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The Fab 40’s Showcase the Color of Love

February 24, 2020 / 26 Comments
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velvet dress, pink tights, patent booties, beret, fashion over 40, The Fab 40’s, Shelbee on the Edge
velvet dress, pink tights, patent booties, beret, fashion over 40, The Fab 40’s, Shelbee on the Edge
velvet dress, pink tights, patent booties, beret, fashion over 40, The Fab 40’s, Shelbee on the Edge
velvet dress, pink tights, patent booties, beret, fashion over 40, The Fab 40’s, Shelbee on the Edge

February is that cold and dreary winter month in the northern hemisphere that we most closely connect with love because of the very commercialized holiday of Valentine’s Day. But it is certainly a great month to celebrate love because it is so cold and dreary. When it feels like winter may never end, we could all use a great big warm and comforting hug that wraps us in love to help us make it to the end of winter and welcome the arrival of spring. When Daenel chose the color of love as The Fab 40’s theme for February, it came as no surprise that all of my Fab 40’s friends brought the most beautiful colors and the most stunning of ensembles to the forefront to showcase how they celebrate love.

As much as I adore red, the traditional color of love, for all of its richness and dramatic splendor, when I really thought about Daenel’s style prompt which she described like this: “whatever color makes you think of love: black because love is a four letter word, red hot steamy passion, lavender for romance…whatever the case may be”, I realized that when it comes to love, I am far from traditional.

Before choosing the colors for my outfit, I really thought long and hard about the way I love. And not just romantic love but love in general because for me, love is love is love is love, whether it is romantic, platonic, parental, or friendly, when I love, I love with an unadulterated boldness and ferocity that can be quite overwhelming. This is why I live a polyamorous lifestyle and why I go out into the world open to receiving and giving as much love as possible.

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I really believe that if I were to focus all of my love with the incredible intensity that burns inside of me onto one person, it could quite possibly make the recipient combust. It is just too much. I have too much love. And I find that the more I love, the more intense it becomes. As I pour love into the world, it comes back to replenish my vessel at exponential rates. In an effort to prevent myself from combusting, I have to keep passing it out to those I meet in the world who are deserving of my love.

So for me, the color of love is bold and bright and loud and overwhelming with a bit of quirkiness and a bit of craziness. For me, love is about expressing our thoughts and feelings and openly stating exactly how we feel about another person. Life is too hard and too precious and too fragile for us to be afraid to show love. If we hide from love or run from love or stand paralyzed in fear in the face of love, what is our purpose in this world?

Sure, our most basic instincts dictate that we are here to survive and to procreate. But we are so much more than that. We are love. We were made from love. We are meant to love and be loved. And while we can survive without love, who would want that?

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I am not a religious person at all. Having obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy with a minor in Religious Studies, I learned at a very young age to view religion and all of its written works as works of literature. But literature of a very profound nature that carries a very important message within the many pages of text that were drafted in ancient times. But the one message that transcends all other messages and is the most important of all is this…”Do everything in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)

So no matter your religious views, love is the most important virtue and the one thing that will carry us through the toughest times in this world. No matter what you call God, God is Love, in its purest and most energizing form…”And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:16)

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My very favorite Biblical verse for as long as I can remember is this…”And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

The greatest of these is love. It has always been and it will always be and I will always go out into this big scary world allowing my version of love to overflow all around me. God willing, it will reach as many people as it possibly can. Because love is what makes this life worth living.

And now let’s look at my Fab 40’s friends and how they have styled the color of love.

The Fab 40’s is a group of five fashion bloggers from around the globe. This group’s goal is to take on style trends and show how we each interpret and incorporate them into our own lives. With five widely varied views, you are certain to find something that speaks to you each month and encourages you to continue to have fun with fashion after the age of 40.

Let’s begin with Daenel of Living Outside the Stacks who chose this month’s theme and then delivered a bold and wonderful look symbolizing the way she loves…deeply, richly, with an undying vibrance that is soft and comfortable. I can see a never ending type of love in the beautiful print and brilliant color combination of Daenel’s skirt paired with the simplicity and ease of a white tee and denim jacket.

“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

1 Corinthians 13:2
Daenel of Living Outside the Stacks

Next is Suzy of Suzy Turner Books & Style who has concocted a delicious illustration of love with this delightful combination of red, gold, and purple floral topped with a vivid red sweater. The fact that Suzy has chosen this gorgeous dress to wear to an upcoming wedding speaks volumes about how much this outfit resembles love.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Suzy of Suzy Turner Books & Style

Outfit Details: Red jumper-Mango / Red, gold and purple dress-Promod / Black biker boots-Timberland / Black leather handbag-Marta Ponti / Black butterfly earrings & rings-gifts from mother-in-law

Dee of Dee Sayz has created an elegant interpretation of love with shades of navy and gold. There is a richness and a splendor in these colors of refinement and sophistication that indicate that Dee loves with grace and dignity. She has painted an image of noble adulation and devotedness with her structured gold pants and lacy top.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

1 John 4:18
Dee of Dee Sayz

Outfit Details: Blue mesh top-Bangkok Platinum Mall / Gold Pants-Melange for Lifestyle Stores / Beige Sequin Pumps-Woodland Antique / Gold Clutch-Rajouri Garden Market / Earrings-Flea Market, Delhi

Sheela of Sheela Writes has composed a representation of love that is pure and passionate with an ethereal white dress that flows with elegance and ease creating a sense of endlessness highlighted with electrifying red heels that indicate her love is filled with intense fervor and undying spiritedness. I am certain that the way Sheela loves will take your breath away in a similar way as her sartorial efforts do.

“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.”

Song of Songs 8:6
Sheela of Sheela Writes

Outfit Details: Shift tunic and overdress with train-Thrifted / Sunnies-Thrifted / Heels-New

And now my portrayal of love. Bold, vibrant, loud, quirky, in your face, abundant, and overwhelming.

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

2 Timothy 1:7
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velvet dress, pink tights, patent booties, beret, fashion over 40, The Fab 40’s, Shelbee on the Edge, plaid coat
velvet dress, pink tights, patent booties, beret, fashion over 40, The Fab 40’s, Shelbee on the Edge, plaid coat

Outfit Details: Coat-Torrid / Dress-c/o Zaful / Tights-Sock Dreams / Boots-Shoe Dazzle / Gloves-Isotoner / Beret-TJ Maxx / Necklace-Old / Earrings-c/o Happiness Boutique

“For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.”

1 John 3:11

How do you love? What colors represent love to you?

Loving you all from the edge,

Shelbee

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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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