i feel like a sassy lady in this sophisticated black and ivory novelty print!

DRESS: ModCloth | SHOES: Seychelles via ModCloth | EYEWEAR: SEE Eyewear | HANDBAG: All Typed Up by Kate Spade | NECKLACE: Vintage Pearl Collar | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

in fact, i feel pretty bad-ass…

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

okay, and maybe a little silly too!

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

okay, maybe a lot silly…

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

the dress went perfectly with my gretchen fenston tricorn sailor hat and kate spade sailboat clutch!

DRESS & PETTICOAT: ModCloth | HAT: Gretchen Fenston | SHOES: Converse Outlet | CLUTCH: Kate Spade | GLOVES: Vintage | NECKLACE: Lord & Taylor | PHOTO CREDIT: Josefa Steinhauer via Instagram

I’ve been lucky enough to join up with oft-parade-prize-winning Brooklyn Bombshell Revue lead by choreographer extraordinaire Heather Flock.  Last year, I was so nervous, because I didn’t have a partner to swing dance with in the parade.  I was going to be paired up with some random person!  I would soon discover the Bombshells are all amazing people and I love my dance partner!  Josie is a perfectly petite fly geneticist.  That’s right, I swing dance with a scientist!  Look how adorable she looked at the parade this year!

josie on the front end loader!

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

did i mention my modcloth va va valuminous petticoat was super fun to swoosh around in?

DRESS & PETTICOAT: ModCloth | HAT: Gretchen Fenston | CLUTCH: Kate Spade | GLOVES: Vintage | NECKLACE: Lord & Taylor | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

did i mention that jose is a fly geneticist? get a load of the brains on this
cutie petutie…

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

swing pal voon is skipping down the boardwalk in a gorgeous vintage swimsuit

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

brendan & elyce were our mermaid king & queen!

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

after a job well done, josie and i sure were tired. it was an exhausting, beautiful day. we had a blast!

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

So it comes as no surprise that I had to have the “High Socie-tea” dress from ModCloth as one of my Year of Dresses treasures!  I chose it for the print, but I love it for the casual comfort.  This 100% cotton, lined day dress has become an MVP of my go-to weekend duds. It’s wonderful to have a cozy dress that people actually stop you on the street to compliment.  When I’m traipsing about town in my teacups, I bring smiles wherever I go!

Speaking of novelty, I pulled a novelty on novelty ninja move and paired the dress with my hand crocheted Diana Dreamer Purse!  What do you think?

DRESS: Fervour by ModCloth | HANDBAG: meemanan via Etsy | CARDIGAN: Uniqlo | NECKLACE: Vintage via Pin Up Queens | SHOES: Re-mix Vintage Shoes | EYEWEAR: Warby Parker | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

Thus far, I’ve been sticking close to ModCloth’s monthly stipend, but I decided to splurge with this latest dress!

I have been coveting the Fernery Frolic Dress by Rachel Antonoff for quite a while now. It’s very unique and precious… and priced accordingly. I’ll be honest. Even with the dress on sale plus my ModCloth Year of Dresses discount it came to just over $150.

Ladies, it was worth it! This dress reminded me that wearing what makes you feel good is worth investing in. 100% silk, long sleeves, lady-like length, sheer romantic fabric, feminine color scheme, novel print, Peter Pan collar, flattering cut, and a forgiving elastic waist make this a timeless dress I will have for a very long time.

But don’t take my word for it; just look how much fun I had posing in it! I gave myself a confidence boost with this dress. And that’s definitely worth the investment.

prim and proper on parade

DRESS: ModCloth | Shoes: Zigi Soho via DSW | PHOTO CREDIT: Melinda McCoy & David DeNee

In the spirit of love, I chose the Day after Day Dress in Hearts by one of my favorite designers, UK-based Emily & Fin.  I have to confess I knew I would adore it well before it arrived, because I already own it in another print!  One of my favorite things about this dress is that it is often mistaken for actual vintage.  I love vintage garments with all of my heart, but they can be very fragile due to their age.  I’m tough on my clothes, so I’ve learned to save most of my delicate old treasures for special occasions. But what am I going to wear the rest of the time?  Sturdy, comfortable, washable Emily & Fin dresses are just the thing to fill my retro needs.

it’s hard to wear a frown alongside a dress this unabashedly joyful.

