twenty four dresses

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8

Le Bomb Shop asked me to pick my favorite dresses for a promotion and believe it or not, it was hard to narrow it down to just 24! I probably could have filled this up with mint polka dotted frocks alone (seriously!)

I've been a fan of Le Bomb Shop for ages. I bought my first vintage-style dress from them way back when I still had to ask for my parents' permission to place orders on the internet. I love the idea that there are other young girls out there right now, making their first Le Bomb Shop purchase and getting a nice helping of self-confidence, finding their style and feeling like their clothing finally reflects their personality. Sometimes you're ordering more than just a dress :)

shop my closet update!

I just listed a TON of stuff in my shop my closet store. Lots of dresses, a ridiculous amount of shoes and another instant belt collection. I also listed two vintage dresses that are super hard for me to part with (like the one above) There are over 90 things in the shop! yay! Click here to take a peek!

the hypatia dress - take one

This week I have 5 outfit posts planned with my Hypatia Dress, each one styled a completely different way. I know the old adage goes "save the best for last" but I couldn't wait to share this particular ensemble, I just love it so much!! I paired the dress with a plain black skirt, a pink fabric bow belt and pink pumps. I've had some pink-white-and-black vintage dresses hanging out in my etsy favorites forever (see the bottom of this page) and I think this definitely echoes that style, albeit slightly more casual than the dresses I was coveting.

Really though, you could do hundreds of variations on this with any number of skirts and belts. Layering skirts over dresses is a super easy way to change them up (and the dresses, at least for me, seem to stay tucked in much better than shirts do!) And most of the detail on this dress is up at the top anyway, so you don't really lose any of that when you add the skirt! :)

dress - designed by me and available at ever + mi crush | skirt - forever 21

belt - vintage, from another dress | shoes - from my grandmom

stupendously exciting announcement!!

The dress that I designed earlier this year for Dahlia is now available for sale exclusively at Ever + Mi Crush!! It's available in sizes small, medium and large in limited quantities, so if you're interested in snagging one, hurry hurry hurry! ;)

I'm so excited about this!! As I said in my original post about the dress, I had thought the dress was going to be available to purchase and was slightly heartbroken when I found out it wasn't. Then Christen from Ever + Mi Crush swooped in to the rescue and arranged this wonderful exclusive limited run! It's been so much fun working together and I'm so excited about this collaboration!! :D

The dress is a beautiful cream color with a warm grey lining, double layered scalloped collar and sheer bell sleeves. It comes with a matching cream belt with a warm grey buckle and pretty grey buttons on the collar.






As an added bonus, the first 10 orders will all receive a signed print of my original design sketch! The dress was inspired by Hypatia; her warm grey and light cream coloring, her fragile beauty, and her innate sweetness. Ever + Mi Crush named the dress after her, too -- it's called The Hypatia Dress!



This is my inspiration board for the dress. My main concept was creating something that looked like vintage but would actually fit (oh how many times I've shed a tear over a pretty vintage dress on etsy that had a 23" waist) Also since it's a neutral (well, a combination of neutrals - grey and cream) it can be remixed in a bunch of different combinations.

Which leads me to my next fun surprise -- I'm going to have 5 outfit posts next week with 5 different ways to wear the dress. Of course I think it's lovely on its own with a pair of pink flats, but this little number can also be styled in so many different ways! One of my favorite things about it is that it has unique details (like the collar and matching belt) that make it work without any added accessories, but they're subtle enough that you can add on layers and punches of color without it being too much :)





You can check out the dress (and the other pretty goodies Ever + Mi Crush has to offer!) over here! They also have Dear Creatures dresses on sale for only $30. Just saying ;) 

shop my closet update!

I just added over 40 items (including LOTS of dresses, pastels and pretty collars!!) to my shop my closet page. It's connected to Sweet and Lovely so if you have your eye on any of those items you can combine shipping ;) Also that means my 10% off code in the sidebar is applicable as well! Just saying..

I'm actually leaving on my road trip TODAY! eep! I'm going to bring along anything that doesn't sell immediately so that I can still mail it from the road. However.. if you're thinking of getting something from the closet update, buying it before 11AM EST would ensure I can ship it before I leave. It just means you get it quicker and I don't have to stuff more clothes into my car than I'd like to, lol ;) I already have waaaaay too many dresses in my own suitcase haha!

