Vintage brooches dress up a clearance shirt!

I got this cute gray knit shirt from TJ Maxx the other day for $12.99. As you can see, it has flowers made of the same fabric stitched onto it, which seems to be a pretty popular trend in clothing right now...very romantic, flowy type of vibe.  As soon as I tried it on, I knew this shirt was begging for me to add some vintage brooches to it! I don't know why or how, but I instantly visualized it that way. I think it's because I'm so attracted to all those necklaces made with vintage or looks-like-vintage costume jewelry, such as the one from Anthropologie below, and they are typically really expensive (maybe I could just make my own?)...however, I did find a gorgeous one for only $18 on www.shopthelook.net, which is a sister site to the cosmetics company e.l.f., from which I just ordered a 22-item haul for only $20!!! But that's a post for next week when my order comes in. ;) 

from anthropologie.com

 

 from shopthelook.net

Anyway, I'm getting married this fall, and part of a wedding decor haul I got from a great girl on Craigslist included several pieces of vintage costume jewelry that I haven't decided what I want to do with yet...so I got out a couple of those brooches and one that came on a pair of pants I bought a few years ago and pinned them into the centers of the fabric flowers. Voila! Instant customization, and now it's no longer just a plain ole gray shirt. Who says fashion has to be expensive anyway? (Hint: use lightweight brooches on knit fabric, or else the weight will be too much for the thin fabric to hold upright.)


Do you customize your clothes? If so, how?

P.S. I am also hoping to learn screen printing soon so I can start printing our T-shirt designs myself! So even more customization. :)

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Just say thank you already!

A friend of mine posted something online recently about how when someone gives you a compliment, you should take it in the spirit in which it was intended. She remarked that it can end up hurting the complimenter's feelings if you don't. This really got me thinking about how women and girls seem to have a very hard time accepting compliments.


Think about the last time someone told you they liked your hair, for example. Did you simply smile and say thanks, or did you immediately start making some sort of apologetic explanation, like, "Oh, I didn't even style it today," or, "Thanks, but I really need to touch up my roots."


Why do we have such a hard time just taking a compliment? It's like we fear being seen as vain or "too sure" of ourselves unless we act a little embarrassed when someone says something nice about us. Why should we be afraid that if we don't downplay it, we'll be seen as less than humble? Or is there another cause for our reluctance altogether?


I think maybe we need to learn to take a compliment and just say "thank you" sincerely, believing that the person means what they said and realizing we are *worth* the compliment.


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