Tuesday, July 28, 2020

All Dressed Up...

I may be a little dressed up for work today, but where else am I going to wear such a fabulous frock? I can't remember the last time Chapin and I even went out to dinner. I guess these are the times we are living in.


Outfit Details

Dress: Belle Badgley Mischka Julia Jacquard U-Neck Sleeveless Floral Print Fit and Flare Dress

The dress, which I bought at Dillard's months ago on clearance, is unfortunately no longer available. I'm a big fan of the u-shaped neckline, as I think it's super flattering and unexpected, and I love the colors and overall style of this dress. It's definitely me! It even has pockets!


The fit and flare silhouette combined with the t-strap pumps has a slight 1950s vibe, which matches with the book I'm getting ready to finish tonight: Recipe for a Perfect Wife. I really am enjoying it and am sad to see it end! If you're looking for something to read, I highly recommend it.

Shoes: SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker Taylor Closed Toe T-Strap Pumps (no longer available)

These exact shoes are sold out, but SJP's site has a few t-strap styles for sale.

Monday, July 27, 2020

Ruffled

This pale pink dress from BCBGMaxAzria is full of ruffles from head to toe! The design is sweet and feminine, perfect for a hot summer day in Atlanta.


Outfit Details

Dress: BCBGMaxAzria Ruffled Eyelet Dress in Dare Bare Pink

The dress is available on the BCBG.com website as well as Macy's and Bloomingdale's.

The dress is a little tight fitting, so size up to be safe. I'm wearing a size 2 for reference.


Shoes: Jimmy Choo Alissa Platform Wedges in Blush and Gold

The shoes also come in Cork and Black! These shoes are super comfortable, and while the shades of pink don't match up exactly, I think they go really well with this dress.

Weekend Update!

So what did you do this weekend? Like most people, my husband and I just stayed home. I didn't leave the house all weekend. Highlights include:

  • Starting a new season of Top Chef. Chapin and I are currently on Season 10 and making our way through all of the seasons available on Hulu.
  • Watching The Kissing Booth 2 on Netflix. I think these movies are frothy good fun. They've gotten a lot of criticism, but I don't take them seriously at all.
  • Reading Karma Brown's Recipe for a Perfect Wife. I just love it so far! It takes place today and in the 1950s, going back and forth between two women who lived in the same house in these different time periods.
  • Hosting my parents for Sunday lunch. Wearing masks and trying to socially distance, Chapin and I had my parents over to our new house for the first time on Sunday. Chapin made pizza in his new Ooni pizza oven and I baked chocolate chip cookies. These cookies came out really well, and I wonder if refrigerating the dough overnight was the key to their success. Hmmm....
  • Working: I feel like I can't escape from work even when I am home on the weekends. I check my email now more than I ever did pre-COVID.
Some days I feel like I'm stuck in Groundhog Day, repeating the same day over and over, but I'm glad to have my family and friends, my three dogs, my work, and this blog and my outfits to help remind me that every day is a new day worth living. Sometimes looking forward to something as simple as wearing a new dress makes it a little easier to get out of bed in the morning.

Thursday, July 23, 2020

A Dress That's Just Fun

This Parker New York dress has a lot going on -- the floral eyelet print, the high-low silhouette, the ruffle, the ruching -- but all of these elements come together to form a very fun and flirty design. I feel like dancing when I wear this dress!


Outfit Details

Dress: Parker Candy Ruched Floral Eyelet Dress (no longer available)

Shoes: Schutz Florenza Heeled Sandals in Gold (no longer available)

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Good as Gold

Today's dress is shiny and fabulous, guaranteed to make the wearer stand out in a crowd. It's a truly comfortable dress, perfect for days when you don't want anything too binding or close fitting.


Outfit Details

Dress: Rebecca Taylor Metallic Ivory and Gold Leopard Print Dress

The dress -- only in the black and gold option -- is available now and on sale at Saks, Saks Off 5th, ShopBop and Zappos.


Shoes: Sophia Webster Rosalind Gem Sandals in Gold

The gold version of these gem sandals seems to be sold out, but there are many versions in different colors available now. Bloomingdale's has a glitter version in gold, for example, and the Sophia Webster website has several colors on sale. I always get compliments on these sandals when I wear them; they really make your feet look gorgeous.

I do need to warn you about this shoe brand, though: It runs very, very small, and the size chart isn't exact. Size up. I usually buy the size 39.5 or 40 for my big feet.

Monday, July 20, 2020

90s Throwback

Yesterday (July 19th) marked 25 years since the movie, Clueless, arrived in theaters, so today I thought I would wear a modern tribute to that iconic film. The dress is plaid, the shoes are platform and the look is (I hope) fabulous.


Outfit Details

Dress: BCBGeneration Plaid Ruffle Mini Dress

6pm.com is selling the dress for under $38 -- what a deal! The dress is comfortable and chic, and I love the ruffled hem and puff sleeves.


I was immediately reminded of the plaid looks in Clueless when I saw this dress. 1990s fashion is definitely making a comeback. I also think costume designer Mona May was ahead of her time; many of Cher's outfits could still be worn today, like the Alaïa dress she wears to the party in the Valley.

ShoesSophia Webster Freya Platform Sandals in Gold


In other news...

