Our Sunny New Top Anna

Today’s post is all about our gorgeous new top, Anna. Be warned you are gonna love it so much that you are going to want the green version too! Let’s dive in!

Anna is a practical top perfect for work wear, a casual Saturday, or an evening out. I just love it when pieces in my wardrobe are both practical and beautiful! Don’t you?

The v-neck offers an elegant touch in a very modest way. Perfect for pairing with your favorite pendants or drop necklaces.

The fabric is delectable to the touch as the stunning weave creates a wonderful texture that feels fantastic on, full of quality. This is not a light weight top, but the flowy torso and roomy sleeves allow this top to breath making it comfortable for both cooler winter days or bright sunny warm ones. I love it when I have a piece I can wear every season!

My favorite details you ask? The self tie waist is at the top of this list. I love that you can cinch the waist and show off your gorgeous figure in a tasteful way. I also think the sleeves add the perfect feminine touch, with a little cinched detail at the top of the cuff.

If you love this style, you can find it at lydiaandlilac.com. Please make sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter! You can also join our VIP Group which is new on FB and stay up to date on all our new arrivals, get discounts, and participate in contest to win gorgeous Lydia & Lilac apparel and accessories!

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Special Occasion? Have We Got the Dress for You!

Spring is on its way, which means wedding season, Easter, and Mother’s Day are fast approaching! Many of us are looking for something beautiful and fresh to add to our wardrobe as the weather begins to warm.

I personally have been looking for a lace dress to add to our boutique collection for quite some time. When I came across Victoria, I knew this dress was perfect!

It is one of those dresses that you could wear on Easter Sunday, to a tea, a bridal shower, or even to a wedding, making it an ideal piece to add to your wardrobe this season.

We love the simple beauty of this dress, as it reminds of of times gown by and has a hint of southern charm.

The knee length, scoop neck, and wrist length sleeves on Victoria give this dress a romantic touch. The loose fit allows the dress to slightly sway when touched with a gentle spring breeze.

Currently available in Teal in both S/M and M/L. Find Victoria here!

If your just joining us, and want to know more about our brand, please check out our post here!

Modestly Beautiful

I have been mulling over this topic for a while now and wasn’t quite sure how I would start it off, I guess the best place to start is just by sharing what is on my heart. I, like most girls have always wanted to be beautiful. There are many times in my life that I have felt far from beautiful and then there have been times where I truly have felt beautiful. I think this is normal, as we all go through seasons in our lives. I grew up in the 90s and 00s where Jennifer Anniston’s stick figure and board straight hair were the very essence of what society called beautiful. It was difficult during that time for a girl with curves and wavy hair. However, I made it through, unscathed for the most part, with a better understanding of how to work with what I had rather than trying to achieve the impossible and all the while trying to accomplish this goal modestly.

A couple of months ago I was at youth on Friday evening (my husband leads youth at our church) when a young girl told me that she aspired to be like me. Whoa. She went on to tell me that I was beautiful and always looked put together (maybe not in these exact words, but it was what she meant). Talk about a humbling experience. Realizing that the choices you make about what you wear and how you act are being watched by these young adults. You see, I have all sons. Truly I could probably walk out of my room wearing a potato sack and they wouldn’t bat an eyelash. What I choose to put on each day is not because I have daughters at home watching what I wear. What I choose to put on each day is a representation of my walk with the Lord, wanting to honor my husband, and wanting to look appropriate for work or church.

This is the goal I hope to accomplish with Lydia & Lilac. Providing a selection of clothing that will make women feel and look beautiful and that will also honor the Lord. When you look through our collection or watch our sneak peeks on YouTube, you will see that we sometimes make suggestions on what to pair a dress with (a cami, a sweater, leggings, etc.). This is because we are sometimes provided clothing by our vendors that may be on the shorter side or low cut. However, most of the time you will find that out clothing is modest and appropriate for work, Church, etc. We desire to honor God through our clothing options, because we live in a society where this is becoming more difficult to find.

