As You Glide Down the Isle of Style . . .

 Over the Rainbow Necklace

Tee: Gifted

Jeans: City Streets, JCPenney

Flip flops: 9&Co., JCPenney

Bag: Loop, Toilet Water, Ocean City

Scarf: A.C. Moore

 Call Me Carmen Necklace

Dress: O'Neill, Macy's

Camisole: So, Kohl's

Flip flops: 9&Co., JCPenney

Bag: Loop, Marshalls

Scarf: Express

 Pastel Shell Necklace

Tee: So, Kohl's

Skirt: Kohl's

Shoes: Madden Girl, DSW

Bag: Candie's, Kohl's

Scarf: Express

 Fabulous Felt Pink Horizon Necklace

Top: Macy's

Skirt: Decree, JCPenney's

Flip flops: Mixit, JCPenney

Bag: Bisou Bisou, JCPenney

 Citrus Slice Necklace

Top: Kohl's

Skirt: So, Kohl's

Shoes: Barefeet Shoes

Bag: Marshalls

Belt: Everything's $10 Tournier

 Fabulous Felt Tribal Tropics Necklace

Dress: Macy's

Shoes: Marc Fisher, Marshalls

Bag: Apt. 9, Kohl's

Fabulous Felt Hibiscus Necklace

Top: Macy's

Jeans: l.e.i., Macy's

Shoes: Alloy

Bag: Marshalls

Sunglasses: So, Kohl's

Sweet Salsa Necklace

Tank: Mossimo, Target

Tee: Wet Seal

Cardigan: Candie's, Kohl's

Skirt: Prabal Gurung for Target

Shoes: BCBG, Marshalls

Bag: Betsey Johnson, ROSS Dress for Less

Belt: Izod, Marshalls

. . . be sure to snag some Hawaiian Punch.  Speaking of summery sweets, some weeks ago I was enjoying the first Rita's of the season, a super sweet vanilla water ice, when I blurted out my love for the tasty treat, i.e., "I love vanilla ice!"  Then I heard myself.  I had the grace to be embarrassed, a feeling that's now heightened as I realize just how many references to that rapper reside on this blog.  

For my next trick, I'll try to come up with something cute to say about Dairy Queen. 

Fruit Freeze

Scarf: A.C. Moore

Cherry necklace: Candie's, Kohl's

Tee: Wet Seal

Watermelon pouch: Lancome

Wallet: Target

Beaded cuffs: Across the Street, Etsy

Flip flops: 9&Co., JCPenney

Orange purse: Betsey Johnson

Red strawberry change purse: Target

Pink strawberry change purse: JLo, Marshalls

 Fabulous Felt Fruit Bowl Necklace

Dress: XOXO
Shoes: Betseyville, JCPenney
Bag: Xhilaration, Target

Fabulous Felt Fruit Trio Necklace

Top: Material Girl, Macy's

Skirt: So, Kohl's

Shoes: MetroStyle

Bag: Betsey Johnson

Leave it to me to blog about flip flops the day after the first day of winter.  But these summer sizzlers have been burning a hole in my closet ever since I ordered them from JCPenney last fall for $8.00 each.  So, I decided to haul out all my fruit-tastic fashion, mixing in some of my own past produce-packed products for good measure.  Out of season or not, they're still fresher than fruitcake.

Getting Through Thursday With Another Shoe Montage: A Walk Down Memory Lane

Bag: Loop, Marshalls; Shoes: MetroStyle

Bag: Lancome; Shoes: Guess, DSW

Bag: 9&Co., Kohl's; Shoes: MetroStyle

Bag: Xhilaration, Target; Shoes: Nine West, DSW

Bag: Marshalls; Shoes: Alloy

Bag: Bisou Bisou, JCPenney; Shoes: Barefeet Shoes

Bag: Gap; Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy

Bag: Nine West, Boscov's; Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy

Bag: Nahui Ollin; Shoes: Chinese Laundry, Marshalls

Bag: Candie's, Kohl's; Shoes: Alloy

Every now and then I like to look at pictures from past outfit posts.  Seeing the crazy mix of colors and patterns always gives me a happy jolt, so for this week's shoe post I thought I'd share some of my favorites with you.

