what I wore : owl keep you

by Kaylah Stroup

details
dress – Modcloth (three years ago)
lapel pin – Pintrill
belt – thrifted
camera bag – Siena via Jo Totes
shoes – thrifted

I started cleaning out my closet this week in preparation for a shop my closet sale. (more details on this soon!) This was one of the dresses I grabbed for the sale pile simply because I rarely wear it. It’s been in my closet for a few years but has maybe only been worn five times. Before I started photographing everything I tried on this dress and basically just said “Haha! …No!” I might not be as crazy about the pattern as I was when I first got it but it just fits so darn well. It never needs ironed, and for some magic reason, pet hair doesn’t stick to it. Those are two major bonuses! Yeah, so I’ll be keeping this one for a while longer.

While I was sorting things for the closet sale I kept finding myself thinking “well, maybe if my body looked more like this the dress would look better”, “it’s my size, why doesn’t it look right?” or things along those lines. It was discouraging. I was dwelling on it for the rest of the day then it hit me, there is nothing wrong with me. Why should I feel bad that a certain dress isn’t flattering on me? I’m definitely an advocate of wearing whatever the heck you want regardless of what’s popular but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to wear what I feel flatters my shape the best. I think it took until then to realize that just because something is the correct size doesn’t mean it’s going to look awesome, and that’s okay. Maybe that’s all ramble-y, or doesn’t properly illustrate what I’m trying to say but this is a reminder that your body is perfect just the way it is, don’t you ever doubt that especially because of a piece of clothing!

My favorite spot to take outfit photos is out of commission at the moment. Like I mentioned in a previous post, it’s a giant abandoned building and for the past few weeks a construction crew has been working there. I suppose they’re trying to spruce it up so it will sell. Hope the kitties who live there will still have a place to stay! While they’re working on it I have to find a new dependable spot to shoot. I spotted this wall along the side of the road and figured it’d make a nice background. I didn’t count on the crazy amount of traffic though. Mostly people just slowed down to stare but I had a few folks who honked which scared the heck out of me. I’m just relieved no one stopped to ask what I was doing. I’d have probably done this… which totally reminds me of this gif of Homer Simpson.

very sneaky, right?

Hope you have an awesome Wednesday!
xoxo

You may also like

28 comments

Claudia Schieve May 13, 2015 - 12:47 pm

omg I LOVE that dress. I'm obsessed with owls. Your hair is looking awesome too! (as usual!) 🙂

Kaylah May 13, 2015 - 2:32 pm

Thank you!

Nicole Hokenstad May 13, 2015 - 1:05 pm

Ugh I so get that about clothes. I find it endlessly irritating that sizes dont equal fit. I hate that my size in one thing is way off in another, or even within brands! I live in levis but have to buy three sizes because theres arent always the same across the board. Trying on clothes can be a total downer, but Ive been trying to do like you have and say screw it, i'm awesome!!

Kaylah May 13, 2015 - 2:33 pm

Right?! Trying on clothes is the worst.

Marcia Furman May 13, 2015 - 1:22 pm

Love the shade of your hair right now! Is it the alpine green punk colors on top??

Kaylah May 13, 2015 - 2:33 pm

No, it's actually a mix of all the blues and greens I had in my cupboard. I expected it to turn out a lot more blue since that what the majority of the dyes were but it ended up like this. I LOVE it.

Morgan Gaw May 13, 2015 - 3:29 pm

I think confidence in yourself and body are a big key. It has taken me a long time to understand exactly what my body type is, what I think looks best on me, and what I feel comfortable in. As I get older I'm sure it will change too. I've always hated my thighs but now I'm like, why? What's wrong them? Sure maybe they're bigger than SOME peoples' but that's ok. You always look great! And your blog has inspired me to wear more patterns, even some patters I thought I could never do!

