Minty Fresh and Freshly Minted

 Make Mine Mint Necklace

Sweater: Delia's
Skirt: Worthington, JCPenney
Shoes: Bongo, Kohl's
Bag: Betsey Johnson, ROSS Dress for Less
Belt: Apt. 9, Kohl's

An Apple a Day Necklace

Tank: Victoria's Secret
Cardigan: Merona, Target
Skirt: Boscov's
Shoes: Alloy
Bag: Journeys
Belt: Wet Seal

Little Pudding Princess Necklace

Turtleneck: Merona, Target
Jacket: Worthington, JCPenney
Skirt: Byer, JCPenney
Shoes: Guess, DSW
Bag: Glamour Damaged, Etsy

Mint is everywhere this season, and I couldn't be more delighted.  I love the shade in shirts and skirts almost as much as I love the flavor in candy, as evidenced by the Junior Mint images covertly couched in the Make Mine Mint Necklace.  I've been collecting similarly cool-colored clothes and can't wait to unveil them, along with their handmade counterparts, in a future posting.  

Rock Revival

Black Rose Necklace

Tunic: Gifted

Skirt: Forever 21

Shoes: Bucco, Kohl's

Bag: Worthington, JCPenney

Belt: Wet Seal 

Black and White and Fun All Over Necklace

Top: Kohl's

Skirt: Bar III, Macy's

Boots: MetroStyle

Bag: Nine West, Boscov's 

Black and Daisy Sparkles Necklace 

Black and White Sparkly Shapes Necklace

Top: Wet Seal

Skirt: City Streets, JCPenney

Shoes: Dollhouse, Journeys

Bag: Princess Vera, Kohl's

Belt: Gifted 

Crystal Blue Persuasion Necklace

Top: Rampage, Marshalls

Jeans: City Streets, JCPenney

Shoes: Dollhouse, Marshalls

Bag: Kenneth Cole Reaction

Tents and tambourines are no match for the sweet sound of sparkles.  Sure, their tune may be for your ears only.  But listening to it beats battling the unwashed masses of festival folk any day, and in the end, that's what really matters.  That and not being run over by a VW van.  

You've Got Character

 Hello Kitty Necklace

Dress: Kohl's

Shoes: Journeys

Bag: Xhilaration, Target

Scarf: Boscov's

Blueberry Burst Necklace

Top: Merona, Target

Cardigan: Express

Skirt: Xhilaration, Target

Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy

Bag: Bisou Bisou, JCPenney

Belt: Tournier Everything's $10 Store

Fluorescent Fruit Necklace

Tunic: Petticoat Alley, Marshalls

Skirt (a dress!): Arizona Jeans, JCPenney

Shoes: BCBG, Marshalls

Bag: Betseyville, ROSS Dress for Less

I'm talking to you, Hello Kitty.  Who else could shine so brilliantly for so long in Sanrio's many-starred sky?  ("Huh?" you may be thinking.  "Who else have they got hanging up there?"  The Star Twins, My Melody, and Keroppi, to name a few.  Okay, to name them all as far as my memory of Japanese kiddie collectibles serves.)  Every time I put on a Hello Kitty piece, I can't help but think of how Mindy Kaling deems doing so to be inappropriate for women over 30, as quoted in her book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), an especially ironic occurrence given that her "Office" alter ego Kelly Kapoor gifted her coworkers with Hello Kitty laptop cases one Christmas.  To be fair, I love that book.  But my (ahem) claws come out in the name of so-called faux pas fashion.      

Anyway, the source of all this hoopla is a tag that came off a pair of Hello Kitty sleep socks.  When I saw it I thought that it would make for an excellently eye-catching pendant.  The socks are nice too, even if you can't wear them around your neck.  

Blues Cues

Fabulous Felt Glam Clam Necklace

Top: The Limited

Skirt: Gap

Shoes: Worthington, JCPenney

Bag: Chinese Laundry

Scarf: Rachel Roy, Macy's

Belt: Boscov's 

                                   

Fabulous Felt Bright Doves Necklace

Top: Macy's

Skirt: Forever 21

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Marshalls

Print bangle: B Fabulous

Green bracelet: Cloud Nine, Ocean City

                                               

Kitschy Collage Necklace

Dress: Kensie, Macy's

Shoes: Nine West, Macy's

Bag: Nine West, Boscov's

Blue is such an uplifting color that it's hard to see how it became so irrevocably associated with sadness.  So, I decided to celebrate the shade's more heavenly side.  (Even fuchsia-flushed outfit number two has a few cobalt zigzags.)     

An Homage to Outerwear

Left to right: Candie's, Kohl's; Wilsons Leather; Worthington, JCPenney; She Said, JCPenney; Gap; Worthington, JCPenney; XOXO; BCBG, Macy's; Decree, JCPenney; Bisou Bisou, JCPenney; Xhilaration, Target; XOXO, Macy's; Wilsons Leather; Worthington, JCPenney

One of the few consolations that comes with the cold is the cute coats we get to wear!  As the happy recipient of three between Christmas and my birthday, I had no choice but to line up the whole candy-colored collection.  I've taken the liberty of weeding out the boring ones so that your viewing isn't sullied by sights of lackluster corduroy and workaday denim.

First Dance Florals

Prima Ballerina Corsage Necklace 

Dress: XOXO

Shoes: Guess, DSW

Bag: DSW

Coat: Candie's, Kohl's

Rose Garden Corsage Necklace

Top: Liz Claiborne, Marshalls

Skirt: Arizona Jeans, JCPenney

Shoes: Betseyville, Macy's

Bag: Glamour Damaged, Etsy

Garden Party Corsage Necklace

Tee: Kohl's

Jeans: Candie's, Kohl's

Shoes: Guess, DSW

Bag: Glamour Damaged, Etsy

There's something old-fashioned about a corsage.  The size, the scent, the baby's breath-ringed roses, bold fragility in a plastic case.  After all, when was the last time you saw a prom-goer with a flower blooming on her wrist or shoulder?  Probably some time back in the 1960s.  Now it's all boulder-big bouquets and none-too-subtle nosegays.

Then again, there's nothing subtle about these oldie but goodie (or dare I say retro!) corsage necklaces either.  Still, it's the spirit of their predecessors that so nostalgically moved me to create them - even if it is a nostalgia born of books and movies instead of experience.

My, this is getting maudlin.  Maybe I can redeem myself by pointing out that first dances are usually awful. The only thing to make up for the sweaty palms, tepid punch, and gym sneaker smell are the flowers and fashion.  Just one more way looking good saves the day.