Make This Your Best Family Photo Yet

22, Sep, 16

It’s that time again: family photos are just around the corner. You are tired of your bad haircut, stretched-out sweater, and forced smile hanging on your living room wall. This time, you are determined to look flawless and we’re here to help. These are our fail-safe tips and tricks for picking an outfit for a breezy photo session and a family photo you’ll be proud to hang on your wall.

Put Your Smile At Ease

Heirloom model showing off her great smile

Smiling for an hour can be uncomfortable as it is, but wearing a restrictive outfit can make the experience unbearable. Put your smile at ease and find a comfortable t-shirt made from a soft-stretch fabric. Going with a comfortable t-shirt for family pictures will make for a pleasant experience and give you the chance to focus on flashing your pearly whites.

Live With No Regrets

heirloom model showing off how a basic tshirt is great for photos

We all have that one family photo where our outfit makes us cringe and ask, “What was I thinking?” Skip the embarrassment this time and wear a plain t-shirt. If you think a plain t-shirt is boring, switch it up with a plain cap sleeve shirt or a ¾ sleeve shirt. You will never look back and regret the simplicity of a plain t-shirt and guess what? They never go out of style.

Make No Mistake

heirloom model showing how a long tank top is great for wearing during pictures

You never know what pose the photographer will have you do, and how your clothes may react. Try wearing a long tank top under the outfit during your family photo session. Layering a long tank top under an outfit is a sure way to prevent any embarrassing moments that may come from a wardrobe malfunction.

Now you’re ready for your next family photo session. With these tips you are sure to enjoy the experience, and love the way you look for years to come.

What is Happiness and How Do We Achieve it?

13, Sep, 16

two friends smilingly happily together on the hood of a truck

Happiness can be elusive, distant, and hard to define. But it doesn’t have to be. Some guidance and a little concentrated effort can help you truly understand what happiness is and how to be happy in the moment.

Live in the Present

“True happiness is...to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future.”

― Lucius Annaeus Seneca

“I’ll be happy when…” Fill in the blank; I am skinnier, when I am married, when I move away, when I make a new friend. Sound familiar? This world is a beautiful smattering of experiences and opportunities. There are so many places to see, so many people to meet, incredible things to learn and understand. By dwelling in the past, or deciding to be happy in the future, you may be distracting yourself from your present.

Try taking a walk one day and really looking around you. Drive somewhere and don’t use GPS for 30 minutes; just drive and see where you go. Talk to a stranger and really listen to them. Be where you are today.

Show Gratitude

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Gratitude is one of the best ways to focus on what is going well in life; then project that joy outward. Noticing things to be grateful for has a snowball effect. Finding the first five things might be hard, but the next five will be easier, and the five after that easier still. Expressing that gratitude to the people around you has a marvelously uplifting effect, not just on you, but on them as well. You will feel joy knowing that you were able to brighten someone else’s day too.

Treat Yourself

Science can actually back us up on this one. Many studies dealing with SWLS (Satisfied With Life Scale) report that regular small pleasures have a greater impact on happiness than fewer large ones. So go for it, treat yo’ self. As the wise Lucille says in this quote, you will only be truly effective in this world if you love yourself, which sometimes means an ice cream cone in the middle of a Tuesday afternoon.

Exercise

Endorphins are real and they are effective. The amount of research that links exercise to mood improvement is staggering and indisputable. But not only does it help your mood, exercise has been shown to improve self-image, confidence, and productivity in other areas. It may be the worst 20 minutes of your day, but that 20 minutes will absolutely improve the other 23 hours and 40 minutes. Find an exercise that you can handle and stick to it.

Develop Meaningful Relationships

“There is simply no pill that can replace human connection. There is no pharmacy that can fill the need for compassionate interaction with others. There is no panacea. The answer to human suffering is both within us and between us.”

― Dr. Joanne Cacciatore

The connections you make could come from anywhere, but maybe start in your home. Develop or renew the relationships you have with your family members. Ask them questions, do things that they like to do, learn new things together. Open up about your fears and uncertainties. Reach out to old friends and tell them you miss them. The vulnerability in this tip could be scary, but the joy you will feel after will be sure to motivate you to continue developing relationships actively.

As a final note, it is important to remember that sometimes it is okay to not be happy. Sadness, frustration, and loneliness are real and powerful emotions that can teach, motivate, and help you to feel compassion. But you shouldn’t feel them always. If you feel overly depressed, anxious, or worried and have been for an extended period of time, it may be time to get professional help.

You deserve to be happy and we hope that these simple tips can help you to feel joy more often. Live well and enjoy life!

Wearing White after Labor Day: Why and How

07, Sep, 16

Have you ever wondered about the phrase, “Don’t wear white after Labor Day?” Well, today is your lucky day. Not only do we know the origin of that divisive idiom, but we also have some modern and timeless ideas on how to navigate it.

The History

It would seem that since the dawning of our fine country, New York City has been the epicenter of women’s fashion and fashion rules. The wealthy elite in the city had the money and the power to dictate the height of fashion for the entire country, and they did so with gusto. The white after Labor Day rule came directly from these fashion elites in the early 1900s.

It would seem that this particular dictation had its roots in practicality--in the frigid winter months in Manhattan, coal was used to heat most homes and businesses. The ashes would float through the city, and land on people’s clothes, staining light colored items with dark ashy marks. Hence, no white after Labor Day, because it was then that the weather would start to change.

They took it one step further though by wearing only white in the summer. To escape the summer heat in the city, the wealthy would flock to the Hamptons, the surrounding beaches, and the mountains to enjoy the cool beach air. Not only were white clothes more practical and cooler, their entire wardrobe shift distinguished the American aristocracy from the rest.

And thus we have one of the most well-known fashion rules in the books. The real question now is, how much should you care about that rule? And what are some ways to break it tastefully? We’ve got you covered. Here are 3 of our tried and true tips.

Vests

Add your favorite white winter vest to any outfit to warm up on those chilly days. Or flip the outfit inside out and wear a white shirt and spice it up with a colorful vest. Either way, the white of either the vest or the shirt makes a great combination for a snowy winter.

Cardigans

Cardigans are a jacket’s little sister. They can be cozy and comfy, structured and professional, trendy or timeless. Cardigans are a winter staple, so we recommend having a couple of different colors available to go with everything. Light greys, creams, and whites, are ultra versatile and go with almost any wardrobe. Invest in a cardigan or two that you really love; cute women’s clothes should be fun to wear, and easy to implement.

Layering Ts

Our specialty. A white shirt below a black jacket, a light grey long sleeve below a big navy scarf, a cream tank below a cranberry dress with a deep V neck. The possibilities here are endless, and so many of them include light and even white pieces. No need to be afraid of color in the winter, use it to spruce up the winter darks. Layering T’s are also a great way to stay on top of trendy clothes for women. While the trends may change, your timeless layering T’s will make sure your look is signature, no matter what the season.

We hope these tips helped! The real deal about whites after Labor Day is this: wear what is comfortable, convenient, and suits your style no matter what the season. Dress to suit you and never an old rule. We hope your winter wardrobe is perfectly colorful this year.

Happy shopping!