As we look forward into this month, we've made the important and careful decision not to participate in "Black Friday" this year. After many years of being a part of the mass consumerism and overconsumption that is Black Friday, we've conscientiously decided to take a step back.
Black Friday sales seem to start earlier and earlier each year don't they? Now there's a Black Friday Week, and many stores are already emailing their Black Friday Deals on November 1st, or earlier. Thanksgiving through Christmas is historically one of the busiest times of year for retail businesses, and is an important time financially for a business to make ends meet.
However, this busy time of year disallows retail employees and business owners to enjoy the essence of the season, gratitude and giving. Instead of enjoying the Thanksgiving preparations or time with family, we're distracted and overtaxed trying to get ready for Black Friday deals. Black Friday encourages overconsumption of goods, creating the need for more fast fashion, and has a huge environmental impact.
At Amber Moon, the most important thing to us is your connection to your self and your physical and mental well being. We want you to come to Amber Moon Boutique for special and unique pieces that make you feel fabulous, or help with styling and your makeover and skincare routines. Our goal is not to make you buy, buy, buy in the frenzy that is Black Friday and the holiday season, but rather buying only if and when you need something, or need a service that adds a benefit to your wardrobe and your overall confidence and well-being.
You may have noticed that year round, we always have a discount code on our site. Even though we are not participating in Black Friday this year or ever again, there is a discount code there now for you to enjoy all month long as a continued token of our gratitude to you for your business and support.
If you do shop on Black Friday with us, we will donate a portion of the sales from that day to various charitable causes in the spirit of giving.
Enjoy this fun holiday season! We appreciate you so much and are sending love your way.
x Amber Moon
]]>Do you have a closet full of clothes and feel like you never look quite the way you want? Nothing seems to be right and you just feel sort of blah about how you look daily or often? Getting dressed feels like a chore or is filled with negativity? When you're out and about, you wish you were dressed differently? That may be because you haven't really planned out and defined your personal style. Saying that makes it sound kind of serious and not fun, almost like homework, right? But... taking the time to define how you want to look and present yourself to the world, may make all of the difference in your confidence level and daily mood.
We don't need to worry about what other people think of us and the way we dress. That's insecurity as a result of fear of not being good enough. The only person you need to worry about presenting yourself to is you, and you alone. How you represent yourself and the way you look, has a spiraling effect due to your own confidence and mood that affects ourselves and everyone around us.
When you take the time to define your personal style, and invest in pieces that meet the "definition" of how you want to look, you will open your closet and feel joy when you see your wardrobe and put yourself together each day. There's no set way you need to look or dress. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. All that matters is that you like what you wear and you feel good in it, whether you are the most dressed up person or the least dressed up person. Own your style. Own your confidence.
Many people impulse buy. When they're out shopping, they impulsively buy things that seem cute or they like at the time, or are on sale, and when you get home, you have no idea what to wear that piece with and how to work it into your wardrobe. Or you wear it once and realize that you weren't that crazy about it after all, and it's too late to return or exchange it. We've all been there.
Here's some steps you can take to avoid these issues and cultivate a wardrobe that you love and feel excited about.
1) Spend some quiet time thinking about how you want to look and ask yourself these questions -
- what am I wearing when I feel my best and most confident
- is there someone who's style I admire and want to emulate or dress similarly to
- what do I feel most comfortable wearing
- when I go to ______ (fill in any place), how do i want to look and what do I want to be wearing
2) Go to a store where you can spend some time and try many things on. You don't need to buy anything. Just go to a big department store or Target, where you feel left alone and that there's no salesperson hovering over you and you can take the time to really analyze the pieces. Unless you try a bunch of stuff on, you won't be able to find pieces that look and feel their best. You can't go to a store and try on a few things, get frustrated that nothing looks good and give up. It takes much practice, like anything else, to find the right styles for your body type and desired look. Eventually, you'll figure out which cuts and styles you feel best in, and you'll be able to spend less time trying things on, because you will just know what works. This process also makes it much easier to successfully buy well-fitting items online.
