harlequin print

Sartorial Saturday–Holiday Harlequin

I have waited so long to wear this amazing dress from Pinup Girl Clothing, and now that it’s Christmastime, I get to accessorize it with…a CAM boot. Sigh. But this dress is so gorgeous, it makes the boot look good!

This is a new style dress for me…the Genevieve. When this gorgeous Holiday Harlequin print was on sale over the summer, I immediately knew it had to be mine. And then I thought about it, and thought about it some more, because it was a final sale item, and I was nervous about trying out a new style of dress that wasn’t returnable. But I had a birthday gift certificate from the children burning a hole in my pocket, so I finally decided to take the plunge.

I’m so glad I did! The fit is great, the twirl factor is outstanding, and I feel like I just stepped out of my very favorite Christmas movie, White Christmas, which is pretty much the highest compliment I can give a piece of clothing. It’s the perfect dress for the holiday season!

In addition to the CAM boot, I paired it with some actual accessories, too, including Splendette Duchess Bangles in varying shades of red, green, and white, and my favorite Christmas tree brooch:

I love this dress so much, and I’m looking forward to wearing it to several special events over the course of the Christmas season…this truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Sartorial Saturday…On a Tuesday–Red, White, and Blue

Since tomorrow is Independence Day in the U.S., I thought I’d share a few ideas for dressing for the Fourth of July. You’ll notice Pinup Girl Clothing’s Mary Blair plane print makes an appearance three different ways…as a Harley dress, a Natalie swing dress, and a Doris skirt. The red, white, and blue of the print is perfect for Independence Day fashion! So are PUG’s red Harley top, blue sky harlequin skirt, and red, white, and blue Amanda dress!

Here are some of my favorite ways to accessorize with red, white, and blue, as well:

What’s your favorite way to wear red, white, and blue?

Sartorial Saturday–HufflePUG

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about our planned trip to Universal Orlando this summer, where we hope to see all of the Harry Potter sites. This of course let me to think about my wardrobe, and my Pinup Girl Clothing Yellow House Harlequin skirt…I’m a proud HufflePUG!

I’ve even got the perfect HufflePUG accessories!

To which house do you belong?

Sartorial Saturday–Harlequin Prints

My love of Pinup Girl Clothing Mary Blair prints is well-documented. I have more of them in my closet than any other kind of print! But harlequin prints are definitely my second favorite, and I love all the different color combinations there are to chose from. Now if only PUG would bring back the purple and green harlequin that I missed out on…that’s definitely my fashion unicorn!

Sartorial Saturday–Hufflepuff

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Turkey and Bunny may outnumber me with their Ravenclaw harlequins, but I’m still a proud Hufflepuff!

I also have the perfect accessories for this print, including two different (and different-toned) Splendette stacks. I’m so glad they recently released some new colors, and especially GLITTER, Duchess Bangles!

I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve worn some variation of this outfit recently,,, the colors and harlequin pattern are so fun, and I love being able to share this sartorial geekery with my children!

Sartorial Saturday–House (Harlequins) Party

“‘For I’m the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There’s nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can’t see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be…
So put me on! Don’t be afraid!
And don’t get in a flap!
You’re in safe hands (though I have none)
For I’m a Thinking Cap!'”

I was going to leave well enough alone, and just get Turkey and Bunny pieces from Pinup Girl Clothing’s “House Harlequins” collection, but someone (Ryan), thought it was important that I share this experience with them. So, we can have a Harry Potter House Harlequins Party, even if am the lone Hufflepuff!

Sartorial Saturday–Ravenclaw

“‘Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you’ve a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;'” The Sorting Hat in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Bunny, the biggest fan of Harry Potter in our house, has been anxiously anticipating the release of Pinup Girl Clothing’s “House Harlequins” collection ever since I first told her about it…I don’t know, several months ago? And Turkey was also excited to hear that they were going to be releasing some men’s bowling shirts along with the various skirts, dresses, cardigans, and women’s tops that make up the collection.

