A Secret Garden & Bostanten

This little photo shoot started out with just a raindrop or two.  By the time we got to this dress, you can plainly see the road has had a good soaking.  I'm only glad my hair doesn't look like a wet poodle by this point.  Truth be told though, I quite prefer a morning like this to any other.  Quiet, warm, just a little rainy, with all the perfect soothing sounds or a summer storm.  I don't know why, but of all the photoshoot mornings I've had, I remember these the best, almost like they're part of a dream.

Raindrops and dreams aside, I wanted to do an outfit with this lovely pink Bostanten Bag that is a little more coquettish than my casual cotton outfit from Tuesday's post.  As I was scouring my closet to find just the right girly-girl dress, I came across my Secret Garden dress from Selkie and knew it was meant to be.  You may remember my transformation of this dress in this post and my outfit pics from this post.  Words cannot do this dress justice, but I finally, finally have a purse that perfectly compliments it thanks to my collaboration with Bostanten!

I know it seems like a little thing, but owning a high quality Pink (the fact that it's pink is pretty important) leather bag is kind of a big deal to me.  Bags are the place I always play it pretty safe because I am not the kind of person who changes their purse on a daily basis.  I've tried it and ended up causing so much chaos that I quickly gave it up in favor of a neutral purse that goes with everything and that I carry until it falls apart in a very literal and occasionally embarrassing way.  I'm talking about the contents exploding onto the ground in a high traffic public place when the strap disintegrates.  Thankfully this bag has not only handles but a removable crossbody strap which you can see in my unboxing video.

That's right, I said it up there, I said neutrals.  The last whimsical bag I owned was by Disaster designs and while the style was amazing, the vegan leather started breaking down immediately.  The bag gave out in roughly six months to a year and the price did not justify such a short usage.  I'm willing to pay for quality things that will last for many years and I think Bostanten makes quality bags, so I'm excited to have this purse in my life for years to come.

So, stepping outside my comfort zone and into my dream zone, I jumped at the chance to mix things up with a quality bag that's going to last and fulfills all my girlish dreams.  In fact, I think I distinctly remember announcing to my friends that when I grew up I was going to have everything pink, including a pink purse.  Well, I may not have everything pink, but I did get the purse, so take that school friends who didn't believe in me!  I hope you're also freaking jealous of this dress, haha! 

Ok, fictional childhood rivalries aside, this bag is both practical and understated and yet it's so feminine.  I cannot wait to put together lots of great looks with it and they are sure to be on the way soon.  I am trying to get out and take as many photos as possible while the beautiful weather lasts!

Shopping Info: Abbott Prairie Dress in Secret Garden by Selkie, 

Pink Bag from Bostanten, Shoes from SheIn

Garden at Finisterre by Abbott Fuller Graves (1859-1936)