3) Edit your closet. Get rid/donate/sell any pieces that you:
- Don't feel good in
- That are damaged or too worn. You will never fix them. Just get rid of them...
- That don't meet your sense of style as defined above. You can ask yourself some questions like, "Would I wear this to _____ ", "Would _________ (who's style I admire) wear this?"
4) Once you've spent some time on these steps, be intentional. If you are about to impulse buy a bright green sweater, but have realized that you don't feel your best when you wear green and would prefer to dress in neutrals - don't buy it! You won't wear it. You have to train yourself to remember your vision of how you want to look, and to not buy things that don't fit into that vision you have of yourself. This will help save money and reduce excess, both in your closet and in fashion as a whole.
5) Start to create lists (mental or tangible) of items that you want to incorporate into your wardrobe that meet your personal vision. Maybe you want to add in a black turtleneck sweater, or have been searching for a long sleeve white dress. Whatever it is, make note of the pieces that you want that create your ideal wardrobe. Having ongoing lists of what you want to add in to your closet, will help avoid impulse buying. You'll have something specific to look for when you're shopping, and just know that those pieces will eventually show up as you continue to build and develop your style.
It's important to remember that there are no rules to style. You don't have to completely define and pigeon-hole your style into one thing and never deviate from that with a rigid set of questions or rules. The most important thing is to wear what you like and feel good in, and buy pieces that reflect that feeling.
Defining your style is more about having intentionality with your look. If you don't feel good when you wear a hooded sweatshirt and feel like a hot mess when you go out in them, and you have 20 hooded sweatshirts... be intentional about what you're choosing to keep and what you're choosing to part with.
Defining and developing your personal style doesn't have to be expensive. There are so many options and price ranges in the world of fashion to choose from. If you can't afford much, then start with discount stores and build from there. If investing in expensive pieces is important to you, then you'll build slowly.
The most important thing you can do today is start to develop the vision of how you want to look, feel and show up. The rest of the pieces, pun intended, will fall into place.
If you need further help in developing your style, closet editing, personal shopping, makeovers, reach out --- there's a ton of styling service options available through Amber Moon, and we're happy to help! Also, here's a style questionnaire we have on the site as a tool to help personal styling clients streamline their look with intentionality - Feel free to take it here!
When we look good, we feel good --- changing the world one sweater or jumpsuit at a time. x Stacy, Owner of Amber Moon Boutique and Amber Moon Beauty
Listen to me chat more on the topic of "Defining your Personal Style" on the Amber Moon Podcast: Episode 6: Fashion: Defining and Developing Your Personal Style
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This simple boho top picks up on the vibrant pink in the sweater, while straight leg jeans complement the blue and keep it all from looking too over the top. Pair it with neutral boots and don’t be afraid to let the sweater fall off your shoulders a little. (See what I mean about the sweater’s shape?) I’d wear this to take my kid for ice cream after school.
A voluminous sweater just begs to be cinched. Try draping it over a paisley dress, then wrap a belt around the whole thing and don’t skimp on the accessories. I used a black belt because it’s what I had, but it would look even better with white or nude. A denim jacket thrown over the shoulders helps ground the whole outfit. This would be fun for a dinner out with girlfriends (socially distanced and on the patio, of course.)
This last one might be my favorite. It is both laid back and so cool. The rainbow sweater really looks fantastic with a distressed graphic tee. Keep the base neutral with matching black cropped flares and white sneakers. Then add some equally whimsical statement earrings. People would freak out (in a good way) if you wore this on a Zoom meeting, but it would also be great at an outdoor concert.
Grab one for yourself here! 🌈
https://www.shopambermoon.com/collections/new-arrivals-1/products/rainbow-sweater
Delondra Mesa is a TV writer on The Craving, Grendel, Step Up, Z Nation, Black Summer….plus many movies on Lifetime, Hallmark and Syfy!
