The Row

I think this video is going to be very key in inspiring my weekend outfits for many weeks to come.

{The outfit she wears at the 00:13 second mark is exactly what I wore out last night}.

Isn't it remarkable that MK&A designed such a sultry collection for The Row that is so far from their everyday, bohemian, bag-lady chic look?  I know this is old, but it's still just so on with the versatile blazers and high quality basics that should honestly be the cornerstones to every workable wardrobe.  

I hope you all are having perfect Sundays!
P.S.- This John Galliano mess is tearing me apart, post to come.

Truly yours,

Rachel

Road Full of Promise

{via tumblr, we heart it}

Happy Inspirational Humpday, loves!  Today we're going to get a bit serious, a bit personal, just bear with me here.  I want to talk about the relationship that exists between style and strength. 

 A few months ago things seemed to shatter.  Everything that I thought was undeniably true turned false, my sweet turned sour.  This was a new pain, a big girl pain, the kind that leaves you walking around with a gaping hole in your chest for weeks at a time, the kind that creates silent sobs.  I'll be honest with you, for a bit there, I gave in.  I succumbed to the hurt, wallowed in it, and let it envelope me {and I read Pride and Prejudice...three times}.  But after a few days I did something so seemingly insignificant that would turn out to be the single most impactful move I could've made on my path to regaining a sense of myself.  

I got dressed.

I put on the most ridiculously chic, seasonally inappropriate outfit I could assemble of rose chiffon, skin hugging satin, and sky-high heels and I wore it in bed.  Every day, no matter how terrible I was feeling, I managed to put together an ensemble that I knew made me look and feel good, and every day I felt the strength grow within me.  It is in this way that personal style is undeniably empowering.  It is a form of creative expression that serves as the armour to give us the strength to face the day.  Without style this incredible struggle, {which I am grateful for everyday}, could have very well eaten me alive.  I can't express to you how much I value the roll that my personal style and this incredible online community has played in leading me through this experience. I don't believe that there is a bounty of influences out there that could make a person so much stronger in the way that fashion has done for me.    

Thanks for listening, dolls.

Happy humpday :)

Truly yours,

Rachel 

If You Ever Did Believe

{via fashion gone rogue}

Something about this editorial from the February issue of FN magazine is so comforting.  Maybe it's the accessibility of it, the fact that I myself could pull off each and every one of these looks without looking entirely insane.  Maybe it has to do with the story; just a girl in her art studio, nothing overly complicated.   Once in a while, especially during the fashion week surge, we need a sharp jolt of simplicity, and I'm not talking about mnmlsm {hehe, see what I did there?}.  Cozy knits, a simple setting, tousled hair, jean cut offs, and those sea green bloomers...don't get me started on that color, it just works here.  You can almost hear the Stevie Nicks echoing through her studio!

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend! 

Truly yours,

Rachel

Silent In The Morning

{via weheartit}
Ok now, don't freak out...I am posting twice within a 24 hour period.  Don't get too excited, dolls.  Today's Inspirational Humpday is dedicated to mornings.  I think I've always been a morning person in disguise, and with my new job I have recently had to embrace an earlier schedule.  Wanna know a secret?....I kind of love it.  These last few days have been sunny and a bit warmer, and there's nothing better than jumping in my little car when it's dark and watching the sun slowly rise on my drive downtown.  The perfect soundtrack is truly what makes or breaks the experience, {not to mention a serious cup of tea} and this and this have been serving me quite well on my way in.
Happy Humpday loves!

Truly yours,
Rachel

P.S.
Some words of wisdom...

"Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.  I don't think you could do away with it, it'd be like doing away with civilization!"

Flawless

{via fashionstyleme}

Dear lord, the lady is flawless!  Here we have Miss Kate Moss for Lonchamp's Spring 2011 ad campaign, and I see one major flaw with these advertisements.  The problem is, I don't care one little bit about the product!  Not that I have anything against Longchamp bags, they're beautifully well-made and iconic, and I love my "le pliage".  It's just that Kate looks so darn gorgeous here, and the styling is just so good {I mean, can we talk about that green dress?  Can you say "KY Derby"?}  

On a different note, I hope everyone had a wonderful valentine's day, but now that it's over, let's try to remember how important it is to tell those we care for how amazing they are on all the other days of the year!  It's then that those sweet nothings and terms of endearment mean the most! 

Truly yours,

Rachel

Scarlet Begonias Tucked Into Her Curls

{via i love wildfox, tumblr, weheartit, fashion toast, her famed warm gun}

Happy Inspirational Humpday, dolls!  So today's post has just about the most obscure theme any post has ever had in the history of the blogosphere, all inspired by yesterday's events.  So yesterday I got my hair cut, just a trim and some layers, no big deal, right?  Wrong.  The hairstylist did the unthinkable...she straightened my hair.  She claimed it would help her touch up the layers, but I'm crying foulplay!  So as you can see, the ladies in the photos above are sporting some beautiful, slightly kinked locks in honor of yesterday's tragic events.  

Now don't get me wrong here folks,  I have absolutely nothing against straight hair,  I used to wake up 2 hours early, every day to straighten my hair!  But at this point, I do have something against not celebrating what you are blessed with by nature.  There is nothing more beautiful or sexy than confidence and love for oneself.
So today it's back to being a curly girl. 

Happy humpday.
{Oh, and hello there new followers, lots of love}

Truly yours,

Rachel

Charles Henry Spring 2011

{via Charles Henry}

Charles Henry is a recently launched collection that definitely appeals to my penchant for feminine frocks and my undying desire to dress for the summer.  I mean, how could you not love a collection of pieces overflowing with ruffles, delicate fabrics, adorable rompers, and cutouts?!  Not only is the collection overwhelmingly pretty, but it is designed by a fellow Kentucky girl {woohoo KY pride}!  I can't wait until the warm weather hits so I can flounce around in some pretty dresses like these!
 {Ya, I flounce, so what?} 

Truly yours,

Rachel

Stock Pile

{via ffffound, her famed warm gun, oracle fox, tumblr}

Happy humpday beautiful readers!  I've decided to start my first series: Inspirational Humpdays!  Every Wednesday I'm going to post a random hodgepodge of photos that have been rapidly gathering dust in my iphoto folder.  I figure it will be a good way to both inspire and clean out my hard drive.  Mmmmm I want to be in that last photo right now!  What could be better than good friends, sand, a beer, and perhaps a cute boy?  Ok definitely a cute boy, we're working on that one.  I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday, and if you are snowed in like much of the country, why not dress like it's 85 degrees out?  Hey, you're staying inside anyways, and I promise it'll make you feel much more cheery!

Truly yours,

Rachel