Size, Expression and Fashion: Musings from Columbus

 Returning to Columbus, OH last week for a visit was a great chance to rediscover the colorful, eccentric vibe of one of the Midwest's most fashionable cities. It also reminded me of a few important aspects of the connection between fashion and life:

*It's okay to dress for personal expression
In Columbus, the artsy people of all ages display their style as an exclamation mark of their own expression, rather than a means of fitting into a narrow idea of flattering, professional, or average. Of course, there are plenty of people wearing subtle outfits and uniforms, but you see more than a small amount of people who wear bright colors, crazy patterns, huge accessories, neon hair, baggy vintage dresses, oversized hats, and shoes meant to garner attention.

There's a freedom that comes in dressing how you want, regardless of whether it's considered flattering to your body type, or appropriate for your age. It's scary at first, of course, but if wearing a color you love, or oversized plastic accessories, or 80s jean jackets, or clashing patterns, or a design worthy of a couch from the '70s is something that makes you feel like your best self, it might be time to go for it.

Conventional wisdom tells you to dress in colors and shapes that are flattering for your body. This is an important talent to learn if you're wanting to achieve a slimmer (or bigger!) silhouette. There's no harm in trying on all different types of clothes until you can achieve that desired look! But it's not your only option. If you truly want to wear clothes that you've been told you shouldn't because of your coloring, age, or size, there is great freedom in doing it anyway... and, like the people of Columbus, doing so with confidence. That confidence becomes infectious over time, and allows you to experiment more, carve your OWN image out for yourself, and even inspire others.

So why not give it a try?

*It's okay to love fashion at any size
One thing that really struck me during this visit to Columbus was that women of all sizes walked through the artsy Short North area in their favorite dresses, heels, boots, jeans, accessories, or shorts with an equal sense of confidence and vigor for life. It's different than in some cities, where plus size or even average sized women feel uncomfortable walking among the glitzy, well dressed Friday night crowd. In Columbus, you see people of all shapes and sizes laughing, enjoying their lives, and partying together. I've seen people in other cities that seemed to send out an apologetic message above their heads, something along the lines of, "I'm sorry I'm fat! I'm on my way to the gym, though, I promise!", even as they dash about or hide in crowds. I've been that girl, myself.

During my time in Columbus, I remembered that it's okay to be a size 14 and still enjoy life, unapologetic. It's okay to be a size 14 and have a drink with girlfriends, wear a short dress, and eat a delicious meal in front of people.

*Dry shampoo and a topknot can be your best friend
When it's hot as balls out, it's totally okay to spray half a can of dry shampoo on your hair, and pull everything into a topknot. No one will judge you, and you'll feel a lot more comfortable in the sun. This dry shampoo by amika is especially amazing, as is this volumizing powder by Got2B. Enjoy!

(With my best friend Dusty, for her birthday! <3 )

Accessory Artist Spotlight: Shea Kreations

I first came across Shea Kreations at the suggestion of a dear friend, and was immediately impressed and excited by all of the unique designs and materials Shea Kreations features. The wonderful woman behind the art is Kat, and I recently had the honor of chatting with her about her art, her advice for women artists, and her suggestions for ladies who want to embrace their natural hair texture...

 

 

I'm so honored to have you as a guest! You have to tell us how you got the idea for the incredible, unique and gorgeous earrings you make!

-First, my name is Kat and I'm the artist behind the scenes of Shea Kreations. We are a family owned business for approximately three years. The idea to make custom handpainted earrings was just a thought. I was thinking of a way to bring out a person's personality without words, and also a way to boost one's esteem. After showing several friends they thought it was a good idea.

You love to wear your own earrings (understandably). Have you ever made earrings to sell and then just had to keep them?

-Yes! Lol! I have several that are in my personal collection. To be honest, if it's a one of a kind pair, the need to let someone else love it reigns. This is truly art to me and I feel that it should be shared with the world.

What is your advice for women who are thinking of going into business for themselves selling art?

- 1) Believe in what you create and others will believe in you. 2) Know your worth. 3) Each obstacle will only make you stronger and wiser. You will thank them later. 4)You have to help someone else if you expect to be successful.

Helping others really is such a key. Especially as women, we have to stick together and do what we can for each other. Where can we buy your earrings, and do you take custom orders?

