Rosemary Style

I love Rosemary Clooney because she is real. Not just another Hollywood glamour girl, she had an normal face, a realistic figure and one very special talent. She had a voice.

Not just any voice, mind you. Something truly special - warm, powerful and absolutely effortless. There were few other singers in the 1950s who could match her voice for pure, rich beauty. And she backed it up with her squinty, sparkling eyes and wide smile. Yes, Rosemary was a real woman, and one you can love, admire and relate to even today. When she starts to sing... the world stops turning for a moment and listens.

On the fashion side of things, Rosemary definitely wore her share of ridiculous, over-the-top 50s gowns. But there were plenty of classy pieces as well. Ever since I was a little girl, I have annually drooled over the beautiful dresses that she and Vera Ellen sported in the holiday classic White Christmas.  Seeing some more of her few films and enjoying the 50s fashion is definitely on my "to do" list. For now, check out the lovely creation she's wearing in the above photo - full skirt, sheer polka-dot fabric, a string of pearls and gorgeous strappy sandals. Iconic 1950s loveliness.

I hope you enjoy this short clip of Rosemary singing "Come Rain Or Come Shine." I was pleased to find some real gems from her television appearances while digging through YouTube, and picked out one that I thought was very special.

I think she's pretty much amazing. Do you agree? :)


Images: Phsychomodo on Flickr.com / SimplyClassics.net

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Cold Weather Accessories: Part 3 - A Hat on Every Head

{By Amy Elizabeth}

I have loved hats for a very long time, especially vintage hats. To me, it’s very interesting that it was only in the recent past that we did away with hats for the most part. It used to be a woman would never dream of leaving her house without a hat or bonnet on her head. I’m very glad that they are making a comeback!

Fedoras have been popular for a few years, but the trend is definitely still a strong one. For more interest, choose one with an unique texture or print.

This gray sweater knit fedora is a fun option. Try wearing it with a very modern, casual outfit, like a cobalt blue tunic with leggings and riding boots. Or if you prefer to be a little more subtle, go with more neutral colors and a lot of texture. Jeans and a long, chunky-knit sweater would be fun.

I absolutely love this hat! The saucy tilted brim is so fun, and the color contrast and texture are great. It’s a fun and fresh take on the fedora. For this style, you could definitely go more formal. I love the vintagey blouse the model is wearing – almost straight out of the 1940s. Just add a slim, knee length skirt, your favorite heels and you’re good to go!

Vanessa Hudgens picked a light colored fedora for warmer weather, and Victoria Justice is wearing one in plaid. Both are creative approaches to a classic style.

Cloche Hats are so very vintage! And do you know, I’ve actually seen them at stores like Target and Kohls!

This is a wonderful modern, designer soft fabric cloche. The little bit of hound’s-tooth fabric peeking out from the brown is fun and eye catching. This is the type of hat that could go almost anywhere! Wear it with a simple black dress and a thin belt for dressy occasions. For a low-key outfit, pair with a t-shirt, jeans, and a long scarf.

This purple felt cloche is so delicious. The pert flower on the side has so much character! Personally, I’m not sure if I could pull this one off, but I’m sure some of our readers could do it justice! I would pair this one with charcoals, grays, and black, perhaps adding a small square scarf with a pop of complementary colors.

Here are some more examples – Sarah Jessica Parker wearing a basic black cloche with a boucle skirt suit, and Angelina Jolie wearing a beautiful tan cloche for a film set in the 1920s. Look around and see if you can score any fun cloches at your local stores!

Last but not least, the Beret is really big for this Spring season. And there are so many ways to wear them! I’ve only recently been converted into a beret fan, and I wanted to save the best for last!

This is so, so cute! It has to be one of my favorites! The creamy, open knit hat would go with almost anything. If your style is vintage romantic, this hat was made for you. For casual, this would be very cute with a sweater dress over jeans. Slip on ballet flats and a soft paisley scarf to finish the look. Or wear it with a full, knee length skirt, a belted sweater, and high-heeled pumps.

Sequins are also big. The fun thing about this hat is that you can also dress it up or down. A knee-length denim skirt with leggings and boots for a fun outing with friends, or a classic black dress for a dressing up. Just because it’s sparkly doesn’t mean it can’t be casual!