Follow this awesomely talented and brilliant mama @delondra.mesa
The vision is the secret. The vision is the most important part. Having the vision is THE WORK. If you want to lose weight, you may not feel like getting off the couch or carving out time to workout, but you most likely have a vision of how you want to look and feel, right? Hold that vision, trust it. You can absolutely get to where you want to be and stay there. Even when we have the vision and can hold it and believe in our dreams and goals, we do need to take action. However, that action can only come from a place of inspiration and gratitude, or we won't stick with what we've started.
Starting can be so scary. When we start a new job, working out, or trying something new, it means that we have to admit to ourselves that we may not know everything or be "perfect". It means stepping outside of our comfort zones. Our brain's job is to protect us and keep us safe. It's an ancient survival skill that still functions to this day. When you have the ideas or desire to begin new things, your brain will talk fear, worst case scenarios, what ifs, calculate all the finances involved, and so much more. We have to look past it to take the leap. Your soul wouldn't have nudged you to start whatever it is you want to start without knowing that it would end up being important and good for you in the long run. We are what we think. You will only fail if you think you will fail. So take that dream, and start.... Just start...
You cannot do all of the action things at once. Just start small. Just start with the idea at first. Sit with the idea, enjoy it, visualize it, journal on it, make plans... You'll know when is the right time to take each step towards your goals because inspiration will strike and you will feel great about it. You will be passionate and energetic. And even if you don't, maybe there's a task you need to do that you don't want to do, find a way to feel grateful about it, as a necessary and important stepping stone on the path to your dream, and enjoy it.
When I started Amber Moon Boutique I was SCARED AF. Well not really, because everything inside me told me it was the right thing to do. What was scary were all the how's... How do I open a business? How will I make sales? So. Many. How's. But I knew it was the right decision, and I just started. I started with a vision, I started with a journal. I wrote down all of my ideas and thought about them every night while falling asleep. Little by little, each action step presented itself at the right time and I built my business, from the ground up, with nothing. You can read all about the start of Amber Moon in this blog post here. A year or two ago, I found that original journal with my Amber Moon ideas and action steps. I was blown away because every single one of them had been completed and gone beyond my expectations. Thank you, next. :)
One of my dreams has always been to pair a podcast with Amber Moon Boutique. One where I share and chat about all things fashion, beauty, motherhood, homeschool and reaching inner and outer body alignment. I made the announcement, because when I put something out there on social media and to family and friends, it really makes me stick to it. Maybe it's the proud Leo sun sign part of me, but I am way too proud to not stick to what I claimed I'd be doing. It's just a matter of time. But... I did feel stuck for awhile. My ego talking fears into me, like why would anyone want to hear what I have to say and listen to me talk? The reality is that there are so many people looking forward to the podcast, asking me about it, sending me messages about it, following the podcast social media pages. Beyond that, I also know that I have a strong voice and important things to share! I receive messages every day about how much my positivitiy and strength inspires people. I also have all kinds of excuses: It's so noisy outside my home here in Los Angeles, the podcast won't sound good; or, I keep buying audio equipment (true) and I haven't been happy with it (also true); I'm so confused by all the equipment out there. Meanwhile, everyone and their mother has a podcast, so it really can't be that hard. But I've been making excuses since I made the announcment. I finally got sick of my own BS, and recorded the podcast today. I started with just my phone and this very topic. I JUST STARTED. I had to, or it would've been a neverending list of excuses.
So whatever you have going on and whatever your dreams are, you have to start. Start with sitting in stillness and thinking about it, journal on it, follow an instgram page about it, research, or jump into inspired action. But you need to start. It's on you.
Sending you so much love and all the good vibes your way!
Listen to Episode 1: Getting Started, of the Amber Moon Podcast here: https://anchor.fm/stacy-schwam/episodes/Getting-Started-e1ea3l7
or on Spotify here:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2M2EPiLUwq4Oi5HJubduTR?si=bUfZXADETZuqrQMdY0Cyyg
]]>Having a personal style that you love makes every day more joyful. Looking at a wardrobe of clothing and accessories that you love and can’t wait to put on makes getting ready every morning a treat. And in these times of such darkness and uncertainty, it’s ok to indulge yourself. Here are three tips to help you embrace finding a style that is just YOU!
