Writing Tuesday’s post got me thinking…
THE STORY
…I wrote about not only how beautiful, but how magical the lights were at Phipps Conservatory. I realized that I have often talked about things being magical. I once wrote about discovering a local greenhouse that has landscaped areas on the property that look like fairies live there; and the time that I could see the Northern Lights from my front porch in Pennsylvania; I also wrote about my daughter and I discovering a truly magical local boutique that I hadn’t known about. There were many other similar posts (too many to link), and the commonality between them is the magic that I felt.
Our home, both inside and out, is full of twinkle lights and sparkly shiny things year ’round. In the evenings, whether I’m inside in the winter or outside in the warmer months the twinkle lights are always on. I love fairies, butterflies, dragons and all things reminiscent of the time of King Arthur; I have entire Pinterest boards filled with images of places and things that emanate magical dreamy vibes; many of my favorite movies and books contain some element of magic or fantasy. Some might say my life aesthetic is that of an 8 year old girl and that is perfectly okay with me.
As a writer, I choose the words that I use carefully in order to paint vivid mental imagery for my readers. The definition of the word magical is “beautiful or delightful in such a way as to seem removed from everyday life“. Magical is a powerfully descriptive word to use to describe the ethereal beauty of a place, object or situation; however I’ve come to realize that for me it’s much more than that. As a little girl, anything that I deemed magical became my escape, the magical is how I avoided the ugly day to day reality and made my life beautiful.
Most days I would disappear into the woods behind our trailer lugging my various treasures along with me. There was a foundation of an old building (the area where I lived and still do, is built over the remnants of a WW II training camp so there are foundations everywhere) that served as my magical realm. I would set up whatever shiny pretty things I had brought along that day to decorate with, and then I’d weave my make-believe fantasy fairytale world in my head. I spent the entire day safely hidden away in a world of my design, full of sparkle and magic. Inevitably I would have to return to reality at the end of the day, but I always knew that the magic would be there waiting for me.
That, in a nutshell, explains why that 8 year old girl is still alive and well in my head to this day. Some might find an overabundance of twinkle lights and sparkle to be juvenile and not in line with how a 54 year old woman should be decorating her home and her life. But for me, it’s a reminder that there is always magic and beauty in the world no matter how ugly the reality…and it’s our responsibility to see it and create it for ourselves.
THE OUTFIT
This look is what l call “subtly festive”, meaning while this outfit definitely adds a little hit of holiday spirit, it’s not so over the top that it wouldn’t work in say, March. The one change that I would make if it weren’t the holiday season is that I’d swap out the red pumps for my leopard pumps. I feel like the combination of plaid flannel + the red cardigan + the red pumps is what tilts it into festive territory and different shoes would tone down the holiday vibes a bit.
I absolutely love this red cardigan, it’s actually the perfect everyday sweater. It’s chunky without being bulky; it’s cozy without being too cozy; it’s loose and open without too much extra fabric; and the color is gorgeous…it’s a true red. I discovered it at American Eagle awhile back and I actually own it in a subtle blush/sienna shade as well. And now that it’s 50% off I’m pretty sure the off white version will be coming home with me too.
As evidenced here, I do actually own jeans that are not distressed. Like my extensive collection of shredded jeans though, these Tomgirl jeans too are from American Eagle. Jeans are one of those items that most people have a very specific brand and style preference for. For me, American Eagle jeans are by far the best fitting and most comfortable brand.
Just a little blurb about the faux fur bomber jacket…I found this sweet fluffy little number at Walmart last month. It’s soft, warm and plenty roomy enough to layer over chunky sweaters without feeling like the Michelin Man. It’s super easy to just throw on over whatever when you’re running out the door. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for an affordable, cute everyday winter jacket.
THE TIP
Cardigans are one of the cornerstone pieces in the foundation of any wardrobe. They make the perfect layering piece and add an additional layer of warmth when you need it. Having a selection of cardigans in varying lengths and weights is a good idea for versatility’s sake. I love to snuggle up in a long chunky cardigan as much as the next girl, but sometimes a cropped cardigan just works better with an outfit. You don’t have to sacrifice warmth for length though; there are plenty of options to choose from in cropped length heavier weight cardigans.
THE LINK UPS
Check out the weekly link ups I participate in for even more fashion and style ideas…
Sweater: American Eagle; Shirt: Walmart (Similar); Jeans: American Eagle; Shoes: Nordstrom (Similar); Jacket: Walmart