Well, my next post will be written from the road!! ahh!

the mary poppins of dresses

This is the Mary Poppins of dresses -- it is practically perfect in every way. Mint green? Check. Polka dotted? Check. Thick (but not too thick for summer) perfect cotton material? Check. Flattering fit and flare shape? Check. That alone qualifies this as a super (califragilisticexpialidocious) dress, but wait a minute. It also has a big pretty bow on the front. Forget practically, it is 100% perfect in every way.

It is really so wonderful on its own I wasn't even sure if I wanted to outfit-tize it, but once I tried it on with a lighter colored mint polka dot blouse underneath I just had to. This blouse had been sitting around in my closet unworn for months.. almost as if it was just *waiting* for its dress soul mate to come along ;)

dress- c/o le bomb shop | blouse - forever 21 | shoes - bait footwear

wishlist wednesday: the prettiest dress ever

THIS.
DRESS.

It's been listed as "coming soon" on modcloth for what seems like months, and I've been eagerly checking the new items page hoping it would appear in time for me to order before my birthday. Because, clearly, this is a birthday dress if there ever was one, right? Well, I seem to be in fate's good graces at the moment because it was listed for sale today, just in time for me to order it (albeit with an express shipping upgrade) JUST in time for it to still be my birthday dress! Yippee!!!!! :D (If you're equally enamored, it's available on modcloth here!)

ps. I'm sort of overdoing it with drawing hearts on things this week, but my broken tablet miraculously started working again last weekend and I've been eagerly overusing it ever since :)

wishlist wednesday // pie dress!

If ever there was a dress that was Charlotte-Charles-ish, this is it. A DRESS COVERED IN PIES!! Even the shape just screams "Chuck!" am I right?! I want to buy it and wear it with a little cropped cardigan and over-sized cat-eye shades while I track down murderers with a boy who can bring back the dead. Okay, that last part is highly unlikely, but at least I can wear the dress with a sweater and pretty sunnies ;)

I'm surprised (and a teensy bit disappointed) that it isn't called "The Pie Hole dress" or "The Pie Maker dress" as an homage to Pushing Daisies, but c'est la vie! Sometimes I forget that not everyone is as obsessed with dresses that remind them of this tv show as I am, lol ;)

modcloth sale loot!

1. Lace Everyone in teal dress $49.99 $14.99
2. La Vie en Rosebuds dress $107.99 $31.99
3. Box Seat Beauty dress $54.99 $16.99
4. Best Daisy Ever dress $84.99 $24.99
5. Bookbinding dress $74.99 $21.99



6. Sparkler Personality dress $99.99 $29.99
7. Like a Dreamsicle dress $59.99 $17.99
8. Coastal Conservatory dress $104.99 $31.99
9. Patio Perfect dress $82.99 $24.99
10. Powdered Donut Delight dress $117.99 $34.99

Soooo I went a little overboard! eek! I also got this sweater and a few other things, too. In my defense, I have had a REALLY stressful month *and* I was very financially responsible and paid off a big student loan bill last week... so I'm not beating myself up too much about splurging, especially when everything I got was reduced by SO much!

Oh, also my favorite dress of all time is on clearance, too! It's the neapolitan ice cream one that I got for myself as a reward for reaching 5,000 sales in my etsy shop :)

You know how to whistle, don't you?

dress - c/o collectif

netted headband - h&m

shoes - c/o blowfish

This dress is a little different from my normal style, but I thought it would be fun to step outside of my comfort zone a bit! When I first put it on my mom was like "peep-toe shoes! you need peep-toe shoes to go with it! Oh! And back-seam stockings!! And victory rolls!" lol... I think she likes playing paper doll as much as I like playing dress up! ;D

I went my own direction, though, and wore a beehive, my favorite wedges and a silly little red netted headband. I've been going back and forth between feeling like I should be hanging out at a seedy jazz club in the city with Humphrey Bogart or bursting into song with Jane Russell on the streets of Paris. It sort of has both a Lauren Bacall and a Marilyn Monroe -circa Gentlemen Prefer Blondes- vibe, right? Either way I absolutely love it, and I think I might branch out a bit and start trying clothes that aren't always inspired by the 60's!

uh-oh spaghetti-o!

