Thursday, November 5, 2009

In My Head I Hear RuPaul Telling Me To "WORK!"

One night when we were 18, my high school best friend and I were getting ready to go out for the evening. I can't remember what I was wearing, but I thought I was looking pretty dang cute...till she turned to me and remarked, "Leigh...you can't accessorize for crap."


I should've prefaced this by saying that my best friend was/is gorgeous. She was the freakin' homecoming queen! (And eventually my matron of honor.) Lauren (not her real name--and now the Warner Robins peeps are smiling!) probably thought she was doing me a favor, in her own, brusque manner. But that comment has haunted me for almost seventeen years.

I cannot accessorize for crap.

To this day I never feel "put together." Sassy. Decked out. Dressed to the nines. No matter how hard I try, I'm just not cute. And I still hear Lauren's voice in my head, confirming my lack of fashion success.

So when I first laid eyes on sweet Summer at Sitscation last month, I audibly gasped. Summer was wearing the most fabulous white dress and I instantly hated her. "I cannot be friends with someone so chic," I thought to myself. Who can live up to such perfection? Not me.

I love when God proves me wrong. Because not only did I fall in love with Summer and her blog, Le Musings of Moi, I found out she is a kindred spirit. A soul sister, in more ways than one.

Seriously...one day I'm gonna be famous. And Summer is going to be my stylist. And we're gonna travel to France and Atlanta and London and just be the sassiest girls in the world. I'll feel sassy, too--because I will have been styled to perfection by Summer. Sigh...I long for that day.

Until then, I begged Summer to let me pick her brain for nuggets of stylish wisdom. I also asked for pictures of her fabulous self, so that I could share this wisdom with y'all. Because that's how much I love her--and that's how much I love each of you!

Please enjoy Summer, soon-to-be a ridiculously famous stylist. For me. When I'm rich. Ahem. (She's also funny as all get out, to boot!)

Lula: Define your style for me...
Summer: I have somewhat of a feminine style, but always with a bit of edge and funk. Comfort is big for me, too, so I'm not into the trends that don't make me feel comfortable. How 'bout we go with "sweet-n-sassy chic?" I think that has always been my adult style. Not adult as in...you know..."bomp chicka bow wow." Adult as in the age of 18. Just making things clear.


L: Since your style is a mixture--sweet & funky--how do you incorporate bits from each into one cohesive look?
S: I would pair a feminine dress with leather boots. Or leather and lace together. I try to be sure that one thing about my outfit is something that stands out...something sassy! Such as a statement ring, chunky necklace, lots of chains (shout out to Mr. T!), a flower clip for my hair, bold colors, or a dramatic pattern.

L: Do you believe the ability to accessorize is something one either has or does not have? Can it be learned? Please say I can learn this, as I've been haunted by my non-sassiness for 17 years!
S: I definitely think you can learn anything when it comes to fashion! And to anybody who says otherwise...obviously, they know nothing about style! A good way to learn about accessorizing is to pay attention to your favorite shows, magazines, and celebs. And obviously I don't mean Rock of Love, Star Magazine, or Britney Spears! Come on girls, use your judgement! And remember, everyone has their own personal style. Find out what you love and wear it with confidence.

L: What are your favorite, basic wardrobe staples?
S: Boots and white Hanes tank tops! Seriously, I wear boots all year round--I don't care what the fashion police say! And white Hanes tanks go with everything! I wear them under girly dresses if I want to tone them down a bit...under sweaters, under button-ups...even to bed! Must. Have. My. Hanes!

Last thing that is a must in my closet? Tunics. Lots and lots of tunics. I always feel cute in a tunic paired with jeans or pants.

L: What items should every woman own--regardless of age or body type?
S: Anything that makes you feel amazing! Honestly, we all have to have at least one item that just makes us looks and feel fabulous. It could be a pair of jeans that make your bootie look just right. A pair of heels that make your legs longer than life. A necklace that adds flair to everything you own. Or even an incredible handbag that shows off your style, even when you're venturing out in sweats. (I use that last one A LOT!)

L: What are your favorite stores? Favorite place to save? Splurge?
S: For good deals I love thrift stores and Target. But because I like to have stuff that won't be seen on everyone I walk by on the street, I've been shopping less and less at Target--for my sassy pieces, that is.

This may seem crazy, but I hate splurging! To me, especially after thrifting, Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe both seem like quite a splurge! Although...for Mother's Day last year, my husband gave me my first pair of Louboutins. If I ever save my spending money long enough, I could totally see myself splurging on another pair of those. Mmmmmmm, baby...come to Mama!



See why I just love her? And why I want her to take me from frump to fabulous? I also want her legs, but that's another post for another time...

Thanks, Summer--I'm so glad I decided not to hate you. And you know I say that with all the love in my heart.




Oh yes...wanna know the winner of the fantastic clutch and iPod pouch? Sure you do.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

29 

Timestamp: 2009-11-06 12:04:09 UTC

Number 29 is...SUNSHINE! (Her blog is private, so I can't link her!) Congrats, Sun...I'll get your goodies to you right away!



(My favorite friend, Lauren, has featured stylish friends on her blog...and that's where I got the idea for this post. So thanks, Lauren. I'll never be as sassy as you.)

30 comments:

S Club Mama said...

I love Summer, too. I don't know that I could pull off anything she wears though. She's so cute.

And I'm glad I wasn't confused because when your post came up, it was a picture of Summer. I thought blogger was all screwed up. :)

Live.Love.Eat said...