Once when I was in middle school, a friend of mine asked in exasperation, “Why can’t you just dress like everyone else?” And in my youthful boldness, I responded, “Because everyone else dresses like crap.” And that’s pretty much it, folks. I still have the exact same philosophy 30 years later. Most people dress to blend in with everyone else. They are terrified of other people looking at them, because then they might be judged. And if they are judged, they might be found lacking. They might be called tacky. Or be accused of being a show-off. But the truth is, in your heart of hearts, you have clothes you really want to wear. Those clothes might be brightly colored or garishly patterned. Or maybe they are neutral and cut in a way that actually shows off your body. Or maybe your clothes are quite demure and conservative, but you feel like smearing the brightest pink you can find on your lips. And if you are true to that vision of yourself that’s shining out of your heart, yeah, other people might look at you. People look at flowers and butterflies too, because they are beautiful. Like you. Be brave! Go for it! Maybe you will inspire just one more person to step out of the box too, and then they will inspire someone else and so on and so forth. And before we know it, the world will be much cooler, more attractive place. At least it will be more fun!
What you wear should say something about you. Who you are. Your heritage and culture. Your past experiences. The tv shows you like. The music you listen to. The artists you admire. Wear your great-grand-aunt’s silver earrings. Put on a skirt that reminds you of Frida Kahlo. Dig out the band t-shirt from your favorite concert ten years ago. Wear green eyeshadow because you love the musical Wicked. Choose a perfume that reminds you of blowing out the candles on your birthday cake, or of the lingering scent of woodshavings in your dad’s workshed, or the gardenias you wore on your wedding day. Pinterest boards are great for gathering inspiration, sure, but don’t forget to get inspired by yourself! Really try to make that vision in the mirror a true reflection of who you are inside. You are your own muse.
I’m sorry but you’re not going to develop your own personal style at The Gap. That doesn’t mean the big chain stores aren’t useful. We all need basics. But if you’re only shopping at the same stores you can find in every mall across the country, you’re missing out on a whole world of unique and beautiful clothing options. Seek out smaller boutiques, preferably run by women, even more preferably by women who live in your own community. Not only will you find interesting, curated pieces nobody else will own, but your money goes to a real person, not faceless shareholders. Small boutiques also get to know you over time and give you personalized service—recommending pieces to you, showing you how to style them, putting things aside for you, and sometimes even stocking pieces specifically with you in mind. Try finding a few boutiques that really speak to you and watch how much more joyful your shopping experience becomes.
Delondra Mesa is a TV writer on The Craving, Grendel, Step Up, Z Nation, Black Summer….plus many movies on Lifetime, Hallmark and Syfy!
Follow this awesomely talented and brilliant mama @delondra.mesa
All we have is the present moment, truly. The past is already behind us, the future is still unfolding. ALL WE HAVE IS THE PRESENT MOMENT. If the present moment is all we have control over, then shouldn't we really practice intentionality in each and every moment, and nothing beyond that? Practicing intentionality in every moment means that every second is new and fresh. It's an opportunity to apply laser focus to whatever we are doing and be completely present in that moment with the absolute intention to do that task well, or make that moment be what we want it to be. We are in control of how we feel and our response in each moment.
Anything other than being present in the moment does not serve us. You know you are not at your best when you are distracted, rushing, worrying about the past or future or not paying attention. When we are unfocused, things can really spiral. We're running late, we spill our coffee, can't find our keys, stuck in traffic, on and on it goes, and we declare that we're having a bad day, or things aren't going our way. You've been there haven't you? The reason this happens is that when we are not fully focused on the task at hand, our attention is elsewhere and things can go wrong. The negative momentum of us thinking things are going wrong for us just keeps up, until we pivot and choose to change the thought pattern and practice presence. When we are distracted and worrying, we are also projecting that negative energy into the creation of our future.
