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

feeling cool & confident wearing duckworth in marine slate

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

clearly ecstatic about percey in striped sassafras

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

so satisfied with my first eye-opening pair of prescription sunglasses: tenley in violet magnolia*

*I hear these are going to be discontinued soon.  Get ‘em before they’re gone!

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

So, what do you think of my new specs!?

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

I’ve been a big fan of vintage-inspired Bettie Page Clothing for years, even making a pilgrimage to their San Francisco shop a few summers ago. Now Bettie has finally come to me! 

I heard about the new Bettie Page Clothing boutique on the border of the East Village and Nolita by way of fellow blogger Jasmin Rodriguez of Vintage Vandalizm. Last weekend, I was lucky enough to attend “Bettie on the Bowery,” a New York Fashion Week event hosted at their new NYC location. The Saturday evening soirée showcased the upcoming spring fashion collection as well as the launch of something altogether new and exciting. Before I let the cat out of the bag, here are some of my favorite looks of the night from both on and off the runway:

i don’t wear pants, but if i did, i’d hope to look as sassy as jasmin does here.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Hartley

this clean, classic blue & white polka dotted ensemble makes me happy!

PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Hartley

jasmin fleetly floats in this 50s-prom-esque princess dress

PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Hartley

frannie stuns in emerald & gold

PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Hartley

the sexy secretary gets me every time

PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Hartley

pretty in pink & leopard! this coquettish outfit was my absolute favorite.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Hartley

mary’s dress looks so authentically vintage, but it’s not. it’s bettie page!

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

i covet elizabeth’s darling wind-swept beehive.

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

i loved these charming (& affordable!) bow belts on display at the event

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

true vintage makes an appearance in yelaine’s skirt (left) and hayley’s winter white coat (right)

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

dariell dazzles in this chic black & white bettie page number.

(p.s. get a load of that glamorous marilyn tattoo!)

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

As you can see, Bettie Page Clothing’s retro silhouettes are super flattering! Designed by Russian-import Tatyana Khomyakova, each piece is simple and classic, but also full of spunk and personality! And now all that chic fun comes in a very special new package…

what’s inside my extra special event gift bag that could soon be yours!?

SKIRT: Bettie Page Clothing | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

the exciting & luxe new bettie page fragrance! i love the bottle!

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

In the spirit of new beginnings (Bettie’s new store, new line, new fragrance and, of course, my new blog!), I’m delighted to announce MY VERY FIRST GIVEAWAY! Visit me on twitter for a chance to win a Bettie Page perfume bottle of your very own! Just retweet one of my daily shout outs about the giveaway. Easy as pie! Contest ends on Friday. Don’t miss out!

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.