This just reminded me of something I already knew - I am so not stylish. I THINK I am ok with that but then there are times, like after reading this post, that I want to go out and buy a tunic or something. Or own something chunky or clunky.

But hey, I am getting better at being girly & stylish. I do have on some kick arse jeans today that make me feel good. Le sigh.

YOU are one of the sassiest ladies I know. Any more sass, and I don't know what I'd do. But you're right, she does have style!!!!!!!!!

SunshineBarlowe.com said...

WOOOHOOOO! I won something.. I never win anything. Seriously. . .

Okay, you are right! Summer is so cute. . . and I'm digging the tunics.. I have a few but, have to search near and wide up in this town for any.. you know the feeling girl, don't you? but, we don't want to get started about your town in case the "hater" decides to rear her/his nasty head again...

MUAH

SunshineBarlowe.com said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tony C said...

I'm so glad to be a male where accessory choices are pretty much limited to which baseball hat to wear and to go white crew or v-neck...

Ker said...

Lula! You have delivered! I added Summer's blog to my reader! She is so much fun! And, for the record, I've always thought of you as Sassy-Chic :)

Summer said...

Lula!!!!

I'm so totally blushing over here...I mean, wow. Just wow.

And girl, I am so there to follow you around the world on the day your celebrity-ness takes off. Do you think I might even be able to get my own reality show for being a stylist to THE Lula star???

And more importantly....yes, so glad you decided not to hate me...(did you read that post?) Because you are most definitely a soul sister of THE best kind.

Love you mucho mucho mucho.

And thanks a million for this post. (again.)

Muah!

Elena said...

Okay....yah....I'm kind of hating her. She's so blasted cute! I think she could wear a potato sack and still look good. After she gets you all chic and savvy, maybe she could find her way to Ida-ho. I need some SERIOUS help over here.

KatBouska said...

I like to consider Summer my own personal discovery. She is darling isn't she!?!

And now I wanna go shopping.

Unknown said...

The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize.

-Clairee Belcher

Heather said...

I love me some Summer. She's not only sassy, but she has the BEST heart. I love that. I love her. I think I'll go tell her.

Julie Leah said...

I adore this girl! I just discovered Summer's blog a few days ago and I am verging on obsessed! This is such a great post!

Summer said...

Oh and Lula....

You HAVE style!!! Seriously, I saw it in Vegas and I was like, woah and wow all at the same time!

Love ya....

Again.

Anonymous said...

I love Summer. I totally think of her when shopping.

justsomethoughts... said...

impressive style.
on the bold side while still sensible.

good stuff.

Melissa said...

You are not giving yourself enough credit! You were always very stylish in high school...love the post, I need to sass things up a bit, I'm in a rut. Oh, and tell your friend "Lauren" she needs to get her bootay on facebook!

CaraBee said...

Girl, you've got more sass and style in your pinky than most girls have in their whole body.

And you will be famous someday. I have absolute confidence of this.

Jen said...

I just adore Summer (and Lula!). She is just so fabulous and even cuter in person.

This was an awesome post. I loved that you picked her brain.

frenchie said...

i love Summer. for her style, of course(i swear that navy dress is seriously haunting me...) but what i love about her is her writing, her honnesty, her sensitivity and care...
i'm glad you chose not to hate her and i hope one day i'll be so lucky as to meet her...

Vicki said...

I love Charlotte Russe!! I think I might print out Summer's pictures and tape them to my closet walls. For styling purposes only. That's not creepy or anything, right? Oh, does she have a kid hanging from one of those hips a lot? I need to see some pictures on how to be stylish with a kid hanging off of one hip.

Claremont First Ward said...

Say what? I didn't win? Well, boo hoo for me, Congrats Sunshine......


ANd as for Summer...........she IS the fashion queen and when I'm rich and famous as well, she's going to be my stylist when she isn't busy styling you........she doesn't know this yet, but I plan on telling her. I'm sure that there is a huge market for mom bloggers hitting it big time, right? :)

Unknown said...

um hi. how did i miss this? you posted it Thursday? Where have I been? Oh yeah, not showering.

Love her! She's adorable!

Mayhem and Moxie said...

When I first saw Summer at SITScation, I thought, who is that? Surely she must work for the Venetian hotel or be lost.

She is WAY too cute and stylish to be a blogger.

Thank you, thank you for such a fun post. Summer's stylish ways are an inspiration to us all.

PS: Also wanted to mention that I am in no way as cute, but am available at a moment's notice for an interview. I know shoes.

Shannon said...

What are you talking about, you "can't accessorize for crap"?!

Who was the one wearing adorable blue flats that matched her fabulous blue handbag? Oh, right... that was YOU.

Melissa said...

I'm definitely deficient in the accessorizing dept. Cato(clothing store) has helped me some since they have cute plus size stuff, but unless it's on clearance, it don't come home with me.....

You are so hip and trendy, I'm already freaking out that I'm going to meet you in 2 days!!!!!!! I hope we can be our own version of trendy together. We'll start a new brand of chic...trust me.

Jenny Strickland said...

Found you through busy bee lauren! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog!

Suzann said...

I'm new to your blog - found you through Heather. Such a cute post that I had to say hi.

Hear Mum Roar said...

I will have to check her blog out, go Summer!

Jenn Erickson said...

I agree ~ love Summer's style! I particularly love that tunic outfit. Makes me wanna skip out on work today and go shopping! Happy SITS day!

Sherri said...

You are so right about Summer. She is amazing. I know she could work wonders on me. And I probably her terribly.