If we could just slow down in each moment, be more mindful and be present, so much in our life would change. Whatever you are doing, be all there. Even if it is something you don't want to be doing, you must be fully present with it, with the intention of doing it well or it will not feel good. That feeling of angst and unenjoyment is one of the most uncomfortable feelings. Practicing gratitude for our health, running water, safety, food in your belly, whatever you can think of, will help you stay present in situations that initially seem to be less than ideal. When you are intentional about the present moment and are practicing gratitude, you will feel things shift, little by little, day by day. It's a subtle shift that becomes so much more powerful with consistency. Your increased awareness of how you want to feel, and your tweaking of your energy and approach to situations will begin to create positive momentum towards the future you do want to create.
Since you are in control of how you feel and approach each moment, set an intention during each thing you are doing. You can say and think things like, "I set the intention to enjoy this moment and be fully present", or "I feel gratitude doing these dishes that have given my family so many wonderful meals. I'm so grateful we have food". I try to look at each thing I'm doing with the intention of creating something beautiful, like making the bed - The intention of making my bed clean and beautiful to get into for a restful night sleep later. It may feel silly at first, but it is powerful. I intend to make each moment in life a beautiful experience.
Take things slow. Be mindful of your energy and mood about the situation you are in. What do you want to bring to the situation? How do you want to feel? What do you want to get out of it? What value is there to be learned? The times you least want to be doing what you are doing, are the times there is the most for you to learn and understand to further you on your journey of aligning with your life's preferences and the type of person you truly want to be. It is within your control to make each moment become the beautiful life experience you crave.
Like everything else, being mindful and intentional in each moment is a practice. You won't suddenly get better at being focused immediately, unless you make that your intention and choose to. For most of us, it will take daily reminders, and much self evaluation to live a more mindful existence. You will find that practicing more gratitude, especially through what you've previously thought to be mundane daily tasks or responsibilities, will help you through everything much more easily, and you may learn to enjoy them.
If you're someone, who finds yourself being irritated and annoyed often, or always on edge, try practicing more intention within your daily tasks and see if it helps. It's something I work on daily. I need frequent breaks during the day just to sit in stillness for a few minutes, to collect my thoughts, to remind myself of my passion and purpose, and to realign with feelings of worth and gratitude. Even if we think we are too busy to take a break to reset, even 15-30 seconds of closing our eyes and taking a few deep breaths will do the trick. If it's important to you, you will find the time.
As always, sending you so much love and light and wishing you all the best wherever you are on your life's path. x Stacy // Amber Moon Boutique
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Giving birth to my daughter literally broke me wide open – in every way. Once she was born and I healed for a bit, I thought I’d be able to jump back to my previous life and career, and I was wrong. There was no going back - in any way.
I grew up thinking you picked one job and that was your career and you never changed, and I didn’t give up on things…. I made them work. I still liked being at my school and was so fortunate to be the school’s librarian for awhile. It was a dream job – working with all the students of the school, reading to them, helping them pick out literature, doing school wide projects, serving on an amazing humanities team. It was fun! But I yearned for more – I hated having to drop my daughter off at daycare and then full time preschool. You literally feel like you are leaving a piece of your heart behind every day and you are…
When my daughter was a baby, I used to get into bed so exhausted at night after teaching all day and my partner was not around helping as much as I needed - more on this and my decision to be a single mom in another post soon. ;/ I was way too tired to focus on actually reading a book or even watching a tv show. So I’d sit with my iPad mindlessly shopping and scrolling on Instagram, which was in its infancy at that time. I was a real good shopper and loved fashion…. People were constantly asking what I was wearing and asking me to take them shopping. Almost fifteen years of having disposable income due to my nice salary and no kids had allowed me to build up an amazing wardrobe.
