Style Pearls // Making an effort

 I don't know if you can relate, but it seems that there's this style learning curve I've gone through while working from home. At first, I was all about staying in my PJ's all day, sometimes not even leaving the house for a couple of days. Then, I got sort of sick and tired of wearing the same slacking off clothes each and every day, but wasn't motivated enough to do anything about it. And now, I'm slowly getting back into a rhythm of getting at least somewhat dressed every day. I even did my hair and make-up yesterday. I would only expect this to bounce back to getting dressed most days, and looking like a normal working human being again. 

What I've learned from this experience is that I love comfort, but I hate frumpy. Which means, I'm all about jeans with cool sweaters, and wearing comfy yet stylish dresses, but spending days on end in sweatpants will have a negative impact on my self-confidence in the long run. So, while it may be awesome to spend a day in my nighties once in a while, it's not at all awesome when I do it every day.

 The second thing I've learned is that not only does the way I dress influence my self-confidence, it also has an impact on my mood and my productivity level. I feel so much more productive when I get dressed and pull myself together. It sort of says to my brain that I mean business. That I'm not just going to goof off all day, or perhaps get a couple of things done "when I get around to it". It really sets the tone for my day, and I''m making an effort to start my days with lots of action. 

So, while I still gravitate towards comfort, I'm slowly building a new style for myself. I think whenever we make a huge transition, whether it's from an office job to a work-from-home situation, or staying home with kids, it takes some time to get used to the new routine, and it's implications to our style as well. It's not just about adjusting to a new work/life schedule, it's also about making those adjustments in other areas of life, including what we wear daily. 

Wearing // Sweater - from a clothing swap party / Jeans - gift from Mom / Top - thrifted / Shoes - thrifted and restyled / Earrings and necklace - DIY

On a completely other note, I'm still writing this on Blogger, so I haven't made the switch to Wordpress yet. It's taking longer than expected to set up my hosting and get all the ducks in a row before I can transfer the blog. But, it will probably happen before the end of the week. So, whenever you happen to visit the site, and see a weird message or something that's a bit off, just know it's ok, and the blog will be up and running like normal in no time. 

I'm excited, but super nervous about this transition. It's a whole new platform to learn, but I'm confident it's the right move.

Also, thank you all  who have given me much-needed feedback, and who have tried to help me with my job-search. You are seriously the most supportive internet friends out there!

xo. Hanna

Wardrobe Reinvention // 5 Ways to wear a knit dress

Time to reinvent that little wardrobe of mine. I actually counted all the items in my closet, and got a surprisingly high number. I mean, who would have thought that there are still about 70 items of clothing in my wardrobe. It looks way less when I stand in front of my closet in the morning. Just goes to show how we tend to underestimate what we have. 

I remember when knit dresses became a trendy item a couple of years ago, and how I resisted getting myself one. I thought that those curve-hugging knits just weren't suited for a pear-shaped body like mine. I would surely highlight my thigh area, which I've always been a little too subconscious about. But, eventually I caved and got myself one. Body-shape style rules are meant to be broken sometimes, I think. And, there are always ways to counterbalance the unflattering effect they might have. Or, just embrace the type of body you've got and be proud of that big booty, flat chest, or both. Here's a few ways to do both. 

 Wearing // Knit dress: H&M / Jeans: gift from Mom / Boots: thrifted / Earrings: Christmas gift from hubby / Necklace: DIY / Watch: DIY (tutorial here)

Wearing the dress with jeans is actually something I started doing fairly recently. I guess I was worried to stretch out the dress before. Now that it's already 3 years old I don't care as much, although I doubt it would harm the garment even if it was new. I noticed that wearing jeans underneath seems to make the hips less curvy, although logically it should make them stand out even more. Instead, I feel very balanced and comfy in this outfit. Even kind of cool (shh, don't tell anyone, but I always kind of wanted to be a cool kid). 

 Wearing // Knit dress and tights: H&M / Boots: thrifted / Earrings: DIY / Belt: from my Etsy shop

Belting is the easiest way to style this dress, and that's how I mostly wear it. Although, after this little challenge, I find other ways so much more interesting. It's funny I've worn this outfit that much compared to the others, since this is actually the only one of the five that makes me a little too subconscious about my lower half.

The other thing is, that if you wear something the same way over and over again, you just get tired of it. Which is why the wardrobe reinvention exercise is so good. It challenges me to wear old clothes in a new way and fall back in love with them. 

