Emerald Jewel with NEWBELLA

Black is a timeless classic, as we all know, but it's also the most neutral of colors which is why it has stood the test of time.  Since it is a neutral, the doors of possibility and creativity are wide open.  So, why not go bold.

Emerald green is a magnetic color; it draws the eye.  But, pair it with a patent suede bow heel and it totally captivates.  As soon as I saw these lovely little Stiletto Y2K & Date heels, which also come in orange, hot pink, apricot, and black, I knew it had to emerald.  

This dress is quite lovely on its own and if you'd like to see a previous outfit with this dress, please click here.  If you do, I think you'll agree that it's these NEWBELLA shoes that totally make the outfit.

These shoes are in fact just hte perfect heel height and I love that they have both ankle bows and toe bows.  Plus, the suede over patent is such a lovely contrast and the perfect extra visual interest.

I have so enjoyed my collaboration with NEWBELLA.  They have helped make my outfits extra glam. And if you find yourself in need of a little glam in your wardrobe and life, you can use my code BLEU to save 18% off your purchase at NEWBELLA.

Shopping Info:  Stiletto Y2K & Date Heels-$64.90 from NEWBELLA  

Use my code BLEU to save 18% off your purchase.

Nearly Spring

Right now, you may be wondering, is she finally going to post new photos?  The answer is a resounding No.  No, I am not.  I had almost screwed up my courage to go out on a morning when it was only 40F/4C outside, but then at the very last minute, I caved.  My house was so warm and just the thought of standing in front of bare buildings in the freezing cold sent me rushing back to my bed.

The trouble is that when it's warmer outside, the days are longer which means I have to wake up at around 4:30 a.m. to get ready and then drive to our location before the sun comes up and I miss that golden hour of lighting and all the peace and quiet that comes with it.

Even though I've lived in places like Japan with a very high population density and no social mores that make people feel embarrassed for gawking at foreigners doing silly things, I've never got used to people stopping and staring while we're taking photos.  It's rude and distracting and I'd rather just be able to quietly focus on the task at hand.  Unfortunately that means waking up early and I don't mind it so much when it's at least warm outside and we can go for breakfast afterwards.

According to the Almanac we're still due for a few snowstorms before spring arrives, so I am determined to go out at least once and take some snowy pics but even as I write that I have  a sinking feeling in my stomach, so if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen.  I've always been a fan of winter hibernation or relocation (is everyone on a tropical cruise right now but me?), so I'm surprised I've made it this long taking photos all through the seasons.

I'm starting my 7th year of blogging, so I think it's ok to take a break, spend my Sunday mornings sleeping in or making a big breakfast instead of shivering for the blog or the 'gram.  Only a few more weeks until spring anyway.

Outfit Info:  Dress from Gowntown Vintage Two Piece Cloak Cocktail Dress-$39, Ankle strap heels from Arromic

A New Spin on A Classic Style

I love it when a company takes a great thing and makes it even better.  This Women's Vintage Cloak Two-Piece Cocktail Swing Goth Dress from GownTown Vintage has been one of my favorite styles for several years now, and GownTown has made a few tweaks to this latest version and you can save an extra 15% with my code loveretro now through December 14th.

This newest version of the dress has faux pearl buttons down the front of the cape instead of a single button clasp at the back.  The straps are still adjustable, but now they have also widened the straps.  Additionally they've created a more heart shaped neckline. 

I did two different photo shoots with this dress.  Funny how much difference a week can make in autumn.  The leaves were pretty sparse during the second shoot, but the dress is still pretty.

In the first session I wore vintage undergarments including a bullet bra and girdle.  Also in the first session I wore a hat and gloves to really give this dress the full vintage look.  The second time around I wore my modern bra and decided to forego the hat and gloves but kept the red accent belt, petticoat and shoes.

I can't decided which version I like best; I think they all look amazing.  That's the tell of a really great dress, it works lots of ways.

Shopping Info: GownTown Women's Vintage Cloak Two-Piece Cocktail Swing Goth Dresses-$36.99 save an extra 15% with my code loveretro now through December 14th, Gizo Red Heels-$79 from Honiara Vintage

Quite an Honor: Ever-Pretty Collaboration

Being asked to be a bride's maid is a great honor but it can also come with a hefty price tag.  Traditionally bride's maids pay for their own gown as a duty and a service to the bride, but while the bride may have been planning and saving for months or years, the privilege of being a bride's maid can can leave you with little time to set aside funds to pay for a dress.  In the United States, the average cost of a bride's maid dress is $140.  In comparison to the bride's own gown this may seem like an insignificant sum, but when every penny counts, it can be a dear cost to serve in someone's wedding to the point that some women must go through the embarrassment of having to ask for help in paying for their dress or else decline to stand by their friend and be in the wedding.  There is a simple solution here and that's why I'm so glad to team up with Ever-Pretty.  Ever-Pretty offers affordable dresses for the bride and the entire wedding party and my readers save an extra 25% with code Blogger25 at checkout!  

Ever-Pretty is a global brand that has been in business for over 14 years.  They have dresses for all your special occasions including prom, weddings, quinceañera and homecoming.  If you have a special event coming up, Ever-Pretty has lots of great and inexpensive options to suit your style.