Selena Gomez is wearing a classic cream felt beret. I love how she paired it with wide pants and a ruffly blouse. And Rachel Bilson dressed her cream knit beret up for an event with a brocade dress and a fun jacket.

Just because I love berets so much, I’m going to show you extra ways to wear them!

You can tuck your hair into a chunky knit beret and pop on some sunglasses. Voila!

And here’s another example of a more formal outfit. The pink felt beret really pops.

Lastly, a fun striped knit beret. Comfortable and cute at the same time!

Note: I would recommend checking out the clearance section in the accessory departments. Right now a lot of stores are getting rid of berets, cloches, and fedoras! Nothing is as thrilling as getting a good deal...

Coming Soon...

Cold Weather Accessories: Part 4 - Legwear

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Amy Elizabeth is currently studying fashion design in Illinois, with a special interest in Bridal and historical costuming.  Her style changes depending on her mood, but vintage-bohemian-romance kind of gives you an idea of her favourite look!  Accessories are her specialty!

Images: dailymail.co.uk / cn1.kaboodle.com / i.ivillage.com / celebrity-gossip.net / kewlmag.com / fashionindie.com / v-style.typepad.com / ilovelowie.com / elanimagemanagement.com / cdn.buzznet.com / midorilei.com / colorful-stitches.com

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Bold and Beautiful Colors For 2010

It's true that nothing is new under the sun. Each and every year we have a million "new" trends thrown at us; trends that we are told we must embrace if we don't want to be out of style and "old-fashioned." But what all those people who run the fashion industry know in the back of their minds is this:

Nothing is new. The key is to present it in a fresh and exciting way. And the world will want it.

That said, the big "new" colors I will be showcasing in this post, really aren't so very new. They just happen to be some fresh bursts of color that I believe will hold up well throughout this whole year. You can wear these for all four seasons, girls.

ROYAL PURPLE

Purple, while always being an option in the color world, really came out in full force last autumn. Instead of it being something you could wear, it suddenly transformed into the color that everyone was talking about - that everyone wanted. For sure, it was the first time in probably five years that I had even considered wearing the color. Purple always struck me as something that little girls would wear. Too cutesy. Never did I seriously consider it as a strong, dramatic color for women. Once I finally did, I wanted it. :)

The only problem with purple (for myself, anyway) is that it is best suited to a cool skin tone rather than a warm one (to do a quick test  to determine what you are, see what makes your skin, hair and eyes "glow" the brightest - Silver or gold? Black or brown? Ice white or cream/ivory? The latter colors are "warm.")

If you have a cool skin tone, you are all set! Purple should look great on you! If, like me, you are warm, you may want to work the color into your wardrobe in smaller pieces that are away from your face. Put the best color on top and save purple for tights, handbags or shoes.

DEEP TEAL

This is another color that I pretty much lived in ignorance of until a few years back. For some reason, teal sounded like another juvenile color to me and I think that all through my childhood I confused it with turquoise, which is not my fave. Although that could change, seeing how my aversion to purple did. (BTW, turquoise has been named the color of 2010. Look out - it will soon be coming to a store near you! ;)

When I finally started to realize that a certain deep teal shirt I had was getting me some nice compliments, I re-analyzed it and came to the conclusion that it really did suit me well, even though the shade is rather cool. I have read that some of your best colors will be very close to the shade of your eyes and this one proved it for me.

Another color analysis tip that I have learned over the years: a good color should do something to your face. Depending on if it's a blue, green or brown, you eyes will appear to be the same color as the shirt - and if it's the right shade of red for you, your lips will do the same and your cheeks appear pinker. This might sound weird, but I've seen it happen dozens of times. A really good color is reflected onto your face (and I don't mean a shirt that makes you look positively green ;).

CLOVER GREEN

Speaking of green, here's another color that lots of women are hesitant to wear. I think for years it has been neglected (along with yellow), while we've been grabbing at things in blue, black and red. We just don't know what's the right shade to choose and we end up looking green.

Once again, skintone plays into a lot of this. If you are warm you will want to choose earthy autumn shades that have a red or brown "warmth" beneath them. If you are cool, you should select a piece with blue undertones, either a very light icy green or a deep jewel tone (depending on if you are dark or fair).

