Sunny Style (Without The Sunburn!)

Tomorrow I'll be on a plane to California. Hurray! And while trips to the beach, hiking, and sitting poolside are at the top of my to-do list, having a fair complexion makes me ever so prone to sunburn (and sun damage). It seems with each new summer, I feel a little bit wiser and thoughtful about how I spend my time under the sun--or how I protect myself under the sun.

Bathing suits with a bit more coverage, light weight cover-ups with high necklines and longer sleeves, wide brimmed floppy hats, UV protected sunnies, helioplex sunscreen & beauty balm with spf, and button or zip ups to throw on while sitting pool-side--these are all what I am currently living in when soaking up Vitamin D. The items in this round up I own (or something similar) and use personally, and can confidently say that I feel stylish while being smart about protecting myself from the sun :)

1 // Target | Lakitia Flip Flop
2 // Anthropologie | Dots and Dahlias Chambray Button Down
3 // Neutragena | Ultra Sheer Sunscreen with Helioplex
4 // Stila | Stay All Day 10-in 1 BB SPF 30
5 // Aeire | Soft & Cozy Hoody
6 // Von Zipper | Elmore Sunglasses in Tortoise
7 // Target | Rugby Shirt Dress
8 // Gap | Metallic Floppy Hat
9 // Aerie | Solid One Piece Swimsuit

{Fabric & Threads} Blazer, Drop Down Waist, Leggings.

In this series I've been sharing with you a few of my favorite outfits. When I went shopping for work clothes, for more suitable Downtown business attire, I knew I wanted a navy blazer. And I also knew I did not want to spend a fortune. I ended up finding a blazer at Charlotte Russe (believe it or not) for $20. It really has pulled together so many of my work looks. Worn with a t-shirt and trousers, over dresses, and to make jeans a bit more dressy on casual Fridays, it really is the most versatile piece in my closet this fall. And I love that it is lined with a silky fabric (navy with polkadot hearts), so that when the sleeves are rolled, a bit of the pattern peeks out! The blazer combined with navy knit leggings and a drop waist shift dress make the outfit casual cute yet put together for the workplace. The purse is the most costly item in the entire look (from my trip to Rome!) and the turtle necklace I bought at a car show in Burbank, California (random, yes). The shoes and leggings are hand me downs (thanks, mom!). Leaving just the drop down dress, which was a sale item at Anthropologie. I wore this outfit to work today actually, and the children wanted my necklace! It spurred on many renditions of "I had a tiny turtle, his name was tiny Tim, I put him in the bathtub, to see if he could swim...." I hope you are enjoying this series! 

xo,

Lauren

PS.  Anyone else notice that this outfit coordinates so perfectly with my last DIY project?  I just did!

Hand Painted Vans: Dalmatian Hearts.

The laid back surfer girl shoe style of choice is a classic, yet canvas shoes often take a worse for the wear. With tears, rips, and toe holes over time, they often need some cheering up. These worn in shoes can be easily spruced up with some fabric paint, a patch, magazine cut outs, or even some hand stitching and sewing. I first fell in love with the idea of revamping Vans when my cousin Jenna hand stitched brightly colored thread over the tears and holes in her well loved navy blue Vans slip ons. I would always ask to borrow those shoes when I would visit her. They made me feel ever so thrifty and cool. Just as any young high schooler wanted to feel at the age of 14 and 15. And although I don't need shoes to help me feel this way any longer, they are still thrifty and cool ten + years later. And yes, she still has them (see below).

