RachelAdelicia – Page 10 – Investment Piece

Magic in a Dress

a woman in a teal and gold lame midi dress on rocks by a lake

As much as I believe in fashion, and our stories, and how the the two are connected- there are times when all of the things (our stories and our fashion) are just magic. Like this vintage Hanea Mori (more on her below!) that I got from Pickled Vintage (check my IG stories today for my current picks from her!) that I recently wore to my cousin’s wedding (more on that next week on Fashion Stories!). Maybe it’s the teal or the gold, or the subtle pattern- or the fitted waist and button back- but this dress made me feel magical. It was magic. And if the people who came up to me and complimented me on the dress had anything to say- it was a hit!

Another way to say that this was magic in dress- on a magical night!

So what makes a dress magic? For me, it’s part how it makes you feel (aka the fit, the color, the details) and part where you wear it to (I am one to always overdress but it helps when your outfit fits the occasion!). Also, magic is a bit elusive, some times you have a great dress and a great event- and while you look great you lack that magic. While we can’t plan or demand magic my secret for this is doing just a little bit more.
AKA:
– going to a cocktail event? Wear a dress with a bit of metallic, glam, or glitz. Just righton the edge of formal
-Wear amazing shoes (a way of life) but especially at any sort of event
-Statement Pieces. From Jewelry to the dress or shoes, there should be one piece on you that subtly stands out.

You can’t always do magic on demand, but you can create the right environment for magic to flourish!

a woman in a teal and gold lame dress under string lights

About Hanea Mori:

Hanae Mori (Japanese: 森英恵, Hepburn: Mori Hanae, /həˌnɑːeɪ ˈmɔːri/, 8 January 1926 – 11 August 2022) was a Japanese fashion designer. She was one of only two Japanese women to have presented her collections on the runways of Paris and New York, and the first Asian woman to be admitted as an official haute couture design house by the Fédération française de la couture in France.[1][2] Her fashion house, opened in Japan in 1951, grew to become a $500 million international business by the 1990s. She’s a designer to know and this isn’t the first time you’ll read about her here!

a woman in a teal and gold lame dress under string lights
a woman in a gold and teal lame dress on rocks by a lake

There are times when magic just strikes. And of course, there are moments when we make the magic. In my experience the easiest way to do that is to wear things that make you feel magical (aka look amazing on you and have details that just pop! A great place to wear them doesn’t hurt either!)

So, how do you make magic in a dress? What makes a magical outfit to you?
Below I’ve linked some lame choices, some Hanea Mori choices, and these exact shoes for you!

XO RA

Note: This post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!

a woman in a teal and gold lame dress

Fashion Halloween : Miss Piggy

Growing up, I had a few career goals- one of them was Miss Piggy. And now (thanks to the best $20 mask I have ever bought!) I get to be her (even if it’s just for Fashion Halloween!

a woman in a Miss Piggy Mask, lilac gloves, black dress and platform heels

What do I love about Miss Piggy? Everything! Her sense of style, her ego, her loyalty and her essential fabulousness! As you may know, I also love Halloween- or as I call it, Fashion Halloween; the best combination of fashion and stories, and acting. I absolutely love planning my costumes, dressing up, and having Trick-or-Treaters (it’s a great way to see what fashion stories the kiddos are telling!)

So, I couldn’t resist the chance- to once again celebrate Fashion Halloween and to be a hero, Miss Piggy. This costume is so easy to put together- a black dress, gloves, heels. This mask was a find on eBay (handmade from the 1970s!) but you truly don’t need a mask (though if you wanted I know you could easily find pig ears or nose!). But with the right makeup (purple eyeshadow and big lashes), a blow out (or a blonde wig if you wanted). A bit (or a lot) of attitude and voila! It’s Miss Piggy (or Moi! As I will be going as this Halloween!)

What are you being for Halloween? And do you get as into it as I do? I would love to see yours (and your kiddos!) costumes and stories! Now- please excuse Moi! I have some fabulousness to get to!