I had spent so much time shopping as a form of therapy after work and online, that I was an expert on so many brands, how they fit, what looked best on me. I was also shopping through Instagram. I knew where all these little affordable boutiques were getting everything they were selling – at the Fashion District in Los Angeles. I started wondering if there’d be another path for me. Before I started toying with the idea of opening a boutique, I literally thought there was nothing else I could do – that I was completely stuck being a teacher since my training was in education. Well, it took a long time to realize that was a very limited and close minded view of the world, and that I could do, be and have anything I wanted! 💫
It took me a few months of thinking about whether or not I could make the leap to opening a business, before I knew if I was going to do it or not, But once my mind is made up on something, I do not waver. My heart and soul told me everything I was planning on was the right path. Nobody agreed with me – but I learned a long time ago not to ask for advice if I don’t want to hear the answer or need the opinion. So rather than asking anybody if they thought I SHOULD make this move, I just started telling people WHAT I was doing. I knew I had to take a leap of faith and there was no stopping me.
xx Stacy
Our treasured Disney Days ✨
]]>Looking for a new LBD with a little something extra? With its cute scalloped sleeves + hem, our faux suede Carlis Dress may just make its way into your little black dress rotation...
Check out the rest of the pix to see Lindsay show you how to wear the Carlis Dress for fall! Whether you are in weather confused Los Angeles like we are where it’s still baking with 80+ days, or it’s basically winter in your city, we hope you get some fun new styling ideas! xx
Still warm where you are? Add slide sandals w/ a pop of color and a lightweight cargo or denim jacket for cool mornings and nights. Try our Blake Denim Top, or our Drew or Tex cargo shirts...
Add a cool bomber jacket - Try our Lace Up Bomber version, and ankle booties
Heels + cozy and stylish furry jacket for going out
Cool fall accessories // Moto jacket , tights, fedora
Keep warm with a fall toned scarf, moto jacket and OTK boots for a sleek and streamlined look
Warm and cozy cardigan complements the monochromatic look so well // This Addison Cardigan from a couple of seasons ago is sold out, but check out our sweater collection for some new options! Grab Lindsay's Limitless Necklace here...
xx Happy Fall!
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My best friends and I have started a yearly Girls Trip, but without Tiffany Haddish. I mean, she’s invited but for some reason she never shows up. I just returned from one of these escapes and this time we traveled to Savannah. https://www.instagram.com/p/BnKFLZrARNp/?taken-by=allyweinberg
The Sisterhood of Style is vital when it comes to these weekends away. I’m not dressing just for myself, but also for my best friends. We love to tell each other where we got a cute piece, how much we saved, or guiltily admit how much we spent. There’s also something special to seeing how each of us interprets an outing’s dress code. Some of us are more preppy, more sporty, more hipster, or more conservative. But we each have a personal style all our own.
To pack for Savannah, I had to keep a few key elements in mind.
I decided right off the bat to leave the denim at home. To me, there is nothing worse than suffocating in a pair of skinny jeans. Plus, they would take up too much room in my weekender bag, and I refused to pack a larger suitcase out of some sort of odd principal. It all had to fit or it wasn’t coming! Wide legged linen pants and flowy tops rolled up perfectly and would help beat the heat. Comfy sneakers were to be worn on the plane along with my favorite travel top, and flats and sandals were slipped into the bottom of my backpack.
With number one through three on my list of travel style requirements covered, the question became what to wear at night? Lightweight dresses and jumpsuits are my jam and perfect for dressing up without sacrificing comfort.
The first night we headed to The Olde Pink House, a historic mansion with countless dining rooms serving local cuisine with a side of southern hospitality. https://www.instagram.com/p/BnNPWHqgRLj/?taken-by=allyweinberg
I wore my favorite wrap dress with cold-shoulder details, and a black slip underneath. Flat black sandals completed the look. The ensemble was comfortable enough for walking the mile to and from the restaurant, but put together enough to make me feel confident and in the same league as my beautiful besties. Plus, it was loose enough to handle the high heat and humidity, not to mention a full belly after chowing down on southern comfort food.
