Thank You

     After much consideration I have decided this is my final post on my blog. I've been blogging for sixteen months and I've enjoyed choosing outfits, taking photos and most of all the interaction with all of you! Now that it is spring, Dean and I are devising some new creative challenges for ourselves. I've always been a person that was unable to do anything half way, so I'm having to let go of Blue Hue Wonderland.

     All of you are brave. Standing in front of a camera making pictures for the world to see is not an easy thing to do. When I started my blog, I thought I would document the clothes I was wearing for fun. I didn't expect to meet like minded and stylish women from all over the world. Thank you for all the encouraging comments. Your posts have brought a smile to my face so many times and your outfits have inspired me to change and challenge my own way of dressing. For all of this I am grateful.


Ann@blue hue wonderland

Crisp and Clean

     I enjoy this time of year when I can still wear a jacket with a summer sandal. By combining basics like a comfortable knit stretch skirt with a cotton moto jacket I'm ready for the day. I've seen so many stylish and modern designs in sandals this spring that are comfortable yet interesting. I like the easy wedge heel and the ankle strap which adds a feminine detail. Adding an of-the-moment sandal to pieces already in the closet is an easy way to update the basics.  


jacket--gap--(similar on sale) (floral moto)     skirt--max studio (eileen fisher--similar here)     shoes--enzo angiolini (consignment purchase)     clutch--isaac mizrahi  (similar in yellow)     bracelet--kenneth cole (like this one--vince camuto)



link--frizz and frosting--monday bloom--style sessions--the pleated poppy--I feel pretty

Experimenting with Structure

     I received the May issue of In Style this week and I was captivated by an article on page 181 called "You Can Do Safari." I'm always looking to reconfigure items in ways I haven't worn before. My interpretation does look more military than safari because of the cut of this dress, but I think the mixing is similar to the feel of this article. By pairing a structured dress with feminine shapes, like this coat, and adding current shoes and a burgundy clutch for a bit of color, I created an outfit from pieces already in my closet.

     The ever stylish Annette of Lady of Style interviewed Blue Hue Wonderland for her "Lady of the Month" series. Annette is a generous person and I'm honored she asked me to be part of this series which has highlighted some interesting blogs. Annette was one of the first persons I corresponded with when I started blogging. Her style is classic and elegant with a feminine flair. Annette has created an impressive blog and I would recommend taking a look at Lady of Style .  I've also become active on Pinterest with images from Blue Hue Wonderland plus pictures of many of my fellow bloggers on my page called "From the Blogs."

shoes--jessica simpson     coat--bcbg--(michael kors)     clutch--bcbg generation--(similar)     dress--bloomingdales & tahari--(diane von furstenberg)     bracelet--bcbg--(similar, bcbg)     earrings--handmade--(tory burch)


links--not dead yet style--mingle monday--mix it mondays--monday must haves--funday monday--style sessions--get your pretty on--the pleated poppy--because shanna said so--three-fer thursday--passion for fashion--fashion informant--share-in-style

Jeans

     Oh what a difference a week can make. With some afternoons near 70 degrees, I can wear sandals. This week I chose some basic jeans, silk wrap blouse, fun heels and my bright trench to wear for an evening meal. I'm wearing jeans from Macy's house brand Style & Co. These jeans are reasonably priced plus they are comfortable to wear. I've been seeing silk kimono tops on some of the blogs and this fitted version is old favorite.  I found these sandals at a consignment shop then added a contrasting bag and bright trench. 

     For those you that are fashion bloggers, we bought a flash with a diffusor for our camera. We have been using it on most of my posts lately.  On these pictures with the strong backlighting, a flash fills the shadow and adds a highlight to the eyes. Hope this is a helpful bit of info for some of the bloggers out there. The flash has helped us get brighter and sharper pictures in low light situations. 

jeans--style & co. petite jeans     blouse--dana buchman     sandals--preview (consignment purchase) same design, different color     trench--worthington-- cole haan     purse--b makowsky       

links--mingle monday--dc instyle--style sessions--the pleated poppy--get your pretty on--because shanna said so--what I wore wednesday--passion for fashion--not dead yet style

Blue Lace

     Hello! Yes that is snow in these pictures taken the first week of April. In fact it snowed eight inches last night but it will melt quickly this time of year. I purchased this dress last spring and have worn it in several ways. I seen to always have a place in my closet for a few lace items especially in a vibrant color.  I have worn it casually with silver low heeled sandals for an outdoor summer art show and with gray tights for an evening dinner. This past winter I've found gray tights to be versatile and a nice change from black. When I'm wearing a bright dress this tone looks less harsh with my fair coloring. I also wear bone colored fishnet hose during the transition to sandals. If I were to wear this dress formally, I'd wear a sheer hose in maybe a gray tone during colder months.

     This week I watched several of the designer shows for this fall and so many of the them showed the models with bare legs.  I live in a climate where I need to wear tights from October to end of the April most years. How do you feel about wearing colors other than black with dresses and skirts?

links--fashion item friday--not dead yet style--the style record--mix it mondays--plane pretty--still being molly--dc instyle--style sessions--i feel pretty--pleated poppy--because shanna said so--shoe shine--three-fer thursday--passion for fashion