We have a responsibility as Christian women to dress in a God honoring way and set a godly example for the young girls in our churches today. When this young lady said this to me, it was a reminder that just because I don’t have daughters, doesn’t mean that there aren’t girls out there watching how I present myself and I can guarantee that they are watching you as well. The truth is they watch more than what’s on the outside, they watch our actions and they hear our words. Are we displaying the beauty of Christ through a gentle and quiet spirit (which does not mean to be a weak woman without a voice…but more on that at another time)? Are we displaying a look that is God honoring? Take some time to reflect on this today and join me in a conscious effort to set forth a godly example for these young girls with our actions, in our words, and in our dress.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1Peter 3:3-4

Dressing Up Our Most Loved Dress for Winter

Winter is officially here, but that doesn’t mean you can’t wear your favorite dress anymore! This post is all about dressing up our best selling dress, Mia, for winter. Chosen by our customers for its comfort and flattering style, Mia is loved by all who purchase it! We currently offer Mia in Charcoal, Eggplant, and Lilac. So settle in with a cup of coffee or tea and browse our winter looks.

Look 1: Blissful Burgundy

For this look we paired our Mia Dress in Charcoal with burgundy leggings, a burgundy cardigan, brown boots, and our Lainey Blanket Scarf in Burgundy. I love how incredibly comfortable this outfit it!

Look 2: Cozy in Cream

I totally love this look, because it is centered around a vintage cream sweater that had once belongs to my Grandma Gron. I paired our Mia Dress in Charcoal with sweater tights, black wedges, and a cream knit hat. For a little added style, I wore my Cora Necklace from Lydia & Lilac as well.

Look 3: Pops of Color

I love pairing mustard with rich colors together and I love how much fun this outfit is! I paired my favorite mustard cardigan with our Mia in Eggplant and our Francesca Floppy Wool Hat in Teal. I added a pair of leggings and some brown boots for some added warmth and finished the look off with our Vera Statement Necklace.

Look 4: Grey Pea Coat

This look is great for a night out! I paired our Mia in Eggplant with my favorite grey pea coat and black thigh high boots. To provide an extra layer of warmth I added our cozy Lainey Blanket Scarf in Teal.

So there you have it, several ways to dress up our Mia Dresses for those blustery days ahead. How do you like to dress up your wardrobe for the winter?

Win a $20 Gift Certificate for Lydia & Lilac

Want a chance to win a $20 gift certificate to use at lydiaandlilac.com? Like or comment this post over at Facebook to be entered to win! Just click on this link to head on over! You’ll find the link pinned to the top of our page. Contest runs from 8 am EST December 31, 2017 to 3 am EST January 7, 2018. Winner will be announced January 8, 2018 at 8 pm EST via Facebook Live! You must like or comment on the original link at Facebook.com/lovelylydiaandlilac to enter.

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on all of our latest news!

See official terms and conditions below.

Official terms and conditions:

* This Competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to Lydia & Lilac LLC and not to Facebook. The information you provide will be used for this contest only and will not be shared with any other party outside of Lydia & Lilac LLC.

* This contest is being run by Lydia & Lilac LLC.

* Must be 18 years old or older to enter.

* Must reside in the United States to enter.

* Must like or comment this post to enter.

* All entries will be entered into the competition and the winner will be randomly selected.

* No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter.

* Making a purchase will not increase your chances of winning.

* The contest begins December 31, 2017 at 8 am EST and closes January 7, 2018 at 3 am EST.

* The winner will receive $20 gift certificate that can be used toward purchases at lydiaandlila.com.

* The gift certificate cannot be exchanged for cash.

* The winner will be emailed an electronic gift certificate with code that can be entered at checkout.

* Winner will be announced on Facebook Live Monday January 8, 2018 at 8 pm EST.

