I know, I don’t normally post about clothes here… but I had an opportunity to do a review of this awesome vest and I just couldn’t pass it up. If you’re tuning in for deep (or irreverent or possibly quirky) spiritual insights, you’ve found the right place. Please come back next time, when things around here are back to normal! But in the meantime, join me on this brief fall clothing journey with me. Because… well, fall clothes. That’s really all that needs to be said.

I came across this online boutique called Simply Bliss. Their mission is based on Proverbs 31:25 (“She is clothed in strength and dignity”). One of the company’s goals is to provide modest and trendy clothing. As a busy, self-employed mom, I like to dress casually, and since I’m 45 minutes away from the nearest Target, most of my shopping is done online. I like things that are comfortable and cute but not fussy, made to fit real women. It’s a bonus if it’s from a company based on strong principles.

Here’s the problem with online shopping, though: as fun as it is, I never know how a new brand will fit. I have the shoulders of a linebacker (let’s just say I cut out every shoulder pad in every item of clothing I wore in the 80s and 90s—and probably no one ever noticed). And I don’t like clothing that fits tight around my stomach (because I would rather eat than diet). I’m usually a women’s size XL, but plus sizes are usually a little large (because I’m not curvy in the places plus-size designers assume will be voluptuous). So now you know my insecurities. (Well, some of them.) I say all that simply to get to this point: I wasn’t sure how the vest in the big photo above would fit, but it was worth a shot because it’s really cute.

And I love it. It’s too small for me to zip it closed (but I wouldn’t want to anyway). I think it will look great with the booties I nabbed at Target a few weeks ago, which I will start wearing once it cools off just a little bit more. I don’t love to wear heels, but wedges are do-able. On the day that I’m writing this post, it’s 87 degrees outside, so I’m not quite ready for layering or for socks and suede on my feet. But once it starts to cool down, I suspect this vest is going to get a lot of use. If you want to be my twin, you can find it here.

For the other women out there who don’t always fit into regular clothing sizes, I want to let you know that Simply Bliss does offer a few items in 1XL and 2XL, too. Some of the clothes are really cute… See?

So now it’s time for the best part of this post: a giveaway! I’ll be giving away a $25 Simply Bliss gift card on October 3rd.

To enter, all you have to do is visit shopsimplybliss.com and find one item that you like. If you tell me the name of the item (or paste a link) in the comments on my blog or on my Facebook post about this, you will be entered into the drawing. I will select a winner—at random—and announce the winner on Monday, October 3rd.

If we weren’t headed into fall and winter in Indiana, I might pick the dress to the left as one of my favorites. I love it. It would almost be worth scheduling a trip to someplace tropical just to be able to wear it. (Well, and for the sunshine and sandy beaches and time to read in a lounge chair, slathered in sunscreen. But I digress.) But if you’re staying in cooler climates, maybe you’d prefer the quilted navy vest?

Anyway, let me know what you think about Simply Bliss, and good luck!