And the winners of the K & A Soap collections are...

Libbi and Grace! :)

Random.org picked numbers 29 and 57 as the special ones this evening. :) Libbi has won the 1st collection, which includes Honey L'Occitane, Apples and Cinnamon, and Fresh Cucumber. And Grace (click the name to see if it's you, because there were a couple of "Graces" entered :) will receive the 2nd set, which has Lavender, Orange Creamsicle, and Cookies 'N Cream.

Congratulations girls! :) I hope you enjoy your prizes! I'll be contacting you through your blog/email, so keep an eye open.

Thanks to everyone who entered. I hope you'll consider supporting K & A Soaps in the future. I love 'em dearly. ;)

God bless.

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Audrey Style

Audrey Hepburn is arguably one of the most famous and iconic women of the past century. She still gets listed in polls as one of the most beautiful women of all time, beating out famous contemporaries like Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe. Interestingly, she did not consider herself a beauty, disliking her crooked teeth, wide nostrils and large feet. Of course, we take a look at one of her photos and say, "Come on, you gorgeous Audrey, what were you complaining about?"

This presents something intriguing to consider. The way we perceive ourselves can often be so different from what others see. We examine every flaw and enlarge it in our minds, thinking that everyone else ponders it as much as we do ourselves. Not only is this completely untrue, but a very unhealthy mindset. And it will be something women struggle with until the end of time.

The only way to change this perception is to focus on the positive, speaking the truth and affirming the fact that each and every one of us is unique and beautiful, created by a loving God. And really, the outside is just the shell of the real you and me, and the most perfect physical beauty can not cover up an ugly heart. On the flip side, inner loveliness is unable to be contained and makes the person who possesses it more beautiful than any of the "perfect" celebrities and models that are attacking us from magazines and runways. Don't forget it.

Now to get back on topic (lol)... Audrey Hepburn seems to have been a woman who had that special inner beauty, also possessing  a deep well of compassion for others, the gift of making anyone at his ease, and the carriage and behavior of a finely bred lady. And, of course, she knew how to have fun. (Her informal, behind-the-scenes photos are some of the most amusing and endearing glimpses of her personality.)

Audrey Hepburn is also known for her attainability. While other 1950s glamour girls were parading around in evening gowns and jewels that would never fit in a normal women's budget, Audrey made big sunglasses, classic  pearls, and the astonishingly simple LBD (Little Black Dress), pieces that every woman could wear, look good in, and afford. (Although she also wore her own fair share of couture, establishing a lifelong frienship with Hubert de Givenchy, who dressed her for some of her most memorable films.) She never even had her ears pierced.

In my opinion, Audrey was never so lovely as in the film Sabrina. (Although her first Hollywood film, Roman Holiday, remains my favorite of her work.) The pixie hair cut suited her lovely angular face like no other, in my opinion, and I love her best when attired in the simple black top, cropped pants and ballet flats she wears late in the film (also the button-up top and shorts from the boating scene). That sort of casual glamour is the very best kind.

Of course, that amazing black and white Givency creation worn at David's party has become an icon itself. I have seen numerous recreations of the simple cocktail dress with elaborate overskirt and stunning embroidery, but it's pretty hard to live up to that original.

Now here's one of my favorite clips from the film, in which Audrey sings the popular French tune, La Vie En Rose. You pretty much can't beat her rendition. Oh yes, and Linus' brilliant advice regarding impulses. ;)

I've got a huge publicity still from Sabrina hanging in my sewing room (wearing the aforementioned black with flats ensemble) and seeing her there when I'm working always inspires me. How amazing it would be if I could be half the well-behaved lady with the heart of love and service that she was.

If you want to read more about Audrey and really get inside the heart of this beautiful woman, I highly recommend Audrey Style, by Pamela Clark Keogh. It paints a intimate, honest portrait of a very special person.

I hope you're having a lovely week! God bless you all. :)


Images: Doctor Macro

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Today was...

