The Northern Southern Belle: What does your inner clothing look like?

The Northern Southern Belle: What does your inner clothing look like?

Okay, reading this title, you might be a little confused. Let me explain. With it being the holiday season, I wanted to do something a bit different to get everyone into the inspired, happy mood that this time of year brings. So, instead of talking about what to wear for Christmas Eve service or how to stay warm this winter, I want to talk about our real clothing: the traits that we are dressed in and that we display to others. I have a sign hanging in my dorm room that I found at TJ Maxx (really, though, that’s like the only place I shop) that says “Kindness is always fashionable.” It got me thinking, so I decided to do an article based around it. There are multiple verses throughout the Bible that discuss the Godly traits that we have each been given. Additionally, there are some wonderful songs that calm me and remind me exactly who I am – who God has made me. He is the ultimate Designer, and He has styled us each to be perfect. So take these things, think about them and look back at them every time you start to forget who made you and who He designed you to be. Colossians 3:12: “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” He has created you to have these traits. It is not the designer handbags or expensive dresses that we need to focus on to look attractive but rather these characteristics. Being kind and loving will not only help you fulfill God’s purpose, but they are also very charming traits that will...
The Northern Southern Belle: how to adjust to winter in the South

The Northern Southern Belle: how to adjust to winter in the South

If you’re anything like my Northern friends and me, you know that winter in the South seems to be a joke. We all tend to think that their winter is like our spring or summer, when in reality it is still chilly. Though Southerners don’t have to battle the below-zero wind chills and multiple feet of snow, it is still an adjustment to move from the North to the South, especially during winter.   I know for me, I came to Tennessee with very little winter things, expecting it to be warm all year round, but that’s not necessarily the case. Therefore, here is a guide of how to properly prepare for winter in the South as a Northerner. Invest in a quarter zip fleece. They’re so popular down here. Tons of sweet Southern Belles that I have met have their initials monogrammed in them. The fleeces are warm and soft, as well as super cute with the different colors. Bring your boots!! I didn’t bring many of mine and regretted it. Some of these brave souls are still wearing their Chacos in this weather, but it’s chilly. Don’t forget your hat, gloves, and heavy coat. Although it’s not as cold as up North, it is still winter and gets pretty chilly, so bring your stuff to bundle up. I didn’t go home until Thanksgiving and thought I’d be fine without my heavy coat and a scarf, but there have definitely been days when I’ve wanted them. Sweaters are big. I mean, they’re big in the North too, but they’re big here. It’s okay to bundle up. I recently...
The Northern Southern Belle: How to Dress Your Best for Thanksgiving Dinner

The Northern Southern Belle: How to Dress Your Best for Thanksgiving Dinner

Next Thursday, the Lipscomb doors will be quiet and dark as we disperse to warm, cozy homes filled with cornucopias and pumpkin-scented candles. Some of us may just be looking forward to the comfort of our own bed, the chance to shop til we drop on Black Friday, and the opportunity to spend time with family and breathe for once, escaping from the everyday stresses of college for a little while. But most of us girls have one stress on our mind — what to wear to Thanksgiving dinner.   I often think about why we spend so much time dressing up to eat with our families when it’s something that we have done thousands of times throughout our lives. Tonight one of my friends explained the logic of it to me. “You’ve got to look your best and show them how great you’re doing when they ask you how your life’s going,” she said. And it’s the truth. Perhaps the reason that we spend so much time focusing on what to wear to the dining room table is because we want our relatives to see that we are thriving: that we are put together and still rocking stylish outfits (when in reality it’s leggings and tees to class all day, every day). Still, though, we want to look cute (I know I do) for the hundreds of pictures my sweet grandmas will be taking of all of us together. Might as well look pretty in the photos if they’re going in the frames or on Facebook. Therefore, here are some tips for how to dress your best for Thanksgiving...
The Northern Southern Belle: How to stay in style as a broke college student

The Northern Southern Belle: How to stay in style as a broke college student

College students are often described as “broke,” with our piling loans and obsession of trying every restaurant in Nashville. And yet, if you’re anything like me, you’re always wanting some retail therapy to escape from the stresses of college. But living the stereotype of “broke college student” makes purchasing cute clothes a struggle. Or so it seems. I’m going to let you in on a little secret: you don’t have to buy the name brand products from the fancy stores. You can get good quality clothes at low prices from many different places. So here, my fellow broke college students, is how to shop for less while still looking super cute. 1. ALWAYS shop the sale racks There are some stores that I only go into to look at the sale rack. There is still cute stuff you can get without paying full price. Check online or stores anywhere, especially in the high-end stores for good deals. 2. Thrift Shop As much as you may not want to go and sort through secondhand clothing, there are actually some really great finds in there. Give them a wash or customize them to make them your own, and nobody will ever know that you didn’t buy the piece brand new. There are some great finds at shops around Nashville. My favorites are Thrift Smart and Plato’s Closet. These will give you some options. While Thrift Smart has more of a variety, Plato’s is more picky on the quality of clothes it accepts, but you’re bound to find something you like at both places. Nashville has tons of great thrift stores. The...
The Northern Southern Belle: fabulous fall fashion trends to help you look fantastic

The Northern Southern Belle: fabulous fall fashion trends to help you look fantastic

Fall’s arrival signals one of the most exciting times of the year: autumn fashion staples. The leaves are finally beginning to dance toward the ground, and temperatures are dropping below 70 degrees here in Nashville, at last! With the turn of the seasons comes the changing of attire. Finally, we can pack up those shorts and tanks (at least for now — according to my Tennessee native friends, it can be 75 degrees on Christmas) and pull out the jeans, cute little ankle boots and sweaters. Trends that reappear each year and will never go out of style include flannels paired with jeans. A way to make this a bit more fashionable is to wear a contrasting or coordinating tank underneath the flannel. Match these layers with a cute pair of jeans — maybe a pair with a few rips. Leave the flannel unbuttoned so you can show off your coordination or contrasting skills (whichever you choose) and tie the flannel at the bottom. Add a statement necklace to make the outfit even more outstanding. Corduroy skirts are in style this season. Pair them with a long bell sleeve top, or a short sleeve with a cardigan. These corduroy skirts can be found in all kinds of colors — brown, red, light pink, green. Any of them work well for fall. In addition to corduroy skirts, jean skirts are also something that can work well for fall. Honestly, though, jean skirts are good all year round. In the fall, though, they’re extra cute when you pair them with a cardigan, kimono or cropped jacket. Just this past weekend, I...