Cardigan Empire

Salt Lake City Fashion Stylist

Flour Clothing Vintage Giveaway

i ❤ vintage!  Vintage styles, vintage cuts, vintage patterns.  Imagining its previous owner, the events it has attended, the stories it has to tell. 

And as it turns out, most of you and your narrow little waistlines aren’t dressing for two.  I can therefore dress vicariously through you enjoying frocks from one of my favorite vintage fashion lines: Flour Clothing
Sponsored by

Lady Kayleen, CEO of Flour Clothing, has generously offered two pretty little gift certificates ($100 and $50) to her pretty little shop as part of a Cardigan Empire giveaway.  Win your credit towards one of your own Lady Kayleen treasures, using any or all of the approved methods below:

a) Go to Flour Clothing, inspect her vintage treasures, and leave a comment on what garment of memories you’d like to parade in.   
b) Follow Flour Clothing on Facebook

c) Blog, Tweet, or otherwise share info on this contest and leave a confirming comment.

d) Add the Flour Clothing‘s button to your blog or website

 


The winners of the Flour Clothing Giveaway will be selected on Friday, September 3rd.

The first winner will receive a $100 Flour Clothing gift certificate. 

The second winner will receive a $50 Flour Clothing gift certificate.

In the meantime, I will be away from the keyboard, returning Friday, September 3rd.  See you very soon!

Feed me fashionably fresh

Trimester Specific Maternity Fashion

Whether your occupant’s presence was only recently perceived or your nest is already abundantly ripe, below is a fashion guide for each stage of your roost raising:

Trimestre Primo (Weeks 1-12):
Bra, Knickers, Trouser Extender

Your very first-est purchase, must-est absolutely be a bra, preferably a trio of them.  The tender blossom of your lady eggs need tending.  Start scheduling a fresh bra fitting around eight weeks.

Next, you and your seed will need to analyze your entire closet. Abstain from purchasing unnecessarily now.  Perhaps you already have a few empire waist tops, some longer pleated tees, or an extra stretchy pair of trousers that continue to serve you and your growing empire.

Next identify items that might work with slight modifications. If you have pants and skirts that still fit nicely around your thighs and seat, but are a tiddly bit tight around the confines of your new belly buddy.  try purchasing a Bella Band, Belly Belt Button Up, Belly Band to keep your southern garments in their station.  If all else fails, a rubber band will suffice.
 

Trimestre Secondo (Weeks 13-26):
Maternity Cluster
Your belly is finally starting to bump. While fashion architecture is traditionally executed to draw attention away from a broad area, this is not the case in pregnancy. Your expanding arched abdomen is a glorious line. And it is unmistakable physical evidence that you are very desirable to the opposite sex.

Your goal now is to acquire a minimalist maternity wardrobe.  Retain what continues to serve you from your non-maternity wardrobe and add in new items to complete the set.  As you evaluate, remember you are not a packaged sausage. If you can see any excessive details of your figure metamorphosis, it is not serving you. And your child should never fall below the line of blouse. Baby will be angry if he finds you left him exposed to the public.

In the end aim for: 10 shirts, 5 trousers (including 1 pair of jeans), 1 skirt, 1 dress. All of them should be good servants, faithful servants. Servants who flatter you.

But hasty one, proceed with wisdom. Buy slowly. Re-wear each garment in as many combinations as possible. Glutton yourself on the intoxication of well fitting pretties because as it turns out you two may only have fleeting weeks to enjoy each other.  
Avoid trimester specific buying, and look for items that will grow with you and your uterine companion.  This includes wrap knits, tie back tops, and extra long stretchy jersey blouses. 

Trimestre Terzo(Weeks 27-40):
Accessories
Start slowing down your maternity purchases.  The items you wisely purchased in the second trimester should continue to accommodate your growth.  
Now is the time to acquire accessories.  Redress your wardrobe with bright baubles, fine millinery, and the excellent work of your favorite cobbler.  Not only will bags and scarves refresh your appearance now, but they will continue to serve you postpartum. 

If you must buy a new garment, opt for an open closure layering piece (ie sweater or jacket).  The outer pieces can create structure and verticality around your beautifully broad belly.

Still to come, pregnancy body types, maternity fashion flops, and more.
Procure your own empire constitution. Your personalized fashion look book can include your own pregnant styling rules of conduct and much more.
Feed me fashionably fresh