XO RA

Also- because this dress is not only Miss Piggy perfect but on trend for the season and party ready I am linking it for you here! Please note, this is an affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!

a woman in a Miss Piggy Mask, lilac gloves, black dress and platform heels

Is it all the Same to You?

Investment Piece, fashion, style, high fashion, vintage, indecision, dolce Gabbana, CA, TX
a woman in a leopard print midi dress walking from a green hedge
Investment Piece: Cat Eyed
Investment Piece: Cat Got Your Tongue

This is where I tell you that recently things have been a lot. There’s the house issues (a recap here and and even here), and semi related health issues (aka I haven’t felt great in months, which has affected my work outs and feeling great in my body- which feels so vain to say. But yep), and there are days when just getting up has been a struggle (much less getting dressed. And we know how I LOVE to get dressed!). Just. A Lot over here. (over on IG today I say the thing that I am probably not supposed to say- that this is all depressing to me, which is also affecting me).

And then. On top. Also. Even with all this. I went to my closet today. Even not feeling great in my body. Even being a little down. I was excited to get dressed. To shot. To plan. And it felt all the same.
-This is when we can chat about how sometimes fast fashion and continuous new makes us feel as if we need and need but nothing changes.
-We can chat about ruts and how perhaps we have go-to’s that serve us until they don’t. This is also where I share that I have a great friend who I used to go to sample sales with (we still would but we no longer live in the same town!)- we would shop separately and then share our picks before deciding. I had a habit of collecting grey shirts. Tees. Blouses. Sweatshirts. (I still have that habit!). And while I can tell you the difference between each one, it does lead to having a bit of one thing in your closet. And while there are ALWAYS so many, many ways to style anything – I get being tired of things. -I looked at my closet today and it was all black- and leopard. A lot of the outfits I came up with felt the same.

And it is valid to feel as if much of fashion is the same right now. That’s another conversation in and of itself. Yes, styling and your take on anything can help. But as much as I believe that, there are even times when I get it. I’m with you.

If it is all the same to you to and if it feels all the same to me, how do we get out? How do we change that? How do we make it different?

Right now I am in a season of figuring it out. I truly don’t know the answers. I am still in my closet- playing and switching, working out my life to feel great in that and in my clothes. It is a process. And takes some play. Some adventure. What I do know is that perhaps, in these last few months of the year, we can discover it together. All the same? Let’s chat about how they are different!

XO XO RA

Ex Files: The Haunting

Investment Piece: Ex Files: The Haunting

We’re back!! That’s right it’s Ex Files, dating horror stories, my final attempt to live my life a la Carrie Bradshaw. (And let’s not pretend horror only lives in fiction. Some of my ex files: The Ghosting, Tinder on an Airplane, The One Who Wouldn’t Take No, and of course The One Who Asked for his Money Back. More can be found under “Ex Files” in the search bar). And because it’s almost Halloween, and nothing’s scarier than dating gone wrong, we’re chatting about Haunting!

We all have an ex that won’t die. There’s a reason they call it “I miss you season”; every once in a while, an ex who’s been gone makes their reappearance. Then trick can be deciding if you should give them a second chance or not! Here are just a few of my stories of exes that came back to Haunt me!

What’s up, love?
Mario went on 2 dates over a few weeks. It was clear from the beginning that neither of us were really looking for anything serious. He was lovely–but there was no click. So when things fizzled out, I thought nothing of it. However, like clockwork, every 2 months I get a text. Everything from “what’s up, love?” to “I miss you”. At first, I thought these were a little sweet. But, as this trend has continued, it’s become annoying. We didn’t really have anything. And no matter what he’s coming back for, it’s not here.

The One I Haven’t Met
There’s always that group text you can’t really get out of’ mine involves people from college. And in the group, I don’t know everyone–but everyone is friend’s of someone I do, so I thought nothing of Dave began occasionally texting me outside of the group, it was mainly about our college team, and it was fun. However, over time, it was clear that he thought there was a connection above football. I gently let him know that I was seeing someone, and wasn’t interested. Dave was lovely and we went back to being “group text” friends. Yet, at least once a month I get sent a random meme/thought/suggestion we get together.