* Winner will be contacted via Facebook Messenger for contact information in order for Lydia & Lilac LLC to deliver the prize.

* Void where prohibited.

A Closer Look at Our New bYOUtique Collection

We wanted to share with you a behind the scenes look at our newest collection and what better way to do so than through a video! When you have finished watching head over to lydiaandlilac.com to view the collection!

How to Curl Your Hair Tutorial

Find the Autumn Dress from Lydia & Lilac by clicking here.

Find Curling Irons Here:

Revlon Salon Long Lasting Medium Curls Curling Iron, 1″

Hot Tools Professional Ceramic Titanium Professional Curling Iron, 1″

Find Clips Here:

50 Pack 2.36 inches Hair Clips, Marrywindix Silver Metal Alligator Hair Pins Teeth Bows Hair Clips Hairdressing Salon Hair Grip DIY Accessories Hairpins for Women, Girls and Hairdresser Sliver

Find Uplifting Foam Here:

Aquage Uplifting Foam, 8 Ounce

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. Please understand that I have experienced all of these products, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals. Many times people ask me which products I use and where they can be purchased. I find supplying links to these products is helpful to those of you who may wish to purchase them for yourselves.

Perfect Holiday Dresses and the Reasons You’ll Love Them!

I love dressing up! Yes, me! Who woulda thunk right? 😉 The holiday season is filled with family get togethers, parties, and other occasions that call for dressing your best. For this reason, I have put a list together of some gorgeous pieces here at lydiaandliac.com that will make you the best dressed guest, guaranteed!

Sophia is THE perfect party dress! This dress is currently available in blush and black. This adorable tank dress has a beautiful gold belt with a tassel detail. The best part of this dress though is the tulle skirt! This dress can be worn as is or with a cardigan. Picture Sophia in black with a red cardigan and you have an adorable look for Christmas. I love dressing this one up with my favorite heels and statement necklace. In fact, Sophia in black is the dress I am planning to wear to Thanksgiving this year, but more about that look later.

Valentina is a classic and looks incredible on any figure! This mock wrap dress is available in black. We suggest pairing it with your favorite heals or wedges, as it is a full length maxi. Picture Valentina with one of our Stella Statement Necklace sets and a gorgeous updo. This look would be perfect for a holiday concert or a night at the theater. Just thinking about it makes me want to buy some tickets to the Nutcracker (why, yes this will be showing at the Staz in December!).

Lyla is such a feminine skirt, which is also available in black. (Starting to see a trend here?) Why such a feminine skirt you ask? It could be the black lace or it could be the pleated tulle overlay, you take your pick! Lyla looks fantastic with a cami and cardigan, but we also dare you to pair this high waisted skirt with a tucked in sweater. It would look adorable with a black and white striped sweater, red sweater, or even pink! We adore this skirt with our white scalloped cami and love it even more paired with red velvet heals!

Last but certainly not least, is Allie. We could not talk about holiday dresses without mentioning our special edition holiday dress! This. Dress. Is. Adorable. The plaid pattern makes it the perfect dress to wear from Thanksgiving to Valentine’s and every holiday in between! We love this one paired with knee high boots. The long sleeves can be buttoned up and be worn as 3/4 length. Adorable with tights, a beanie, a statement necklace, you name it! Dress it up, dress it down, we just can’t get enough of Allie!

Check out lydiaandlilac.com today for even more holiday dresses, skirts, and accessories!

Why Boutique Shopping?

I love to shop, this is obvious to anyone who knows me.  I like to shop at department stores, love going to outlet malls, enjoy shopping online, and I especially love to shop at boutiques.  Long before Lydia & Lilac was even a thought, I loved boutique shopping.  Why?  I mean it’s so simple to just run up to my local department store and find an adorable something to buy for any occasion (which is something I still frequently do!). However, there is something special about shopping at a boutique, so I have put together a list of reasons why I love it so much!