DRESS: Emily & Fin via ModCloth | TIGHTS: Anthropologie | NECKLACES: Forever 21 | EYEWEAR: SEE Eyewear | SHOES: Vintage | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

i always feel like a lady in emily & fin.

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

And this dress has spunk! What may look like polka dots at first glance are actually tiny white hearts on a bed of hot sherbet pink. While the print makes it perfect for the Valentine season, it’s going to be fun frolicking around town all spring & summer in this darling feminine number. It’s hard to wear a frown alongside a dress this unabashedly joyful.

Bottom Line: Forget clapping.  If you’re happy & you know it, get this dress!

since it’s too cold to shoot outdoors, we brought a bit of nature inside for this blushing bride-esque shot.

(BONUS FASHION SECRET: I’m wearing a child’s cardi from Uniqlo – great for us high-waisted girls!)

CARDIGAN: Uniqlo | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

he loves me?  he loves me not?

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

he loves me.

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

{ what i wore }

Thanks to Gretchen Fenston, Kate Spade, ModCloth, and the vintage gods, I looked presentable at the Independent Fashion Bloggers Conference last week.  I’m tickled that some of my fellow bloggers shared my style with their followers!

day 1: i ain’t nothing but a houndstooth on my way to the conference

HAT: Gretchen Fenston | COAT: Vintage from jinglekell on eBay | BAG: Kate Spade | TIGHTS: Free People | SHOES: Mojo Moxy | EYEWEAR: SEE | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

day 1: mustard was the color of the day complete with gretchen fenston bonnet

HAT: Gretchen Fenston | DRESS: Kate Spade | BAG: Kate Spade | TIGHTS: Free People | SHOES: Mojo Moxy | CARDIGAN: Knit via Daffy’s | EYEWEAR: SEE | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

day 2: my first modcloth year of dresses pick was a winner on day two of the pro blogger event

HAT: Gretchen Fenston | DRESS: Stop Staring via ModCloth | SHOES: Pink Studio | EYEWEAR: Moscot Vildas | NECKLACE: Vintage, a gift from Courtney Loren Brown | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

day 2: dave’s vintage minolta autocord charmed many a fashionista & photog in attendance

HAT: Gretchen Fenston | DRESS: Stop Staring via ModCloth | BAG: Kate Spade | EYEWEAR: Moscot Vildas | NECKLACE: Vintage, a gift from Courtney Loren Brown | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

{ what I saw }

Check out some of my fellow attendees sporting styles after my own heart:

lilah ramzi of part nouveau in vintage

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

jasmin rodriguez of vintage vandalism in a trashy diva dress i really want!

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

egyptian-american beauty winnie détwa in asos & forever 21

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

emily kammeyer sporting a hat of her own design

 PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

{ who I met }

In the days leading up to the conference, I couldn’t help but worry I was about to enter the fashion lion’s den.  What I found was a room full of kindred spirits, like Victoria of Haute on the Spot with her zeal for designer bargains, Hester Feming with her love of old treasures, and Alexandra Frumberg with her talent for striking portraiture.  From sociology PhD candidate Jennifer Whitmer’s fascination with the social meaning behind what we wear to MAGNIFECO founder Kate Black’s commitment to lessening the impact of it and from Urban Fieldnotes photo-blogger Brent Luvaas’ appreciation of street style to Lipstick and Highwaters maven Tiffany Nakamura’s knack for embodying it, I was surrounded by engaging, curious, like-minded people, many of whom have become fast friends.

tiffany nakamura and i prove that opposites attract at ifbcon 2013

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

{ what I learned }

Inspiration was the real star of IFBcon.  While all the technical business advice was tremendously valuable, I quickly learned that the only way to really grow as a blogger (and perhaps, as a person) is to make creative, original content the number one priority.