U Up?
Raise your hand if you’ve been haunted by an ex. We all have. From the “I miss you” text to the un-orginal “U Up?”, there’s always a feeling when someone is about to reappear. (Apparently the kids now call it “Zombie-ing”) These pop-ups can be pleasant, or down right scary (depending on the ex). I have a friend who has a theory, they all come back. And most of the time, she’s right.

So, I would love to know : who’s an ex that’s haunted you?

Wishing us all a haunting free week and amazing shoes! XO RA

Cowl-ly Classic

a woman in black pedal pushers with a black cowl jacket, hose and kitten heels

My life has been insane lately. On top of everything? I have been a bit sick and extremely fatigued (as it turns out I am allergic to mold, which is incredibly unfortunate with what is happening in my house!). So? What I keep reaching for when I am getting dressed? Classics that feel anything but boring. Pieces that can go all day (and right now that also means from temps in the 60s to temps in the 90s). Outfits that feel modern and yet I haven’t had to buy anything “outrageous”.

In short- these black pedal pushers and stunning cowl jacket are perfect. I love it with heels and hose- but this exact combo goes great with sneakers or sandals. Or higher heels! The jacket? It’s called the “forever” jacket and part of what I love (and makes it forever to me) is that the collar goes oh-so many ways! Even more than closed, open, draped. This would look amazing standing up a big. OR completely open.

And of course- these pieces go with oh so many other things. But when they look so good together? Why not pair classics (especially when they are cowl-ly!)

Because I never lie to you- this jacket was gifted by Ruti (shop some of my Ruti favorites here). Yet, I would never recommend something that I don’t love- so let me say I have been living in this jacket. It’s chic, it’s soft and it’s versatile. I can’t recommend it enough.

a woman in black pedal pushers with a black cowl jacket, hose and kitten heels

What are the classics you reach for (perhaps especially when everything else is out of control?) I am linking mine here! Please note that this post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!
XO RA

a woman in black pedal pushers with a black cowl jacket, hose and kitten heels

Fashion Halloween: T-Rex

a woman in a cocktail dress with a tree mask on
a woman in a cocktail dresss and a T-Rex mask
a woman in a cocktail dress and a T-Rex mask

You may have caught on that I love dinosaurs. Like, little kid love dinosaurs. So, it should come as no surprise that I would want to be one for Halloween. In the past few years, as the inflatable costumes have become popular, I’ve thought about getting one and living out my T-Rex fantasies. The issue? How do I make that fashion (because,yes, it’s me and I would want to wear heels with it!)? How do you get around in such a big costume? And would the inflatable T-Rex let me move about?

I’ve always passed on that sort of T-Rex costume because I couldn’t figure out the answer to those questions. But, I did want to be a dinosaur for Halloween. And, because of who I am as a person thought the idea of juxtaposing my love of Dinos and my love of fashion would be fun. It was the perfect fit when I then found this T-Rex mask (though it does have the tail and little arms!). It makes the most fashionable T-Rex paired with a cocktail dress and heels, though of course would make a great T-rex paired with anything from sweats to leggings to jeans and a t-shirt (I love that it being a mask lets you have so much freedom!). And if Dinos aren’t your thing, the same idea could work with any mask you love!

Part of why I love Halloween is that it lets us be all that we want- let our imaginations go wild. And I’m so so so excited this year to be able to be a T-Rex- and a fashionable one at that!

Below I’ve linked similar T-Rex costumes, as well as some inflatables (if you go that route I would love to hear about it!). I got this exact mask at Target, but can’t seem to find it online for you! If I happen upon it, I will update shopping options asap- because a good T-Rex is hard to find!

