Natalie - Natalie Wise Blog

Style Week: Part 2

The beautiful Biltmore hotel in downtown Providence, Rhode Island served as the stunning hostess for a week of StyleWeek Providence fashion shows.

The glamorous came out in droves to mix, mingle, and show off their highest heels (and highest hair).

And I got to be a part of it to support Sarah, of YellowClover, a local fashion designer.

Presenting….

“An Ageless Reflection”

by YellowClover

Such a great look! Love the sweet Peter Pan collar, made grown-up with monochromatic sequins. I would wear this right this second, and I might never take it off.

The models had oil airbrushed onto their faces to create the Fountain of Youth-inspired look.

Chartreuse and beautiful draping.

This skirt is just TOO CUTE! I would wear it all the time. And loving that color. And the shoes!

How very vintage! Where’s the party?

I adore this little peplum skirt with sequined Peter Pan collar.

Some of Sarah’s first menswear. I’d say she knocked this suit outta the park!

Oooo, remember this charming little dress? So glam on the runway! Love it. The jewelry was meant to look like water dripping water and sparkling youth.

Yet another look I’d wear hook, line, and sinker. Metaphorically speaking. This is way too nice of an outfit to wear fishing.

The model’s hair was “wet” looking to accentuate the Fountain of Youth theme.

My favorite look from the whole collection. {not everything is pictured here}

AMAZING work, Sarah!!!

And a giant THANK YOU!

Girls, don’t you just love her sweet, sophisticated clothes? I’m sure you do. Check out her website, because it’s darling.

Here’s a link to stores where you can purchase her collections.

Style Week: Part 1

Meet Sarah Elizabeth of Yellow Clover.

She’s kind of awesome.

And super sweet.

And we met at the fabric store.

And you guys, she’s an amazing fashion designer.

She was very kind to let me visit her studio to explore the beautiful world of her clothing line and how it comes to life. The large, light-filled studio was filled with beautiful fabrics, inspiration pictures, and swoon-worthy garments.

{Natalie and Sarah}

Yellow Clover clothes are like a best friend. They’re the clothes that make you feel full of youth, energy, and beauty. And they are chock-full of handmade details. The clothes are infused with a sweet personality that has just enough edge to stand out. These are quirky, cool-girl clothes, but still feminine and accessible.

I want people to feel special. I use different linings in the pockets, or vintage buttons–something special for the wearer, so when you wear it, you feel like it’s yours.
~Sarah of YellowClover

{garments have different, wonderful tags}

{Sarah’s sewing space}

“I have it all in my head. I don’t usually sketch, because it never turns out like that.” Sarah says of her design process. “I design what I’d like to wear. If you aren’t comfortable, it isn’t fun. If I had to use three words to describe my line, I’d say: Feminine, Vintage, and Youthful.”

Three of my favorite words, Sarah!

{Sarah’s sketches in the studio}

{trademark hand-embroidered detail}

{how amazing is her trademark ruffle waistband?}

This top would be amazing… a.) tucked into a pencil skirt, with a fabulous necklace, b.) with wide-leg palazzo pants, c.) with skinny jeans and high espadrilles, or d.) with shorts and gladiator sandals, or e.) with a jersey maxi skirt…should I keep going? I’m sure I could come up with a whole alphabet of possibilities.

Sarah’s previous lines have been inspired by Victorian furniture, reworked men’s clothing, and 1920s style (her favorite period of fashion and design). Next up for her fifth line? The Fountain of Youth.

Her Fall/Winter 2012 collection is inspired by The Fountain of Youth–rocks, water, moss, and ethereal beauty. It was presented at StyleWeek Providence 2012.

Sarah was kind enough to invite me to the fashion show, so I’ll be able to show you the finished, styled pieces straight from the runway at StyleWeek 2012. A little bit of high-glamour fashion comin’ right up, girls!

Sneak peek, you beg? Ok, sure, I’m happy to oblige!

Wait until you see this darling dress (with tons of trademark hand embroidery) styled on the runway!

Mint Green Jeans

That’s right. I have mint green jeans. WHICH I LOVE!!!!!!!

I think this color looks so *fresh* in winter, especially with winter white. It’s so minty-wonderful.

‘

Mint green jeans. Who knew? I mean, I’m just blown away that these exist, and that I found them in the window of a consignment store for $22 in my size. Normally, I’d say that was just way too much to spend,

but. hello. mint. green. jeans.

It would have been a betrayal to my second favorite color to leave them behind.

I also tried on some lovely lemon-yellow jeans (can you even imagine?!) but those, alas, were too small.

Not that I’m complaining.

Because I’m pretty sure mint green jeans count as a ‘score’.

In honor of my new jeans, I had to paint my nails the same color.

And then I happily noticed the towel I keep in my leopard print ice skating tote bag was the same color.

So I wore a similar outfit to ice skate last weekend. Complete with leopard print hat.

Mint green jeans make my life so much more fun.

Style Secrets

Coat: J.Crew splurge

Fingerless Gloves: Local boutique

Sweater: NY&Co.

