outfits - Natalie Wise Blog

Hot Pink 4EVR

Hot pink + Natalie = Best Friends 4EVR

Also, you can tell I was having a wonderful time at a picnic party, because my belt is totally askew and I had no idea.

Yes, belt askew = obviously Natalie had a great time at a picnic party.

It just SCREAMS that, don’t you think? 😉

In all honesty, though, it was such a wonderful picnic with people I love. And while I’m not technically family, I’m totally family. Y’know? The best thing ever. I will miss these people dearly. For the past 6 1/2 years, we have built into each other’s lives, seen triumphs and trials together, seen boyfriends/girlfriends/marriages/children/deaths…we’ve been doing life together. That’s the family of God at work. We are created for such community, and being involved in it fills a deep need in our lives, I believe. I am so thankful for that.

xo!

GGS Goes Shopping: Back to School

I had a request for a back-to-school post, so of course I was happy to indulge in some online shopping and share some picks with you! This year, I’m digging the tobacco color, blue, and light pink. Throw in a dash of red, and it’s a great color combo that will take you through the seasons. Quirky and girly details such as lace, feathers and bows are perfectly pretty for the classroom. I carried a giant { it’s called the “Big Student”…I was actually so tiny that my backpack weighed more than I did and I pulled a muscle in my chest from carrying it…so I don’t recommend that} red Jansport backpack all during high school and college. For my Master’s Degree, I switched to a Longchamp tote bag. I personalized my backpack with a few keychains that showed off my interests: a tiny Freed pointe shoe (perfect Christmas gift material!), and a small bear with a chef’s hat from Johnson & Wales.

Back to School Style by fashionatalie

This time of year, I’m all about skirts, dresses, and tops that can be worn as-is now, and paired with thick tights and cardigans in a few months. The ballet flats and moccasins will be super cute for fall and winter with tights or socks. Every high school or college girl needs a cute sweatshirt. This ballet-pink number with lace insets on the sleeves and back seems perfect to throw over a tank top when you’re needing a cozy comfort piece. Since it’s going to get cold, I suggest a classic coat in a pretty color, some funky handwarmers, and a cute headwrap.You may think it odd that I’m pairing a pink coat, blue headband, and red backpack, but really, I think it will work well.

Happy Back-to-School, dears! Here’s a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils JUST for you…colored or regular, take your pick! 😉

Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Guest

What does one wear to a New England farm wedding? Late-August, just-hayed fields, heat, bugs…no heels, no air-conditioning, late-afternoon to late-evening…I mean, I was a little stumped.

Especially since I have never been to a wedding where I wasn’t part of the wedding party! When you’re a bridesmaid, you don’t have to worry about looking great, because the bride has already got that covered for you {remember this beautiful dress I wore for my cousin’s wedding and this pretty yellow one from my brother’s wedding?}.

This is what I ended up wearing. What do you think? Flat “snakeskin” sandals, an old-favorite floral dress, bright ikat cardigan, and pretty hair/makeup/jewelry details. I’m still wondering if it was a bit casual. Then again, the cute invitation said to, “Dress to impress the goats.” Ha! I love it.
Do you think they were impressed?

xo!

Wearing Hats Part 5: Peach Feather Hat

Hat Four: Peach with Pearls, Bow & Feather

Today was fabulous. Fabulous, I tell you.

This morning I jumped out of bed for coffee and a cherry-almond-streusal muffin. Nothing like a good breakfast to get me out of bed! Then I spent the day…being me. Y’know? One of those days where you’re doing your THANG, and no one’s going to stop you? That’s right. Gotta love it!

So many wonderful things today.

My heart is full.

But I’m sad that “Hat Week” is coming to an end. What did you think of the outfits? Were you inspired to rock a vintage hat?

Hat: Vintage

Pearl Earrings: Gift

Blouse: Target

Pencil Capris: Gap, thrifted

Heels: F21, thrifted

Shoe Bows: Vintage

Wearing Hats Part 4: Black Bow Hat

Hat Three: Black with Bow on Back

I was looking through old photographs last night.

Feeling really wonderfully nostalgic. The good kind of nostalgia. The happy-it-happened, weren’t-we-cute, wasn’t-the-world-lighter-then sort of nostalgia. The best kind.

I got excited to make more memories. I felt inspired: THIS is my one life. These days will soon be the memories. So I’d better snatch every beautiful thing I can!

God is still at work in my life, refining me little by little, sloughing off the rough edges and making me more like Him. But in the meantime, isn’t it a good feeling to be mostly content with where you’ve come from, and excited to see what’s around the next corner? I hope you feel that way, too, dears, I really do. I’m excited to see what God has planned.

