Tag Archives: lifestyle

Key to My Style

key to me – saying goodbye to 2017

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I have been wanting to make this year’s revision and I have been putting it off.

I think its like with everything that we put off, we are afraid. I am often afraid that I haven’t given it my all and I judge myself instead of cheering myself to what I have been doing and accomplishing.  I am good at both but being hard on myself is easier, I have more practice on it and I can go crazy here (I am a natural ;)). I am also good lately at motivating myself though which feels refreshing. At times it does not feel natural or even possible, all the things that I tell myself I will do, be, get to but I keep saying it, thinking it, writing it down so I can finally feel it and make it happen.

Yesterday I fell for the Instagram trend of #best9. Not really sure how you are meant to choose I just scrolled back to the end of last year and from the beginning of 2017 I took screenshots of pictures that meant the most to me. I ended up with much more than 9… then I managed to somehow ‘close the deal’ on 9. Feeling bad for not including  people that actually meant just as much as the ones that I did include… (being hard on myself again) but then I took a deep breath… tears filled my eyes and I realized how blessed I am. In a year that feels like not that much has been done, I realized I made quite a few long term dreams come true.

I have been places with people that mean the most. I have re-visited home land with my own family.  I spend an evening with a friend I haven’t seen in years. I have taken care of myself and keep reminding myself to put myself first. I organised a ladies get together that gave me more than I imagined and will soon turn into something much bigger. I have turned my passion into a job that I never dreamed possible. I earned money from doing what I love. I have met people that cheer me to it and inspire me to be me. I have watched children grow (deep breath)… and let one go. All this together is bitter sweet but has made me who I am now.

I always knew that bad times are meant to give us the contrast and appreciate the good times more. So I am super grateful for every day. I have survived ! ;)) I am a warrior and will fight for all that I believe in this year (that may just be the most important goal 🤔).

Looking  at myself as if I stepped outside  of my body, I say, ‘you have made more possible that you realise. You remember when you used to dream of the things you now ‘have’ ? That really is your power. Use it wisely ;)’

…. and to all of you and each of you individually, I hope you are well (as I say it often) and I mean it.

I hope you let yourself cry and laugh whenever you feel like it. I hope that you dream as big and ‘impossible’ as when you were a little girl/little boy. I hope you don’t care what boundaries the world told you to believe in.  I hope that you ask yourself  what it is that you like and want (not what the trend to wanting is now). I hope you love like crazy, dance like there is no-one else in the room, I hope that when you stumble, you remember that it’s just part of the dance and that you enjoy getting up and making yourself proud. I hope that you eat what makes you excited, that you look after yourself and that your style speaks who you are.

I am sooooo grateful for you. I love you and wish you best in New Year, your year.

Gosia

xxx

(at no particular order here’s few of this year’s favourite moments :))

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key to My Style

Key to my happiness

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There is no key…. there isn’t. The key is me. I lost the awareness of it for a while. First time, when I finally had a life that I love. When my marriage was finally on the track that I envisioned, meaning kids. I got so happy that I remember telling my husband that I am so content that even if we stay in the flat that we are in at the moment for many more years, I am happy and will be. I couldn’t wait to see his smile and approval. I did not see it though. Instead I saw disappointment. ‘Are you kidding me’ He said…. It took me a while to understand that it does not mean that he isn’t as happy as I am, and it does not mean that he is embarrassed to live where we do. It simply means that he wants better for us and our family. So I got so confused with the whole happiness and for a while I stayed that way.

I recently suffered another miscarriage. I lost a boy that is, second boy to be exact. When we lost Zac (first miscarriage) I was fully and utterly devoted to sadness and ‘blameness’, so much so that I opened myself to hearing it and accepting it from others. So much so that all I was telling myself was that ‘I lost a baby’, ‘I am not pregnant’, ‘Everyone else is pregnant or getting pregnant’ , ‘Everyone else has two or more children and they are not even trying’.

