Farmwife Fashion: Fight the Frump, Fashion Up

There was that one time I went to Italy.

I can hardly believe that Debbie and I once had lunch in the open air in MILAN, the fashion capital of the WORLD. We sat in the Piazza del Duomo just down the block from Gucci. Landing there after our delightful chat with a chic and kind salesperson at the flagship Prada store, we were enthralled with the beautiful fashionistas of every age, strolling by us as we had our first genuine Italian pizza with our first bottle of sparkling Pellegrino. (That’s bottled water, friends!)

Literally, I could have gone home after those few hours we spent in the piazza. We were two very happy girls, jumping up and down on the inside with the most blessed eyeballs ever! You can read all about our trip here, and here and  here.

Fortunately, this was just the BEGINNING of our Italian adventure. As we  strolled around the city, we saw the cutest outfits. I was especially taken by the white, boho dress worn by a beautiful young Italian woman near the amazing cathedral. You know how some people just draw your eye even if they are just standing there, saying and doing nothing? This girl had that special something, something. And her dress  was sooo perfect-relaxed yet chic and I wanted to ask her so badly where she got it.

But I resisted. Because I didn’t speak Italian.

Imagine my surprise when later that evening, that SAME GIRL was in our little group for a walking tour through the canal district of Milan! And she did speak English and I just LOVED her. Believe it or not, her dress was from The LOFT, of all places!!! For those of you who may not be familiar, Loft is an American company and I have shopped there many times. She told me she got the dress on a visit to Paris. Which just goes to prove, fashion can be found EVERYWHERE!

That evening is one of my special memories of our trip. After our tour, we all ended up in a little pub enjoying some extra time together. There were women from all over the United States, our Italian tour guide, my new Italian friend and her handsome boyfriend visiting from Rome, and another couple from Finland. I so enjoyed getting acquainted with ALL of them-it was so much FUN to learn about life from so many different perspectives.

The couple from Finland especially fascinated me because when I was in high school, I had a pen pal from Finland. Her name was Johanna and we wrote back and forth for about 2 years. I  WISH I had not lost touch with her, but because of her, I’ve felt an affinity for this Scandinavian country and its fjords. One of these days, I’d love to visit.

What does this have to do with Farmwife Fashion, you may be asking? 

Well, a few weeks ago, I signed up for the Putting Me Together Challenge with one of my style icons, Audrey.

She has a very approachable and copycat-able way of dressing. For the challenge, you shop your closet or buy her suggested items (she basically shops for you, in a variety of price points) and then she emails outfit recipes for many days. It is so fun and basically tells us what to wear for an entire season.

This is the first time I’ve done this particular challenge and I love it. I’ve only bought two items-a new pair of shoes and some relaxed hemmed jeans- because everything else is so basic that I already owned at least a workable version of it.

Joining the challenge also gives access to the fun FB group where people post pics of their version of the outfit of the day. One of my favorites is Iris, who just happens to be from Finland. Her sense of style is spot on and I admire how she can take the same pieces and rework them to come up with many different looks.

I would wear everyone of these outfits!

 

 

I really don’t know much about Iris’s life, but I can tell from her comments that she has children she loves, a full closet and a climate that is still chilly!

One of the best parts of the challenge has been “meeting” the other girls. They are all ages and sizes and come from all over the world. I’ve seen posts from the  U.S., Canada, England and Finland. All types of stores are mentioned from Nordstrom to Marshalls to Sears. Some countries even have clothes at the grocery!

Everyone is so encouraging and complementary and I haven’t read a single snarky comment from anyone. I don’t know if everyone is a believer or not, but lots of people have commented that they are wearing this or that outfit to church or to a church event. Audrey, who put the challenge together,  actually works in ministry.

That is right up my alley-I love a fashionable church lady!!!

God created  us with unique interests and I think it is so gracious of HIM that we can use our hobbies to connect with one another on a deeper spiritual level. Even through clothes, and shoes and cute jewelry! And as believers we get to wear the most beautiful outfit of all. In one way, it is invisible, but in the most important ways possible we show others that we are wearing it….

Grab your Bible and read Colossians 3: 12-14 and read about the outfit God picked out for us-it is absolutely gorgeous!

Since I live in yoga pants on Tuesdays and some days the only person I see is Brad, I haven’t worn every outfit variation yet, but that is OK. I’m dressing vicariously with all the gals on the challenge and it has brought the joy back to opening my closet door.

Who is YOUR style icon? Where do you go for fashion inspiration? Please share in the comments! We all want to know!!