-Yes, we do take custom orders. You can find our complete inventory at www.etsy.com/shop/SheaKreations or our website www.sheakreations.com. We have an ongoing coupon code to save you 10% off. The code is THANKS

You are a champion for natural hair. More and more wonderful ladies (and men!) are starting to embrace their natural texture. What is your advice for ladies who are considering letting their natural hair out in the world for maybe the first time?

-My favorite question. We as natural women in a world that doesn't accept it "wasn't" easy. First, you have to stand up even when you may want to cry. If you start believing you are naturally beautiful, you will see it. Then others will see it. Stand up! Let them know that you have made the right decision and comfortable with YOUR hair texture. Being natural changes many other things about you and I embrace it. The best decision ever.

I absolutely love that. What are some of your favorite products for natural hair?

-My favorite natural hair products are created by me and I have used them for over 3 years: Whipped Shea Butter Cream, Priscilla's Hair Mist (which is boiled herbs and oils in a water base), Almond Leave-in Conditioner (which is an oil based product) that is my hair serum. They can all be found on our Etsy shop.

Who do you think is really killing it hair-wise right now?

-Solange Knowles is killing it to the fifth power. Can't you just feel the power within her knowing she is rocking her fro? She is beautiful.

And finally, what is your current favorite:

Lipstick: Free Spirit Purple Haze Lip stain

Song: Bag Lady by Erykah Badu

Summertime drink: Lemonade with fresh spearmint

Favorite online store: www.zencustomjewelry.com

Half Lucid Is On Sale!

As winter drags on, I'm already thinking of spring and color and warmth. I'm putting together the beginnings of a new collection (inspired by street art), but until that's ready, I'm running a special sale on all of my back stock.

Make sure to grab these before they go- once they're gone, you won't have another chance!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/HalfLucidJewelry

Read about the collection here: http://fashionnexus.net/london-calling-for-this-fashion-mogul-3/

LONDON Collection Launches!

The LONDON Collection is a very personal project for me, as it was inspired by a city that I have wanted to visit for most of my life, and it was made from pieces of the city that I brought home with me.

The collection is up for sale on etsy, but below I will feature a few of my favorite pieces and the stories behind them. I hope you enjoy the LONDON Collection, and that it brings you as much luck and inspiration as London brought me!


CAMDEN MARKET BABECATCHERS :

These beautiful earrings are inspired by the colors and global beauty of Camden Market and will add some spice to any outfit.


BRICK LANE BOHO SWINGERS:

 Inspired by the colors and hip culture of Brick Lane, these Boho Swingers will bring sunshine and global intrigue to every outfit you wear.


THE SHARD BOHO SWINGERS :

Inspired by the modern and somewhat disconcerting architecture of London's Shard skyscraper against a backdrop of historic buildings, these earrings feature a little new and a little old- repurposed pieces, and new beads from London. They make a sharp statement for the modern fashionista.


ISLINGTON'S WINGS BABECATCHERS  :

Inspired by the beautiful angel wings sculpture in Islington, one of my favorite parts of London, these earrings are smoky, sexy and mysterious. A must for the fabulous fashionista with her eye to the skies.


APPLE MARKET BABECATCHERS :

Inspired by my favorite night in London, these gorgeous Babecatchers reflect the colors of Apple Market and the love between longtime friends who finally get to sit down together over drinks and talk about life, the universe and everything. Sure to bring compliments and stares your way, so wear with caution! :)

Find the whole collection here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HalfLucidJewelry

Half Lucid LONDON Capsule Collection

So excited to announce that I am now at work on a VERY special capsule collection of Half Lucid Jewelry, inspired by my recent trip to London. England had a charismatic effect on my creativity, inspiring me to write and look at the world in a new way. While there, I gathered materials for the upcoming LONDON collection and am now working on it. The pieces will be one of a kind, so that means that once they're sold, they will be unavailable.

If you are a fashion blogger and are interested in featuring the collection on your blog, please contact me. I will be giving away ONE piece from the collection to a fashion blogger (chosen at random) so this is a good chance for you to win a special piece of Half Lucid Jewelry. If you know fashion bloggers who might be interested, please let them know they can tweet me ( @kendrybird ) or email me (kendralsaunders@yahoo.com). All fashion bloggers interested in featuring the LONDON collection need to contact me by 12/12 for more information.

Look forward to sharing it with you all!

Half Lucid Jewelry is on Facebook!