The next evening, after a day spent at the beach in which I learned one should really apply sunscreen multiple times, we went out for some upscale southern fine dining. The flowy jumpsuit I wore kept my sunburn from screaming at me and stood up against the sweltering heat. It was also formal enough for the restaurant, but casual enough for the old-school candy shop we spent way too much time in after dinner. Go to Savannah for the pralines, if nothing else.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BnRuR_ggXTT/?taken-by=allyweinberg
On my last day in Savannah, I went back to my favorite current trend: the cold shoulder. This mustard top was loose enough to camouflage the pounds I happily gained eating my face off in Savannah, while still keeping me cool in the Georgia heat.
As we wandered Forsyth Park and historic cemeteries, I enjoyed my last few hours with my girlfriends. I got to be fully me during this girls trip: not just the wife, the mom, or the worker. I was all of it and more. And I could define it, partly, in what I wore. I dressed for my girlfriends, I dressed for the heat, and I dressed for me.
Amber Moon Contributor: Ally Weinberg
Day Job: Reality Television Exec
Site: https://allyweinberg.contently.com/
Twitter: @allymonster01
Insta: @allyweinberg
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At a certain point in our lives, at that no more f’s to give point, women stop dressing for men.* We dress for ourselves. And frankly, we dress for other women.
When another woman notices those bright red flats or that cute boho top you got on sale, there’s an unmistakable pride. There’s a knowing look shared between you. You are part of the sisterhood. You are part of the same tribe.
My style has evolved through the years, just as I have. In my teens, I embraced all that was 90s and emulated Claire Danes in My So-Called Life. Her hair was EVERYTHING.
In college, I dressed for comfort in the Boston cold or for partying. There wasn’t much in between.
When I relocated to Los Angeles in the early aughts to start my career, I found myself vacillating wildly between styles. There was the super casual girl working in production, the professional girl when grown-up clothes were essential, and my East Hollywood hipster partying attire.
Over time, my dress size changed and so did my style. I wanted to portray the more professional woman I was becoming (or hoping to become -- after all, they say dress for the job you want). I wore what complimented my new body and my evolving life. I was attempting to carve out my identity.
After I married and had a baby, there was my maternity leave style. I wore so many leggings and long tanks that my friends almost staged an intervention. But when your child has the potential to exorcist your shirt, you stop trying.
When I returned to work, I appreciated that I actually had to dress up to leave the house. That’s when I really began to build my style identity. And I think that’s when I most appreciated being part of this fashionable sisterhood.
You’ve put in the effort. You love that dress because of the deal you got on it, the cut on your body, or the experience of buying it when you were out with your best friend. And now, someone else gets it. Sure, I like when my husband notices that I look good. But that’s just a bonus on top of the nod of approval received from my fellow women.
My clothes are more than clothes. Sometimes they’re a statement . . . literally. I own a lot of feminist shirts. Sometimes clothes have the ability to lift me up. They give me confidence to kill that presentation or job interview. Sometimes they act as goals. I was so excited to fit into these embroidered overalls after months of working out.
Clothes can be a conversation starter between strangers or new friends, something I found especially important as a new mom. They can give you comfort when you’re dealing with anxiety or depression, or just aren’t feeling comfortable in your own body. There’s nothing quite like wrapping yourself up in an oversized sweater and retreating inward.
A vintage dress tells a story. A purse is not just a purse; just ask women who shared personal stories about their first Kate Spade bag after her tragic death.
The perfect black flats are a myth worth pursuing. I’m still on a journey to find the exact right ones. @ me if you’ve got some recs.
And just like you might remember the song that was playing at that key moment in life, you may remember what you were wearing. I can still tell you, more than a decade later, about the hoodie I wore when I met my husband.
There is a reason that The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants hinged on an article of clothing. We all wish there really was a pair of jeans we could love and share with our besties, no matter our size or style. I have a sweater that my college roommates and I traded liberally throughout our time living together. It’s a retro bright green cardigan. It no longer fits but I refuse to get rid of it, no matter how irrational. It was our own version of the “traveling pants.”
