuck, have a comfortable sole, and come in this great color (they call it Raisin), which seems neutral, but with a punch. I found them at a really good price at my local Nordstrom Rack, my shoe mecca. They go with many of my 1940-1950s and 70s inspired dresses, and I think I'll get good use out of them. I've worn these sweater tights for two winters already - love them, they are the most comfortable, always stay in place, quite warm for our climate, and I think very attractive too. And again, go with everything.

Since I've shown this dress in my blog before (HERE and HERE, and even more retro styles HERE), I didn't take photos without the coat this time - it was way too cold for it! But I took my coat off in the store, and got a compliment on my dress from a young woman. After years of being a public person, I live a pretty secluded life these days, focusing on my family and my writing (my writing blog HERE, in Russian and English). The most kind and encouraging words I hear come from my family and from you guys. So it is always a little surprising when someone compliments me outside. Nice though!

Dress - eShakti (old)

Coat - Simply Be (last season)

Mary Janes - Dansko via Nordstrom Rack

Sweater tights - Spanx via Lane Bryant (old)

  Purse - B Makowsky via TJ MAXX (old)

Vintage glass earrings - via South Tacoma Antique Mall

Glass bracelet and ring - Chico's (old)

Sunglasses - Christian Siriano for Lane Bryant (last Spring)

Snow - outside my window

Flowers - gift from Justin

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