Pretty Little Dress

I am completely obsessed with Pretty Little Liars. I just started binge watching it on Netflix - I'm already on Season 3 - and I am having to really stop myself from looking up spoilers on the Internet. I am usually a total "spoiler slut," but I'm having too much fun trying to guess at what outrageous plot line the Pretty Little Liars writers will throw at the audience next. If you are looking for a soapy show to watch while you're doing other things (for me: treadmill), then I highly recommend this campy little show.

The actresses on Pretty Little Liars always look perfect: shiny hair, trendy accessories, fun and stylish clothes. They inspired me to try a different look with my hair: big curls. I would love to rock this look more often, but with the Atlanta humidity, the curls last about an hour, so I usually don't bother. At the start of the day, though, they are still intact.

Dress: Shoshanna "Mermaid" Aqua and Gold Fit and Flare Dress

Also available online at Shoshanna.com and Neiman Marcus.

Shoes: Casadei Gold Croc-Embossed Sling-Back Pumps (no longer available)

You can find Casadei pumps online at Saks, Shopbop and other retailers.

The Linda Dress

I absolutely adore this dress from Trina Turk, and it's the cherry on top that it's named the "Linda Dress," which also happens to be my mom's name. I love my mom very much, and I am so glad that we have become so close as I've started getting older; now, I can truly call her my friend. Of course, she's still my mom - she still nags me about going to the doctor, she still checks up on me to make sure I'm staying gluten-free, etc. - but we have fun shopping and talking and reminiscing. I hold my mom in the highest esteem and often wish I could be more like her.

Today's Outfit Details:

Dress: Trina Turk

Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Purse: Kate Spade New York

My tastes are pretty simple: Give me a fit and flare dress with a v-neck in a solid or pretty print, and I'm sold. The basket weave print here is in pink and green with hints of blue, making it perfect for spring and summer. Since tomorrow is technically the first day of autumn, I'm getting it in just under the wire.

It's hard for me to let go of summer, but I do love the fall season with its bold colors and crisp weather. (I was, after all, married in fall, and had red roses and berries in my bouquet!) I know this fall will be hard without George. It is partly my favorite season because we could more easily do things with George outside, when the temperatures cooled off but it was still nice out. The summer is too hot for pugs to be outside very long, and George so adored being outside. I'm still so grateful he spent one of his last days on Earth outside with Chapin and Norman, enjoying the unseasonably warm weather on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

One of the last photos taken of my sweet George.

As we go into fall, there's another reason to be happy: End of Season Sales! Make sure you are checking your favorite stores for discounts on summer clothing. At least in Georgia, you can still wear your summer clothes for awhile yet!

Happy shopping!

Longer the Dress, Higher the Heel

I love the bold pattern on this Eva Franco dress. Longer dresses tend not to work well on my short frame -- I'm barely 5'4", though everyone always thinks I'm taller because I live in heels -- so pairing it with a really high heel works to elongate the leg. You want to look slim, not stacked.

This dress represents another steal from MyHabit.com, an Amazon site. Originally $395, it was recently marked down to just $40.

With a black and white dress, it's fun to play up your accessories and an easy way to add color. In addition to these red heels, I used my royal blue Kate Spade New York purse (not pictured). It was a little risky, but I loved the effect.

Dress: Eva Franco Ora Fit and Flare Dress

Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Graph It Up

The blue and white print of this Shoshanna Svetlana Dress sort of reminds me of graph paper, but I think the architectural pattern really works here. The whole dress is very slimming, and like most fit and flare dresses, it will work on a variety of body types. What I like best about this particular silhouette is the neckline, which is feminine and low enough to show off just a touch of cleavage. The blue nip at the waist is an added bonus to accentuate a small waistline.

I paired the dress with nude colored shoes. Although I hate the "don't wear white after Labor Day" rule, a rule I fully intend to break, I am not quite brave enough to risk white footwear. I actually prefer the nude sandals here anyway. It adds to the overall slimming motif.

Dress: Shoshanna Svetlana Diamond Print Organza Fit and Flare Dress

Sandals: Schutz Ankle Strap Sandals

The dress is also available online at Amazon, Saks Fifth Avenue and Zappos.

The Scoop Neck

The scoop neck can be extremely flattering, especially if paired with a fit and flare silhouette. This dress, from 4.Collective, will be super cute on a variety of body types. I got it for just $29, marked down from $295, at MyHabit.com. If you want an invite to this amazing shopping site, let me know. 

Dress: 4.Collective

Shoes: BCBGMaxAzria

Eye Shadow: NARS Underground

Inside the Lines

Today's dress is definitely memorable; I love how the black netting fits right over the floral pattern to create something wholly unique.

Dress: Trina Trina Turk Renita Bonded Floral Dress

The back is open, so it's definitely more casual than most of my work dresses, but I decided it was alright to wear today since I didn't have any formal meetings.

The dress is still available (and on sale) at 6pm, Amazon, Dillard's, and Revolve Clothing.

Sizing Advice: The dress fits true to size, but the straps are a little loose on me. I have narrow shoulders, though, and will probably end up getting the dress altered.

Shoes: Manolo Blahnik BB Patent Leather Pumps

These BB pumps have been so popular, especially with celebrities, that I think Manolo Blahnik made them in just about every color. I love how the hot pink hue of these pumps just sets the rest of the outfit afire. You could wear any brightly colored pump with this dress and it would work!

Leafy

Today's dress, a lace fit and flare dress from Shoshanna, is in a gorgeous green color. I'm not sure the pictures do it justice.

I love the cut of this dress, and though it feels a little fancy for a typical workday, it makes me feel so happy to wear it. (If green isn't your color, the dress is also available in black from the Shoshanna website.)

I accented the luscious green hue with rose gold accessories, namely these Schutz Adeline Strappy Sandals and my Gorjana rose gold necklace with three circles my sisters gave me a few years ago. Wearing rose gold jewelry used to be "trendy," but I think it's here to stay. What do you think?

The title of today's post is named after a scene in one of my favorite Friends episodes: "The One With the Embryos" from Season 4, when Monica and Rachel lose their apartment to Chandler and Joey. I especially love Lisa Kudrow's performance in this eposide and throughout the season. I guess I wasn't the only one; she won at Emmy for her work that year. Check out the clip below for the reference.

 

I'm not sure what I would have done if Friends had not appeared on Netflix this January. It was the only thing I could stand watching after George passed away. I watched episode after episode like a zombie, but it helped me get through those first very difficult few days. If I ever meet any of the cast members, I will thank them for helping me laugh during the most difficult time of my life.