Welcome to the second day of Spring! Ready for sunshine and warm weather? Me, too. Unfortunately, the skies are a bit gloomy here as we wait for another rainstorm to pass over. We need it here in Southern California, but we are very spoiled by the fact that it is almost always sunny. So, it feels a bit depressing when the sun doesn’t shine all day! (How about a little cheese with that wine, right? Haha!) When the weather is gloomy, it’s the perfect time to add a little color and pattern to your look, because what you wear can really influence the way you feel! And vice versa. In order to perk things up–including my outlook–I am styling a delicate floral fabric in a petal hem top, and complementing it with a pretty lilac cardigan. So there, gray skies!!
Lest you think that Spring is not coming, here is a photo I took this past weekend. The flowers in our area are blooming after the last light rain, and everywhere you can see pink Indian Hawthorne and purple agapanthus, and of course, the bird of paradise plants are sprouting gorgeous orange and purple birds. So I thought I should share some of nature’s bounty with all of you. Enjoy!
While ultraviolet is the color of the year, and all shades and hues of it are popular in fashion shows, the colors are actually hard to find in clothing items. So, here it is in nature, featured in a big clump of agapanthus. The bee is an added treat. The bees are buzzing on all the flowers!
The petal hem top and boyfriend cardigan outfit
I chose this petal hem top to illustrate how flattering small floral prints can be. More importantly, how important the shape of a garment is for your figure. While this top isn’t tight, it has darts and a fitted waist. These details can make all the difference in flattering your particular shape. And curves are a good thing, so play them up!
The length can also be figure flattering, particularly for those of us who don’t really have a waistline or definitely don’t want to call attention to it! This hi-low hem works for most of us, even shorter gals like me, as long as the top is fitted.
Here is a close-up of the top. The floral pattern is really pretty and you can see some of the shaping.
To top it all off is the boyfriend cardigan. This cardigan accomplishes two things: the color reflects a lilac shade of the color of the year–giving a little pop of color!–and it keeps one warm on a cool day. Well, actually three things: it also hides a multitude of sins around the waist, rear, etc. Lol! Just in case you might be interested in that.
Of course, nothing beats a basic pair of dark jeans, and these, by Democracy, continue to be my favorite overall pair. And they are NOT expensive. Yay!
Don’t let the non-Spring weather get you down. Add some pattern and a pop of color to any outfit, and it will put a spring in your step! (How about that?! lol!)
SHOP THE POST
**Both the top and boyfriend cardigan are from J. Jill and are on sale!
Petal hem top | Boyfriend cardigan (similar) |Democracy jeans |
block heel sandals |gold hoop earrings
Have a wonderful Wednesday. Don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers. But watch for bees!
Lise
March 25, 2018 at 9:15 amYour top is so cute and the flower pics are gorgeous! Where I live, on the Black Sea in Bulgaria, it snowed this weekend. Not very springish :). But apparently next weekend it will be more like spring. The weather is so up and down currently – very unusual! Lise
Darlene
March 25, 2018 at 12:45 pmHi Lise. So nice to connect with you in Bulgaria! I lived in Michigan as a kid and we always had a “spring” snow or two! Haha! Yes, the weather is strange almost everywhere. I will cross my fingers for a warm weekend for you! I’m hoping for one here as well! Take care.
Ruth
March 22, 2018 at 9:59 pmYour garden is beautiful! I love that your sweet floral top matches those gorgeous blooms outside!
http://www.mylittlenest.org
Darlene
March 22, 2018 at 10:20 pmThanks so much, Ruth! The spring colors are so pretty, aren’t they? I enjoy your blog, too! Happy weekend!
Kelsey
March 22, 2018 at 8:47 pmYour photos are so nice! Great look, love the shoes especially.
Darlene
March 22, 2018 at 10:19 pmHi Kelsey! Thanks for the sweet comment! I will head over and see your blog, too! Have a wonderful weekend.