What are you dying to be for Halloween? And how are you making it your own? This T-Rex in heels wants to know!
XO RA

Note: This post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!

a woman in a cocktail dress and a TRex mask

Falling for Proportions

a woman in a leather bomber jacket and wide leg barrel jeans and camel heels

Barrel jeans. The re-emergence of shoulder pads. What if our clothes had shape, instead of just shaping us? This is a HUGE conversation, and I will flat out admit that I not always the best to lead these- I take a lot of my cues, and get so much insight from a stylist named Lakyn (here’s her website and a men’s style commentator (who’s on Twitter- yep still calling it that- as @dieworkwear but you can also find Derek at dieworkwear). Both of these fashion experts have launched fascinating conversations about “what is flattering”, “the shape of our clothes” , and how perhaps our clothes should have a shape apart from us.

I will be frank- without making this a whole thing about my body issues and how I have spent so much of my life only wanting to look and be smaller- the proportions this fall are fun. What if our jeans. Or jackets. Were big and took up space and had their own space. What if shoulder pads and hip (not pads but for sure a flare) was something that we let lead our outfits? And what if (me, I am talking to me!) we let our clothes have a shape outside of oh-so-tight (and what if also that made us look oh so slim?!?!) and it was fantastic?!

Barrel jeans are in- and I love the way that they curve and lend a bit of something to every outfit. And these jeans? A bit of a flare. A Lot of a look. And even though they feel as if it’s a statement- also are amazing with just a t-shirt.

a woman in a leather bomber jacket and wide leg barrel jeans and camel heels

What if we let the proportions of our outfits were able to lead the way. What if our clothes had a shape of their own. What if I was able to choose between statements and questions. (and yet- what if both statements and questions are valid?) Fall is about a lot of things- a change of seasons, and with it a change of our perspective. Which can mean a change in our proportions. The big legs, the big shoulders? I love them. And it also means a change is coming (if you, like me, are in a place where it’s so so hot still!), but a change in form? It’s something. And it’s amazing. And leading with clothes that set the proportion is a bit of fun that’s too much fun to let go.

I will be honest that I don’t know if I would have been comfortable with big clothes in other parts of my life- but these pieces that are a bit big or give a bit bigger silhouette? I LOVE them. What if fat is about exploring the parts of ourselves that may be a bit big? Or just a new shape?

What are your proportions for fall?

And how are you managing them?

These exact jeans are linked below. This amazing leather bomber? It’s vintage () and these shoes are classics. Perhaps proportions are something we over think but are oh-so-fantastic and can move us forward.

What are your thoughts?? XO RA

Note: This post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!

And these jeans can be found:

Sunday Chronicles: The Bright Side

a woman in black tap shoes and leg warmers and shorts in front of French doors

I have written – at this point more than once, and I am sure not for the last time- about the home damage and unexpected repairs and renovations. And yes, it’s not been great here. However, because of who I am, how I was raised, and a firm belief that what we concentrate on increases, I can’t help (or hope) but to be positive. Look on the bright side, if you will.

Has this past week or so been awful? Uncomfortable? Sent me into anything but fashion? Yes.

Yet- this is a chance to redo floors, the kitchen and more (obviously not 100% free in any way) but with insurance help. And. Today, for the first time in weeks, I did something that I kinda always wanted to do, just for me, just for fun. I tapped dance on our wood floors. I took dance in my younger years, and while tap was never something I kept up with, it is something that’s not only fun and feels good– but maybe is a way to stomp things out. In past, prior to knowing the floors would be replaced I would have never put on my tap shoes and gone to town on parquet. Knowing it will be replaced? It gave me some freedom.

Note: I haven’t taken a class in years. Moves came back, but I am in no way, shape, or form good or should be considered so. But it was fun. I laughed. I felt good. I LOVED it. Tap may become a part of my routine as long as I have floor that’s being replaced. There is something to be said about doing something without worrying about if you’re good, or what people will think (though I am totally putting my dance on the Gram today! Why not!); but just doing something for pleasure. And again- stomping proved to be a great stress relief!