Alicia Silverstone, who played Cher, is no longer a teenager; instead, she's playing a mom to one in the new Netflix series, The Baby-Sitters Club. (She plays mom to Kristy, the founder of the club.) I loved those books growing up, and the new reboot -- which I binged last week -- is refreshing, nostalgic and timely all at once. The episode where Mary Anne babysits for a transgender girl is particularly outstanding. I highly recommend it.

Thursday, July 16, 2020

A Different Kind of Summer Dress

I'm not sure why, but this week in particular feels like it's lasting forever. Maybe it's the intense heat and humidity; every time I go outside, I feel like I'm stepping into a sauna. My poor hair... frizz city.

When the summer temperatures rise, it helps to have a lightweight summer dress to wear. When I think of summer dresses, I normally think of longer, free-flowing dresses that billow around you in the muffled breeze.

That's not this dress. 

I'm calling this Parker dress a "different kind" of summer dress. It's white, with a pink floral pattern and ruffles throughout, including on the (adjustable) straps and skirt. It's also hugs your curves much more than a typical summer dress, making it super flattering.


Outfit Details

Dress: Parker New York Laurel Floral Ruffled Dress

I actually bought the dress last summer but never had a chance to wear it. You can still find it on discount sites like BHFO.

I'm not sure what's happening with the Parker brand; the site shut down a few months ago due to COVID, but hopefully will be back up and running soon. I love this brand's chic dresses and would hate to see it go out of business.

Shoes: Manolo Blahnik Didin Wrap-Around Leather Sandals (no longer available)

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Bright and Coral

I promised color this week, so I'm in another bright dress (this time from Shoshanna) on this hot and humid Tuesday.


Outfit Details

Dress: Shoshanna Antilla Dress in Coral (no longer available)

The dress is chic and comfortable and fits me so nicely. It's a size zero, so it must run large.


Shoes: Sophia Webster Rosalind Sandals in Coral and Pink

As Seen On!

Emily Blunt was seen wearing the sandals to an event in late 2019.

Monday, July 13, 2020

Color Explosion

After wearing a lot of black last week, this week I plan to wear a lot of COLOR... starting with this Trina Turk yellow dress.


Outfit Details:

Dress: Trina Turk Mystery Sleeveless Embellished Crepe Dress

You can find the dress at Nordstrom Rack in both the sun kissed yellow color and navy blue.

Today's dress was also a birthday gift (from my parents). I love this bold yellow hue -- it's definitely attention grabbing -- and the dress is simple but still unique with the feminine floral detail at the neckline.

Shoes: Alexandre Birman Lolita Block 90 Sandals in Metallic Rainbow


I call these my PRIDE sandals... the rainbow of colors is so beautiful. Shoes are just wearable works of art; will men ever understand that?

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Gifted

My sisters dressed me today! Gail got me the dress and Laura got me the shoes -- both a treat for my (quarantine) birthday this year.


Outfit Details

Dress: Rebecca Taylor Swiss Dot A-Line Dress

Rebecca Taylor has created such a cute, lightweight summer dress that is still work appropriate. I love the ruffle at the neckline and the simple design; you can't go wrong with black, white and polka dots! The dress is really comfortable, too. Thank you, Gail!


Shoes: BCBGMAXAZRIA Paige Wedge Sandals

Find these chic wedges at Amazon and Last Call. They are such fun and make me feel so tall. Thank you, Laura!

I definitely miss my sisters and parents and seeing more of my family during these weird times. I love how technology helps keep us connected, but there's no substitute for putting your arms around someone and enveloping them in a hug. Who knows when we can all safely do that again...

In the meantime, I'm reading and working out more. We just ordered a Peloton treadmill after months of waiting for the company to resume tread sales! I am so excited about building up our home gym. It's been a dream of mine to have my own gym for so long!

I'm close to finishing Elin Hilderbrand's latest novel, 28 Summers, and I recently started Meg Mitchell Moore's Two Truths and a Lie. What are you reading this summer? Leave your summer reading recommendations in the comments.

Monday, July 6, 2020

Summertime LBD

You can wear a black dress throughout the year, but some LBDs are better suited for summer than others. This particular LBD, from the Jill Jill Stuart brand, is adorned with little flowers, so it seems extra appropriate to wear it during the warmer months of the year, when flowers (like those behind me) are in full bloom.


Outfit Details

Dress: Jill Jill Stuart Black Floral Jaquard Button Dress

The dress is super comfortable and flattering, with ruched detailing at the sleeves and bust and a v-shaped neckline that draws your eye to the little buttons in front. The buttons are just for show; the dress zips up the back.

You can still find the dress (on sale) at Neiman Marcus!


Shoes: Tamara Mellon Corbu 105 Sandals (no longer available)

I love how these sandals give the illusion of a longer leg!

As Seen On!

Reese Witherspoon wore the shoes last year.


July Fourth

This Fourth of July holiday was unlike any other. Last year, we had just adopted Tulip, so we were adjusting to her joining our family. I ran the Peachtree Road Race like usual, and we binged the latest season of Stranger Things. We had my parents over after the race and hosted friends for dinner another night. One of Chapin's friends had us over to their house for yet another night out. Oh, to go back to 2019 and know then what I know now!

We did have one couple over for dinner this July Fourth, and Chapin made pizza in his new Ooni pizza oven. (He loves this new toy!) We stayed six feet apart and everyone tried to be really careful about hand washing. This might be the new normal for the foreseeable future.