White

There was no sewing time over the weekend as I spent the weekend in spring cleaning and preparation for some rearranging of our living spaces.  The movers and junk haulers come some day this week (hopefully), and once a bunch of stuff is gone, and a few big pieces of furniture have been moved, I can get busy settling back in.  In the meantime much is out of place and out of the way while we wait.

IMG_3156  After a weekend of dust and grime (going through G's old medical library and starting to clean the garage) I felt like wearing something light and bright yesterday.  Since it was gray and rainy and cool outside, white seemed perfect.

The vest is a little top I made a couple of years ago.  I am thinking that I basically prefer a more fitted silhouette but I am working my way into it gradually.  

  • V-neck stretch knit tee, made in 2008
  • White blouse, old
  • White straight leg jeans, Gap, this year.
  • Black Banana Republic belt, this year.
  • Black patent rain boots, Aquatalia, purchased last fall.
  • Silver and Gold necklace and earrings

The blouse doesn't fit particularly well anymore and must be worn with a vest, which severely limits its usefulness.  As soon as I finish the skirt I will return to the blouse muslin and make a couple of blouses.

IMG_3075 Here is a variation, similar fitted lines, with the same jeans, that I wore last week.

This outfit was built around the green sandals.

  • Green sandals, purchased last year.
  • White jeans, Gap.
  • Green sweater, purchased last fall.
  • White tee, J Crew.
  • Ivory and green quartz bracelet.
  • Pearls.
  • Tiny emerald pendant on an even tinier gold chain.
  • Yellow belt, Prada, this year.

I am really happy with how these two outfits came out.  And I was happy wearing them all day.  From a completely personal standpoint, looking the photos also reminds me how far I have come in accepting my body in that I no longer feel I have to walk around sucking in my bit of a tummy, pretending like I am supposed to look like  a Barbie doll.  It is a small accomplishment, but one about which I am quite proud.  It is through these little steps that we come to self-acceptance.

My only issue with this outfit is with the necklaces which, although they are lovely, are really too small in scale for me.  I am not a small person and I feel that the necklaces look disproportionate and only emphasize the difference in scale.   Jewelry is something else I am addressing in my style reemergence, although I am taking my time and trying to think about what really works and what I really want.  In the meantime, I'm all for making do.

Comments

16 responses to “White”

  1. Myrna Avatar

    Way to go. It’s a journey re-emerging. You’re doing great. I totally get the jewelry thing. Same issue. A lot of my smaller pieces moved along or are going to get re-fashioned and I’ve been looking for a new wedding ring. Mine had gotten too small and now that it fits again, it doesn’t look like me anymore. Have a great day. Good luck with shifting furniture.

  2. Myrna Avatar

    Way to go. It’s a journey re-emerging. You’re doing great. I totally get the jewelry thing. Same issue. A lot of my smaller pieces moved along or are going to get re-fashioned and I’ve been looking for a new wedding ring. Mine had gotten too small and now that it fits again, it doesn’t look like me anymore. Have a great day. Good luck with shifting furniture.

  3. LisaB Avatar
    LisaB

    You look terrific, Mardel. Isn’t it free-ing to accept ourselves as we are? I don’t suck in my tummy either. 🙂

  4. LisaB Avatar
    LisaB

    You look terrific, Mardel. Isn’t it free-ing to accept ourselves as we are? I don’t suck in my tummy either. 🙂

  5. metscan Avatar
    metscan

    Both outfits look great on you. You are right about the necklaces, pearls. But in these pictures, where you have the color and prints on the top, the small ones are just right. I would wear `big stuff´with simple clothes to avoid the xmas tree effect. Btw., you look very happy and relaxed in your pictures!

  6. metscan Avatar
    metscan

    Both outfits look great on you. You are right about the necklaces, pearls. But in these pictures, where you have the color and prints on the top, the small ones are just right. I would wear `big stuff´with simple clothes to avoid the xmas tree effect. Btw., you look very happy and relaxed in your pictures!

  7. Gigi Avatar

    I just love white for summer and you look fantastic in both of these outfits. I really need to make or buy some white jeans! I agree with you on the jewelry – you really carry statement pieces well.

  8. Gigi Avatar

    I just love white for summer and you look fantastic in both of these outfits. I really need to make or buy some white jeans! I agree with you on the jewelry – you really carry statement pieces well.

  9. sdBev Avatar

    I have to admit that you’ve made great progress. No, let me rephrase that. I’m excited about the GREAT progress that you’ve made. But, I do find it interesting that we had all winter, during which going outside is limited or at least cumbersum as we need to add additional layers of clothing inorder to be comfortable outside our comfy homes. So we tend to stay inside. Do we make good use of this forced in-side time? Not really. It’s not until we can easily go outside that we face and conquor the excesses of our attics, closets and whatever. So at your house the junk haulers are coming….. soon?. For me, we’re loading up the Dodge and I’ll be hauling it off; all the while asking myself “Why didn’t I do this sooner?”
    Anyway, pleased to see your progress and terribly pleased to know that I’m not alone; I am following in your footsteps.

  10. sdBev Avatar

    I have to admit that you’ve made great progress. No, let me rephrase that. I’m excited about the GREAT progress that you’ve made. But, I do find it interesting that we had all winter, during which going outside is limited or at least cumbersum as we need to add additional layers of clothing inorder to be comfortable outside our comfy homes. So we tend to stay inside. Do we make good use of this forced in-side time? Not really. It’s not until we can easily go outside that we face and conquor the excesses of our attics, closets and whatever. So at your house the junk haulers are coming….. soon?. For me, we’re loading up the Dodge and I’ll be hauling it off; all the while asking myself “Why didn’t I do this sooner?”
    Anyway, pleased to see your progress and terribly pleased to know that I’m not alone; I am following in your footsteps.

  11. Online store Avatar

    Fabulous! You look stunning.

  12. Online store Avatar

    Fabulous! You look stunning.

  13. Vicki Avatar

    I like the pearls in the second outfit – the size looks right to me. You do look happy!

  14. Vicki Avatar

    I like the pearls in the second outfit – the size looks right to me. You do look happy!

  15. Tany Avatar

    Both are great outfits (and I’m now thinking of my white boot cut jeans that I made last summer…. Hummmm).
    You look very fit and you should be proud of your body. I, on the other hand, need to lose some weight that I gained for not going to the gym for the last couple months prior to moving to the new house (simply there was no time…).
    I am tall compared to most Portuguese women and I’ve always liked bold jewelry, but sometimes I like wearing little or no jewelry at all; I go through several phases, and I’m always trying new things. Internet has been a great inspiration outfit wise because I get to see people from all over the world and what they are wearing. It’s mind opening, really.

  16. Tany Avatar

    Both are great outfits (and I’m now thinking of my white boot cut jeans that I made last summer…. Hummmm).
    You look very fit and you should be proud of your body. I, on the other hand, need to lose some weight that I gained for not going to the gym for the last couple months prior to moving to the new house (simply there was no time…).
    I am tall compared to most Portuguese women and I’ve always liked bold jewelry, but sometimes I like wearing little or no jewelry at all; I go through several phases, and I’m always trying new things. Internet has been a great inspiration outfit wise because I get to see people from all over the world and what they are wearing. It’s mind opening, really.