Kaylah May 14, 2015 - 3:45 pm

<333

Tiny Grey Cat May 13, 2015 - 4:21 pm

I love that camera bag so much! And right on with the body talk. I get so upset whenever I try on jeans, but now I try to remember that they make clothes to generic numbers, not taking into account the hundreds of variations real people have. And screw jeans – dresses and skirts looks much cuter anyway!
I concur with everyone's comments on your hair – love this colour on you 🙂 xo
tinygreycat.com

Kaylah May 14, 2015 - 3:47 pm

Jeans are THE worst. I have jeans in my closet that range from size 3-13! That doesn't even make sense!!!! Basically if a website doesn't have the actually inches listed for jeans I can't buy them online.

Laura May 13, 2015 - 5:19 pm

that is such a cute dress, hope you'll get more wear out of it:-) the pattern's really cute! and i do agree with your body talk! xx

Kaylah May 14, 2015 - 3:47 pm

Thanks, Laura! 🙂

julia May 13, 2015 - 8:55 pm

good choice keeping it – you look gorgeous! 🙂

Kaylah May 14, 2015 - 3:48 pm

Thank you, Julia! 🙂

J May 13, 2015 - 9:16 pm

That gif is perfect hahaha. And seriously, everyone's body is shaped uniquely – it shouldn't be a surprise when a mass-produced item doesn't fit to our shape (though it is frustrating when it's really cute!)

Kaylah May 14, 2015 - 3:49 pm

I know, but it's so frustrating. It's just too easy to be hard on yourself.

Let's Have Another May 13, 2015 - 9:56 pm

That's an adorable dress! I read an interview with a designer recently who was commenting on the industry standard of designing dresses in a size 0 or 2. Models are that size so they can fit into the samples, and this designer (I wish I could remember her name!) said something along the lines of making dresses to fit the women, rather than picking women who would fit the dresses. And that makes so much sense!

Kaylah May 14, 2015 - 3:59 pm

It does make sense but at the same time there are lots of women who are size 0 or 2 or even smaller naturally and there's nothing wrong with that. The whole point of what I was saying is that no body is wrong.

I definitely do think that only showcasing those models isn't good but that's another bag of worms altogether.

Emerald Dove May 13, 2015 - 10:00 pm

Love this outfit! That lapel pin is so cute and the shoes are lovely. Your hair is such a great colour too! 🙂
theemeralddove21.blogspot.co.uk

Kaylah May 14, 2015 - 3:53 pm

Thanks! 🙂

Louise May 14, 2015 - 12:18 am

This is such a gorgeous outfit! You look awesome!

Kaylah May 14, 2015 - 3:53 pm

Thanks, Louise! 🙂

Kitschy Mama May 14, 2015 - 8:56 am

I love this dress on you, especially the collar is nice! And the pin is so totally you 🙂

I had to laugh seeing you hide Homer-wise 😀

I mostly buy second hand clothing (even when it's not my size) which I alter into something "perfect" for my body. I assume you've already done this too as you're a seamstress 🙂 I love to wear unique pieces that flatter my figure perfectly; even though my figure itself is far from perfect, it's perfect for me ;-). And besides all the positive ecological reasons why to buy second hand, it's also no misfortune when I don't succed because these dresses are often very cheap.

I am curious to see what dresses you're going to sell, even though I guess they will be all sold in one hour like last time and the shipping costs will be a little too high for me.. But you've got a great taste and I love looking in wardrobes :p

Kaylah May 14, 2015 - 3:53 pm

I so wish shipping didn't cost so much! It's shocking how much prices have risen in the last few years.

Kitschy Mama May 14, 2015 - 8:58 am

I love that color too! It looks a lot like Alpine Green from La Riche Directions, just saying in case you want to dye it the same color again..

Kaylah May 14, 2015 - 3:51 pm

Oh! Thanks! I'll have to remember that!

Sarah Albertson May 14, 2015 - 1:36 pm

I really like that dress! Ug, clothes sizes. I'll buy something without trying it on because it's MY size and then when I get it home it fits all weird and I have no idea what happened. Sometimes I can make it work, and sometimes I can't. Which reminds me I should probably go through my closet as well and finally part ways with those odd fitting pieces..

Kaylah May 14, 2015 - 3:51 pm

I know what you mean, I've basically given up buying anything that I can't try on first. Sizes basically don't mean anything. Not to mention, I'm so picky about how clothes fit.

Comments are closed.