The other day someone happened to mention how much they liked a certain accessory but they thought it would just look dumb in their house/on them {you can apply this to fashion and decorating and a slew of other things} because…they couldn’t pull it off.
How many times have you wanted to try something but didn’t think we were the type to be able to get away with a certain look?
It instantly reminded me of a little article I read in People Magazine. You know I how love to learn something from any room I go into? It’s the same with people. We can learn something from everyone. And we should. Here’s a fantastic quote by none other than Adam Lambert. It’s printed on the picture but I’ll type it out so you can read it easier.
His Beauty Philosophy:
The biggest faux pas is when someone looks at something and goes, “Oh that looks cool–but I couldn’t pull it off.” The only thing needed to pull something off is the desire to pull it off. So if you like something, go for it.
Maybe I’ll buy that bird that matches my outfit after all…
And just for fun
Is there something you would love to have in your home but you don’t think you could pull it off? Why don’t you go ahead and try it? Want to know what my “I don’t know if I can pull this look off but I don’t care” item is? It’s something that reminds me of my grandparents and I’ve been keeping an eye out for one I can afford.
What’s yours?
Yeah, my grandparents had a blue marlin mount in their family room. Heck, it is still there. And a HUGE yellow tuna in the basement.
You are right, total grandparent moment, would LOVE to have it…no CLUE where to put it?
Over the dining room table?
;)
I would LOVE a huge teal birdcage. with or without birds. Don’t know why, but I just think it would be so cool.
I actually got “that” huge birdgage that I had craved for ages. I kept all my cacti in there, away from my pets! Unfortunately I had to move it to a storage when I moved to my new flat. But now I have a strange desire to dig it up again and paint it fucshia ;)
I love the more cottage-y look but it just doesn’t seem to work in my house…..it’s just not cozy enough, or something. Funny post, girl…..I love the way you look at things!!!
Well, I am just plain surprised. I was really wondering how you were going to tie Adam Lambert in with decorating, but you did it, girl! That is actually excellent advice. There are all sorts of fashion looks that I like, but don’t feel like I can pull off. One of them used to be skinny jeans. Because I am not exactly skinny anymore. BUT, I bought a pair and I wear them all the time with long tunics, over-size sweaters, etc. And I think I look pretty fabulous. ;) I even have a post planned for how to rock that look if you are no longer a size 4. ;)
Great post!!!
I can totally see you pulling that off. It is blue, after all. ;)
I would love a cozy white clean cottage feel, but seriously don’t think I could pull that off… 1. Everything in my house is dark, warm colors. 2. I live in the ‘burbs..not the country. 3. I have 2 small children in the house. 4. My husband isn’t on board with the whole “white” thing.
But even with all these obstacles I have the desire…so I may *slowly* work in some white! Thanks the inspiration!
I want a white sofa and my husband looked at me like I had lost my mind when I mentioned it!
The bird to match your outfit comment has me ROTF. I wish I could share the visual I have right now….
I thought this about your rag bag! Might just try it now!
My grandparents have one over their mantel, also! Must have been a 1970′s thing.
I have a big black rose pin that is so NOT me, but I don’t care. I love it, and I wear it…thanks for the encouragement!
Love this post! Of course, you peaked my interest when I saw the picture of Adam Lambert on here. Ha! I really like what he said and it made me think how many times I’ve adopted a look just because I think it will “fit in” with what others around me are doing. I have always liked to do things a “little” different. So, I say, have faith to live your own life and express yourself the way you feel best. It’s your house, not someone elses. Decorate for you. Who knew Adam could be so persuasive?
When my mom or sister tell me they can’t wear thAt cause it’s not them, I tell them to stop putting thenselve in a box.
Themselves.
I say “I can’t pull that off” allllll the time! Maybe I will go get that fab headband that I thought was a little too sassy for me. But I still won’t try a pixie cut or skinny jeans. :)
my bff always says, “You just wear it like you know you look good in it….whatever it is. It’s all about the attitude.” and she is so right….she can rock whatever she puts on b/c its all about the desire to pull it off.
love this post.
It never occurred to me that decorating (our spaces and our selves) is all about the attitude. I like it.
Ha! I love it. I was so surprised to see Adam Lambert on your blog this morning. It woke me up! And I love the advice. :)
Arggh, that’s why the words “trend” and “fashion” are so difficult to navigate….style and design are different all together. I subscribe to the theory that if you stick to things you LOVE (really love, to avoid clutter) – not kind of like, not safe, not entirely crazy to the point of overkill, but speak to you – they’ll speak OF you. It’s interesting, too, that the “rules” of dressing a room are similar to that of dressing a person, —intentionally un-interesting is NOWHERE to be found, that I’m aware of, in the lexicon of Chanel, Parish, or Nester.
