I know in my last post I said I was going to try to learn to dress cute & warm for the winters here in MN... However, I made the executive decision to suffer for this outfit!
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Living in Texas for so long, I never really had to learn how to dress warm. Every year there were probably a handful of days where it was too cold to 'dress cute'. Sure sometimes I'd get chilly in my little dresses in December, but not so cold that it would stop me. However, that is a very different story in Minnesota when it's below freezing and there's snow up to your ankles! But this year I decided to make it my mission to figure out how to still wear the clothes I love, ie not pants, and not freeze by butt off. Or, at least try! I've never been into sweater dresses, I've always felt that they sort of swallow me up. However, this one from Victoria Dunn turned out to be a winner! I love that it's more of a brushed knit material, and the design details add some more shape. I added a belt to dress it up a little!
I paired it with these knee-high boots by Fairfax & Favor, which are pretty warm on their own. I added some cozy, tall fuzzy socks which are great for hiding in a tall boot! Victoria Dunn also sent over this tartan-lined cape coat, which is bot super cute & cozy. I topped off the outfit with this slim tartan headband by Lele Sadoughi, and this little red bag I picked up from a Kate Spade outlet many years ago. This red bag is always fun to pull out over the holidays, especially with the bow! Happy 6th day of Christmas! I'm a strong believer that Christmas time starts November first. Why have one month of Christmas Spirit, when you can have two? Ivy City Co was with me on this one, and sent over two of the dreamiest dresses I've ever seen to style for the holidays. This pretty blue number is the Anastasia dress, and I gasped when I took it out of the box. The embroidered detailing on the bodice & sleeves reminds me very much of a British designer brand, whose dresses are 5x the price of this one! The sleeves have the perfect flutter to them, and I love that they're lined. The skirt is the real show-stopper here with the tiered tulle. It was snowing and horrible outside when I took these pictures, but this dress managed to make it feel magical. This dress is called the Whimsical dress, and I don't think I'll be able to describe it better than that. This might just be the twirliest dress in my whole closet, which is quite the accomplishment. The layers of tiered, Swiss-dotted tulle & ruffled detailing gives it such stunning movement. My husband actually told me I looked like a princess! And I absolutely felt like one. Even twirling around in the snowy-gunk in downtown Minneapolis.
I loved that Ivy City Co makes all of their own designs, so these dresses are something you won't find anything else. They are unique, charming, and have this unabashed femininity I just adore. And the quality lives up to the sunning designs. They gave me a code to share, you can use EmilyB15 for 15% off site-wide until November 19th at 11:59pm- perfect time to find your holiday dress! If I don't look different, it's because I took these pictures before I heard Midnights for the first time! I don't know what Taylor put in this album, but I cannot stop listening to it. Okay, now back to your regularly scheduled outfit programming! Red Dress offered to send me some pieces to get me in the fall spirit, and they didn't disappoint. As much as I love my florals into fall, it felt like it was time to start really embracing true fall fashion. But I do love that Red Dress added some ruffles to this little tweed number! This dress would be perfect for Thanksgiving, or a comfy Christmas Day look. As the weather cools off I'll add some tights, along with this beige trench coat also from Red Dress. I like tying the waist-belt at the back to hold the front open more, so you can see the dress. Not the most practical for actually keeping you warm, but I think it's a cute affect!
I styled it here with some knee-high boots, and a golden yellow bow from Grace & Grandeur. The coffee cup had been sitting in my car for several days, and I decided it would be a cute prop. But when I was taking these pictures, I felt like the Gilmore Girls with their empty coffee cups. You guys know my love for Hill House's Ellie nap dress! I love it because it is so comfortable because of the smocked bodice. When I saw they brought out this dress I immediately loved the look, but I was curious if it would be as comfy as my beloved nap dresses.
Topped off the look with a pearl-embellished headband, my favorite Kate Spade bag, and the coordinating Mary Jane heels from Sam Edelman.
I don't know when a headband and dress became my go-to combo, but at this point my outfits don't feel finished until they're topped off with a headband. You know that saying take off one accessory before you leave the house ? I'm more of a look in the mirror one last time & add the embellished headband sort of gal.
I styled it with my white booties to make it more autumnal, and paired with my Kate Spade top-handle bag. Personally, I think it is so pretty among the falling leaves!
Victoria Dunn brought out a couple more matching dress & headband combos, along with some pretty embellished velvet headbands that'll be so fun for the holidays. Sorry, too soon? A few weeks ago I learned about French Toile, today I looked into Chinoiserie. I had no idea how to pronounce it, but apparently it's "chi-noi-se-rie" ! Chinoiserie is the European interpretation and imitation of Chinese and other East Asian artistic traditions, especially in the decorative arts. Until recently I had only seen it in homewares & wallpaper, but I was excited to see the print pop into fashion much like the Toile.
I paired the outfit with my trusty Kate Spade Margaux bag, J.Crew belt, and these fun Mary Jane heels by Sam Edelman to play up the vintage elements in the dress.
It's funny to think about when I lived in Texas, I was yearning for fall fashion once September rolled around. I'd be so excited to pull out my chunky knits, jeans, and booties to have a little 'Christian girl autumn' revival. Now that I'm in Minnesota where it actually starts feeling like fall in September, I'm pushing dress season into October.
I paired it with my favorite little mauve bag from Kate Spade, and this slim headband by Lele Sadoughi for a little sparkle!
Emily Hello there! Happy Midnights release month! Or October. Either way, I'll be counting down the days until the 21st, and I will be wearing this dress to celebrate.
I paired it here with some coordinating gold heels, and this pearl-embellished headband. I have seen some cute celestial hair pins that would go well with it if you really want to commit to the look. I'm in an XS here, and they have the dress in sizes XXS- 4XL!
Emily Hello there! Soaking up the last bits of sunshine here in Minnesota before the traditional October snowfall. Do I have any weddings or events to attend this fall? No- but if I did, I would wear this dress!
As a fair warning, this dress is long. I'm 5'4 on a good day, and was wearing 3 inch heeled booties here. So if you're tall, you'll be in luck! My fellow shorter gals, it's time to break out your platform heels. But this skirt is so pretty with it's movement! Would be so pretty for a wedding guest dress, or some fall family photos.
Emily |