Friday, July 1, 2011

Dress Your Best Week - Day 5: To lean on



Tee: J Crew
Skirt: Target
Belt: Target
Booties: Aldo
Bracelet: gift from A
Earrings: Turkey
Sunnies: Puerto Rico
Hair: courtesy of this tutorial (though I couldn't quite get the video to load, so I improvised.)

I will admit that I had a hard time deciding on the fifth feature to highlight this week. I was torn between my wide hips or my equally wide shoulders, and in the end I decided there's a lot of similarity between hips and thighs, so I decided to go with the shoulders.


I've often said that I have linebacker shoulders. I don't really know what a linebacker does because I prefer my football spelled fĂștbol, but I've heard they have broad shoulders. I do, too, especially for a woman of my stature. My mother is so tiny up top, with delicate little shoulders. My shoulders, however, come from my dad's side of the family. There is nothing delicate about my shoulders - they're wide and strong.


And while I've often been self-conscious about most of the other features I've talked about this week, I'm strangely proud of these shoulders. So I decided to play them up with a scoop neck top that's just a little ill-fighting in precisely that area - no scarf to draw the eye down, no necklace to serve the same purpose, just me and my shoulders in a simple tee.


Everyone says I look like my dad - la misma cara (the same face) - but I just don't see it. I do see him in these shoulders, my calves, and my bellybutton, though. (Yes, I know the last one is especially weird, but it's totally true.)


And I love that, because I love my daddy. I see him in my penchant for travel, in my work ethic, in my perfectionism (though I've got that coming from both parents), in my love of music, and my need to dream big. I feel like I talk a lot about what I've learned from my mom here on the blog, and she's really taught me a lot - a whole lot - but so has my dad.


My dad taught me to fight for things, that good things are worth making a sacrifice, that sometimes peer pressure works for the best, that I should demand the best treatment in every situation and relationship, and that I should let myself be led while dancing.


So thanks, Daddy, for all those lessons and for these shoulders. Oh, and I didn't drop anything, I just don't like looking at the camera. ;)

8 comments:

  1. You did a great job on your hair. It looks great. That skirt is beautiful. I love it.

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  2. Oh this has to be my favorite about because I love full skirts and your skirt is beautiful! I also love that you wore it with the booties, you must wear this skirt more often young lady! =)

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  3. Thanks! I was pretty proud of myself for pulling off an approximation of that style.

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  4. Jajaja! I went through a phase where I wore it ALL. THE. TIME. And then I forgot about it and now I'm rediscovering it. I'm hoping it'll get some more play in the next few weeks, especially because I love how it works with the booties.

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  5. I love this--I have wide shoulders myself (also from my dad). I had to smile at your line--that I should let myself be led while dancing.

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  6. Great pattern on the skirt! I love the way you paired it with the simple tee and belt. The skirt has an Anthro feel to it, what a great find.

    Complex Cardigans

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  7. So pretty. I love your hair-do. That skirt is pretty wonderful, I love those colours.
    -xo

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  8. Frances, let me begin by saying that your hair is gorgeous! I love that you featured your dad in this post. :) I am often told (and believe myself) that I look more like my dad than my mom. When I look in the mirror and see a reflection of his face looking back at me, it reminds me how grateful I am that he's *my* dad. :)

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