“revel in the freedom of just getting started.”

 -Jake Gallagher of Wax Wane 

from the very first panel on the first year of blogging, the entire IFB conference seemed to be designed with my personal success in mind.

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

“step out of your comfort zone & don’t be afraid to fail.” 

-Geri Hirsch of LEAFtv

lulu frost designer lisa salzer spoke to the importance of surrounding yourself with positive energy and never letting doubt prevent you from doing what you’re meant to.

 PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

“if it doesn’t make you crazy like teenage love, you probably shouldn’t be blogging about it”

- Tina Craig of Bag Snob

And the conversations continued fluidly on other platforms.  For example, Tina Craig of Bag Snob took to twitter after her moment on the IFB stage to encourage us to aspire to be ourselves rather than our idols.

“you can be the poorest person on the planet, but fashion still matters, because it’s your identity.” 

-Neil Blumenthal of WarbyParker

While every speaker had a big impact, Warby Parker founder Neil Blumenthal was my particular favorite.  He reminded us that vulnerability is more engaging than strength, encouraging us to keep our work personal. Warby Parker certainly does! Their quirky, fun, retro chic brand’s recipe for success was inspired by the style of their grandparents’ generation mixed with the work ethic of their parents’ generation. It makes for some really imaginative productivity, like their delightful New York Public Library stunt in 2011. While they know it’s not the number one reason most people buy their specs, Warby’s “do good” work around the globe is a real turn on for me as a consumer. In fact, I was so enthused after IFB; I went home and bought three more pairs of whimsical Warby Parker glasses to keep my current pair company. (Gotta love flex spending!) Stay tuned for future four-eyed pictures and my earnest attempt at creative, original content made just for you.

my new dress goes perfectly with my good ol’ moscot vildas

EYEWEAR: Moscot Vilda | SHOES: Pink Studio | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

this flirty dress has great bounce & movement for a fall/winter garment

EYEWEAR: Moscot Vilda | SHOES: Pink Studio | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

best of all, it goes perfectly with my new “watchful wisdom” card!

CARDIGAN: Knitted Dove via ModCloth | EYEWEAR: Moscot Vilda | SHOES: Pink Studio | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

First of all, this deep sage green and black houndstooth print is the perfect example of a current trend aligning with the palette of my own personal (and decidedly vintage) style. Stop Staring is a self-described “retro-contemporary brand,” which means you’ll find me and Kim Kardashian wearing the label!

This dress is a pear shaped girl’s secret weapon, ladies. This is my second dress from the brand, and both are fabulously flattering, hugging me on top where I run smaller and can get away with a tighter, sexier fit then erasing my lower-body imperfections in a sea of swing skirt. If I can find the right foundation garment, I’d love to try one of Stop Staring’s hip-hugging wiggle dresses, for which they are best known. Think Joan in Mad Men. Meow!

All the elements combined – shape, structure, pattern, and, of course, vintage sensibility – create more than a great dress (that twirls really well btw). This dress simply makes me feel wonderful. From the moment I put it on, I felt poised, professional, elegant, smart, romantic, and – amazingly enough – comfortable! And while my dress didn’t come with a price tag thanks to ModCloth, the buoyancy it gives me is priceless. I’ll definitely be a repeat Stop Staring customer well beyond my dream-come-true year with ModCloth.

Just ten days ago, I won the contest of my dreams! Check out my ModCloth Year of Dresses winning video to find out more about the mission that inspired this blog. I cannot even begin to thank ModCloth enough for this tremendous opportunity to be an ambassador for their brand all year long and can’t wait to show you the 12 fanciful frocks I choose with the help of the illustrious ModStylists. I have at least a dozen new looks in store for you this year and a whole lot more in the works. Great style is contagious and I want to give it to you!