The game of comparison is our unique and tailor made hell. There is no escape. The is no help. No matter how hard we try we loose. I was loosing.  Don’t take me wrong when that happened, Ben our first born was just over one year old and not only he kept me alive, he healed me daily too and I was also happy.

But I know now, and I finally feel it and get it, after loosing Gabriel (our second loss), that I cannot rely on my children, number of years between them, their health or their moods to make me happy. I cannot control any of that fully and it is simply not fair to depend on my children to make mama happy. That’s bullshit! I need to keep ‘my cup full’ and overflowing to share the happiness and make the best use of my talents and blessings to keep my family well.

There is one thing I always used to say as a little girl. I’d say ‘I am always happy, I just have bad days sometimes’. I don’t think I fully understood it then but I felt it and isn’t that the key? Feeling the life as opposed to overthinking it? It surely doesn’t serve me well when I do that. When I do that, I let fear decide and I focus on obstacles instead of being driven to grow.

So today, my message to self is, feel it girl, whatever you trying to think and overthink, drop it, step outside, dream it and dance your life like no one is watching. I have tangibly felt how fragile life is. It didn’t happen when I was ready and nothing else will. I can live a life that I desire today and today I do.

No matter what people tell me, I smile, I put make up on, I dress up, I have fun, I cry, I sing, I share my story and I heal. I don’t care about what is appropriate and what ‘should’ be done now. I am HAPPY and I always will.

Here is to crazy happy today.

I wish all of you bad days, good days, crazy days, fun filled ones and happy life.

Here are few of my very good days ;))

 

 

 

 

Love,

Gosia

Key to My Style

Key to My Happiness – banning the perfect and embracing the fabulous(ly) happy

I am sharing with you some pics from a date I had with my little gentleman.

It kind of started with a dress I recently bought. I was on a hunt for some old school dresses the other day and there is no better place for that than a second hand shops. I did it again. I found my treasure. This time it was nothing like any other dress I found before. I mean I have had pretty dresses in my life but there is something magical about this one. It makes me feel like a star but most importantly I feel like I can travel in time. Every time I put it on I wonder who, when, where rocked it before. I also wonder that my gran, who I never met, could have worn it……

 

 

 

I guess my point here is, that if you feel like to have a style that you love and to be able to embrace your life, you need a lot of money, think again. I am a great believer in being resourceful and in having fun. I do both and love my style. I am also here for you if you’d like that in your life.

I do not believe in perfection, nobody is perfect (I mean, my son is pretty perfect to me but you know what I mean). I found a great comfort in realizing that and falling in love in my imperfections and embracing them.

 

I do not have a well defined waist, but this dress fakes it so magically for me that I am barely breathing ;)). I have pretty funny toes and up until couple of months ago I would always feel awkward when wearing sandals and any open toe shoe; in fact I’d apologies to people that needed to watch that (yes, really!). But something inside me has changed and it’s actually my boys that I have to thank for helping me love and allow myself to be the way I am.

I am no longer apologizing for whatever I am not. I am happy and grateful to be alive and for having those fabulous moments, like this one 😉

This dress, that cost me no more than £4 has given me so much joy and excitement and I couldn’t wait to wear it. I love that the first time I rocked it was on a date with my little dude. I mean, just look at him…. my daily dose of inspiration.

 

 

Have a fabulous day everyone, pull that £10 out of your pocket and go wild next time you pass by the charity shop, you might surprise yourself too and remember to live your sparkle.

Love,

Gosia

Key to My Style

Key to Fun In My Style

Hey my dearest. Hope you love what you are wearing as you are reading this. I hope you are wearing some of your faves and looking as amazing as you deserve. Would love to hear from you or maybe even see. Let me get inspired.

I had a pleasure to have some fun recently with JK Photography again, this time is was a studio photo shoot. I would lie is I said that I’m natural. Nothing further from the true. I have just discovered another area of my life full of room for improvement. Well, will have to be done right 😉

This was a great experience overall. I got to wear few of my new pieces and few almost vintage. I absolutely love mixing old with new. I had recent trends in mind with this one but also tried to stay true with myself and my style.

