Tropical Style & Your Own Twist Link Up #21
It is time once again for Your Own Twist with my dear friend Monica of Jersey Girl, Texan Heart. This monthly collaboration allows us to showcase our own interpretations of a chosen style theme. We share the theme with you ahead of time in case you are interested in joining us. You can see the upcoming themes below if you would like to create your own post around the theme and share it with us in the link party at the end of the post. You are also welcome to link any fashion or style post even if you did not follow the theme. Next month’s theme will be Christmas in July. I am not certain how I am going to interpret that theme yet, but I think it will be a fun one!
I have a short silly story about this month’s tropical theme. I picked the theme and then I got stumped! I don’t have very many tropical prints or styles in my wardrobe except for a few sarongs that were given to me as a gift from a friend over 20 years ago. She was stationed in Tanzania during her time in the Peace Corps and had sent back two beautiful sarongs for me. I wanted to style one of them for this post, but I can’t remember where I stored them! Once I find them though, I will be sharing them here.
Since I couldn’t find the sarongs in a timely manner, I had to come up with something else. And you know how I love my kimonos. I figured I had one with a floral print that was suitable for a tropical theme. With some fresh flowers pinned in my hair, I really felt like I could be attending a luau or something in this super comfortable outfit.
I was also super excited to share my handcrafted shell necklace and earrings that my friend Denise had brought back from Jamaica for me last year. These were the perfect accessories for this tropical inspired outfit. I actually loved this outfit so much that I wore it two days in a row.
I switched to a paisley kimono in a similar color palette for day 2 because the armpits got a little bit stinky on this one! You know I have to keep it real around here. And the fabrics that so many kimonos are crafted from are terrible on a humid day. It is weird because the fabric will end up being super smelly like awful body odor, but my armpits won’t stink at all!
The way the stink sticks to the kimono and not to me sort of reminds me of the time when Radical Ralphie was a baby and we were eating at a restaurant. He was sitting on my lap and had the worst poop blow out ever. It leaked out of his diaper and shorts and completely covered my clothing. Somehow, he did not get a single bit of it on his own clothes. Sure, his diaper was filled but his shorts were spared. Mine were not. We had to pack up our food and rush home so I could clean up before I vomited from the odor! How is that for too much information?
I completely digressed. Because I don’t have much else to say. You probably already know by now that when I don’t have much to say, I start rambling endlessly as if I have a million things to say. That is how my brain works. And to be completely honest, my brain has been in overdrive lately and it is really loud in there. Hopefully, I will be able to sort out all the noise and make some good writing come from it. In the meantime, I hope enjoy this onslaught of outfit photos because I have run out of words.
30 Comments
Tamar A Strauss-Benjamin
Such a fun summer look!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Tamar! It is as comfortable as pajamas, too!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
You pulled off tropical well! I’m not sure I’d have anything that would work.
Jennifer
Effortlessly Sophisticated
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jennifer! I wasn’t sure I could pull it off either! But I liked the result.
xoxo
Shelbee
mireille
Oh, I really love this outfit: perfect for summer even with smelly kimono, lol! Funny stories there: with 4 boys, I always laugh at stinky stories! And sure have my share of stories too! You also found the perfect location for your pictures: all of that greenery is so pretty. I especially love the garden entryway (for the life of me I can’t think of what that wooden structure is called right now).
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Mireille! Haha, it is being a boy mom that makes us less sensitive and probably more aware of all the stinky things. The pictures were taken in the gardens of the Jefferson County (NY) Historical Society. And I had to go look up what those structures are called…it is an arbor! I would have never thought of the word on my own, that’s for sure.
xoxo
Shelbee
Theresa
Shelbee, that maxi dress is so cute. Love the tiered look. And, of course, I’m loving your kimono being a big time kimono collector myself. The print is gorgeous. Hair flowers and that shell jewelry are the perfect tropical complements. Where did you take those photos, btw? The scenery is beautiful and I love old buildings.
xo
Theresa
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Theresa, thank you so much! You do have some amazing kimonos from what I have seen you share. I just counted mine the other day and I have 60 kimonos! I might be a bit obsessed and I still want more. The photos were taken in the gardens of the Jefferson County (NY) Historical Society. I take photos there often because it is so pretty!