Something New and Sparkly: Nostalgic in More Ways Than One

Fabulous Felt Banana, Avocado, and Cherries Barrette

Top: Wet Seal

Skirt: Boscov's

Shoes: MetroStyle

Bag: 9.&Co., Kohl's

Scarf: A.C. Moore

This retro navy and white polka dot cap sleeve top is a favorite of mine.  Partly because it has a kind of 1940s/1950s charm, partly because I was wearing it the day I met the bf.  That was nearly five years ago, on the Fourth of July (I considered cracking a joke about fireworks but thought better of it), and I had accessorized it with not red, but orange pieces.  The handbag pictured here was among them, along with a plastic necklace, a polka dot ribbon-covered bangle, and a pair of openwork heels.  The ribbon on the bangle has long since unraveled, but I still have the necklace and shoes.  The shoes are a little worse for wear, but I can't bring myself to toss them (for both sentimental and sartorial reasons :)

With all this reminiscing, I nearly forgot to mention my Fabulous Felt Banana, Avocado, and Cherries Barrette.  Or maybe I should say barrette/brooch, as I've clipped it, and every other barrette I've made so far, to my shirt in the outfit shot.  Anyway, I've always loved the combination of fruit and polka dots.  I guess that's because they have that vintagey allure I first mentioned, their sweetness ripened by the promise of picnics and ice cream and summer.  I don't know about you, but I think I feel a banana split coming on!           

Something New and Sparkly: House of Smurf Style

Fabulous Felt Mushroom Headband

Dress: XOXO

Tee: So, Kohl's

Shoes: Miss America, DSW

Bag: 9.&Co., Kohl's

I've always found it funny that the mushrooms we like to look at are poisonous, whereas the ones we like to eat aren't all that good-looking.  Who would've watched the Smurfs if they'd lived in nondescript brown mushroom houses?  And what kind of accessory would this Fabulous Felt Mushroom Headband be if the mushroom was tan and didn't have sunny spots?  One that'd be unfit for a Smurf, I can tell you that much. 

Something New and Sparkly: Hello Birdie

 Crazy for Kawaii Primary Colors Two Little Birds Necklace

Sweater: American Living, JCPenney

Skirt: Abbey Dawn, Kohl's

Shoes: Dollhouse, Marshalls

Bag: 9&Co., Kohl's

Tights: JCPenney

 Crazy for Kawaii Tropical Colors Two Little Birds Necklace

Sweater: Victoria's Secret

Dress: Material Girl, Macy's

Shoes: MetroStyle

Bag: Bisou Bisou, JCPenney

Tights: Express

Bangle: B Fabulous

Crazy for Kawaii Girly Colors Two Little Birds Necklace

Sweater: Mixit, JCPenney

Skirt: ROSS Dress for Less

Shoes: Material Girl, Macy's

Bag: Eleven Peacocks, Etsy
Scarf: Marshalls

I spent my extra hour today fashioning feathered friends out of felt (try saying that five times fast). I almost used three birds in each necklace but then told myself, "Whoa! Hold it there, missy," because the two looked just dandy and would have been hampered by a third interloper. Once I saw how splendid they looked against my colorful sweaters, I knew I'd made the right decision.

As you know, I've been rephotographing many of my items against colored backdrops in an effort to improve my Etsy shop's appearance. As with any revitalization project, now that I've started I can't seem to stop!  Today I removed any items that didn't quite fit in with the overall feel of the shop. And boy were there a lot! I wasn't all that focused three years ago when I started doing this and ended up creating a hodgepodge of things and slapping them up on the Web willy-nilly. From now on I'm going to be much more discriminating. Only bright, funky accessories with a sense of humor will make the cut. Anything bland or "normal" need not apply. That seems as good a credo as any.