There’s often this portrayal in the media that loving clothes is frivolous or materialistic. And I doubt it’s coincidental that this is mostly directed at women. But there’s more to the way we dress than meets the eye. Simply watch an episode of Queer Eye on Netflix where someone’s entire mindset shifts with a new outfit, or binge any season of The Mindy Project. Hey, one of the biggest tools used to subjugate women in The Handmaid’s Tale is the wardrobe they’re forced into wearing. Clothes can transform a person’s psyche or convey a character’s personality. Read Teen Vogue or all the think-pieces centering on Meghan Markle’s wedding dress for more evidence.
A shoe is not just a shoe. A dress is not just a dress. Clothes are powerful. They send a statement. They connect us instantly to the women around us. They’re an invitation into a tribe. A life-long sisterhood of style.
*Or for the attention of whomever, no matter gender, they are trying to attract
Amber Moon Contributor: Ally Weinberg
Day Job: Reality Television Exec
Site: https://allyweinberg.contently.com/
Twitter: @allymonster01
Insta: @allyweinberg
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If you're comfortable with the length of the dress, wear your Kayla Dress all on its own with pretty sandals, or add booties and a fun accessory like Elly's hat.
Tip: If the dress is still too short for you, throw on some cut-offs or short shorts underneath for extra-coverage, even if no one will see them except you.
The Kayla Dress is perfect over your denim skinnies or leggings as a tunic when the temperature drops. Knee-high or over the knee-boots with tights or leggings would also work really well with the dress.
If it's still blazing hot where you are like it is here in So Cal, go for a summer look by doing a slight tuck of your Kayla Dress into your favorite denim shorts and add sneakers or sandals.
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See more pretty styles like the Kayla Dress on our site shopambermoon.com.
To see more of Elly, follow her on Instagram @ellyviolet - Thanks Elly! xx
xx Amber Moon
P.S. Use discount code "ELLY15" for 15% off the Kayla dress on our site!
]]>The Mae Dress is also a fantastic transitional piece that you can wear a few different ways. Here it is styled by the lovely @ellyviolet - follow her on IG as soon as you're done reading this blog! Thanks Elly! xx
MAE DRESS - BOHO
Add boho luxe accessories to our Mae Dress for a true bohemian look. A floppy hat in a flattering color, neutral-based fringe scarf, leggings and booties make the dress look so boho chic.
MAE DRESS - GLAM
Next, belt our Mae Dress to show off your waist. Add special tights and dressy shoes, either heels, flats or wedges, for a glam look.
MAE DRESS - CASUAL
When you add sneaks, denim and a chunky-knit beanie to the Mae Dress, your look becomes super casual and go anywhere. Just keep your denim skinny, like Elly's, to streamline your look and not become too baggy.
MAE DRESS - BEACHY
Finally, our Mae Dress is perfect for the beach. Throw it on over your sexy swimsuit, and add strappy sandals, and a dainty necklace and a body chain for a bit of beachy glam. You're also set for dinner and drinks after the beach!
Thanks for reading! Let us know if you have any special requests for our blog series, "How to Wear..." - and find the Mae Dress here:
http://www.shopambermoon.com/collections/dresses/products/mae-long-black-v-neck
xx Amber Moon Boutique
]]>First, keep the top basic and everything in proportion with your pants, like the gorgeous Elly does here...
Too large of a top will compete with the baggy look of the pants. Your top doesn't have to be fitted or a crop top if that's out of your comfort zone, but keep it on the smaller side - no blousy or long tops!
When you wear an awesome pair of shoes, like Elly's leopard pumps, you instantly dress up the look. You can also try wedges or any pretty sandal.
The Danielle Drop-Crotch Pants can also have a sporty vibe without veering into the "just rolled out of bed sweatpant" look. Go for nice sneakers and a simple top and accessorize with pretty jewelry.
Thanks to Elly for these great shots!
Follow her on Instagram: @ellyviolet
If you want to cover up the sporty waistband on these pants or have more coverage than a crop top or tank, our Ellen Top works in perfect proportion with the pants.
Keep up with our blog to read more posts in the "How to Wear..." series and more. Lots of fun stuff to come!
xx Amber Moon Boutique
@shopambermoon
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