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Tag Archives: cocktail party outfit
Wedding Guest Attire
| DETAILS |
FRENCH CONNECTION Fit & Flare Lace Panel Dress *ON SALE | STEVE MADDEN Stecy Sandal | GIGNY Magenta Clutch | LOREN HOPE Blythe Necklace (similar) | BAUBLEBAR Pinnacle Cuff, Aretha Earrings | Nails: JULEP Shari | Lipstick: BOBBI BROWN Neon Pink
Happy Monday Ya’ll!! My vacation week is officially here. I just have to make it through 3 days of work, and then I will be off to Charleston with my girlfriends! It’s going to be the longest 3 days! Do you ever notice how those few work days before vacation seem to last forever?!?!
I am so in LOVE with this French Connection dress. I wore this to my cousin’s wedding a couple weekends ago. I had originally wanted a bright solid color dress, but I was striking out with all the dresses I tried on. I had pretty much given up and decided to just wear something old when I stumbled upon this dress. I was actually ordering a couple things for my trip when this dress popped up and was on sale! As soon as I saw it, I knew 1) it would be perfect for the wedding and 2) it was the perfect LBD. The lace panel is my favorite part of this dress. It really takes this dress from just a normal fit and flare to something special. The dress is a super comfy stretch material, so it was easy to dance and move in it. I added a short statement necklace to add a little detail to the neckline.
My biggest concern when I ordered the dress was the length. I’m only 5’3, so I knew the midi length could potentially be the deal breaker on this dress. The lace panel I loved so much, also means it would be hard/expensive to alter. I decided to go ahead and purchase these nude sandals to pair with the dress. A nude shoe is a great way to make your legs looks longer, and my little secret to wearing midi length skirts and dresses without looking super short and awkward. I have been meaning to buy these shoes for awhile because they work with everything from dresses to jeans to shorts. I used to think the thin straps would make these shoes uncomfortable, but honestly they do give your foot some good support. I have only walked in them so far, so I’ll keep you updated on my experience with them.
My dress arrived the Thursday before the wedding and fit like a glove! I was so happy with it. Unfortunately my shoes hit a delay and didn’t arrive until the Monday after the wedding. Luckily, I had an old pair of shoes from when I was a bridesmaid to wear with this dress. I was a little disappointed to not have my shoes in time, but since I know I will being wearing these for years to come I wasn’t super sad.
Hope ya’ll have a great week and thanks for stopping by!
SHOP THE POST
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Cocktail Party Dress
| DETAILS |
FREE PEOPLE Chiffon Mini Dress (RENT IT!) | STEVE MADDEN Proto Heels | VERA BRADLEY c/o Tess Crossbody Bag | BAUBLEBAR Slim Hinge Bangle, Aretha Drop Earrings, Cuban Links Bracelet | RAYBAN Aviator Sunglasses | ESSIE Nails in Fiji | MAC Lipstick in Craving
I’m continuing with more insider access to the Thrive Blog Conference with a look at what I wore for the Friday night Welcome Party. All the conferences that I have attended have this casual mixer event. It is one of my favorite times to get to know some of the bloggers attending the conference and say hi to old friends.
I love any excuse to buy a pretty dress, so I knew I wanted a dress for this event. I was looking for something specific, because I wanted it to have a fun colorful almost spring print and work with whatever weather we had that night. I wasn’t really finding what I was looking for, since stores were changing seasons when I was looking. I decided to take a look at Rent the Runway to see if they had anything that caught me eye. Rent the Runway is a dress rental company that lets you rent designer dresses for a fraction of the cost. I love it for special occasion dresses that you probably will not wear more than once. I found this Free People dress which was only a $30 rental and decided to go for it. I had this dress on my current craving list all winter, but I wasn’t really feeling the $200 price tag. If you love this dress, I found it available to purchase for $100. I loved the long sleeves to work with the cooler temps, and the mini length to give it that cocktail party dress vibe.
The dress was kind of statement on its own, so I kept my accessories simple. I went with my fringe party earrings and just a couple bangles. I also added my new crossbody bag. My obsession with crossbody bags is only growing with all the cute styles I keep coming across. I love the design of this one from Vera Bradley. It is the perfect size to wear for a night out or during the day for errands or brunch. It also has little dividers inside which is rare in a crossbody bag, but it was kind of a welcomed addition. I love the white and quilted design to pair with all the gorgeous florals and bright colors that I plan on wearing this spring. I love how the white compliments and enhances the print of the dress. The quilted look helps give this purse a subtle pattern to help it standout without taking over the show too much. It also comes in this fabulous blue non-quilted version too! If you have checked out my shop page recently, you have seen that one on my current cravings list!
I love that the overall look was fun and easy. The dress was easy to move in, and the crossbody bag made it easy to shake hands, hold drinks, and play at the fun DIY booths. I shared some pics from the party at the very end of this post.
SHOP THE LOOK
Before you head down to see the photos, I wanted to mention the Shopbop Spring Buy More, Save More Sale is going on right now!! Lots of normally excluded brands are INCLUDED in this sale like Clare V and a few shoes from Stuart Weitzman! The Shopbop sales are always HOT and sizes start going quick, so be sure to check it out soon an don’t forget to use code BIGEVENT16 to score the discount! I have already perused the sale and listed a few of my favorites below:
click images to shop or the arrows to scroll
Thrive Friday Night Welcome Party
photos by Meg Cady Hawley
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The Susan Scarf
| DETAILS |
CALVIN KLEIN Blue Dress [SIMILAR | SIMILAR] | MANOOSH Susan Scarf | ENZO ANGIOLINI Broadie Sandal | DANIELLE NICOLE Cutout Clutch [SIMILAR] | GORJANA Pavé Bar Necklace, Chloe Stud Earrings | SWELL CAROLINE c/o Enamel Signature Bracelet | BAUBLEBAR Pave Links Bracelet [SIMILAR] | IT COSMETICS CC+ Lip Serum in Love | ESSIE Nail Color in Bahama Mama
One of my favorite accessories for fall weddings is a great scarf. Most wedding start early in the evening when the weather is still warm and end late into the night when the cool fall breezes have found their way in. As an alternative to a light sweater or jacket, I love to carry a scarf that can be worn for the entire event. I love how this scarf looks draped against the dress in what is probably the easiest way to wear a scarf!! For the evening, it is as simple as opening it up and creating a shawl to keep you warm. While I do own a couple solid color scarves for just this occasion, I have fallen in love with these scarves from Manoosh. Every scarf is based on an abstract work of art. I love how every way I wear and style the scarf, I see a new set of colors and a new design. For a wedding or evening party, this scarf paired with a blue, purple or black dress would be perfect. To add more versatility to the scarf, you can also pair it with just a plain old tee, boots, and jeans.
In honor of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in September, Manoosh has partnered with the Susan Poorman Blackie Ovarian Cancer Foundation to create this scarf called the “Susan Scarf,” named in memory of the foundation’s namesake and creator, who passed away last year. All proceeds from the sale of the Susan Scarf support ovarian cancer awareness and research through the Susan Poorman Blackie Ovarian Cancer Foundation. For my Houston readers, I would love to invite you out to an amazing event next Wednesday to celebrate the launch of the Susan Scarf. You can see more of Manoosh’s amazing scarves created from the art of Marilyn Biles at the event. Tootsies and my Houston blogger friend, author and ovarian cancer survivor Megan Silianoff will be hosting the cocktail party which will feature bites from B&B Butchers and live sketching by fashion illustrator, Rongrong DeVoe. I have attached the event flyer with more info and the RSVP information. I hope to see you there!
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