WIW: summer dressing

Sometimes I have a hard time envisioning what something is going to look like before I make it. The dress I wore today is one of those items. The fabric is one I kept going back to, again and again. I was drawn to the drawing on this panel print. And the seller had combined the panel print with coordinating polka dot and stripe fabrics. I imagined some kind of tunic out of the combo.
So finally I bought it, and when it arrived, it was much more white than I had envisioned. Bright, white, summery looking fabric. I decided to try it in a new dress pattern I had bought, thinking I could wear it as a dress now and as a tunic in cooler weather. I like the way the dress came out, though I feel it is perhaps not what I was originally going for, when I first chose the fabric, which was more of a moody, arty look. Instead, I think it came out kind of cheery looking. (And in case you're wondering, I only used two of the pieces of fabric in the combo: the panel print and white with small black polka dots. I saved the coordinating stripe for later.)
I wore the dress to work today, in the spirit of celebrating summer's last hurrah.

The outfit:
Summer scene dress in white with black, taupe, and shades of gray, with longer short raglan sleeves and a banded hem (made by me); white footless tights with lace trim (Nordstrom); gray Mary Jane d'Orsay low-heeled shoes (Think!); jean jacket (AG, Robyn); gray backpack (Rebecca Minkoff).

Thanks for looking! I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.

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WIW: olive twinset & white jeans

Here's my version of Angie's Olive, Orange & White ensemble, worn for a day off:
White straight-leg jeans (Lucky, Sweet Jean); olive short-sleeved tee and 3/4-sleeved cardigan (Halogen); olive belt (Fossil); orange platform sandals (Kork-Ease); gold and silver necklace (Madewell); brass and silver earrings (Marjorie Baer); gray backpack bag (Rebecca Minkoff). For bonus points, I painted my toenails dark olive.

I was surprised how much I like the dark olive with white. Thanks to Angie for the suggestion!

I welcome any comments and suggestions; thanks for looking!

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My Paris dress

Angie's post today on skirt and dress style was timely for me. Last night I put on the dress I bought in Paris this summer, and which I wore on my birthday, for a day of sightseeing and hanging out with my sister-in-law and family in Luxembourg. I tried it out with different footwear and jewelry options and took photos to show you.

The dress is a pale gray washed silk, low-waisted, cap-sleeve shift with a matching knit layer underneath. It feels so floaty and divine. It kind of makes me feel like I'm wearing a negligee in public! So I want to wear it very intentionally styled like a dress.

Here are the iterations I tried.
1-2: with metallic cutout peep-toe booties
3: with gray d'Orsay Mary Janes (this is how I wore it in Luxembourg on my birthday) and muted silver jewelry
4-5: with waist tie drawn up. I don't find this look comfortable or flattering, but what do you think?
6: with pearl-chain necklace with big ivory pendant
7: with gray fresh water pearl necklace, earrings, and bracelet
8: with long silver bead necklace
9: with Brighton stylized heart pendant
10: with gray & white stone necklace on gray cord, and orange platform sandals
11: with gray & white stone necklace on gray cord, and black & white snake print sneakers

In Europe it was extremely hot, and this breezy dress was perfect for staying as cool as possible and feeling stylish. I didn't need a topper. I will have to try it with different arm-covering options, though, and I'm open to your ideas!

Thanks for looking!

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WIW: casual black summer dress--my take

It's funny how it takes an ensemble post from Angie to get me to dress using a blogger as inspiration. I admired Beth's black dress outfit but I wouldn't have ventured to try it. For one thing, I don't have the black dress. Or the sandals. Or the statement jewelry. Or . . .

But Angie's post gave me the idea that I could come up with a similar idea after all. It might not really resemble Beth's outfit, but I can say it was inspired by Beth's look.

My version, worn to work:
Black, lavender, and golden taupe art nouveau print sleeveless dress (made by me); black cropped zip jacket w/ 3/4 sleeves (Halogen); black sling-back Mary Janes (Think!); black and brown snake-print cross-body bag (Aimee Kestenberg); brass short statement necklace, brass and silver drop earrings, brass and silver beaded bracelet (Lucky).

I feel this version is a mix of dressy and casual, like the original. Mine takes on an artier vibe, perhaps, thanks to the shoes and the print on the dress. What do you think?

Thanks for looking! Comments and suggestions welcome.

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