I'm not the first to hand paint canvas lace ups, and I'm definitely not the last. There are some really cute ideas out there, and I'm sure even more to be blogged about. You can see some other canvas shoe revamps here, here, and here. For my personalized canvas shoes, I decided to go with Dalmatian hearts. Black silhoutted shapes printed on neutral tones has been a trend popping up over the past few seasons. I have loved seeing prints of horses, polkadots, and foxes in black and white prints. One of my favorites is the hand stamped pony print dress over at ABM. To Hand Paint Dalmatian Hearts: 1. Gather your fine tipped paintbrush, matte soft fabric paint, and your canvas shoes. 2. Outline hearts on the front/toe area of your shoe. I used the seam as a border of where I kept my hearts, keeping the area around the laces heart free.  You could also make and use a stencil if you like! 3. Fill in the hearts with more paint,  using your paint brush, adding touch ups and making the hearts a better shape if need be. 4. Allow a few hours for your shoes to dry. 5. Slip in your feet and get ready to be ever so cute in your dalmatian heart shoes. Care Instructions: This is the same fabric paint I've used when painting tea towels for my kitchen. After countless washes, the paint has not come of and it does not spread. Hand wash cold, air dry. (BTW That adorable puppy still needs a name. Suggestions welcomed. And no he is not mine, although I wish! He belongs to my neighbors so at least I can borrow him.)

photo credit

For more of your peep-toe-problems, cast your woes over Jenna's blog 

for some ideas to keep your toes tappin' and your feet 

from catching a cold (holes can do that to ya).

XO,

Lauren (& Jenna!)

Featured at Hi Sugarplum!

Fabric & Threads: Paisley, Cords, and Polkadots

If you know my everyday style, you know that I often mix prints. One of my lovely readers asked if I could share a bit on my print and pattern mixing. Being such a visual person myself, I thought that showing you photos every now and again of my daily looks may be of some inspiration to you, especially if they combine prints and colors you may not have thought of before! (HERE you can see the past Fabric & Threads post). This year I feel my personal style has both matured yet also brought back parts of my past. As a teenager, mostly what I wore was thrifted and vintage. I lost that zest for the thrift through my college years, and now with a love for being frugal and finding a bargain, thrifting is back in my life, and also allows for interesting patterns and pieces of the past to be a part of my wardrobe again. I can also say I feel a bit braver in my personal style. Feeling more confident in my own skin and in the layers beneath the fabric and threads has really made me more daring to try bold prints and trends I might not have tried in the past. And when I say layers, what I really mean is that I have grown in my confidence as a woman, in my inner beauty, and have learned to embrace my imperfections and be thankful for the body I have.

Mixing Prints for Fall:

This look incorporates skinny floral corduroys, a polkadot wedge top, grey suede ankle boots, and a top knot. The patterns and tones are subtle, yet compliment each other. The blousey top paired with the skinnies creates a fun sillohuette. Corduroy for fall is perfect, especially in colors like plum, eggplant, mustard yellow, and navy. Let's keep colors in the season, shall we? And of course the booties are in right now, but I would love them regardless of the trend. They're a great boot option while it is still eighty degrees out (no sweaty calves!). I'll have you know ALL of these items were purchased for my work wardrobe revamp. And ALL were purchased on sale! Paired with other items in my closet, a more formal work look can be put together with each piece. But on the weekend, I can wear all three of these elements together and BOOM a playful look for day and night. What is a print combo or look that you are loving for fall?

top ANN TAYLOR | corduroys ANN TAYLOR | booties TARGET 

{From the Archives} You are lovely, and don't you forget it.

Marilyn Monroe on the beach.

Photographed by Andre De Dienes, 1949

Today I (Lauren) had my makeup done at Ulta for this free event they were putting on. I had a lovely day with my lifetime sister, the beautiful Miranda. We had a great time sitting and getting our eyes smokey, lips glossy, pores minimized, and cheeks blushed. We bought new products, beauty balms, and fun girly things that are even more fun to play with and wear when you are with a handful of girlfriends. Dancing. Wearing bright colored wedges. Sipping a raspberry Sparkeltini. Or twirling in a vintage style dress (for example). But even after all the makeup, priming, and prepping, I feel most myself after face washed and skin fair, stripped of powders, rouges, and liners of sorts. I feel most like me, when every imperfection is free to breathe.

This is something I need to remember, and so do you. You are beautiful when you first wake up in the morning. You are beautiful even when your eyes are puffy after crying during You've got Mail. You are lovely even with chipped nail polish and chapped lips. You are lovely when you have a cold and your favorite slouch sweatshirt on, for maybe 4 days in a row. You are beautiful even when you feel that you aren't. And don't let anyone tell you differently. You are you, and you were made to be just that way.