xoxo
Shelbee
brenda
Love the kimono:-)
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Brenda! I do love my kimonos.
xoxo
Shelbee
eva @ StyleMyThrift
oh you ladies are making me miss vacation!!! love tropical looks! i was just obsessing over Pinterest Dolce & Gabana looks for summer 2020 and it’s tropical meets safari, and the amount of flowers in the hair is insanely gorgeous!
ps I think I might join you ladies for September’s Steam Punk/Cosplay….I have ALWAYS wanted to make me a SteamPunk/Victorian costume for myself!–goth glam! perfect!
xo Eva
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Eva! This was a fun outfit. I totally felt like I was on vacation. If you want to cohost the Cosplay themed link up, let me know and we can add you to the cover collage and send you the link code. Just shoot me an email and let me know! I haven’t thought about what I am going to do for that theme yet. It might be challenging, but that is the fun part about all of this…the challenge. I hope you are well!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
I adore this tropical outfit, Shelbee! The dress is beautiful, and the kimono and fresh flowers are perfect! Ha! Your rambling is entertaining. Hard to be profound all of the time!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks so much, Michelle! I was so excited about the flowers in my hair! And yes, I can’t be profound all the time. It is way too exhausting!
xoxo
Shelbee
Katie
Love how you styled this outfit for the tropical theme Shelbee! Your floral kimono is gorgeous! I hope you’re having a great week!
-Katie
http://www.hellokatiegirlblog.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Katie! This is the first time I have worn this kimono with a dress and I really loved the way it turned out. I hope you are well!
xoxo
Shelbee
Leslie Susan Clingan
Such a pretty look. Cruise-ready, I’d say! If only, huh?
That strawberry color of the dress is beautiful on you. Really pretty with your coloring. I always feel so timid about wearing maxi skirts and dresses. I think I associate the length with being formally dressed. Want to try pairing a kimono with one of my maxis and channel my inner Shelbee!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Leslie, thanks so much! I really like this color as well. I hadn’t worn this dress for a few years because it had a small tear along the seam of one of the tiers. I finally mended it and now I can’t get enough of this dress. I look forward to seeing how you channel your inner Shelbee! Yay!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
Looking so very nice there.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Patrick!
xoxo
Shelbee
Anna Marcus
I like the vibe of your look Shelbee, it’s like being in tropical paradise
https://lookingfabulousat50.blogspot.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Anna, thank you so much! I really felt like I could be in a tropical paradise even just sitting in my own back yard!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
My goodness, what kind of products do you use for your hair! It grows so fast! What a lovely summer outfit, you can feel the summer!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks so much, Nancy! I don’t use anything special on my hair. In fact, I barely put any products in my hair at all! But I haven’t had it cut since last June and I take multivitamins. I also only wash it every 4 or 5 days so I think that may help as well. I have no idea! Haha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Lorena
I love this look Michelle, it has a cool hippie chic vibe, nicely done.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Lorena, thank you so much! I was really happy with the outcome of this outfit.
xoxo
Shelbee
Jessica A Jannenga
Shelbee
Im doing a tropical theme next week, I love palm prints and tropical styles. Roy wouldn’t wear a Hawaiin shirt though! Love the kimono with the long dress and your shell necklace is so pretty too! The flower in the hair is a pretty touch!
I hope you enjoyed your 4th of July! We had my sis and niece with us, social distancing and a great cookout!
thanks for linking!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Jess, thanks so much! I can’t wait to see your tropical look! I need something with a palm print on it. Maybe another kimono! Because I am obsessed. We had a few friends over yesterday to celebrate but I was so tired that I struggled all the way through the evening hours. I am glad that you are enjoying your weekend!
Shelbee
https://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Emma Peach
Such a beautiful tropical Summer outfit! I remember the baby years of exploding nappies and projectile vomiting…so many meals out ruined! Hope you’re having a good start to the week, thanks for linking up!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Emma! Oh I hated taking my kids to restaurants when they were babies and I still kind of do! Haha.
xoxo
Shelbee