Finally, Half Lucid Jewelry has made a home on Facebook. You can visit and like the page here: https://www.facebook.com/halflucidjewelry

And I've recently marked down several items in the etsy store, so make sure to check that out: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HalfLucidJewelry

Half-Lucid Jewelry's Babecatchers Featured in a Magazine

A pair of my Babecatcher earrings was featured in this gorgeous shoot for NFocus Louisville, chosen by Project Runway's Gunnar Deatherage. Love it!

Grab your own pair of custom (or already made) Babecatchers: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HalfLucidJewelry
Photo source: http://nfocuslouisville.com/fashion-destinations/

"Mind the Gap" Boho Swingers added to the Half-Lucid etsy store!

Grab your own pair of these fabulous British-loving earrings:

These gorgeous handcrafted earrings are flirty, fun and a one-of-a-kind. Created by Half-Lucid Jewelry (Kendra L. Saunders' brand), they are part of the Boho Swinger line. They feature the symbol for the London Underground and are perfect for an England-loving fashionista!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/195241891/mind-the-gap-boho-swinger-earrings?ref=listing-1

Send Kendry Bird to England!

The Kendry Bird blog and its stylish owner would very much like to visit England this year for a research trip (for novels), to visit friends and to get some insider looks at English style.

You can help me get there by picking up a piece or two of Half-Lucid jewelry here or making a donation through Paypal to kendralsaunders@yahoo.com (any donation over $15 will get a postcard from England once I return to the US. US addresses only though, please!)

 See more here! http://kendralsaunders.com/sendkendratoengland.html

Once over there, you could expect photos of street style, a full write-up and maybe even some interviews with some stylish English ladies (and gents!) Ultimately I'd love the trip to take place in late September over to early October, so please share this link to your friends who love great jewelry and order some Half-Lucid! :)

Kendry Bird's Top 10 Style Rules

1. You don't have to put on your pants.

Really! I mean, you should probably wear something on your lower half, but it doesn't have to be jeans. Ever since I can remember, I've preferred skirts and dresses to pants. While everyone else talked about how comfortable their jeans were or how much they loved shorts, I waited and waited for the day that I, too, would magically fall in love with jeans and turn into a 1980s supermodel in denim.

At some point I realized I just don't like pants, and that's okay. They rarely fit my body type (curvy, small waist, short legs) and always feel too tight in the tummy area. So I gave up on the pants thing and shopped for skirts and dresses that I love, and never looked back. Frankly, I still don't understand the gals who pour themselves into restricting pants all day... especially with belts. *shudder*

2. Two statement pieces are better than one.

You know how Coco Chanel famously said that you should take off one accessory before walking out the door? I've always thought that's cool for those minimalist people who can weirdly pull off an itty-bitty gold chain necklace, plain white t-shirt and jeans, but reaaaaallllly. The rest of us just don't need to live with those kinds of limits. If you've got a killer bib necklace and some sparkly bangles and red lipstick and you're trying to decide if you should wear the pink heels or the black ones... don't be afraid to go full on awesome. More is always more for me.

3. If you can't afford to buy it, make it.

I'd love to own some Dolce & Gabbana but it's not in my budget just yet.. Many times, though, I can take inspiration from something on the runway and recreate it at home. Whether it's an outrageous pair of earrings or a dress with foxes on it, I've made DIY versions of favorite luxe looks... for much, much less. If you like a certain look, google DIY videos for it and then enlist the help of your creative friends for any part of it that you can't do (sewing, pattern making, etc)

4. Inspiration can come from boys, too.

Even though I'm usually a traditionally feminine dresser, I love snagging style ideas from my favorite male rock stars (Matt Bellamy, David Bowie, etc). Whether it's adding a pair of suspenders to an outfit or seeking out a t-shirt I spotted on a fashionable guy, it's fun to add a bit of boy-spo!

5. Wanna try that new hair color? Try it.

It's your hair. It's your life! If you wanna try pink hair or blonde hair, do it. DO IT. I've tried red hair, black hair, brown hair, dark blonde hair, platinum blonde hair and have had blue and pink streaks. In the end, I've always gone back to blonde, but do I regret my forays into other colors? Not a bit! Don't let anyone stop you from trying something new. Same goes for haircuts. If you really want to try it, just try it.

