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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

Shoes: Sophia 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.

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)

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.