And of course you need a bird to match your outfit, Nester. You’re The Nester!
When I saw the post title, I thought “Does she mean the Adam Lambert I think she means?” :)
I wish I could pull off wearing dresses over jeans. Lisa Leonard does such a cute job of that!
COOL! That kind of thinking opens the door for all kinds of amazing creative exploration… which is where all the good stuff happens…
Oh my! I don’t think I could pull that off! :)
But I sure would like to try a brightly colored carousel horse still on the pole!
Oh, I would LOVE a vintage hand-carved carousel horse standing in the corner.
Hmm. “Adam Lambert (and Nester) says I could pull that off!”
Actually, I think I have a new catch phrase…
“Well, the Nester says I can.” *wink*
Hmmm…I definitely have made that statement before but have been trying to step out of my comfort zone. Recently redid our living room from warm reds, golds to a white couch, chocolate, gray and blue accents! Didn’t think I could ever pull it off but I did and I love it! And can I just say I love Adam Lambert (shh don’t tell anyone)!
Great advice!
Mary Ellen
You need to go deep sea fishing, and after you catch your marlin, befriend a taxidermist. :)
I’ve just discovered your blog (Kristen from The Frugal Girl had it posted as one of her favs on her site a few weeks ago!). I can’t say enough how much I LOOOOOVE this post.
Something that I don’t think I can pull off… decorating-wise it’s WHITE. White walls. White furniture. White plates. White everything. With just a simple pop of color. I WANT to tho. I’m getting married next year (*cheer*) and have put all white dishes, serving trays, etc. on my registry. I’m going to try it :D
I’m also not sure about pulling off red hair again. I LOVED it when I had it..and am thinking about going back to it for fall and winter wear. Saw a girl at a shoe store last week who had red red. And wore red lipstick. Black knee-high lace-up boots with a 4-inch platform AND heels.
I want that confidence!
ohhhh, my boyfriend. Love him. My two girls call Adam my boyfriend, because Mommy likes him so much. I don’t bother to explain to them why this is wrong on a few levels =) Love his quote. Thanks for sharing.
That fish used to be in my grandparents’ basement! They also had a tail and pointy nose of another huge fish hanging on the wall over the bed where I slept–kinda freaked me out. My grandpa caught them deep sea fishing in Mexico. I wish we would have saved the marlin for you. Or maybe someone who would pay me $400 for it!
And I really want to paint my brick fireplace and all my orange-y molding white–yeah, my husband doesn’t get it.
haha we have an enormous( bass?) fish that my husband caught over our fireplace.
it was sort of a “non-negotiable” thing.
he has let me take over every aspect of the house, but the fish stays.
and honestly, i have come to love it.
i wish i was often more daring like my hubs,
he does what he wants without worrying about what people might think.
our fish seen here
http://under-theriverandthroughthe-woods.blogspot.com/2010/09/rule-breaker.htmlpost painted fireplace and walls…
i’m just glad this fish doesnt talk!
haha we have an enormous( bass?) fish that my husband caught over our fireplace.
it was sort of a “non-negotiable” thing.
he has let me take over every aspect of the house, but the fish stays.
and honestly, i have come to love it.
i wish i was often more daring like my hubs,
he does what he wants without worrying about what people might think.
our fish seen here
http://under-theriverandthroughthe-woods.blogspot.com/2010/09/rule-breaker.htmlpost painted fireplace and walls…
i’m just glad this fish doesnt talk!
Great post! I’ve always wanted to be a redhead, but I never had the nerve. A few weeks ago, I was joking with my stylist and mentioned it, so she talked me into having some strawberry highlights put into my normally conservative blond hair. I love the results, despite the teasing my three teenage kids give me about my “pink” hair. And my husband — well, let’s just say he’s been paying a lot more attention to me lately. :) It’s exciting to step outside my comfort zone every once in a while.
Hello! With a quote like that coming from one of my favorite idols (he won to me) I will start to try to new things in fashion and in home decor’. I admit I hold back although cutting off 10 inches from my hair this past June was HUGE for me. Yay! Thanks for the great post and video.
Have a wonderful day! ~Melissa
I would love to be able to pull off zebra print of some fashion in my home. A rug or some pillows… I don’t know, but I’ve always loved it. I just don’t know where or how I would do it. Thanks for the inspiration! Maybe I’ll get to work figuring out a place to add some zebra! :)
Nester, while I appreciate whole heartedly what you’re saying here, please please please don’t buy a real stuffed marlin. They’re one of the most over-fished species and are disappearing in droves, with a projected extinction in just 5 to 10 years. Can you find something else to remind you of your grandparents? Or can you find an artificial marlin?