 

 

 

This is my faaaaaaave coat. I got it last year and everyone who knows me has probably seen me wearing it, all the time. You can probably see it’s been worn and I’m going to need to part with it at some stage but not yet. It looks good and makes me feel awesome so you’re staying buddy ;)) .

Jeans, we all have them right. At least I hope you do as this must be the easiest thing to wear with anything. Next time you shop for a pair, pay a little bit extra and buy the ones that compliment your body perfectly. You will be grateful. If you need advise on that, email me.

I added fishnet stockings under the jeans. Try it out this season and see if you like it. If you do, rock it, if you don’t, stop it.

 

 

 

Now this is what I call a treat. I have been wanting and needing a hat for a while now and now this is a new addition to my wardrobe. So versatile and I will be wearing is whenever the wind doesn’t blow with more than 15 m/h (anyone up North here with me knows what I’m saying ;))

That big shoulder top I am wearing was ‘a little’ out of my comfort zone but it spend way to long in my wardrobe and it was time. Perfect for a shoot. May work out couple of more things to pair it with. If I don’t within a month, it will need to find a new owner 😉

 

 

 

Poncho, so easy to wear or should I say through over your shoulders. I love this one for its colours and texture but it is missing a belt at times so I added a simple leather belt in black to keep it in place. I actually got this one at men’s department. I was so much easier to find a plain one made of great leather as opposed to going through all the multicoloured, fancy ones at ladies. Just like petite ladies can shop at kids department, we can all check out men’s wear sometimes (thinking shirts and jumpers here ;))

 

 

Now here’s an outfit I love but I have come to realization it is not perfect. Don’t take me wrong I am all for ‘as long as it makes you happy, wear it’ but I realized it doesn’t. That is why I am giving this skirt away. I love the ruffled top and it is staying but the skirt will be perfect for a lady with a defined waist. It is super comfortable and has pockets which I love but I will love it if it will serve someone else. If I get no response on this I will simply give it away to charity. We had a good run but it is time my dear ;)) (email me if you’d like it and im happy to give it to you).

 

As always please comment and share your thought about the post. Let me know what you bought recently and how you put together new and old. What are your absolute faves and how are you treating yourself this season.

Live your sparkle lovely ladies and until next time.

Gosia

xxx

Key to My Style

Key to my shopping joy

Hello ;)))

Have you ever struggled with shopping for yourself? I know I have. If you did too, I hope you will find this useful. I am sharing with you how I get ready for shopping and updating my wardrobe in line with most recent trends as well as with my personality and my body.

One of the things we all do in one way or another is looking through a lot of pictures that the fashion world bombards us with from every angle possible. Even if you don’t buy magazines any more (or you never have), even if you don’t watch it online, you will still be surrounded by it (at a supermarket, at a shopping mall, driving around town the, billboards are almost walking all over us… we don’t even need to realize that but it is true). It takes a little work but it is worth it to get a little more familiar with all these messages and TAKE CONTROL! ;))

STEP ONE

One of the things I do and have fun with is making inspiration boards. In terms of clothes I do one and update it regularly. There are things that I absolutely love, that are classic and timeless and they may stay on my board for a long time, but others will come and go or come and stay.

So, whether you do it on the Pinterest, using your phone and make it into collage or the old school way, give it a go and have fun. Pin or cut out images from recent magazines that inspire you and that you like, even things that may be out of your comfort zone. My eye is always primarily attracted to things that I see myself wearing and maybe even know what I would pair it with. I look at all the images and absorb it for a moment.

STEP TWO

I go into my wardrobe and check what is it that I already have that is relevant. I take it out and have a little fun. See how can I make it current. Sometimes accessories may be enough. Sometimes adding a new/different colour and creating a completely new outfit that you have not tried before will make it relevant. You may find you are so on trend that you really don’t need the shopping any more (why not treat yourself to spa as a reward for being so organised ;)) if you decide you still need a little update, have yourself, not the trend in mind at all times!