My twenty second birthday. :)

What a year this has been. 

So many adventures have flown by in an instant, and so many more lie ahead. I am forever thankful that God has them all planned out for me. He's an amazing author and I feel so priviledged to play a part in the story (well, it's a musical, really ;) that He has created. 

I know it's going to be super exciting! :)

I spent part of the day cooking - chicken with a curry sauce for the meal, and lemon tart for dessert - and also took some time to shoot photos of the "birthday dress" I made for myself over the past week. 

My sister, the B.I.L. (brother-in-law) and nephew joined us for supper, and I also got a surprise visit from Josh, my best friend who now lives in P.E.I. (Yep, all of you L.M. Montgomery fans, it's a legitimate place and just as lovely as she describes it. :) 

I finished off the day by dancing like a maniac with my sis Lydia (not so unusual) despite having eaten too much dessert, and then discussing writing and the frustrations of novels with Anna. Certainly had some nice moments. :)

This dress design has been in my head for a good couple of years now. I've had the fabric in my stash (I actually made a skirt out of some of it 3 or so years ago) and the bright splotches of blue were just calling my name. I wanted to create a 1950s inspired gown that would be super fun to dress up in and make me feel like royalty.

Oh yes, and I needed something to match the amazing 4" blue satin heels I got last year in London (laceys from BULLFROGS). I call them my "Buckingham Palace" shoes, and they needed the proper ensemble. :)

The dress was made using McCALL'S 5042, and the only major adjustment I made to it was to add the deep V in the back. I wanted something to counter the high-cut front of the neckline (which I actually ended up cutting down or else it would have been a turtle-neck! ;)

I wish I had tweaked the bodice and made it wee bit more fitted, and also lengthened it for my long waist, but over all I am happy with how it came out. The overskirt is 8 yards of tulle (I love how cheap it is! :) in two layers, split open down the front, and detachable (in case I'm not in a "poofy" mood). The belt is just blue ribbon and a fancy "diamond" button.

This ensemble was giving me a real Princess Diaries vibe, with a little bit of Alice in Wonderland thrown in (thus the playing cards and teacup). I really love it. :)

I hope you all have a lovely rest of the week! I am giving myself a vacation from "internet stress" (lol)  for the next week and a half, and will not be answering any but the most urgent emails. ;) I may pop in with a blog post I've already written up, but it will be nice to have an official break and to be "off duty" for a little while. So if you don't hear from me, don't panic! I'll be "back" before you know it. ;)

*Hugs* and God bless.

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A sweet smelling giveaway - K & A Soaps

I love pretty things. I love things that look pretty, feel pretty and smell pretty. Well, this scrumptious giveaway is a bit of all three!

Allow me to introduce K & A Soaps, recently launched by two sisters who are sweet friends of mine. Their handmade goat milk soaps are incredibly beautiful, created with mix of high-quality ingredients such as coconut and safflower oil, and the result is just dreamy. These soaps look and smell good enough to eat (I was sorely tempted ;).

I was thrilled when Karen and Abigail (who are the K & A ladies :) sent me some soaps to choose from. Goodness, was it difficult! My mom and I sniffed and admired the bars over and over (they all smell so yummy!) before we settled on Orange Creamsicle (such a light, orange-y scent), Fresh Cucumber (because it smells so fresh! :) and Apples and Cinnamon. (I've been washing my hands with the latter today in celebration of the beginning of fall. It's wonderfully soft on the skin... and leaves a light fragrance behind. If I need an apple pie fix, I know what to do. ;)

Anyway, lest you think I am gushing and exaggerating these beauty of these soaps, you've got a chance to win some for yourself here at AmandaBeth! Not only that, but Karen and Abigail have put together two soap collections that we can have two winners!

Collection #1 includes Honey L'Occitane, Apples and Cinnamon, and Fresh Cucumber bars.
Collection #2 has the Lavender, Orange Creamsicle, and Cookies 'N Cream soaps.