But, it is okay to play dress up. Because you are beautiful even then, and you will be even more beautiful at the end of the night when the mascara runs into the sink, you pull your hair back with a head band, and stick in your retainers. You, and I, are lovely.

Originally posted at my personal blog, on February 25th, 2012-- over here.
For more on true beauty, head on over to thoughts by natalie-- over here.

Lovely Locks Summer Round Up.

Autumn is here, but I am not quite ready to give up my summer hairstyles. What were a few of your favorites from the season? Here is a look back on a few of my favorites. I was seeing twists, waves, and braids galore. The sock bun and inside out braid I loved the most, and have hopes to master the fishtail braid as my hair grows a bit longer come fall and winter. Have you checked out the series Braids of Glory at Thoughts by Natalie yet? You should--over here!

From top to bottom: Twisted and pinned/ Waterfall braid to bun/ Side pinned waterfall braid/ Boho thrifted scarves/ Flat iron waves/ Waterfall braid to bun. You can read archived posts, Lovely Locks HERE, and Scarves in the Summertime HERE.

{And, on another note: I had my first day of work in the city today! Seeing as it is my very first week at a new job, my free time is drastically cut back, so you may be seeing a little bit of a change around the blog as I transition. I do promise to keep Pearls Poppies Pinkies Up going and growing! I appreciate each and every one of my readers and so love this little creative outlet of mine. There may just be a few changes here and there, ie. a few more articles like this one sending you to my blog faves, highlighting past posts/archives, round ups, or maybe a missed day or two at times! I so appreciate your input and patience during this exciting time in my career! XO, Lauren}

{Fabric & Threads} Borrowed, Bargained, Black & Tan

New series alert: I thought it might be fun to share with you my favorite outfits every once and awhile! The rules are simple. Whatever I share with you must be a look that that was frugal {either thrifted, hand-me-down, borrowed, or on super sale}, brings together vintage with modern, or that has some other element of style fitting to Pearls Poppies Pinkies Up (DIY, handmade, etc). I'd love to know your thoughts on this type of series!

The Look: Sushi Date Night
Teal Purse UO $10, Polka Dot Sweater OLD NAVY, Baubles DIY

I just loved this polkadot sweater, first noticed at Happily Grey. I was not even planning on the purchase until I was in Old Navy while revamping my fall work wardrobe and realized with the sale they had going on that the top only cost $15! Tired of summer clothing, yet still warding off the heat, I paired this top with dark denim shorts, my diy colorblocked necklace, and an old teal UO purse. 

The Look: Dressy Downtown Work Event

Black Dress GAP sale, Vintage Necklace BORROWED, Tan Wedges URBAN OUTFITTERS sale

What to wear to an awards breakfast at the aquarium, that just so happens to also be your first day of work? I went for a classy neckline and neutral tones. Black, tan, with a pop of gold. I definitely did not want to be the new girl that sticks out of the crowd, but I did want to be the new girl who is remembered for grace, personality, and sincerity (and a classy fashion sense). My favorite black dress left me feeling confident (as well as the confidence in my heart and soul, of course) while meeting all of my new coworkers. And the gold and black beaded necklace (borrowed from my lovely neighbor!) added a touch of vintage feel. And did I mention that there was also a tiger show? Yes, there was. There was a tiger show on my first day of work. 

Colorblocked Wooden Baubles.

On my outing to Goodwill this past Saturday, everything was 50 percent off! So coming across a strand of seven wooden napkin rings for $1.50, hands down no questions about it, they needed to come home with me. Just look at the neat geometric shape to add to the already super great price of these wood bits! When I put an instagram photo of these wooden rings up, the question I asked was "Chunky necklace or color blocked napkin rings?" My friend Natalie replied, "Both!" Perfect, right? Create a colorblocked necklace that can easily be untied and used as a table setting accessory.

Statement piece jewelry is everywhere right now. The bib necklace and other bits and baubles are something I have been noticing all over Denver {and Fashion magazines}. I think they are such a great accessory, yet so many of them can be costly. Now, I know it is not the norm to come across wooden napkin rings at every thriftstore out there, but any type of wooden bit with a hole in the middle can be used for this project. Check out your local craft store, or keep on the hunt at flea markets, Ross, HomeGoods, garage sales, etc. 