Well, my two Ravenclaws are very happy to finally have their Blue House Harlequins! Bunny got another Little Jun skirt, which is the same style as her Lady Wrestlers skirt. I also got her a pair of cobalt hoop earrings to go with it, and she already had a Ravenclaw bracelet, which is the perfect accessory!

Trying to take pictures of the two of them is always interesting, and has been since they were toddlers. There was photobombing, hugging that looked more like strangling, sassing, and general goofing around. In short, they’re siblings, and have fun tormenting both each other and their mother, but at least they look stylish while they’re doing it!

Sartorial Saturday–PUG Changed My Life!

Earlier in the summer, Pinup Girl Clothing announced that they were going to be holding everyone’s favorite contest: PUG Changed My Life. They encouraged their customers to share stories on Facebook and Instagram of how wearing Pinup Girl fashions has changed their lives. Of course, I had to enter. Pinup Girl has changed the way I see myself, and the way I present  myself, and I wanted to share how I went from invisible to confident, and discovered that I like who I am along the way. So over the course of the contest, I made several entries, trying to find the right words to explain how PUG Changed My Life.

I wasn’t really expecting to win, although the grand prize of a Pinup Girl shopping spree and a photoshoot with them in California was certainly appealing (yes, I have a not-so-secret dream to appear as a model on their website just once). And, as I expected, I didn’t win the grand prize. But on Bunny’s birthday, I realized I had an unusual number of notifications from Instagram popping up on my phone, and when I looked into it, I discovered that Pinup Girl had decided to award a few “honorable mention” prizes, and one of them was me!

I knew immediately what I was going to buy…the brown harlequin Long Jun skirt. I had been admiring the colors and print ever since it had come out, but I didn’t have the money for it. It took me a little longer to decide on a top (or tops) to go with it, but in the end, I chose a black Harley top, since I knew I liked the style, and I really needed a black top that didn’t have long sleeves. I also ordered a wrap top in pink that likewise goes with the skirt (as well as a bunch of others already in my wardrobe)…I’ll share that one at a later date.

I found some fun accessories to go with the outfit. The earrings are also from Pinup Girl, and match the bright pink in the skirt perfectly. The Erstwilder brooch was a little gift from Ryan, and picks up the other colors of the skirt. And the shoes (from Avenue, my favorite store to buy quality, comfortable shoes that look nice and are available in the wide-width I need after five pregnancies!), are a departure from what I usually wear with Pinup Girl styles, but I love how they go with the colors in the skirt.

The very fact that I was willing to share all this publicly just goes to show how much I’ve changed and how Pinup Girl was a huge part of that change. And while I love that I got a gorgeous new outfit without having to spend any money, I’m even more grateful that I have gotten to know who I am, and am willing to share that person with the world! Thanks Pinup Girl!

Sartorial Saturday–Red, White, and Pink Harlequin

Last week’s Sartorial Saturday was all about Pinup Girl Clothing and red, white, and blue harlequin…today I’m focusing on red, white, and pink harlequin!

The Gena dress is new to me, and I really like it. I don’t have many dresses with sleeves, so this is a nice change, even in the summer. And I’m really into harlequin prints right now, so this dress was an instant hit! The Splendette bangles are a bit off, color-wise, but I don’t have many options when it comes to Splendette, so close enough will have to do. The necklace, however, is perfect! Overall, I think this is a really fun outfit, and I’m looking forward to wearing it all summer long!

Sartorial Saturday–Red, White, and Blue Harlequin

Last year for the Fourth of July, I shared what was my most patriotic outfit at the time, featuring Pinup Girl Clothing’s Amanda dress in red, white, and blue. This year, I’m back with another Pinup Girl outfit featuring America’s colors, but this time in separates…a red Harley top and a blue ice harlequin print circle skirt. While I originally styled the skirt for winter wear, I think it’s made the transition to summer well, especially paired with a blue Erstwilder brooch, red and blue Duchess bangles from Splendette, my favorite white hat, and a new pair of red heels!

Do you have any patriotic-themed outfits?