Fortunately, this shade of green - here called "clover" - looks like it could be flattering on many different skin types - see how a blonde, a redhead, and a brunette all look fabulous in it? I do think this shade is on the warm side of things, but be sure to give it a try before you write it off - once you have discovered the perfect green, you will be totally thrilled. It's a fabulous, completely underestimated color.

I'll finish up with two colors in the "red" family - ROSE/CORAL and FUSHIA. The former is one of my favorites - doesn't that model look gorgeous in it? - and will do wonders for your skin if you select the proper shade. For a cool, keep is soft and dusty - for a warm, bring out the peachy or coral undertones.

Fuschia, unfortunately, is really too strong a color for me... but it looks totally fab on women with a winter skintone (cool with strong, dramatic coloring - usually brunettes), as shown here. Being the sister of purple, the two work wonderfully together. Do they work on you?

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Which of the colors shown here do you like best? And what's your all-time favorite shade to wear?

Be sure to keep scrolling down for another awesome giveaway from UPrinting.com! Have a lovely weekend! :)

Images: The Styles We Desire Now at Newport-News.com

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Custom Business Card Giveaway from UPrinting.com!

Ok... so here's some more fun for all of you and another chance to win some free products from UPrinting.com! I absolutely love being part of their blog sponsorship program and so I decided to host a Custom Business Card giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive 250 free cards  - and I also get some for hosting! :) I don't know about you, but I could use them! There's tons of fabulous purposes for them, whether business or personal. And UPrinting has got some great templates to choose from - as well as the ability to make your own custom design!

Here's the details!

Giveaway Prize: 250 Business Cards for one (1) lucky winner
Size: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)
Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock
Winner has to pay for shipping. Limited to US Residents.

To enter, just leave a comment on this post with your name and a way to contact you (preferably email). Feel free to share how you would use the business cards if you win.

The giveaway will be open through Sunday the 17th and a random winner will be drawn and announced the following day. I will need to be in contact with the winner within 24 hrs of the end of the giveaway, so be sure to check your email! The prize will be awarded by UPrinting.com on January 23rd.

Here's hoping you win these fabulous cards... ;)

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What to expect as AmandaBeth Online enters 2010

Last year was one of tremendous growth for me, and the blog has been a big part of that. I can never really let all of you know how much I appreciate everyone who reads the blog, leaves a comment and participates in the events. It really is a case of "I wouldn't be here without you" and I want you to know that I don't take any of it for granted. God has blessed me with some awesome readers! :)

So, now that we're entering 2010, I want to take a few moments to share with you a few plans and ideas I have coming and ask all of you for opinions. What you think has great weight in my decisions - and if you leave your thoughts in the comments on this post it would be hugely appreciated. :)

• Last year we had some fabulous guest writers on the blog and this year I would like to have even more. Did you enjoy the guest posts and different perspectives? Is anyone interested in becoming a guest writer? If you are, feel free to email me at amandabethboutique{at}gmail.com and we can talk. I am pretty particular about what goes content up on the blog, so there's no guarantee of acceptance, but if you are familiar with the content of AmandaBeth Online and think you have what it takes - drop me a line! :)

• AmandaBeth hosted two online events in 2009 and this year I am planning to do more. Did you enjoy the events? How do you think they could be improved? Did you prefer the contemporary event - Summer Fashion Week - or the "themed" one - Maid Marian's Wardrobe? (P.S. There will be a new event soon, hopefully coming in March - stay tuned for more info! :)

• More coverage of relevant fashion events - including the "Red Carpet Awards" season (which I don't watch or endorse - for the record - I just like critiquing the gowns :) and the upcoming Figure Skating Championships and 2010 Olympics (both which I do watch, and love the fashions of :). Did you enjoy reading about these events last year? What other events/happenings would you like to see covered?

• A valuable gathering of fashion resources. It has been my desire to fill the sidebars with interesting and informative links and items. If you want fun and sporadic updates throughout the week, visit me on Tumblr at Ooo... I Like It! (You can also subscribe or follow the blog using the links in right-hand sidebar - or join me on Twitter, Facebook or Polyvore.) Be sure to dig even deeper by visiting The Modest Fashion Bloggers Network.