6. Not everyone looks good in a cat eye.

I've tried! I've tried so many times to draw on a cat eye; I've tried liquid eyeliner, pencil eyeliner, and magical alien marker pen (okay not really but might as well have). No matter what style or color of cat eye that I've experimented with, though, it never looks right on my naturally-squinty eyes. Instead, I've discovered after many years of trial and error that my eyes look best ringed lightly all around, tight on the waterline, with no extensions on the side. Keep experimenting with eyeliner, if you haven't figured out your best look, and take note of famous gals you respect with a similar eye shape to yours. They probably have a fancy makeup artist to give them their most flattering look, so it'll almost be like getting help from a professional.

7. Find good shoes. WEAR THEM. Always.

If you wear uncomfortable shoes, you're going to unexpectedly have to walk for 6 miles uphill or something. Seriously. Or, like me, you'll have spent the day at NYFW and be at a party with fashion designers and realize your feet are so swollen that they're about to burst out of your shoes, at which time you're going to limp very, very, very slowly to Old Navy at 10:30pm and buy a pair of fluorescent orange clearance-priced flip flops.

Conversely, if you wear ugly comfortable shoes, you're going to run into someone important. Or, like me, you'll end up being asked to take part in an impromptu photoshoot, photographed for a magazine and tagged in about 199 pictures, all while wearing the ugliest flip flops that exist on the planet.

Spend however long it takes you to find a pair of comfortable and cute flats. Spend however long it takes you to find a pair of comfortable heels (you never know when you'll need them). And really, for the love of God, find a pair of great ankle boots that look good and feel good. You'll live in those, trust me.
 

8. Short skirts are great.

As I've chronicled on this blog previously, I've struggled with self image/body issues for most of my life, but something particularly freeing took place when I discovered how great my legs look in short skirts. I've tested the limits of job dress codes and personal comfort zones ever since.

9. Find your style muse and borrow without shame.

My go-to style muse is Kate Hudson. She's a gorgeous blonde who can pull off the breezy boho looks just as easily as the glam ones. I love her inner and outer glow, easy laugh and don't-care-what-others-think attitude. I love to keep an eye out for what she's been rocking lately, because we share a similar fashion sensibility and facial features. One of my recent style mantras is "Be the fabulous Kate Hudson-esque boho babe you were meant to be." Find your muse and your mantra and keep it in mind when you're in a fashion rut.

10. If you're having a bad day, rock some lipgloss.

You can ask my Mom... this is my greatest advice to all gals. If you're having a bad day, you need some sparkly lipgloss. It just makes everything better.

Happy dressing and shopping, fashionistas! <3

***Note: I'm currently raising money for a research trip to England. You can help me get there by buying some beautiful Half-Lucid Jewelry or adding a couple dollars to my donation button. Check out all the info about the trip here: http://kendralsaunders.com/sendkendratoengland.html and look at my Half-Lucid inventory here: http://kendralsaunders.com/halflucidjewelry  :)

New!! "Boho Swingers" from Half-Lucid

Soooo I got creative the other day and made a new style of earrings called Boho Swingers. The prototype was made specially for me, but I'm thinking of adding them to Half-Lucid's inventory. (And speaking of Half-Lucid, two pairs of Half-Lucid's Babecatchers will be featured in a fashion shoot for an upcoming issue of a magazine. More details on that soon!)

What do you think of the Boho Swingers? Leave a comment or tweet me @kendrybird !

Daffodils, Spring and New Earrings!

Despite waking up almost every morning to snowflakes, I keep saying "Spring is coming, Spring is coming!" Maybe if we say it enough, it'll happen. In the meantime, though, I'm working on a new pair of Babecatcher Earrings. These ones are inspired by my favorite flowers, daffodils. They're almost done, and here they are making their first appearance in the world!

**You can get your own pair of Babecatcher Earrings from Half-Lucid Jewelry for $27.99. Just shoot me a tweet (@kendrybird) or comment here for more information!

Half Lucid Jewelry

So... I did it. I did the thing. I finally, after loads of requests, opened an etsy account. http://www.etsy.com/shop/HalfLucidJewelry?ref=l2-shopheader-name Half Lucid is so named because the lovely Fabio Costa made a comment to me about some earrings I made while recovering from sinus surgery, and the name stuck. The jewelry has magical, colorful and somewhat melancholy themes. The main attraction, though, now and probably forevermore, are the "Babecatcher" earrings. They can be made in a variety of colors, and all of the details are on the etsy page. Enjoy! :)