Red

Introducing this week's colour in the Shades of Autumn Photo Challenge... 

You guessed it. Red! 

I've never really had a definitive answer when people ask me what my favourite colour is. But I think I've found it. I'm in love with the reds we're seeing around here these days - everything from Amaranth to Crimson to deep, dark Burgundy (and yes, I do think they deserve to be capitalized).

 

  

Lilah isn't quite as excited about the foliage as I am, but the firetruck sure turned her crank.

And one more, just for fun:

This is what happens when she chooses her own outfit. She's into the layered skirt look.

Window Shopping

Lately I've been admiring this stunning dress in a store window I frequently walk in our neighbourhood:

The photos were snapped quickly on my iPhone as I raced home to get Lilah down for a much-needed nap, so the quality isn't great, and there is a lot of reflection off the window, but take my word for it, this dress is a.ma.zing.  So amazing that I briefly considered throwing a black tie event just so I could buy it and have somewhere to wear it.  But since neither are in the budget, I'll have to make do with lusting after it through the shop window.

On a totally unrelated note, if anyone wants to invite me to a red carpet event or formal party of any kind, my calendar is wide open.  Have your people call my people.

Lilah recently experienced some window shopping lust of her own when this dollhouse caught her eye:

 

They're going to need to some extra-strength Windex to shine up that window: I'm pretty sure she left more than just fingerprints, since she had her face mashed up against the glass and may even have licked it. (Like me, she is passionate about her window shopping. Can you blame her?) Also, she may or may not have had a runny nose that day.  But that's neither here nor there. 

Luckily for both of us, these two shops are within three blocks of our home, so we pass them often and can pay the objects of our affection a visit whenever we feel the need.

Done any good window shopping lately?

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

So I'm going to this wedding in Vegas in just over a week, and I decided to forgo the dresses currently hanging in my closet in favour of something new and different.  I headed to an uuber-trendy store.  This is the kind of store that draws the hipsters in my neighbourhood; the kind of store that I enter sheepishly and with great intimidation, feeling that I am too old/frumpy/mommyish/plain/uncool to shop there.  This store has tons of cute and trendy dresses, and I promised myself that I would try something different for a change, and at least consider dresses that I would normally dismiss as Too Hip, Too Out There, or Not Really Me.  This is a wedding in Vegas, after all, and it seems like the perfect excuse to push my personal style boundaries and bend my rules a bit.

The first thing I noticed is that most of the dresses at this store were very young and flirty, which is kind of what I was going for, but for some reason they also all seemed really short.  These days, it's pretty rare for me to wear dresses that fall much above the knee - I'm not really down with exposing my behind when I bend over.

I pulled several dresses off the rack to try on.  Some were a little outside of my usual style box, and some were typical colours and/or styles for me.  There was one dress, though, that I kept coming back to.  On the hanger, it seemed too much for my simple tastes, and I almost didn't try it on, feeling a bit silly even taking it into the change room with me.  But then I reminded myself that the point of this exercise was to push myself.  One after another, I quickly eliminated all the other dresses - too tight, too loose, not dressy enough, totally unflattering, oh, and of course, too short.

Finally, there was just one dress left.  Yep, you guessed it; the almost-didn't-try-it-on-because-it's-really-not-me multi-coloured frilly dress.  So I slipped it on, and lo and behold, I actually quite liked it.  Well, I thought I liked it.  But I still wasn't sure if it screamed "fun, flirty party girl" or "I'm a pinata, go ahead and whack me with a stick until I bust open and spew my candy-coated innards everywhere."  So I hemmed and hawed, trying to make a decision, wishing that I had a girlfriend with me to offer an honest opinion.  I thought maybe I would buy it, bring it home and get the Hubs' opinion, and then return it if he thought it was too much, but then I noticed a sign inside the door of the change room that read, "Choose wisely, all sales final." Ummm... pressure much?

Initially, I walked away, thinking I would show pictures taken on my iPhone to a girlfriend and the Hubs for a second and third opinion, but I couldn't stop thinking about that dress, and less than half an hour later I was back at the same store, trying it on again.  I started asking random shoppers for their opinions - I was desperate!   A few kind ladies who happened to be there when I came out of the change room wearing the dress convinced me that it was really cute and I should get it.  So I did.

What do you think?  I can't return it, but I do have a backup, so please be honest.

Also, accessories.  At the very least, I'll need shoes and a handbag, and I'm a bit stumped as to what colours be pairing with this dress.  Oh, and would a fascinator would be over the top?  (I'm kidding.  I think.)  If you consider yourself a fashionista with impeccable taste, please leave me a comment here.  I need your help!!!

House of Lilahbility 2011 Spring Style Guide

It's that time of year again.  Spring is springing and the dark days of winter are slowly giving way to brighter skies.  Time to stash away those heavy winter coats and dreary colours and let your sense of style shine through!  You may remember Lilah's spring fashion tips from 2010?  Well, she's been at it again!  I recently sat down with the style icon herself, and picked her brain on the hottest upcoming trends. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Lilah's top ten fashion tips for spring 2011!

1. Thanks to Katy Perry's latest single, "E.T." and the hit show "V," the space look is all the rage for spring!

Take me to your leader!

2. Bubble skirts. A spring fashion staple.



This look accentuates the curve of her considerable belly,
increasing the cute factor by about 1000%.

3. With the right attitude, you can make even a hospital gown look sassy and stylish.  Here, Lilah wears hers off the shoulder for an asymmetrical peekaboo effect:

Gown on loan from BC Children's Hospital.

 4. Having a bad hair day?  Try a beanie.

Some online shopping (with Daddy's credit card, of course!) and a sippy
full of your favourite watered-down beverage will also help chase away the bad hair blues.

5.  Treat the world around you as your own personal catwalk.  Sidewalks, pathways, even coffee tables, can all be used to showcase your fabulous inner fashionista.

6. Not sure what to wear?  Try your birthday suit.  The weather is starting to get warmer, making this look perfect for spring.  People will be blown away by your confidence!

The perfect look for lounging around the house on a lazy Sunday morning.

7. Have "people" - every fashionable diva needs an entourage.  You just never know when you are going to be called upon to look stylish.

Lilah's stylist puts the finishing touches on her outfit.

8.  From our beauty department: blueberry is being heralded as the it colour of the season - for eyes, for nails, and, if you're really cutting edge like Lilah, you might even want to attempt a blueberry 'stache. 

Note: this is a very youthful look, best left to the toddler/preschool set.
If you were born before 2005, you may not be able to pull this look off.

 9.  Wondering what to do with that tired old onesie that's getting too small?  Try shaking things up by wearing it unbuttoned and untucked for a totally badass look.

I'm far too cool to tuck this shirt in.

10.  Do whatever you can to avoid having the paparazzi snap photos of you in unflattering situations.

Don't.  Just don't.

Spring Fashion Tips straight from the Lilahbility

1. Don't be afraid to mix bright colours and bold prints - spring is all about getting noticed!

2. Do remember that patriotism never goes out of style.

3. Do mix basics with more couture pieces, like a jaunty stainless steel chapeau.

4. Don't forget to accessorize.
5. Do build an outfit around your fave pair of shoes.
6. Don't be afraid to go gansta once in a while.

7. Do get bonus points for originality - a custom-made t-shirt fits the bill.8. Don't miss out on this season's must-have trend - the romper!

9. Do rock an edgy hairstyle.

10. No matter what you're wearing, do wear it with confidence!