Outfit Details:

Custom designed coat, skirt, and, silk top (shop similar styles below), Wanted boots (last seen here, similar here), Over the knee socks, Vintage earrings and ring

      autumn outfit embroidered coat at Salve Regina University Newport  embroidered coat with tartan mini skirt and over the knee bootsfashion blogger Mary O'Neill at Salve Regina University

Happy Thanksgiving! In the spirit of the holiday, I would like to share something that was valuable to me about the mysterious power of thankfulness. Years ago I was coming back to New England with my mother from a horse buying trip in Virginia (if you follow me on instagram, you already know that I’m a horse crazy girl). The flights were all messed up because of tornado warnings in the south, but we managed to get a flight from Virginia to Detroit right before the airport shut down. This meant that we now had a six hour wait before our flight to Boston. I took this hard. I was little and wanted to be home. Then my mother, always a great source of wisdom for me, suggested that we start listing off the things for which we were thankful. We spent the next several hours, late into the night, walking up and down the terminal enumerating our blessings. As time went on, it went from the big – like family, friends, and faith – to the little – like a favorite book or food. Thankfulness is powerful and it turned things around. Since that day I have tried to make this a habit of mine whenever I get upset or frustrated. You can always find things to complain about – the world is not a perfect place. But whatever your circumstances, there is always so much for which to be grateful. If you take the time when you are down to list your blessings, the mysterious power of thankfulness will work its effect on you. Today on this Thanksgiving, these are the things I am particularly thankful for.

  1. For a mother and father who support me and love me unconditionally and a brother who is fiercely protective.
  2. For my gorgeous horse Fetch and a connection with the animals that God created for us to enjoy.
  3. For having a job I am passionate about that lets me be creative and meet wonderful people all over the world.
  4. For friends with whom I can discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly.
  5. For the gift of laughter.

mixed pattern and print autumn outfit in Newport RIcustom tapestry puff sleeve jacket at Salve Regina Universityfall tones at Salve Regina University in Newport

I’m wearing a coat, skirt, and blouse I designed and had made for me. There is a great freedom in being able to design pieces for yourself. Sometimes you just can’t find what you envision in your head, and this is where knowing a good seamstress comes in handy. As I mentioned here, I love mixing different patterns and prints. This look came together when I first saw the brocade fabric for the coat. I knew I wanted to mix it with a tartan (one of my favorite prints for fall) and the burn orange silk top pulled both of the pieces together.

Does anyone else like to sketch things out for themselves that they can’t find anywhere? Let me know in the comments below.

fall style in embroidered coat at Salve Regina University Mary O'Neill at Salve Regina University in mixed prints and over the knee boots

Wishing everyone a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

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