Girly Menswear

Hat: Target (old)
Top: Target
Jeans: JCPenney
Shoes: Target
Glasses: Forever 21
Watch: Michael Kors
Bangles: Francesca's Collections

I like to balance "menswear-inspired" fashion trends with accents of "girly-ness". Tried to get the best of both worlds with this look. I love Target's oxford flats with the pink soles! Such a fun detail. They mixed well with these floral jeans I found at JCPenney. It took me a while to find a pair of floral jeans that I was willing to try, and finally I just bit the bullet and got these. It's a trend that will probably be short-lived for me personally (I've just never had a strong taste for floral prints), but in the meantime, I'm trying to have fun with it. I also love my menswear-inspired fedora. It's a great hat for fall. Overall, a comfy, chic outfit perfect for casual days or relaxing weekends! 

How do YOU style menswear-inspired pieces? Let me know in a comment below! Thanks for reading!
-Lael 

Layering Prints

Top: Old Navy
Sweater: Old Navy
Jeans: Old Navy
Heels: Charlotte Russe
Bag: Steve Madden (Ross)
Necklace: Francesca's Collections
Watch: Style Co. (Macy's)
Ring: Stella & Dot 
Sunnies: Simply Vera Vera Wang (Kohl's)

"Layering" is a great fall fashion tip that is both practical and helpful when trying to put outfits together. In a season when it's not always cold enough to wear a coat (at least in Oklahoma!), yet too chilly in well air-conditioned buildings to wear a light blouse, layering with sweaters and light jackets can be an instant fix. To take layering a step further, look at how you can mix different prints. Mixing stripes with polka dots is a great place to start. The tiny understated polka dots on the chambray shirt mix well with the bold, clean stripes of the sweater. Adding a third print with the leopard heels was a fun twist and pulled the whole look together. I kept my accessories pretty minimal and understated, especially in terms of color, so they wouldn't compete with the different prints.

Which prints do YOU think work really well together? Let me know in a comment below! Thanks for reading!

-Lael

high note: "Happy Work Anniversary!"

Does anyone get excited about their work anniversary like I do? Today marks three years of working on staff at Victory Church. Three years! I'm still taken aback every time I say it. All I know is I couldn't imagine working anywhere else (I always joke that I'd have to hear an audible voice from God to ever leave). I'm surrounded by incredible people who simply love God and love people. If this was the job I had for the rest of my life, I couldn't complain. There's nothing like writing a song for the Church to sing, then leading them in singing it. When I started writing songs at 13, I had no idea how God was going to use them or this gift for songwriting that came out of nowhere. Seven years later it all became clear though when my pastor's wife, Jennifer Crow, invited me to check out Victory Church in March of 2009. She encouraged me to visit the church and volunteer with the youth worship team, and I instantly fell in love. I dove in head first, singing and playing piano whenever and wherever I was needed. This church cared about people and accepted everyone in a way I hadn't seen before. A way that was truly Jesus-like. And the music...the music blew me away. One day after church in the summer of 2009, I remember commenting to my mom that it would be so awesome to work at a church like Victory someday. That fall, Jennifer called and offered me a job. 

Since then, I've helped write and perform several songs for this album...

...and enjoyed every minute of working with these amazing people...

Kristy Starling, Chris Crow, Lael Louthan | Beautiful Conference, August 2012

Chris Crow, Kristy Starling, Josh Belcher, Lael Louthan | Live recording, March 2012 | photo by Derek Green Photography

Lael Louthan, Kristy Starling, Oscar Ortiz, Chris Crow | Recording cover of "Titanium", Spring 2012 | photo by Jaron Nix

Lael Louthan | "Heaven Bound" music video shoot, April 2011

Do you celebrate YOUR work anniversary? I'd love to hear what you do and how long you've been doing it! Leave a comment below! Happy Friday! :)

- Lael