I am well aware that there are going to be days ahead that are not going to be great. Times when I again get overwhelmed and have big feelings from sadness to stress. I will worry about my cats and have days when my fashion story is oh-so-casual. BUT. In all that- I will get a new kitchen and floors and until then I will get to dance. A fair trade? We are still waiting, but while we are here, it just seems as if the sane thing to do is to dance (or look on all the bright sides) as much as we can.

Wishing us all a week of only bright sides and amazing shoes! Even those that tap! XO RA

Comfortable in Chaos

a woman in black skirt with a white waist and a cropped blue button up and embellished mules spinning in the midst of boxes and packing

I owe you an apology. And an explanation. And to get back to me– and this, our wonderful fashion community here.

As I told you last week, here, we had a massive leak under the dish washer which has lead to the majority of flooring in the downstairs of my house to be replaced. It’s overwhelming on its own- and we are still waiting on insurance and workers to come. What has been happening the past week? Movers and Packers have come- by the way this house is so full of china and books, and things and that’s not even touching my closet– and begun boxing everything up. To sit in your house (that feels as if it’s falling apart) and watch others pack your things is uncomfortable at best. Awful at worst. And there have been issues- things getting packed that we need, the cats being herded (and acting out), our own big feelings about this.

**** Super side note, this has made me even more empathetic to the recent hurricane victims who have lost everything. OR are going through worse clean up than we are. IF you have anything to give I would recommend giving it. I have donated to get formula to babies and to animal rescues trying to take care of all those pets!*******

I know we have been through a lot here- but this all has felt so big and consuming and overwhelming. Days when we couldn’t use the kitchen, all of the above, and this all hitting when I thought I would get out of my slump and “restart”. My reaction? I have shut down. I have down the bare minimum, while still shopping, I have even avoided social media and friends as it was too much. Not. what I am most proud of, but what’s been happening.

The reality? I have no idea when things will get back to normal. We don’t even know when the packers will be done, when the workers will begin taking out and then replacing floors, how anything will look. Most likely for months. And it hit me this week that I can’t spend months avoiding, not getting dressed, just wanting it to be over. As you may know, I believe in our fashion because I believe in our stories. Part of mine right now is chaos. And I can lay down OR I can get comfortable in that. Get dressed during that. Pull myself out of a rut and learn to thrive in that.

Or at least that’s my plan. I don’t want to disappear on you- on us- on myself or my shoes. I am telling you right now is not easy for me. (and yes, I did think about pretending everything is aok but that’s not fair to my story. Or you) But I’m back. I’m going to tell the next few months in AMAZING outfits. And I am asking for your forgiveness and your thoughts– and maybe your grace when I feel overwhelmed.

We will be back on Sunday for Chronicles (we may be chatting about the upsides here? A bit of redecorating on ins? getting to tap dance on the floors?) and starting Monday new outfits. And yes! While we only have 2 Weds before Halloween left my top 2 fashion halloweens for this year are all ours (and I can’t wait to share them with you). In good news? I got a shower and did “get dressed” today?

May chaos is a thing we can get comfortable – and get dressed in. Here’s to doing it with you!
XO RA

Tell God Your Plans

a pair of gold wedge boots by an open floor with water and damage

I was SUPPOSED to be posting Fashion Halloween today. And looking amazing. Wearing something great. Wanna know how to make God (whatever that means to you!) laugh? Tell him your plans.

On Sunday there was some buckling of my dining room floor. Multiple plumber and Contractor visits later- turns out an improperly installed drain under the dish washer had overflowed and there was 2(!!) gallons of standing water and sewage that had seeped into not only the drain but the floors. Maybe the walls. And there is asbestos. The past few days have been— ALOT. Wrapping our heads around the damage. And that unexpected ripping up of floors and more is coming. Preparing to pack up and live in a renovation site for months.

Luckily no shoes or cats have been hurt!

But to say this has thrown me off– it’s an understatement. I am so up in the air. We have meetings today about timelines and processes so hopefully that settles some things. And hopefully we will get back on track ASAP. In the meantime- well, I guess I know why I wasn’t feeling great lately. And please forgive me if things are a bit off.

Wishing us all easy changes and amazing shoes! XO RA