Modcloth is having a huge sale again... Is it possible to be a dress junkie? Because I just took some money I had put aside towards paying off my student debt and spent it on new dresses. eeek! But I'm seriously not feeling the least bit guilty because these babies were all ridiculously marked down, and they had all been sitting patiently in my wishlist for months just waiting for the day that modcloth would reduce their price so they could come home to me.

I'm so helpless when it comes to these sales (can you tell?!) but I don't think I've ever regretted indulging myself when they come around. Some of my all-time favorite dresses were snagged during huge modcloth blowout sales, and I know that some of the dresses arriving on my doorstep this week will be future favorites that I'll love for years to come :)

Here are some of the ones I snatched up today (from left to right)

1. Vibrant variety dress - $47.99 $13.99

2. Wish in the wind dress - $109.99 $32.99

3. For the right moment dress - $149.99 $44.99

4. Out to sea foam dress - $64.99 $18.99

5. Seeing bubble dress - $107.99 $31.99

6. Fondue of you dress - $119.99 $35.99

perfect for the occasion

I don't know about you, but probably half of the clothing I own was purchased because it would be perfect for [insert event here.] I'm not talking about one time events like an art show opening or going on vacation, just casual occasions when wearing a certain article of clothing would be pitch perfect. For instance, when I bought this dress I knew I'd be wearing it pretty much every time my family and I went out for ice cream. It just screams "wear me when eating ice cream!!"

Here are some examples of dresses I adore and places I'd love to wear them!

1. star print midi dress ($17) would be absolutely perfect for going to the planetarium! Or add a sweater, tights and boots and it would even be great for laying on the hood of the car doing some star-gazing at home.

2. multi color block dress ($57) just screams "roller skating!" doesn't it?! I'm a pretty crappy roller skater, but I always think it looks like fun :)

1. zest is more dress ($49) reminds me so much of Belle's gown! I already started making a dress to wear to see Beauty & The Beast 3D this weekend but if I wasn't, I'd totally buy this and wear it to the movie!

2. good enough to eat dress ($69) would be ideal for a county or street fair! I have this one and let me tell you, it makes drinking a milkshake or eating a funnel cake 100x more fun!

1. paws and play dress ($59) I love wearing cat themed clothing when I do volunteer work for my local animal shelter. I wore this one to the book-wrapping fundraiser in december :)

2. painted lovely dress ($59) You could go to the art museum and stand in front of a Jackson Pollock painting in this dress and nobody would even know you were there.

1. graceful greenery dress ($129) I would love to wear this to a garden estate like Winterthur! I haven't been there in a few years, but last time I went with my family it was just so pretty and for some reason I remember it smelled heavenly! Not like flowers, just really sweet.

2. seasons to believe dress ($129) This green frock would be so pretty for St. Patrick's Day! When I was little I used to celebrate by dying *everything* with green food coloring. Eggs, milk, rice... I think this dress is much more appetizing ;D

1. blue striped dress ($99) If I went sailing I'd say this would be a fantastic sailing dress.. but since I'm a land lover, I'm going with a trip to the seashore instead ;)

2. pink floral print dress ($55) I have so much fun choosing an easter dress every year, and I definitely have my sights set on this one already, even though it's only January! The colors are just so springy and easter-egg like!

posh frock friday

dress - modcloth

lace cardigan - h&m

belt - forever 21

shoes - c/o blowfish

hair bow - honeybean

This is one of the dresses that I have on my dress wall, and I honestly think I love it equally as a piece of clothing and as a piece of art. I love re-arranging which dresses I have hanging on display, admiring my new dresses and re-discovering old ones. But this one is a constant, I don't think I could ever take it down. I love the floaty hem and the beautiful delicate teardrops on the bodice. I almost feel like I'm messing with a precious museum piece when I remove it from its hanger and slide it over my head.

ps. I've been offline a lot this week because of a family emergency... if I owe you an email I promise I'll be replying very soon!