To Enter: Please visit K & A Soaps, browse their products and then leave a comment on this post sharing which scent is you like best.

For additional entries (after completing the above entry):

• Follow the blog, AmandaBFly on Twitter, Amanda Flynn on Tumblr, or become a fan of AmandaBeth on Facebook - 1 entry for each
• Post about the giveaway (on your blog, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, et cetera. You must include the link in your comment!) - 2 entries for each
• OR follow the K & A Soaps blog - 2 entries

Make sure you post a separate comment for each way you enter or additional entries will not be counted. The giveaway deadline is extended, and will close at midnight (EST) on October 9th, 2010.

I just love when pretty things are a part of the daily beauty regime. In the shower or the soap-dish, K & A soaps are just "delicious" for your skin! :)

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And the winner of the Flexi-8 giveaway is...

Elizabeth!!!

124 was the number that Random.org chose today. Congratulations Elizabeth! You didn't leave any contact info and don't appear to have a blog (although you've got a blogger profile), so you'll have to email me within 48 hours to claim your prize!
( amandabethboutique{at}gmail.com :)

Thanks to everyone who entered! Stay tuned for another giveaway coming up really soon. ;)

xoxo
Amanda

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1950s Sweaters for Fall

My apologies if I am being redundant in repeating my excitement and love of the trends and styles that are "in" this year... and obviously directly inspired by the 1950s. Lovely retro styles seem to come back with a vengeance every autumn. Two years ago it was all about 1930s fashions, which were greatly influenced by the economy. We returned to more conservative, classic styles due to the focus on frugality and the desire to make things last.

I'm not sure we're out of that period of economic recession yet, but apparently fashion is taking a step forward and drawing inspiration from one of the most prosperous and iconic American decades in the past century.

The 1950s were relatively peaceful after the sorrow and destruction that had been World War II. The troops were back, weddings and babies abounded and the "perfect American family" was living in harmony in the suburbs. The fashions of the day reflected this. Many women were able to leave the workplace at the end of the war and returned to more domesticated lifestyles. Thus, styles reflected a breezy, feminine look, and the stereotyped image of a "housewife" was born (come on, let's admit that those ruffle-y aprons are the first thing that come to mind at that word ;). The rest, as they say, is history.

One clothing item that become extremely popular in the 50s, especially among teenage girls and young women, were sweaters. They went with almost everything, from sunny playsuits to sweet sixteen prom gowns. Sweaters were a staple in a women's wardrobe, and remain so today.

I don't know about you, but I love sweaters, in all sorts of colors and styles. They are so versatile - and comfy. And I think that these photos from a recent VOGUE editorial are just lovely. Obviously, the setting is the 1950s, and the casual glamour of these vintage sweater designs (whether worn as the top itself or as an additional layer) is just breathtaking.

One note, though: sweaters are soft and drape-y and it's important to get the correct fit so that you look classy and not provocative. Think about what goes underneath, whether it's another blouse or just foundation garments, and make sure everything is smooth, and not too tight. For example, some of the looks in this photo spread were just a wee bit more, um, "shapely" than necessary (although it may be due in part to the way the model is styled). It's always important to remember to look like a lady. :)

Anyway, I hope that you'll have a nice sweater-y fall, and consider working the 1950s style into your look. (Be sure to be tasteful - don't overdo it!) And I promise that I'm done talking about the 50s (for now ;).

There's one more day to enter the Flexi-8 giveaway so be sure to do so! We've also got another (sweet smelling) giveaway coming up later this week! (I'm having so much fun with all of these giveaways - I hope you're enjoying them as much as I am! :)

God bless you all. Thanks for reading!