Personally, I never went shopping for my gown or my maids' dresses.  They were all handmade and even though I wanted them simple in an elegant way, they came out incredibly plain and kind of blah.  It's always been a regret that I didn't go shopping with friends and family to have the whole experience of trying on gowns together.  This collaboration was a bit of a second chance.  It really was lovely to spend some time dreaming and imagining and my daughters joined me to weigh in on their favorites. 

I was never the kind of bride who thought that her maids should wear plain or ugly dresses (even though, they turned out that way, it wasn't my plan) and were I to tie the knot again, I would say bring on the bling for my maids, that's why I chose this Gradient V Neck Floor Length Gown.  Coming in at just under £55 which is at this moment about $75, this glittery gold and silver gown is a feast for the eyes.  It was also a unanimous choice among myself and my daughters.

Things to note about this Gradient Dress:  It has an attached belt at the front and a zipper down the back.  I found that it fit true to size and loved the floor length.  It didn't require any steaming to remove wrinkles, but some of the glitter sections were entwined and I had to spend a few moments separating them.  After that, I hung the dress overnight and it was wrinkle free in the morning.  This dress is fully lined with a gold-beige lining. 

As with all glitter dresses, up to and including the strawberry dress, give it a few gentle shakes to free any loose glitter and be aware that you may find yourself with a sparkle or two on your shoulder of cheek throughout the day, but I thought it just made this seem more like a fairy dust dress.

Since today was all about the bride's maid dress, you know what that means.  Yes, tomorrow, here comes the bride.  I am so excited to share these dresses with you.  Join me right back here tomorrow for a full review of an Ever-Pretty bridal gown.

Shopping Info:  Gradient Dress in Blush from Ever-Pretty.co.uk 

 and everyone gets 25% off with code Blogger25 at checkout!

Sloane Trousers

Trousers!  I've been a dresses kind of girl for so long, but the longer I work with FemmeLuxe, the more I have come to really enjoy a nice pair of trousers for a classy wear-to-work or evening out kind of look.  Dresses are wonderful and I'll never give them up, but I have made room in my wardrobe for trousers because they bring that Katherine Hepburn class to any event.  For February's collaboration with FemmeLuxe, we've done a mix of all sorts of styles and occasions from a comfy sweater, to two outfits with tartan trousers, to a glitter bodysuit.  For today's collaboration post, I thought I would show off yet another of FemmeLuxe's amazing Trousers.  

I really love what FemmeLuxe's trousers and jeans do for my shape and that makes my confidence levels soar.  FemmeLuxe has some lovely Black Lace Bodysuits, but this outfit is one that I have had in mind since December when I first saw this metallic surplice bodysuit at Forever XXI.  It was such a stand-out piece but I noticed that it had a very high waist and after reading online reviews I discovered that that was the main complaint of purchasers—its high waist line (the actual ridge running across the waist) made it difficult to find the right trousers to match because the trousers, or skirt waist as the case was for different reviewers, wasn't high enough to hide the line made by the bodysuit. 

I really liked the top though, so I decided to buy it and wait for the right trousers to come along.  I was hoping to find something by New Year's but nothing really caught my eye.  Then, when working with FemmeLuxe on February's collaboration, I noticed these Sloane trousers and knew they would be just perfect.  Of course, I think Sloane will go with lots of different tops, but I could not wait any longer to try out this gold bodysuit.   Sloane definitely lived up to my expectations and I could not be more pleased with this outfit; it turned out exactly as I had hoped it would.  These trousers absolutely make the outfit.  It is too late for New Year's, I know, but there's always date night or some occasion around the corner.

Trousers are such a wonderful addition to any closet.  Dresses are my favorite, followed by skirts, and of course jeans are a staple, but I think that a really nice pair of trousers should have equal emphasis as those other items.  The right pair of trousers, meaning a great cut and fit, can be worn to work or on a nice night out.  They can even make a casual look classy.  If you haven't yet added trousers to your closet, I highly recommend it.  The key, as I mentioned, is the right cut and a great fit.  And finding something in an interesting print (like Monday's post), color, or fabric like today's post with the Black PU Tapered D-Ring Trousers - Sloane.

So, let's talk about some of the features of the Sloane trousers that make them so great.  First of all, Sloane is made of vinyl so it does have a little stretch to it and this kind of fabric adds that great element of visual interest to any outfit.  There is no zipper, but they do have an elastic waist and they basically just slide on, super simple, no wiggling.  They have a high fitted waist and a tapered leg to really create that hourglass figure.  They come with a belt and they have nice deep pockets, huzzah!  I accessorized with large black paisley dangle earrings and black peep toe heels.  Don't wear ankle strap heels with this type of trouser, you want your legs to look nice and long, and an ankle strap heel would make your legs look shorter.  For make-up I've been keeping things pretty natural on the eyes and cheeks lately with a bright red lip being the main accent. 

Shopping Info: Black PU Tapered D-Ring Trousers - Sloane from FemmeLuxeFinery.co.uk, Metallic Surplice bodysuit from Forever21