1. You Always Find Something Unique 

When I shop at boutiques I always find something a bit unique that they don’t have at my favorite department store.  It’s nice to have something different in my closet.  When I shop at boutiques I am able to find amazing patterns and textures that are not always available at local department stores.

2. It’s Less Overwhelming

This summer when looking for the perfect dress to wear to my nieces wedding (which is actually what brought about Lydia & Lilac and you can read about it here), I was insanely overwhelmed at the department stores.  There were way too many choices.  I wasn’t able to really look at anything because there were so many things everywhere.  When I shop boutiques, they have just the right amount of choices.  I am able to easily see what they have without feeling overwhelmed or frustrated.

3. The Experience

Have you ever walked into a boutique and thought “everything in this place is so me!”?  Well, I certainly have.  When you find a boutique that is in your niche, it’s a beautiful thing!  This is different from the department store, because instead of trying to stock something for every single person who walks in the door, boutiques are curated with there customers in mind.  For example, at Lydia & Lilac we curate beautiful, feminine clothing perfect for every day wear or special occasions.  When you are looking for something to make you feel lovely and feminine, you know you can find it here!  We love boutique shopping, because we know everything has been hand selected with us in mind.  What a special feeling!

Next time you are wondering whether or not to try out that lovely little boutique, we hope you do!

Finding the Perfect Logo

So you have heard the tale of how our lovely little boutique got started.  If you haven’t read it yet, you can find it here.  However, you have yet to hear the story about finding the perfect logo.

Back when we first decided that we would open a boutique, we of course started to think about a name.  I wanted something with meaning, that would represent our boutique well, and that I would never tire of.  I had an ongoing list that included all sorts of combinations.  There was a day however, while shopping in Target ( I know this surprises you, the thought of me shopping of all things!), when it came to me…Lydia!  Lydia exemplified the qualities we wanted to represent in our boutique.  She was a strong business woman, sold the best of goods, and grew to love the Lord.  Feminine, strong, beautiful, perfect!

I had originally looked into Lydia’s Boutique, but that name was already taken.  I began to think of things I could pair it with.  Well Lydia was the seller of purple, but Lydia and Purple just didn’t sound right to me!  It was soon after that I began to think of other names of purple.  I remembered hearing my Grandma Gron tell me how much she loved lilac when I was a little girl, so there it was Lydia & Lilac!

Now we had this beautiful name, but no idea on how to make a logo.  I know I really wanted to incorporate lilacs, wanted it to look feminine, and wanted it to be unique.  The search began.  I looked into several options, but just could not afford a custom logo at this point in the game.  So I turned to the best creative website I know and began my search for logos on Etsy.

I knew that I was going to have to settle on a logo that was not a one of a kind, but that was ok with me.  It was a starting point and I was ok with it.  I began searching like crazy.  I found logos I liked, but the colors were wrong or I found the perfect colors and the wrong style logo.  I put “lilac logo” in the search bar for kicks, I mean there are a ton of lilac logos out there, right?  Of course not, but I wanted to at least see.  I was scrolling through several options when I saw it!  The perfect logo by Pixel & Peony!  I genuinely could not have asked for something more perfect!  As I clicked on the logo and began to read about it, I found out that this was a one of a kind!  Not another one like this we be sold.  At this point I was thrilled!

I made my purchase and contacted Pixel & Peony about the wording of the logo.  When I got the proofs, I was extacic!  She did a phenomenal job!

If you are looking for the perfect logo, I highly recommend Pixel & Peony.  Her work is gorgeous and costumer service is amazing.  The price was perfect and the turn around time was very short, so much quicker than I thought it may be.  She specializes in logos, flyers, and personal branding.  If you are looking for a logo for your blog or business, I highly recommend Pixel & Peony!  Check them out on Etsy today at https://www.etsy.com/shop/PixelandPeony

The post was not sponsored by Pixel & Peony.  We just loved our experience so much, that we wanted to share!  We are sure you will love them too!