Images: Lara Stone photographed by Mert and Marcus for VOGUE - via My Modern Met

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Louis Vuitton ready-to-wear Fall 2010

One of the things that is both fascinates and annoys me about fashion is how designers' latest collections are unveiled at fashion week... a whole six months or more before the season in which they are to be worn comes along. For example, I've been seeing a bunch of gorgeous Spring 2011 designs lately... but have hesitated to post them just yet. I feel that for my blog readers it is better to be "in the moment" when choosing material for my posts, and showing examples of what can be worn here and now, instead of predicting trends for next year. (Although I will admit I do that in my head. ;) What is your opinion on this? What do you like to see?

So, all that introduction to say that this Louis Vuitton line is not quite the newest thing out in the fashion blogosphere, but I've been hanging onto it for a while and just looking for the right moment (and time) to post it.

This collection truly blew me away. Not only is it clearly 1950s inspired (even more on this fab trend next week! :) but the items are paired and presented in a way that is quirky and unique. I feel like there's a lot of looks in this collection that could easily be assembled from pieces that may be floating around in your closet, or pieced together with some thrift store searches.

  

Beautiful, flowing, end-of-summer dresses or separates can be easily taken into the fall season by pairing them with bolder or warmer accessories, and covering up with a jacket or sweater if needed.

This first dress is in a style I love, with the yoke of the gown cut in a contrasting color. It's almost like wearing a strapless dress, without having to bare all that skin.

The contrast of grey and yellow on the second dress is just brilliant and I like the pairing of a fitted bodice (although it would be nice if the neckline was a little higher) and the super-full skirt. Also, check out those skinny belts! They add such a ladylike finish to the waistline.

The last outfit features two different patterned fabrics, and works extremely well because of the contrast in texture and the harmony in color between the prints. The silky-sheer top is the perfect balance for the bold, plaid skirt.

  

How about this first one for another pairing of sweetness and strength (a beautiful combo on any woman :)? The shimmery and sheer blouse, finished off with a large bow, is matched with a heavily pleated skirt that almost looks like it's made out of vinyl. (Is it?) 

The pale coral dress shows that a simple design and monochromatic look can be truly just as stunning as a bold one, when the color and fit suits the wearer perfectly.

You might not think of accenting a bright floral print with black, but here it works to great effect (bringing the whole "sweet and strong" thing back to mind). The skinny belt and simple, unassuming accesories finish off the look.

  

I think these short-sleeved sweater tops are so cute! They make me think of the teenagers of the retro era, from the 30s all the way through the 60s (although definitely most closely associated with the bobby soxers of the 50s). And they pair so nicely with a wide variety of skirts. 

Don't forget to finish off this looks with a pair of gloves (so chic)! Oh yes, and I love the glasses. I am almost tempted to go back to wearing them. ;)

  

A great coat is an important piece for the colder seasons, as it is what everyone is going to be seeing you in whenever you are outside (or coming in, or going out). Sometimes we need to cut corners and just "make do" with what we've got (believe me, I am not suggesting that you go get a new coat every year) but this is one piece than can be an important investment in your wardrobe. It's necessary to select a style that is classic and will look great on you for many years. If you want a trendier style or color, don't spend a lot of money. Chances are, you'll be tired of it next year.

Fortunately, jackets are much less expensive than coats and can be purchased and discarded after a few seasons with more ease of mind. A great way to freshen up your wardrobe is by finding that perfect trendy jacket.

  

This long "sweater dress" over-a-dress look is very interesting. It reminds me somehow of some sort of "house dress" that would be worn over a gown in the 1800s. I think I'd prefer it as a stand-alone piece... with a belt, maybe?

Strong shoulders were an important factor in lots of the fall designs (to see them all, click the link in the image credits), and further give a vintage feel to this collection. (The 1940s were all about the shoulders!) This is certainly not a favorite trend of mine (brings bad 80s and 90s styles to mind). Hopefully it won't hit the "normal" people too hard. ;)

Do you like these "ladylike" trends? Are you a fan of Louis Vuitton? Which ones are you faves?

Thanks for reading! I hope you all have a lovely weekend... :)

Images: Kim Weston Arnold for Style.com

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