I also ask that you check out my affiliates and the ads displayed in the sidebar through Project Wonderful. Unlike most advertising, each of these are individually approved by me and, IMHO, are pretty awesome. There's a whole wealth of great crafty shops and web sites to explore. These advertisers help to financially support the blog, and I'd be thrilled if you would show them some love. :)

In the same vein, you can now support AmandaBeth Online by shopping through my Amazon store. Already I have listed some of my favorite fashion reads, as well as dozens of other recommended items. It is my hope to eventually make this blog my full-time "job" and your contributions are very much appreciated. If you have been blessed by what you've read, you can also make a donation using the button in the top left corner. :)

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Last year, right about this time, I wrote up a post in which I listed 6 random resolutions for 2009. Looking back at them and seeing those that I've been able to carry out (and those that have *cough* failed) I thought it would be fun to do a recap. It's always good to look back at what has happened and see what we can learn from it...

#1 was To be more domestic this coming year and become involved in preparing meals.
I must admit this one a dismal failure. Although I started the year off pretty well, making meals ended up low on my priority list. Which also led to not eating as well as we could have. :P

#2 was Grow as a musician and entertainer.
It really is amazing how this one came about. A random guitar session totally revolutionized me musically and finally brought about the songwriting that I had been wanting to discover. I also got to play some nice gigs with my family and am becoming more comfortable with performing. My resolution for this year is pretty much the same, with the addition of more songwriting and recording an EP.

#3 was Be more diligent in my writing and try and get a children's book published .
Well, the writing has been going well and it is my goal to finish my latest novel by the end of the year so that I can begin work on a middle-grade fantasy series. The children's picture book is getting much closer. Publishing is definitely a resolution for this year (or dying in the attempt ;).

#4 was Work hard at whatever jobs I'm given and save for my London trip next fall!
Ironically, the job department was rather slow last year (after leaving Jo-Ann's) and I am still rather broke. But the London part was awesome and I did have enough money for the trip. I was so blessed to be able to travel a lot - airports are beginning to look rather friendly. :)

#5 was Laugh more, worry less and give stress a good kick out the window!
Not sure I did so well with this one. I need to make trusting God my priority. When I am worried and stressed, it's really showing that there's a trust issue. :P

#6 was To grow in the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, learn to show His Perfect Love, and discover as much of His Will for my life as He will let me in on!
Boy! Do I still need to grow in Grace and show Perfect Love! I know this will be on my list every year. I am also starting to learn to stop worrying about figuring out God's Will for my life. Of course, it would be so comfortable to know the future - but then what would I need to rely on Him for? I think He's keeping me uncomfortable so that He can increase my faith. :)

What are your resolutions for this new year? I want to hear them!

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Lastly - since I haven't done this in so long - I wanted to acknowledge the lovely awards that some of  you have given the blog. (And if I've missed your award, please let me know, so I can add you to this post. :) Thanks to Ashley & Gabrielle, LaSara, Mallory, Natasha, and Sarah!

  

 

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Well... that's all for now. Be sure to leave you thoughts and we'll be back on the usual fashion-y posting schedule on Friday. God bless! :)

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And the Custom Postcard Giveaway Winner is...

KAITLIN will be receiving 100 free custom postcards from UPrinting.com! In her comment on the giveaway post, she said...

"I would love to make photo cards with an engagement picture of my fiance & I! We are to be married in March and are trying to save as much money as possible. :)"

Congratulations Kaitlin (two times over)! What an excellent idea! :)

Because I was a bit pressed for time (Flynn family Christmas party today!), I used random.org to generate the winner's "lucky number" rather than the "old fashioned" (although none the less efficient) method of separate pieces of paper thrown into a hat (or bowl, or whatever else is handy).

Looks like #6 was the winner today! :)

Thanks to everyone who entered! Hopefully we'll have some more fun giveaways coming along over the next few months...

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Happy New Year!!!

Today, for the very first time, we step into 2010.

We had a great family time last night; watching the newest BBC Emma together (which is delightful and I highly recommend) and then toasting the New Year and singing "Auld Lang Syne" (oh! and running across the yard and back in bare feet - although I was lucky enough to be wearing shoes ;). Today, we'll be visiting with family and hopefully having a board-game marathon. What are your plans?

I wanted to get out a 2009 recap and resolutions for the new year post today, but it's going to have to wait for early next week week. I'll be seeing you then!

May God bless your new year. :)

Images: Rita Hayworth at SimplyClassics.net


P.S. The Custom Postcard Giveaway ends tomorrow and a winner will be drawn on Sunday - be sure to get your entry in! :)

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