Sparkly belt: Ann Taylor

Jeans: Consignment store
Black boots: Tag sale

Leopard Hat: Target

Pink Scarf: Gift from India

Brown Vest: Target

Snowflake Gloves: Gift from my grandma

Brown Boots: Walmart

Baked Grapefruit

{Pick the perfect grapefruit from your lovely bowl in the fridge. Goodness I love a bowl of citrus in the fridge!}

This is pure winter sunshine. Straight from Florida. Or California.

{Wash it.}

Via the grocery store. Y’know. Organic if you gots a few extra dollars to drop.

{Cut in half and drink in that gorgeous color. Gah!}

Citrus is in season in the winter, and what a boon that is! A shot of delicious summer and some great Vitamin C to combat winter illness and blues.

{Place on a baking sheet and drizzle liberally with honey}

And honey is great for you in winter, too. Has so many natural healing properties!

{Sprinkle with a heavy hand of cinnamon, too.}

Cinnamon is such a great spice for your system, too. Helps combat diabetes, warms you up, eases a cold, and helps with digestion!

{350 degree oven for 15 minutes while you get ready for the day. Just make sure you set the timer!}

This is great by itself with a cup of tea, or a slice of toast, too.

But I’ll share another morning recipe soon that it goes especially well with 🙂

Enjoy your dose of morning sunshine!

Have a great one, beautifuls!

*Recipe found here via Eat, Sleep, Cuddle.

Bright Mustard and Blues

I’ve been searching for a mustard pencil skirt for a LONG time (a year and a half!). I was truly lusting over the J.Crew Wool Serge skirts, but they were steadily outside my budget-reach, even after so long! What’s up with that? I was checking eBay regularly, but even eBay prices on the wool skirts were sky-high. Then I stumbled across this J.Crew, new with tags, relative-bargain of a mustard tiny-whale corduroy skirt. It was love at first bid. I can’t wait to think of more ways to style this new skirt. For now, my beautiful Land’s End blouse, favorite new tights, and some other basic accessories will make a decent go ’round.

Until next time, pretty new mustard pencil cord skirt!

Style Secrets

Earrings: Lia Sophia, gift

Blouse: Land’s End, thrifted

Scarf: Hand-me-over

Belt: Thrifted

Skirt: J.Crew via eBay

Tights: Gift

Boots: Thrifted

New Music

Kari Jobe is just….wow-God talented, to quote Lisa from the K-Love morning show.

THIS new song (Kari Jobe’s “Find You On My Knees”) is crazy-good for my heart right now. Spot on. Speaks to me.

“You never leave me thirsty…”

Not to mention she’s the sweetest, coolest girl around. Can we be best friends? And share clothes? And have awesome girl-to-girl talks about life and God over coffee?

Good Morning!

Good morning!! This is my new favorite mug, a Christmas gift from my grandma. It’s giant, and has just the right shaped handle. Plus, it reminds me of her 🙂 She also sent me the Bigelow “Eggnogg’n” tea that I LOVE but we don’t have Bigelow brand here. It is YUMMY!

Don’t judge. I also may or may not be eating at least one of those cookies above for {part of my} breakfast.

Have a beautiful day!

Stripes and Silk

{I’m so totally smitten with these tights!}

This outfit feels so Kate Spade to me! Stripes and pops of bright color…and sunshine! A girl’s gotta love it.

You know about my love for wearing this skirt in winter…(here and here)

I wore this outfit for a very special assignment that you’ll find out about tomorrow! I can’t wait to share with you!

Style Secrets

Sunnies: Dollar store

Ring: H&M

Blouse: Thrifted

Sweater: J.Crew, thrifted

Belt: Thrifted

Skirt: Thrifted

Tights: Gift from my momma

Boots: Consignment

Coat: Thrifted

Workout Wednesday

It’s probably going to be Thursday when you read this since I’m not posting it until almost-bedtime on Wednesday, so don’t be thrown off all day by the title (I know I would be). And if you are, just drink another cup of coffee. It’ll do ya right and besides, it’s almost the weekend–so chin up!

I’m a ballet dancer at heart. But despite loving to wrap the ribbons on my pointe shoes, I always longed to dance on ice. It seemed so freeing to be able to essentially do ballet while gliding. Ahhh, the freedom and beauty (and difficulty)!

This winter, I signed up for some adult skating lessons to learn the basics and improve my skills. My mom was a figure skater, complete with her own backyard practice rink, but I’ve always just enjoyed it and never taken a lesson before.
I am absolutely LOVING this addition to my routine, and learning the basics makes it a new workout (um, hello there, lower back muscles, haven’t seen you in awhile since my dancing days!).

I love to skate in leggings, legwarmers, and a skirt for ease of movement. This really leaves my body free to concentrate on grace and form from my ballet days. Plus, I’m just totally enamored by the look and it gave me an excuse to pull out my old legwarmers! After class, I’ll plug in my iPod and skate by myself for awhile.
Here’s a look at what I wore (similar items):