Fashion

Dream Dress! – Perfect for a Gala

Do you ever stumble across a dress or shoe that you can’t stop thinking about? It happens to me pretty frequently, and while it used to make me worry I was deeply shallow at heart, now I know it’s just an extension of my imagination. When I see something beautiful, I’m drawn to it – I’m drawn to its story or the story that could be formed around it. And recently, I came across this dress and a new obsession began. I absolute long for a reason to buy and wear this dress (so, side note: if you’re going to a gala soon, feel free to invite me!)

Amazon.com

The amazing thing is that this Nina tulle dress is actually pretty affordable and available on Amazon for only $69. It really does seem like something that someone would wear to a gala or red carpet event. It might even work for a formal event like prom or even as a bridesmaid dress. Unfortunately, in my case, I know that my short height and larger bust size would make it difficult to pull off this dress even should the occasion arise, but a girl can dream, right?

Anyway, even though I probably won’t be able to wear this dress to a masquerade ball on Valentine’s day where I fall in love with a mysterious stranger (oh no, I fear I’m veering dangerously close to Hallmark movie territory now), that doesn’t mean you can’t!

If you have a great story about a life-changing dress or have an opinion on this one, be sure to let me know in the comments section!

XO – Tiffany

Fashion

Petite Fashion Styling – Best Pants Ever!

As a petite person, it can be really hard to find clothes that fit correctly. Often, petite departments have limited options filled with matronly things I don’t particularly want to wear. But with short arms, a short waist, and very short legs, standard clothing departments typically just have options that seem to devour my frame and trail on the ground behind me. In case you also have this issue, I wanted to share my absolute favorite brand for affordable pants that fit without needing to be tailored or hemmed!

For reference, I am 5’2″ so even some petite pants end up being a bit too long. However, the Hybrid & Company Women’s Stretchy High Waisted Slim Fit Pants come in Standard, Short, and Tall sizes, and I’ve found that the Short ones are PERFECT for my frame. Not only is the length perfect, but they are so comfortable! They also have functional pockets and are pull-ons so you don’t have to worry about zippers or buttons. I wear these pants almost every day and have them in charcoal (featured above), black, dark wash denim, and white.

I found these pants on Amazon and they are only about $30 (the price seems to fluctuate but it’s always roughly that amount unless there’s a sale!) I would love more color options, but I’m thrilled that I can get all the neutrals taken care of! I will say that it’s important to order a size up (I’m typically a small but I definitely need a medium in these pants). I hope these pants are never ever discontinued because they are so perfect for me and my short stature.

Also, as a bonus, I’ll link to the shirt I’m wearing in the picture too: it’s from Romwe and retails on Amazon for about $20. I love the little pearl detailing, the puffy sleeves, and the slim fit. Often, since I’m short waisted, shirts drown me or look like tunics even when they’re not supposed to, but this brand is cut at just the right length. They aren’t actually marketed as petite though, so if you have a longer torso, these might be too short for you. Also, I typically order two sizes up (the shirt in the picture is a large). It can be annoying guessing at sizing for fast fashion, but I typically try to err on getting a bigger size whenever possible since lots of similar brands fit smaller than expected.

I hope this was helpful! If you’re petite (or have the opposite problem) please let me know in the comment section if you have any favorite go-to brands that fit you perfectly!

XO- Tiffany

Fashion

Great Christmas Shopping Idea!

If you’re looking for a last-minute gift idea for the fashionista in your life, look no further! I am absolutely obsessed with this Scarleton bag that I bought myself for Black Friday!

This medium-sized bag is perfect for the office. It’s small enough to not feel like a burden while being big enough that I can toss a book or something larger inside to transport it to and from work. It comes in so many shades but I picked grey because of its versatility. It goes with every outfit I own and the neutral color balances out the adorable but large bow. Its quilted design also reminds me of vintage Chanel. Best of all, this bag retails at $40 so it won’t break the bank!

Anyway, happy holidays everyone! And enjoy the last-minute shopping adrenaline high!

XO – Tiffany

Fashion, Personal

On Personal Style and Being Too Much

Buckle up, my friends – it’s story time! I wanted to use today’s post to touch on a topic that’s important to me (and most people): personal style! No matter if you love everything that sparkles or prefer an array of neutral shades, the most important thing about fashion is remaining authentic to who you are.