 Wearing // Knit dress and tights: H&M / Vest: thrifted / Boots: thrifted / Earrings: DIY

Adding a vest is a very simple way to elevate the dress. It adds more structure and helps to balance to top half of my body. The vest is exactly the kind of garment that makes a dress like this wearable for pear-shaped women because it moves the focus from the hips to the top, and helps to create a more hourglass-y silhouette. 

 Wearing // Knit dress and tigths: H&M / Skirt: thrifted / Boots: thrifted /
Earrings: DIY / Brooch: from my Etsy shop

This is my favorite outfit of the bunch. It's just so very me I think. Although I'm slowly moving away from a cute and utterly feminine look, I'm still drawn to a girlie outfit. Plus, hubby said he has the most beautiful wife when he saw me in this outfit, which might have swayed my opinion. 

I used the dress as a layering element for this outfit. It would be perfect for the winter months to add extra warmth when you still want to wear a skirt, but it's sooo cold outside. Keeps your bum and thighs nice and warm.

 Wearing // Knit dress and tigths: H&M / Sweater: thrifted / Boots: thrifted / Earrings: DIY /
Brooch: DIY / Belt: Seppäla (this belt has a fun story attached to it, but I'll leave that for another time)

Another great way to layer during winter. This sweater is the most colorful, warm, and fuzzy sweater I own. I love it! It's one of those sweaters that you can de-pill very easily, so I've gotten a lot of mileage out of it already. Something like 5 years I think, which is a lot considering I got it second-hand. All in all, makes for a very comfy outfit. 

And, this is what I do when, after 5 outfits, I'm totally out of poses. Got to work on my modeling skills more, I guess. It's hard, you guys!

How did you like today's wardrobe reinvention? Which one was your favorite outfit, and why? I'd love to hear your opinions in the comments!

If you're new to the blog, you can check out the whole Wardrobe Reinvention series right here, and all the style posts here. 

Until next time!

xo. Hanna

Wardrobe Reinvention // 3 Ways to wear a bow tie belt

Yes, I did a Wardrobe Reinvention around a belt. I know it seems a bit strange, but after Laura said in the comments of this post, that she loved the bow tie belts, but couldn't think of what to wear it with, I immediately wanted to create this post, because I love those belts, and they are a great accessory. So that's the answer to the why. Also, I wanted to show you how accessories really do matter, and can add so much to an outfit.

Wearing // Tee - refashioned / Skirt - DIY / Belt - Pearls & Scissors / 

Shoes - thrifted / Earrings - gift from hubby

I love that this is mostly a me-made outfit (I've gotta learn how to make shoes...), and it's also very lady-like. I think wearing the belt over a skirt or dress is also probably the first idea that comes to mind. So, nothing earth chattering there, but it doesn't have to be only fancy dresses like in the promo photos.

This is something I used to wear to school. Now I'd wear it to a date with hubby, to a concert, or a trip to the city when I feel like dressing up a bit. It's just in between a fancy and a casual outfit, which I really. Feeling put together without being over-dressed.

 Wearing // Jacket - Reserved / Bloused - H&M (old) / Skirt - refashioned / Belt - Pearls & Scissors

Another way to wear the belt is over a jacket. Since the belt is made of fabric, it's soft and therefor doesn't wrinkle the jacket as much as a stiff belt would. And, it really adds a special touch to the outfit, I think. Using a belt on a jacket changes the look of it just slightly, so it becomes a more versatile piece. If you're not a formal jacket kind of woman, this is something to try out. I think it softens the look and feel of the outfit. More feminine, for sure.

 Wearing // Blouse - hand-me-down / Jeans - gift from Mom / 

Shoes - thrifted / Belt - Pearls & Scissors

Last, but not least, the classic belted jean. Sure, the belts are not that useful when the purpose of them is to give support, but they are very useful, when the main purpose is to give a bit of excitement. For me, the belt elevates this outfit from a casual button-down with jeans, to something a little bit more fun. Rein said I look like a little hipster in these outfit. Hipster or not, I really like it.

I had a lot of fun styling these outfits despite my very limited wardrobe choices. I hope you got some inspiration and ideas to try out!

xo. Hanna

Style Pearls // Burgundy and jeans

 I've got to admit, being unemployed does absolutely nothing for my style. These days, it's good if I get dressed at all, let alone choose an outfit. It's amazing how style-senseless I can get when i have nowhere to go. I'm guess I'm one of those "lazy" people who can wear pj's for days unless there's a need to put actual pants on. And, that's all good, but I'm getting so bored with my outfit choices lately. It's the same old sweater and jeans all the time.