DIY: anthropologie landscape dress

When I saw this dress on anthropologie earlier this year, I knew I wanted it... but I also knew it was way out of my price range. And even if I could afford it, it's no longer available. SO. I decided to make one!

You'll need: a plain white cotton dress, fabric paint, brushes, water

I dampened the dress, then laid it out on my table with a board in the dress to prevent the colors from seeping onto the back. Then I just painted! I did it freehand (which is probably why it doesn't look *exactly* like the original lol) but you could always sketch out your design first lightly with pencil, or even trace it from a large scale landscape print-out.

As long as the dress stays damp, your colors will bleed a bit, giving it the watercolor look. I'd recommend ironing it really well before you try to wash it, to lock in the fabric paint and keep it from running in the wash. Give it a couple days to dry before wearing it or washing it. Mine was still a little damp after 2 days so I just let it hang out for a while.

I got my dress at Dorothy Perkins, but plain white dresses are really everywhere! As long as it's cotton it should work! :)

posh frock thursday

dress - vintage

shoes - modcloth

hair bow - hive & honey

Is this dress ah-mazing or what?! I found it on ebay for only $20! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it... it's the most gorgeous shade of mint, with really pretty intricate crocheted lace around the neck and sleeves *and* it's my exact measurements. This thing fits so good it's like it was made for me. The sleeves originally had a little balloon-elastic attachment thingy that was really easy to remove (I sort of wonder if they're the reason it was only $20... they weren't especially pretty lol) Luckily I had a seam ripper and 10 minutes to kill ;)

Well... this is it for me until I get back from Disney World!! Tomorrow I'll be on the train headed for Florida :D I've scheduled oodles and heaps of posts for while I'm gone, though! Lots of great guest DIY posts, as well as some projects I did myself! I also scheduled a special Disney-themed slumber party sunday post!

FYI - I am totally disconnecting for my trip... no email, twitter, instagram, etsy, nothing, nada. So if you drop me a line, I won't be able to respond until I get back! However, my mom will be handling my etsy shop for me while I'm away so if you have any etsy-related questions she'll be there to help! :)

See you soon!! :D

look what I made #3!

dress - handmade by me!!!

belt - forever 21

shoes - modcloth

hair bow - hive & honey

My first attempt at sewing a dress with sleeves!! :) It's not quite perfect, but I'm so happy with how it turned out! The armholes go wayyyy too low for me, if I so much as raise my arm 1/2" the whole dress comes up with it, lol! Also, I still haven't nailed the science of sizing yet so I really need the belt to cinch the waist.

Last night I decided to tackle adjusting the pattern to fit better. I'm such a novice, I really didn't think it would work at all. I'm just barely getting the hang of sewing a store-bought pattern, so adjusting one to fit me is a bit of a stretch! But I took in the waist on the pattern and brought the armhole up closer to my actual arm... then I just dove right in and sewed it. And it actually worked! The new dress I made fits (almost) like a glove... still a bit too big in the waist, but it's a step in the right direction. I'll take pictures today and probably post them for my PFF post since the dress is kinda fancy looking ;D

ps. sorry about the insane amount of light coming in from my window.. the sun was like that all day yesterday, it was crazy!! :)

sunshine on a cloudy day

dress - modcloth

belt - modcloth

After dinner on Father's Day we went to Princeton for dessert, and then sat around the fountain on the University campus until about 10pm. It was SUCH a nice evening! There weren't too many people at the fountain, so it was really quiet and peaceful, just listening to the water trickling and birds flying around the trees nearby.

For dessert we went to Thomas Sweet on Nassau Street. The shoppe smells SO good inside, and they have one of those wacky mirrors that makes you look really short and wide -- and it's actually from a Fun House in the 1930's! It's pretty neat to think that people have been laughing at themselves in this mirror for over 75 years! :)

ps! I did a re-design for Andi's blog! Take a peek here! :)

Do you want to comment, but have no idea what to say? Trust me, I've been there! So to make things a little easier, here is a question you can answer if you can't think of anything else to say! :)

What is your favorite carnival ride? Mine is the tilt-a-whirl!