CL behind the scenes: photo shoots.

 I thought you might like to see a few behind the scenes shots from a couple of our recent photo shoots.  Photo shoots are one of my favorite parts of my clothing line.  Even if they are sometimes a little stressful.  (Like when the weather won't cooperate.)  We get to be mildly creative and we often have interesting company...

The other day, as I was sitting in my studio obsessing over the pleat depth in a new design I'm working on, I realized that I hardly ever share that part of my life with you.  You know, the part where I design clothes and then sell them.  I sort of stopped and thought about that for a minute, because wow, this is such a huge, huge part of my life now and I almost never even hint at it on this silly little blog.  I think it's one of those things we do, you know as human beings, where we're okay talking about the silly insignificant things in life, but it's harder to be real about the stuff we really care about.  And the truth is, I love my little clothing line.  It's part of me now, it's changed my life and my family in so many ways.  It's taken us to all kinds of bizarre and beautiful locations, from the industrial district of Seattle, to the smelly streets of the garment district in LA.  Textile shows in New York, Las Vegas, and photo shoots on piers, railroad tracks, abandoned fields, city streets and my own kitchen.  Each of my designs becomes a constant source of motivation to work harder, and make something better.  When I look back at my original samples on my very first design 2 years ago, I can hardly believe how far I've come, how far I have yet to go.  

My skin, which has always been too thin for my own good, is growing thicker.  I've learned to be comfortable and not terrified having real conversations with manufacturers, suppliers, jobbers, and mills; even when I feel incredibly out of my league.  I've learned not to sweat quite so much of the small stuff, but I still lay awake racked with anxiety the night before we launch a new design every single time.  They are kind of like my own version of wearable art, and it's hard to put your own art out there.  Really hard, and also really fantastic. 

 And when I see somebody fabulous wearing one of my skirts, or a customer emails me and tells me how fantastic they felt when they wore theirs, I feel like my child just won the spelling bee.  Also, I really really love my customers.  They are so fabulous.  All those sweet husbands who have emailed me for advice on sizing, color, style, trying to secretly surprise their wife for Christmas, a birthday, Mother's day; I want to literally give them a high five.  Yeah man, you're buying her chairs! [insert fist pump] And all those lovely ladies who have ordered and then come back and order again and again, can I just hug you?  Please, and then buy you a really big double scoop ice cream cone, because you've made me feel the greatest.

And then there's Mr.  I don't know how many men there are out there who would have put so much of their own time, talent, heart and money into helping their wife with a silly little dream, but without him it would still be just that.  A silly little dream that I was too afraid to share with the world.  He's one of those optimistic types that just figure out a way to break through walls and make things happen and never ever give up.  And wow, it is just really fun getting to do this with him, and when he turns his ball cap around and lays down right on the ground to get just the right angle on a shot, and then takes a peek at his work and gets this pleased little grin, I don't think I could love anything more.

Truly.

            

Many thanks to my big sis, for all the help.  And letting us pay you in Twizzleberry.  You're the greatest.  ;-)

kicks.

You want to know what I think?  I think every girl should have her very own pair of neon heels.  They are just so much fun.  When I think about how long it actually took me to commit to buying these while in the store, it makes me laugh.  How many times I tried them on, looked in the little foot mirror, took them off, put them back on, looked in the foot mirror again, before boldly walking to the register and pretending I felt totally confident with my choice.  Sometimes I have to do that.  Fake confidence, until I feel it. I'm not going to lie, the first 3 or 4 times I wore these shoes I felt a little ridiculous.  I'm mean they're kind of like the equivalent of wearing an exclamation point on your feet.  It didn't help that the first time I stepped out in these heels it was on a trip to Walmart to buy IBC root beer  and the bottom of the box I was carrying the root beer in just happened to have a tear in the bottom.  So I was that girl, who shattered a glass bottle of soda on the floor in the middle of Walmart, while also wearing a pair of high heeled neon stilettos.  Hello onlookers, glad to provide you with a little Friday night entertainment...   The universe has impeccable timing. Anyways, now that I'm used to how these basically glow in the dark, they are one of my favorite pieces in my closet, and I've happily come to discover that wearing neon heels is kind of like a party for your feet.  And your feet deserve a party.  So go get yourself some and...

Happy Monday! Top: Old Navy. (similar.) Skirt: Corilynn (coming soon) Shoes: DSW. Necklace: Old. (similar.)

the wilderness in the backyard.

Am I the only person who finds blogging in the summer rather silly?  The weather is so fantastic outside right now, and there are suddenly so many things I want to do out there in the sunshine, riding bikes, playing catch, bocce ball, snow cones; (to name a few) the last thing I feel like doing everyday is sitting in our office on the computer.   We have a creek running smack dab through the middle of our backyard.  It's awesome.  The littles spend every afternoon back there ankle deep in the water chasing ducks and birds, or exploring the wilderness behind it.  They come home at dinner time filthy.  I adore it.  I can tell that I'm going to have to replace their clothes a lot faster here, even dainty little Hannah is ripping through the knees of her pants with record speed, and that's just fine by me.  Yesterday morning after Mr and I finished our workout, I went to the kitchen to get some water, and there were two deer just grazing around in our backyard.  Two deer!  Just out there like it was nothing.  I remember when we drove all the way from California to Yellowstone park (yikes what a road trip) and a deer sighting was such a big deal, it merited pulling over to the side of the road, and here they were just grazing in our backyard!  Anyways, all this to say, that we're enjoying the season, and the little wilderness in the backyard quite a lot. Speaking of summer, we have so many lovely new things arriving in the shop in the next few weeks, it almost makes me giddy.  I have literally been wearing them with glee and I can't wait to share them with you... If you want a little peek at one of the new pretties, you can check my instagram. @dresscorilynn Happy Thursday!

Pants: Gap. (on sale plus 40% off today!) Top: Forever21. (white version: navy in store) Shoes: Forever21.

guilty pleasure.

One of my favorite guilty pleasure past times is antique shopping.  What can I say?  I just really like old junk that used to belong to someone else.  No, but seriously.  I think the pieces in my my home I love the most are the ones I've found among the dust in old antique shops.  My ancient typewriter (that still works!), my vintage boat oars with the paint delightfully chipping off, the old fan (that we don't plug in because seriously those metal blades could cut off a finger), my old steamer trunk, a vintage suitcase and books, dozens of old books.  I try to limit myself to only really awesome unique pieces; I don't want my house to end up looking like an episode of hoarders, cause lets be real, there is such a thing as too many antiques.  Now, if I could just find a vintage kitchen scale, my life would be complete.
What's your guilty pleasure?

Skirt: Forever21 Top: JCrew Factory.