I sometimes wonder why so many people buy into the images of perfection we see every day….
THE STORY
…both via the mainstream media as well as social media. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy looking at beautiful images just as much as the next girl. But in reality that’s all that they are, images. Maybe it’s a combination of the wisdom that comes with age and the unusually rough life I’ve led, but I often find myself wondering what it is that’s happening when the camera gets placed back in it’s bag. There’s no such thing as perfection. Truly, there isn’t. Life is messy. Even the smoothest of lives has the occasional need for a roll of paper towels.
When I post photos on Instagram I usually don’t use filters. That’s not because I’m obsessed with keepin’ it real, I just prefer them that way. My blog photos, family photos and even just my landscape shots on the other hand usually get a tweak or two with some photo editing software. And that’s not because I’m trying to portray something that’s perfect. I just like my shots to look nice. Don’t worry. I’m not actually 6′ 7″, bald and carrying around an extra 250 pounds with a hairy mole on my cheek (not that there’s anything wrong with that). In real life I really am an elfin-sized redhead with crows feet around her eyes. But at the end of the day, I’m whipped and that’s not always conducive to the most attractive outfit photos, hence, some tweaks. Today I threw in some fake sunlight in a couple of shots just because I thought it looked pretty cool. I wasn’t trying to fool you into thinking a little burst of sunshine follows me everywhere I go highlighting my angelic beauty. But when it’s all said and done and the camera and tripod are put away, I’m still exhausted, I have to cook dinner, feed the dogs and deal with whatever crap needs dealt with. There are plenty of days I need two rolls of paper towels.
THE OUTFIT
The temperature has cooled just enough that my favorite camo pants have made their first appearance of the school year. They saw a whole lot of play during the winter and I wore them once this summer, but not for long because I’m not one for pants when it’s 95 degrees. I kept it pared down with a basic white t-shirt and black peep toe booties. I added a leopard print belt for a tiny dose of print mixing and the killer neck bling and bracelets added a hit of girliness to the camo pants. I know that a lot of ladies shy away from camo, but when styled right it’s really easy to wear. It’s works for a casual look like I did today, but it can also be dressed up like I did here.
STYLE TIP
Anyone can wear camo without looking like you’re headed to hunt bear in the mountains. Just make sure to add a feminine element like sparkly jewelry or pastel colors.
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Pants: GAP (Similar) T-shirt: H&M ; Booties: JCPenney (Similar)