Making your Colorblocked Bauble: 

Gather your wood pieces, paint, yarn or string, and something to hang your wooden rings on to dry. For drying, I used a pencil set across two jars {The pencil being where I hung the wooden rings, and the jars as an anchor on either side-- creating a little trapeze looking contraption. It kept my painted wood from setting on anything, allowing them to dry properly}1. Dip your wood piece half way into your paint. I used BEHR's sample size of cobalt blue. It is a matte finish, which is what I wanted {and what I had in my paint bin}. You could also use multiple paint colors to achieve a different look. 2. After dipping your wood piece, hold it over the paint to allow excess drips to go back into your paint can. You can also utilize a flat paintbrush to wipe off paint if the coat is too thick. 3. Hang your half painted wood piece on your pencil trapeze drying contraption {or by other means} so as not to set the paint on any surface while it is drying. 4. Repeat steps 1-3 for each wood ring. 5. Allow to dry fully for one to two hours. Maybe more because the dipping process creates a thick layer of paint {I left mine to dry over night} 6. Cut your yarn to length, giving extra slack to play around with once you have the baubles around your neck {I like to have options for long, medium, and short, how about you?}. 7. String your colorblocked wooden baubles onto your yarn. You can really be creative with this. Use ribbon or even a long chain repurposed from another necklace. Make it completely your creation. It is truly up to you! 8. Add your necklace to your outfit of the day, and get ready to wear your statement piece about town! {And, if you somehow aren't agreeing with your necklace. Take it off, pop some napkins in your baubles, and throw a dinner party! Your guests are sure to notice your statement colorblocked accessories }

Repurposed denim: Bleached ombré effect.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love denim. Cleaning out shoes, shirts, knick knacks, pantry items, bathroom things; Easy. But a pair of well fitting jeans that are hard to come by are equally hard to get rid of. Even on their last leg, with holes, faded knees, grass stains, I keep them (A conclusion you would come to on your own if you only saw the top shelf in my closet). To challenge myself in this area, I've decided to repurpose those jeans that are well loved. I can openly admit, that an armful of those jeans in the closet stack are barely worn because they are so old; use it or lose it right? Exactly. Hence, the wonderful world of repurposing! My first denim experiment, a bleaching process for a faded effect!

You will need: Jeans or jean shorts, scissors, bucket, bleach, distilled WHITE vinegar (NOT regular vinegar), water, shorts hanger.

My old jeans: Worn in knees and too short. (Originally from the Gap. I still like how they fit around my hips and legs, so I knew they would still be flattering as shorts).

Cut the jeans to length. I cut mine long with plans to hem and roll them up. Remember, that unless a seam is sewn, the cut offs will continue to fray after each wash and dry. Adding a simple seam will keep them the desired length and from fraying to their ultimate shorty short's fate.

Soak the shorts in 2 parts water to 1 part bleach. Soak for 5-30 minutes depending on the bleached effect you want. I soaked mine for 30 minutes and left the waste band out of the bleach solution to keep the true denim blue at the top of the shorts. (It created a neat ombré effect! You could make a more drastic ombré effect by first soaking a majority of the denim and every few minutes or so lifting the denim out of the bleach solution. This will make the waistband a darker shade with the bottom of the shorts completely bleached.) Next, dip your shorts into 2 parts water to 1 part white vinegar. This stops the bleaching process. Let dry and then wash on cold/cold and run them through the dryer. (If you bleach your shorts completely, you could even soak them in dye to make colored shorts. I plan on doing this for my next pair! I have RIT yellow and orange dye at the ready. Wouldn't yellow ombré shorts be adorable?)

The beauty of this bleaching process is that you can do it to any denim piece! I have a denim dress from Target circa 2007 that I may try this on. A little tip, if you repurpose old jeans for this project, save the scrap denim, bleach it as well, and do some sample runs of using RIT dye. This is a perfect way to play around with color shades for a future denim dyeing endeavor. You can also save your scraps to make a denim headband, braided denim belt, a denim rosette, and even more ideas I am sure you crafty readers out there could come up with!

