Lovely Links: 9/12/14

Weekly Kitten

Slightly blurred due to constant movement, even inside a bag.
(If you enjoy these images, follow me on Instagram for more kitty fun!)

“The retail industry’s own statistics suggest a shift in consumer-spending habits is starting to take root. While Americans are spending more each year on clothes than ever before, the quantity has leveled off since the 2005 peak, according to statistics from the American Apparel & Footwear Association.” (Cheers, Pamela)

Thanks to all of you for your support and insight and general fabulousness in response to this week’s posts about personal style shifts. If you’re interested in seeing another blogger on a similar journey – albeit one that is more focused on moving toward minimalism – do head over to Grechen’s Closet. She’s been a huge inspiration to me. And! She was quoted in the WSJ article linked to directly above!

Queen Michelle might be the only person alive who can make a Snoopy-print dress look badass.

Another favorite representational print this week: The one found on Valerie’s kiss-print matched set.

“Women can do masculinity, then, to reap some of the rewards offered to those who embody it, but there’s a catch: women must maintain their ‘femininity,’ too. Women face gender rules that require that they wear makeup in order to be seen as beautiful and competent. Not doing so brings costs.”

Color lovers: Check out this chart showcasing dozens upon dozens of fun and unexpected color pairings.

Related: This post offers some fun and unusual palettes based on various shades of gray and suggests finding more at Colour Lovers.

Don’t you dare make me feel ashamed of my body. (Thanks, Garrett)

Loved this roundup of plus size bloggers over 40. And Grown & Curvy Woman is asking for more suggestions in her comments, so do swing by and chime in.

“Although the concept of the video game may be strange, it’s stranger that our society has accepted and normalized guns and violence through video games, yet we still find tampons and menstruation unspeakable.”

Rocquelle takes borrowing clothes to a whole new level when she styles up her nephew’s plaid shirt. And such a smashing outfit she made with it, too!

My friend and colleague Ellen Lawson has just launched The Flyover, a Midwest-focused fashion and lifestyle website.

Shoes that I will wear indoors until I’m sure I can actually style them: These Rachel Roy studded oxfords. Gorgeous, but challenging. (For me anyway.)

Moms, what are your thoughts about these suggestions for post-partum attire for professionals? They seem mostly sound, but not sure about the shapewear plug …

If your waterfall cardigans aren’t getting much love, check out this quick video which shows a cute and easy way to style a drape-front cardi that also takes some of the volume out of the piece.

“Self-care is about taking the time to focus on your own well-being so that you’re emotionally, mentally, and physically energized around your personal and work life.”

On the Fox 9 Buzz this week I shared some tips for wearing leather clothing, including but going beyond traditional leather jackets.

Kellie is most definitely one of my current style icons, and is an absolute master of pairing tough elements with floaty, feminine ones.

What “winter is coming” means to those of us who don’t live in Westeros.

Since we talked about being smooth and firm this week, I think Stasia’s post talking about being a thin person with cellulite is worth reading.

Over on Facebook, I shared a tip for keeping your blazers and jackets from getting stinky. An unusual tip. (Accompanying image may not be safe for work.)

Here’s a fabulous and important response to the “I don’t want my tax dollars going toward fat people’s healthcare costs” argument.

From an interview titled Misty Copeland On Broadening ‘Beauty’ And Being Black In Ballet: “They hear those words from critics — I’m ‘too bulky,’ I’m ‘too busty’ — and then they meet me in person and they say, ‘You look like a ballerina, I don’t understand.’ And I think it’s just something maybe I will never escape from: those people who are narrow-minded. But my mission, my voice, my story, my message is not for them. I think it’s more important to think of the people I am influencing and helping to see a broader picture of what beauty is.” (Thanks, Maureen)

Six fun ideas for styling a plaid shirt.

Valuable suggestions for transforming unhealthy self-talk into a constructive and supportive inner monologue.

I totally agree with these four shortcuts to a more current-looking style.

Gretchen decided to wear nothing but neutrals for an entire year. Here, she expresses her frustration and how much she misses wearing color.

Tips and product recommendations for bringing second day curls back to life.

Peter’s tips for downsizing your fabric stash could apply to a closet purge as well. That first tip is incredibly important: “Forgive yourself for accumulating the stuff in the first place.”

Bookmarking this EVERYWHERE: Harper’s has created a guide to correct pronunciation of designer brand names. Part 1 and part 2.

Now that is a swoon-worthy vintage reproduction dress right there.

From a moving essay about anorexia and recovery: “Self-acceptance, I think, should not be deemed ‘radical.’ When you think about it, it’s the least that you can do. Today, I am filled to the brim with passions and imperfections—both of which I choose to embrace.”

Sweaters languishing? Check out this roundup of 10 fun sweater refashioning projects.

As someone who very consciously does not comment on the looks or clothing of little girls, I loved this list: 30 Compliments I’m Going To Give My Daughter (That Will Have Nothing To Do With How She Looks)

And from the Department of Random (though not really): Reader Cheri and I had a quick email exchange about badassery this week, and she sent me a link to this post which sums up the running career of one Cliff Young, who was rightfully featured on a site called Badass of the Week. For some reason, I had seen a video about Cliff recently, but absolutely loved reading this piece, which is full of hilarious profanity and irreverence, but also gobs of respect for Cliffy (as Cheri affectionately called him).

Additionally: My friend Levi wrote a wonderful post about The Battle Against Cynicism. “… modern cynicism is much more about avoiding disappointment and sadness than finding happiness. Cynicism, as it stands now, is about creating a separation or distance from ideas, events, and even people in order to not feel so many feelings.”

And finally:

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