My story begins in junior high and high school when I attended a private school with a strict dress code. I was just entering the world of fashion, religiously pouring over each month’s issue of Vogue, so I found our strict uniform of blue polos and plaid skirts to be repressive. It wasn’t that I longed to be different. It’s just that I already knew I was different and wanted to embrace that. I wanted to wear things that reflected how I felt inside – and baby, that meant couture! That’s right, I was the weirdo who paired a classic school uniform with high heels, a floor-length black fur coat, and enough costume jewelry to make it appear that I was already on my third divorce.

You’re probably wondering how people responded to my sense of style. In truth, I don’t remember much because I was so busy daydreaming about what it would be like to work for Vogue and live in New York City and attend galas every night.

Now that I’m nearing age 30, a lot has changed and a lot hasn’t. I’m not Anna Wintour’s protege, but I am a freelance writer who still loves beauty and fashion. My sense of style is still dramatic, but perhaps it’s been tamed just a bit. The sparkles haven’t dulled; they’re just used more sparingly. I think the biggest difference is that I’m now more aware of other people and their opinions. I’ve noticed that I’m frequently accused of being, “too much,” in a lot of ways: too loud, too large, too sparkly, too accessorized, too talkative, too direct, too colorful, too shallow, too serious, too materialistic.

Case in point – do you see the beautifully large white bag in the picture of this post? I love this purse! I bought it on Amazon because it reminded me of a classic Hermes Birkin bag, and I know I’ll never be able to afford even a used Birkin on Poshmark. I couldn’t wait to show it off! I bought it in white because I loved how it would stand out (even though, I am very clumsy and often don’t buy white things since I’m prone to instantly spilling coffee on them – but the red wouldn’t go with as many outfits, so I picked the white!) I was casually seeing a guy at the time, and he had already accused me of being “too much.” I wasn’t relaxed enough; it was weird that I was always so put together; it was a red flag that I seemed so materialistic. Anyway, I truly didn’t think he’d have a strong opinion about the purse, but then I was told that it was nearing a line of being so ostentatious that he’d be embarrassed being seen with me. Needless to say, I picked the bag over the boy right away.

I guess I say all of this in case someone reading this has also felt their style or personality was, “too much.” I see you – and I like you! The world needs your flair for the dramatic, your bold opinions, your sky-high stilettos, the way you light up the room when you walk in. Let’s never apologize for embracing who we truly are.

Thanks for reading!

XO Tiffany

Personal

March 2019 Favorites

Another month is basically gone – I can’t believe how fast this year is flying. I wanted to check in really quick and list four of my favorite things for the month:

  • Tilda Swinton – I realized this month that Tilda Swinton is the common link shared by many of my favorite horror movies: Only Lovers Left Alive, Suspiria, and We Need to Talk About Kevin. She is extremely talented and versatile!

Image result for tilda swinton only lovers left alive

 

  • Cozy Mystery Audiobooks – I adore the fun, lighthearted nature of cozy mysteries where you get to solve a murder alongside an amateur sleuth and a cast of colorful characters set against an endearing, small-town backdrop. Lately, I’ve been making my way through the Magical Bakery series by Bailey Cates and the Needlecraft Mysteries by Monica Ferris.

Spells and Scones (A Magical Bakery Mystery Book 6) by [Cates, Bailey]

 

  • Knitting – Even though warmer weather is creeping in, I’m still knitting away to create hats and scarves for the homeless through the charity Warm Up Ohio. It’s both relaxing and rewarding!
four green yarns on chopping board
Photo by Surene Palvie on Pexels.com

 

  • Kindle Paperwhite – While I love my Kindle Fire, the e-ink screen of the Kindle Paperwhite makes it so much easier on the eyes to read for long periods of time. It’s also so thin and portable that it will squeeze into even my smallest purse – because I obviously need to be connected to my library at all times!

kindle technology amazon tablet
Photo by freestocks.org on Pexels.com

 

Well, that’s what I loved in March! I’m hoping that April brings more adventure into my life 🙂

Thanks for reading,

Tiffany Renee Harmon