Cardigan Empire

Salt Lake City Fashion Stylist

What Goes With This? Giveaway

Miss Miranda wrote:

“My only brother’s wedding is coming up in mid-August and I have been on the hunt for something to wear. I fell in love with this tapestry inspired skirt but haven’t the slightest idea what to pair it with. Do you have any suggestions? I am a 5′ 4″ lower figure and am completely at the will of your fashion expertise.”

And I thought to my self, “Self, people need to know what goes with what they already have and love?”  and then self said, “I’ve told you to do this at least a dozen times.  But go ahead listen to Miranda, why pay attention to me?”  Then self and I made up and we awarded Miranda our first winner of the first ever Cardigan Empire, What Goes With This contest: 

Here is her prize:

Gigham & Metallic
Blu Bijoux, Apt. 9, Ann Taylor, Adrienne Vittadini
Gingham keeps the look from straying to fussy while metallics keep it from falling into casual. Its a balanced juxtaposition.

Color Blocked
Blu Bijoux, Miz Mooz, K. Amato, Anthropologie
Bold colors equal fresh interpretation.  And each of these pieces could be easily remixed into an everyday wardrobe.

Tribal Glamour
Carlos by Carlos Santana, Old Navy, Topshop
When mixing and matching patterns, choose one dominant pattern and accent with simpler patterns.  In this ensemble we let the floral shine while the stripes and small animal print support.

And then we gave her alternatives…

You can’t buy this service, you can only win it. To enter, post a comment with a link to the item you want outfitted and any details on occasion and/or budget.
Or use linky tools below to linkedy on over to your blog and show me a picture of what you already have. (instructions also follow)
Or send me an old fashion e-mail with all the details.

Two winners will be selected, one tomorrow (Thursday) and one the day after tomorrow (Friday).  Contest entries will close on Thursday (August 4, 2011) at the stroke of twelve, midnight.

So here’s how LinkyTools works:
  • Firstly, Click on the “Click here to enter” link below.
  • Secondly, In the “Link it to:” section, leave a link to a post which features your item seeking outfit. (note-the whole post doesn’t need to be about the item, it just needs to include it)
  • Fourthly, In the “Caption or Title:” section, elaborate concisely on your outfitting need and/or budget. (ie-bridal shower $$)
  • Fifthly, wait for the winners to be announced
Feed me fashionably fresh

Beauty-Full Tuesday: Beth of Close to My Heart

Smart, kind, strong, beautiful,
meet Beth who is already Close to My Heart.
Being an artist, and a highly visual person, seeing something I find beautiful deeply touches my soul and leaves an imprint on my mind.

And I like to think that I have a gift for finding uncommon beauty.  Seeing it where it is hidden or masked or dulled, seeing the potential for beauty or beauty outside the traditional definition. I like to think that I am pretty good at that … pretty good except when it comes to seeing it in myself.

For years and at a young age, I struggled with an eating disorder. Struggled so severely that at times I wanted my life to end. I loathed myself from the inside out. I saw nothing beautiful in my person and felt nothing of worth. At times I thought I would never feel whole again. Years ago I decided I had had enough. I was done living this way. I knew there was good to be had in life and I wanted some. I mustered up all the courage I could muster and paid to see a therapist who specialized in eating disorders. I learned to trust in the Lord. I read and studied and prayed from books of earthly and spiritual wisdom. I began to let go of things and feelings from my past. And I began to heal.
I remember that summer of healing. I remember it so clearly. I looked at myself in the mirror and for the first time in probably a decade, I saw myself and thought “I am beautiful.” Just a little bit beautiful, but beautiful nonetheless. I saw beauty in myself despite my imperfections. Those “flaws” were mine; they made me who I am. As the years have progressed I find this occurrence happening more frequently. I have grown fond of features I previously thought were ugly. I’ve learned to love my imperfect self.  Not perfectly, but I’ve journeyed a mighty emotional distance. 
I have 3 beautiful daughters and one beautiful son. It’s amazing that my body, a body I previously loathed, had the ability to create such perfection. Every day I look at them and I hope they know what they’re worth. I hope they fill their thoughts with how their simple service, innocence, mistakes, and persistence makes them beautiful.

The most beautiful things are imperfect, they have tarnish and wear, they have sacrificed much for someone or something they love. Beauty to me is not the perfect plastic mannequin but the soft, worn woman who tucks her children into bed at night with tenderness after an exhausting day.  Who trades high heels and accolades for dirty bare feet and the slobbery kisses of her children.

My heart aches for my old self, I want to soothe her and hold her, and tell her how wonderful she is. But I also know that she grew stronger from all of that and she will use that strength to help others.
I have my girls say this before they go to school in the morning:
“I am smart. I am kind. I am strong. I am beautiful.”
They are. So are you.
Feed me fashionably fresh