Part of my frustration is due to my much smaller wardrobe after the move. And, while it's easier having less clothes and there for less options (I totally get why people love a capsule wardrobe), I find myself in a style rut. I don't think getting more clothes is an answer though. Rather, I think a few wardrobe reinvention experiments might do the trick.

We took these pics on one of our walks last week in our neighborhood. It was a little bit weird posing for photos while people were passing by. I don't know if I'll ever get used to that. Every time I do, it's just awkward. Oh, the things we do for get good blog photos, right? Speaking of which, I think Rein is constantly getting better at this blog photography thing. I don't know what I'd do without him. Thanks, hun!

 What I wore // Sweater - refashioned / Jeans - gift from Mom / Bag - thrifted from vintage Humana (added strap) / Shoes - Tamaris (a couple of years old) / Owl earrings - Christmas gift from hubby

In other news - I need to re-dye my hair badly. It's growing like crazy for some reason. I dyed it only a month ago, but I've already a 2cm outgrowth at least. My hair has never grown so fast, so I'm just in awe. Also, I have no idea where to get natural henna and indigo around here. Funny thing is, I just bought like a year's supply back at home, and forgot to pack it. That's so like me!

Have any of you tried a capsule wardrobe? I'm kind of forced into it right now, so I'd love to hear your thoughts.

xo. Hanna

P.S! Thanks to An Geli Ka for the new feature name! I'm going to send you a special treat, so look out for an e-mail from me :)

My Style: Winter Wonderland

It's winter in Estonia alright! We've had so many beautiful snowy days during the last couple of weeks, which makes me all giddy, because I know I won't get anything like that back in Leverkusen. So, I'm enjoying every moment. Even the walk I took today in -15C weather. It's all good! These snowy and cold days are art of the charm of the Estonian winter. It's hard, but oh so beautiful (remember this post?).

We took these one day before New Year's Eve for the Mood magazine. The muff I'm wearing will be the February DIY project, so you get a little sneak peek before the magazine hits the stores in the end of January.
It was the perfect excuse to get all dolled up and take some fun photos in this perfect winter wonderland. It was even kind of stormy that day, so all the snow that had gathered on the branches of the trees was flying around, creating a blizzard. I'm definitely more of a summer person, but I've alway loved these snowy winter days. Especially in the countryside, while sipping hot tea next to the wood cook stove. This year that spot was mostly occupied by our new cat, but I did manage to slide myself next to her a few times.

Wearing: Coat - from my high school days // Shawl - DIY // Muff - DIY (tutorial in Mood 2/15) // Jeans - gift from Mom // Boots - Tamaris // Headband - DIY

The one thing I love about blogging is that it motivates me to take these kinds of photos. Photos of me in the blizzard. Photos I would otherwise never have.

On another note, I'll give a special prize for anyone who can think of a creative name for my style posts. I hate calling them just "My Style". That's boring! So, all you word-wizards out there, give me your sugar.

xo. Hanna

Wardrobe Reinvention // 3 Ways to wear a jumpsuit

I feel it's been centuries since I did a Wardrobe Reinvention post, but it's good to be back, friends! Today, I'm sharing a special edition of wardrobe reinvention that I made with my former flatmate Mari Krõõt.

I've always loved playing dress-up, and I must say, I still do. I also love picking out outfits for others. Actually, I like shopping for others way more than for myself. So, I was thrilled when Mari Krõõt agreed to do a style post with me. 

For the starter piece, we chose a back jumpsuit she'd picked up on a recent thrift-spree. So, this is to prove all those curvy girls, who think they can't pull off a jumpsuit, wrong. You totally can, and you totally will!

First, we styled it in a sort of business-casual way. Something that could be worn to an office-job, or to a formal meeting of any sort, or just to run errands. I mean, you don't need an excuse to look marvelous, do you?

For the second look, we dressed the jumpsuit down for a fun everyday look. I could see Mari Krõõt wearing this everywhere really - to school, to work, to a Sunday brunch-date. Somehow, this looks is so her. I love how the DIY necklace gives this monochrome outfit a pop of color. This outfit would also look great with the necklace from my shop.

For the third look, we decided to just play up the jumpsuit in its full glory. I love the exposed back with the draping. And, black with gold is my favorite color combination at the moment (wait till you see my sewing nook here in Leverkusen, and you'll know what I'm talking about). You can find out how to make the necklace right here, and how to glitter your heels here.

I hope you liked this post as much as I loved playing dress-up with Mari Krõõt. I also hope I can do more wardrobe reinventions with guest models in the future, because I really had so much fun doing the styling for someone else. Any volunteers?

xo. Hanna