STEP THREE

I CHALLENGE myself to something new and out of my comfort zone. For example, this season is huge on pink. ALL PINK, that’s a colour that I have grown to love now but I have so far been ‘doing it’ in small doses. Now, this season is about going pink from head to toe. First question is, what is my shade of pink? Can i do pink at all? The answer to most skin tones will be yes but it is important to wear the relevant shade and to pair it right. You can see that pink in most cases in pretty cool (cold). Pair it with violet for winter skin tone, pink with baby pink or baby blue (summer), pink with orange or brown(autumn), pink with yellow or green (ish) tones (spring). These are just examples but I hope you get an idea. I dare myself to try this as a dose of crazy and out of my comfort zone this season but it will probably not become my uniform. That is why I am not planing on spending a lot of money on this part of the trend.

 

STEP FOUR

In terms of CLASSICS. Trench coat is back. Has it ever been gone really? Now, this is a piece that everyone can make their own and it is more than worth investing in. It comes in many shades and can be styles in many ways. They usually come in camel and sand but who said you can’t get one in pink or brown. As long as this is YOU. Go for it. So this step for me is all about the the investment buy, possibly the most important point on the list if I don’t already own one.

STEP FIVE

Another things you may wish to add to your wardrobe and your vocabulary is LSD (long-sleeve DRESS that is).  Oh how relevant for all of us in UK this is? I looooove this. I have few already and I am so excited for updating them. Choose from patchworks, animal print or punchy florals and make it you own. For now, leyer a roll neck underneath and add knee high boots or uncle boots for a mini version and feel fabulous. With ruffles being back and fun again you may be rocking two trends at once if you like too.

 

Bare shoulders are still in and relevant but now it’s all about asymmetry. Again, remember to see what you already have or how can you style a shirt or a jumper and wear it differently this season. Let the trends inspire you to wear what you have differently and make a list of what is missing and what will make you excited about getting dressed and looking you best.

 

STEP SIX

Yes, I said MAKE A LIST. Believe me I am not a natural planner and this did take a while for me to absorb but it makes my life easier, it is better for my budget and it actually adds to fun. I am back from my shopping trips with things I wear and love, every time. Points to remember when you are shopping:

  • stick to the list (there will be things you haven’t seen before and you will fall in love ( no you don’t NEED them! )
  • think if you can wear it at least 3 different ways (unless you are shopping for a wedding dress)
  • if you are buying a top that will go with the skirt you already have (take the skirt with you), if you are shopping for a dress take heels with you (your posture changes)
  • try EVERYTHING on
  • ask for assistance, try different sizes (don’t stick to one number even if you have all your life, they change, you change, and new styles may also effect the overall shape of the garments and most importantly of your silhouette in them
  • take a friends that understands what you like, what you are looking for, what compliments your body shape and your skin tone, how you wish to be perceived and genuinely wants you to look amazing
  • take pictures (or have your friends take them, these mirrors and lighting in fitting room are not our best friend)
  • move about (make a little dance even)
  • enjoy the proccess
  • once you are happy and absolutely LOVE IT, then spend your hard working money on it.

 

Now, I would love to hear from you on how you get ready for new season, how you update your style and how you shop. Please be critical of everything you are told. Don’t take everything you see and hear as a fact. Check out different sources. You don’t need to like everything that is new. You actually shouldn’t, plus it isn’t really new. The trends come and go but your style can last a lifetime. What you are wearing needs to represent who you are, how you want the world to see you, it should compliment your body shape and skin tone and lastly you should be considering trends. It is fun and I enjoy the the new in my evolving style (in small doses, a little at the time) but if you have it all figured and feel like you would rather stay there and you are happy, I respect that.

Let me know if you found it helpful and what would you like me to share next. I have only touched on some of the newest trends as I try to keep the posts at certain length but I would be more than happy to elaborate if anyone wishes. Please leave a comment below.

Also don’t hesitate to contact me directly if you need more personal advise (then drop me an e-mail to gosia.willemse@keytome.co.uk)

 

With Love,

Gosia