Hat: Vintage

Sunnies: Local Store

Blouse: Local store

Pedal Pushers: Thrifted

Heels: Thrifted/F.21

Shoe Bows: Vintage

xo!

Wearing Hats Part 3: Peach Petal Hat

Hat Number Two: Vintage Peach Petal Hat

Sometimes I wonder: Is this too much?

I wonder that with a lot of things. Flourishes in my handwriting, exclamation points in my typing, vintage-ness in my outfits?

I think:

Oh, goodness, well, maybe I’m doing things wrong. Maybe it’s all just too much.

Maybe I need to get rid of flourishes, exclamation points, and vintage-ness.

Or, maybe, just maybe,

The real questions are:

Do I have enough love in my heart?

Light in my eyes?

Happiness in the morning?

And when the answer to those questions are YES, the answers to the other questions are NO, because the flourishes/exclamation points/vintage-ness are outpourings of the love/light/happiness.

I think that’s a beautiful thing.

Peach Petal Hat: Vintage

Necklace: H&M

Blouse: Target

Pearl Earrings: Gift

Bangles: J.Crew & Walmart

Skirt: BCBG, thrifted

Heels: F21, thrifted

Shoe Clips (bows): Vintage

Sunnies: Local store

xo!

Wearing Hats {Part 2}: Ring Hat w/ Veil

Hat Number One: Vintage Linen Ring Hat with Veil and Little Velvet Bows:

Summer seems so light, beautiful, and full of endless possibility.

Except sometimes, life has other plans.

{outtake, but I actually loved it.}

Sometimes, we have to say goodbye in summer. I know, it doesn’t seem fair. It just doesn’t suit our collective spirit in summertime to have endings. I wore this outfit to the funeral of a dear friend’s grandmother. Sometimes, we must say goodbye at inopportune times. To be honest, there is never an opportune time for goodbyes.

As I write this, there’s an odd light hanging in the air. A summer storm is billowing on the horizon, and the leftover sunlight juts through storm clouds in a strange pattern. Sometimes, too, summer storms billow on the horizons of our lives.

{fingernail polish matches shoes}

I’m a believer in wearing black to funerals. It feels respectful, and symbolic of the loss. Black says, “The world is stopping for a moment, our world is, because we lost someone who kept it turning.” Much like my comments on Good Friday and the veil I wore then, wearing black and a hat helps me feel the symbolism, respect, and grieving process. When someone’s world stops as a loved one passes on, wearing black feels appropriate.

And so does wearing a vintage ring hat with veil.

🙂

Linen Ring Hat with Veil and Velvet Bows: Vintage, Thrifted, 25 cents!

Hair: “Flowered” up–that is, pieces bobby pinned in curls to look like a flower

Dress: Gap

Tortoise Wayfarer-ish Sunglasses: Target

Belt: Thrifted

Handbag: Vintage

Heels: Banana Republic, consignment store

Miss Mollie

This is one of those dresses that looks utterly “meh” on the hanger. You think, “Shapeless column dress in a print that looks like a vintage curtain…no thanks,” right? But put it on…bam. Something happens, and it’s utterly charming.

I’ve got a think for late-60s, early 70s maxi dresses lately. This 70s creation is by Mollie Parnis Boutique, one of the iterations of designer Mollie Parnis‘ brand. She dressed many First Ladies: Eisenhower, Ford, Johnson and several Kennedys. Now, she dresses ME, who thinks it would be fascinating (if not terribly exhausting) to be a First Lady (maybe for a week).

Braided gold rope sandals (F21), a stack of bangles (thrifted & J.Crew), vintage necklace, and 70s sunglasses

I never thought I’d wear this red/orange/pink vintage wooden-bead necklace as much as I do. It’s in the same category as blue suede shoes and orange jeans, the “Who’da Thunk?” subcategory of “Most Worn Clothing Items.”

I suppose when I say things like, “Who’da Thunk,” I’m erasing any First Lady poise and potential I had…and also mocking every word on my fancy graduate degree.

Sigh.

Summer Layers

Did you feel it?

That subtle beckoning from autumn in the form of a cool breeze, reminding us to get our fill of gelato, berries and warm nights on the porch before things turn crisp?

I can’t lie, it felt a little bit wonderful. I’m not actually ready for fall, but I AM ready for a break from this extra hot summer! Just a few weeks of perfectly-warm days would be most excellent. I haven’t been to a drive-in movie yet, and I haven’t had my fill of maple creamees either.

When we get down to it, I love layers because they are cozy. I’m such a creature of comfort. I’m SUCH a sweatshirt girl. Luckily, this light orange sweater is a linen blend, so I can have my layers and my summer, too! 🙂

Now, weather, please cooperate with my plan for the next few weeks. K, thanks.

xo!