The Magnificent 8 Are Distressed

I don’t know if you remember back in July when I introduced a new quarterly collaboration with 7 amazing blogger friends who each represents a different decade of life…The Magnificent 8 Showcase: Life’s a Beach. We range from teens to 80’s and are showing that style truly is ageless. Each quarter, we choose a theme and each create an outfit that suits our own personal tastes and fashion choices and we post them on the last Wednesday of every third month. So be sure to go check out everyone’s posts for lots of style inspiration at any age!

Courtney of Sugar Coated Bears is representing teenagers.
Michelle of Michelle’s Pa(i)ge is representing the 20-somethings.
Roxanne of Glass of Glam is representing the 30-somethings.
Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge is representing the 40-somethings.
Rena of Fine Whatever is representing the 50-somethings.
Cathe of Atypical 60 is representing the 60-somethings.
Nancy of Jodie’s Touch of Style is representing the 70-somethings.
And Charlotte of Jodie’s Touch of Style is representing the 80-somethings.

We are showing that you can’t put a number on style!

For this quarter, we have chosen a Distressed theme. And while this theme was picked months ago, it didn’t hit me until I sat to draft this post just how timely and ironic this theme would be. I am featuring yet another pair of distressed jeans (I wear ripped denim quite often). But it’s not just my denim that is distressed right now. Folks, I am distressed! Man, it has been a hell of a week. But these shoulders of mine are strong and they can carry a lot. A lot more than I ever thought they could. And I don’t mean to be cryptic here, but I want to draft a well-thought out post for you just to let you know why I am so distressed this week. So please stay tuned for that. It is a topic of great importance to me and one that needs sharing…again.  So distressed or not, I will continue doing the work that I am called to do.

In light of the crazy week from hell that I am only just half way through, I am tired, my friends. Ever so tired. But I am pushing through like a champion, like a survivor, like a magical unicorn with unstoppable powers. (Man, if I only had such powers.) So don’t let appearances deceive you. I just photographed this outfit yesterday, all smiles and giggles with a grieving husband on the other side of the camera. Because he is a freaking rock, a survivor, a champion, unaware of his own strength. You see, he and I, we dance this perfect dance, beautiful in its brokenness as we trip and fall over our own feet only to gracefully catch one another on the way down. I know, cryptic, again. But I will give you more in a few days when I have time to catch my breath and gather my thoughts.  We are all in tact, as we always are, but it’s not without determination, dedication, patience, commitment, and a whole lot of love. Selfless, giving, unwavering love in its truest, rawest, realest form.

So distressed I may be, just like my jeans and the wonderful stylings of my magnificent friends, but I am whole and healthy. So I do not want to cause any concern for me because none is warranted. In fact, I beg of you to not worry about a thing…I am better, stronger, braver, clearer than I have ever been. And on that note, let me briefly talk about my outfit…that is, after all, the entire point of this style collaboration.

I was totally unprepared for this theme and literally threw together this outfit yesterday morning for a photo shoot. I had no time for creativity or planning so I worked with what I had. I completely shopped my closet with only one recently purchased item topping it off…this adorable leopard beret from Charlotte Russe. It is only $7.99 (with my employee discount, I paid less than $5) and it is so soft and cozy. The moment I laid eyes upon it, I had to make it mine! And the rest of my outfit is mostly thrifted or gifted. The details are below…

Outfit Details
Trench Coat: Talbots (Thrifted from Salvation Army).
Velvet Blazer: Thrifted so many years ago that I cannot even remember where I got it.
Jeans: Vigoss from Maurice’s.
Crew Neck Sweater: c/o Chico’s.
Necklace: c/o Chico’s.
Earrings: c/o Happiness Boutique.
Gloves: Army Issued Fire-Retardant Trigger Gloves: Gifted (maybe stolen) from my husband.
Fishnet Tights: Target.
Leopard Belt: TJ Maxx.
Shoes: Target.
Hat: Charlotte Russe.
Leopard Clutch: Maurice’s (Purchased from Solitary Consignment).

Now be sure to go check out all of the other distressed outfits! And you even get an extra outfit from Jodie as she will be sharing her own distressed look along side of Nancy and Charlotte!

Enjoy all of the looks and do let me know if you love or hate the distressed trend! Also, we are open to suggestions for themes that you might like to see styled in January. Let us know in the comments!

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Ups.

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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Shelbee on the Edge