Go here to see what I’m talking about:
http://www.bigmarinefish.com/marlin.html
Sorry to be a party pooper…
Agreed, I’d actually rather a fake, however, if I saw one at the goodwill, I’d probably buy it
That’s my favorite Adam Lambert song evah. As for the uber cool marlin, I say go for it.
Stylistically speaking, I’ve always loved the look of cute little hats but only recently had the courage to try it. And guess what! I can totally rock the cute little hat look (I even wore one for our family photos this year!). It will be interesting to think about applying the same principal in my home.
Life’s to short to not sport a beautiful bird! :)
A fellow blogger is needing some help. I currently have a post up about an online auction I am hosting tomorrow to help out.
If you have a moment please stop by and perhaps you could help spread the word.
Thank you.
Now that is some seriously brilliant advice. Love it!
OH my WORD. I hit your blog this morning, and when I saw the photo of good ole adam, I seriously thought I was in the wrong place. LOVE it. LOVE it. LOVE IT. this is priceless and SO true! thanks.
I would so have a cowhide rug in every room if it matched. Maybe I will get brave enough to find somewhere for one to go.
Thanks for this reminder/permission!!!
I bid on an imperfect cowhide on eBay today- they had 30 listed!
you know…for me, it’s not that i think that i couldn’t pull it off…it’s that i fear my house couldn’t pull it off. :)
I read this post and loved it and wanted to comment, but couldn’t really think of what I have always wanted to pull off in my home, but was fearful of. Let me just preface by saying I have a fear of hanging pictures. Growing up my dad never wanted to put holes in the wall for pictures unless we were absolutely certain we wanted a picture there, and there the picture would stay until we moved! So I have a fear of nail holes in the wall. So number one I would love to be able to pull off hanging a picture if I felt it needed to be hung there and then moving it later when it needed a new home. So my real desire to pull off something in my home is the staircase wall. My current home has soaring ceilings in the foyer with a great staircase that I love. I don’t know what to hang! I am afraid anything I put will look dorky. I just need to try it and love what ever I do. (by the way, my other house that we moved from had 22 foot ceilings in the foyer with a grand staircase. Beautiful! We lived there for 61/2 years, did I hang anything on that wall? NO! to afraid to. The only thing that graced that wall for 6 years was a 6 inch gouge that happened when my 2 year old sent a plastic shopping cart racing down the stairs!)
I waited several years to hang pictures on my staircase wall and then — I discovered the 3M velcro strips!!! I love my wall now and everyone comments on it. It was so easy — you should do it!
Oh! I SO needed this today! I’ve been fretting lately because I think we bought the “wrong” love seat for our family room. It’s pretty different (white leather, tufted, but with modern lines), and recently I’ve been feeling like I’ll never be able to make it look good in another house. But that’s obviously silly! If we both like it (which is an accomplishment in its own right) then it will look awesome.
Truthfully, all that Adam Lambert stands for screams so loudly I cannot even remember your question…
I am older, but would love to have a tatoo on my right shoulder. You know the one of the
‘eye of zorus’, the one one that Adam has on his wrist.
Some day I think I will do it, then other day i can’t feel that would be kind of insane.
I am in love with Adam, and some people thinks that I am being ridiculous.
Will I have the courage to get that tatoo.?
I am almost 56…I just saw Adam Lambert a few weeks ago in concert………his talent is so beautiful..so huge. His presence is very honest and moving………..
This is my favorite post ever. *snaps*
I think I want a disco ball in my living room instead of a chandelier! I reminds me of rollerskating in the eighties and dancing of course! It would be sweet!
Surprised you even know who Adam Lambert is! I love him, because he has talent, and knows who he is. I could never have anything really, really modern, like a chrome chair with neon upholstery. I really want an old cowhide, preferably without hair, but I can’t figure out the listing lingo for ebay without getting 1000 hits. Can you help me out please?
Maybe if you found some one who stuffs animals or made them into rug you could just buy one from a butcher and take it to them.
For quite some time I’ve lusted for a red Vespa to be in the foyer/entryway area. As sculpture. Not to ride, just to look at, all shiny and pretty. Sadly, no room in the current abode. Maybe in the future, and maybe then I’ll need to take it for a spin as well.
It’s a rainy blah day here in Scotland…you always make me smile — thanks.
Good advice – thanks! I find myself saying “I can’t pull that off” a lot. Maybe I’ll be a little more daring in the future. (and the fish, oh my gosh, I was not expecting that! LOL When you finally get one, you definitely have to share!)
I’m afraid to paint wood. My dad has this thing about never painting wood only refinishing it. I’m to lazy to refinish and I like the color painting adds. I also love it when you paint non matching pieces the same color and then they all go together. Yet, here I sit with 3 different wood tones in my living room. . .
Oh you should paint it if you want to. It is your house after all. Plus its a great way to add color.