*Don't forget about the Giveaway! Two more days to enter HERE.

Thrift store digging for denim, classic, and clean.

photo source 1 / 2 / 3

You may have read past posts on thrifted clothing finds and thought to yourself, "That is cute, but I am more of a classic jeans and blouse girl. And I never could find my simple clean style at a store like Goodwill...." And you may have just gone about your life never stepping foot into a thrift store or flea market with fashion on the mind. I hope this post causes a change of heart. As much as I love unique vintage type pieces in my wardrobe, I am also one for the classics (especially for work).  Yes you do need patience and yes you do see a lot more ugly than pretty, but I promise you, if you have the right thrifting mindset and an idea of the look you want (Pinterest can always help with this) you will find some classic threads for an unbeatable price. With the right styling and accessorizing, simple pieces can be worn many a ways, making it an even bigger bang for your buck.

My simple finds, all in one trip, all at one Goodwill:

Kenar white cotton blouse $3.99

Banana Republic striped button up $2.99

Guess button fly boot cut jeans $6.99 

New York & Co. little denim vest $1.99

Sanctuary tan capri pants $1.99

Ann Taylor cotton cargo pants $3.99 (tag still on!)

{Not pictured but linked up are the last two pants listed as well as the plethora of banana republic blouses I tried on but ended up not taking home.}

See, you can find good brand names too, if that's your fancy! 

Are you weary of the thriftstore dig, or do you get giddy at the thought?

Are you on the other side of the wardrobe fence, and needing to purge and donate to Goodwill? For some guidance on wardrobe simplification, read this post at Thoughts by Natalie.

Colorblocked clutch.

How to color block your clutch, a DIY.

Clutches are a go to for summertime events. And what not a better way to make that drab clutch loved again by doing your own accessory color blocking? I have this custard lemon yellow clutch that I purchased during my college days at Forever 21. For the past year it has been in a box under my bed (a completely valid reason to either donate it to my local thrift store or make it into something better). When I thought about color blocking an accessory, this little fold over clutch immediately popped into mind.

Definitely pleather.

photo source

The color combination of yellow, aqua, and grey is one of my favorites right now (and they also go really well with other bright summer colors). So I decided to add aqua paint with hopes of using the clutch with outfits sporting grey, cream, bright pink, cobalt, green, etc. First, I taped off the section of the front flap that I wanted aqua making sure the tape wrapped around the side of the flap. Then I used a thin flat brush to apply the first coat of paint. (Acrylic paint works best for this project). I let the first coat dry, and then added a second layer, then left it to dry. 

After it was dry to the touch (about 20 minutes) I peeled the tape back. The line was clean and the seeming on the clutch still peeked through (I happen to like the look of it). And, that's it! A quick color blocking diy to bring new interest to my yellow clutch. You could do this with so many accessories. I think someone needs to make a hot pink and bright green combo. I may need to thrift Denver for more clutches to make as gifts!

I am ready to accessorize with my new color blocked clutch and gifted necklace on a summer night about town!

Lovely locks

 Some of you may have seen this image floating around on pinterest. The waterfall braid. It just sings "let's frolic in a field of wildflowers." I decided to try it. And after a lot of "likes" on Facebook, I figured some of you may want the original tutorial source so you can do this lovely number to your locks!

Photo source and tutorial here

My hair is a lot shorter than the girl in the first photograph, so when it can time to make the remaining hair into a cascading braid down the side, I was stuck with not much hair to work with. I ended up securely pinning the the hair in place and letting the ends fall in line with the rest of my non braided hair. It also helped having a bit of wave and somewhat dirty locks to keep this style in place. On hotter days, you can do this style and twist the flowing hair into a nape of the neck bun. This is perfect for triple digit weather and a great option when you feel like you're in a pony tail rut. I braided my bangs back into the waterfall braid, but you can also leave them out (as I believe Megan did here, in her tutorial).

Natalie of Thoughts by Natalie and director of marketing at Wonderfully Made, has a series called Braids of Glory. My posts on braids will be few and far between (this may actually be the only one), but you should definitely follow Natalie for some down to earth hair tutorials as well as her thoughts on confidence, body image, intentional living, femininity, style, and more.