Lilacs and Violets

There are a few reasons I'm so excited to finally share these photos today: 1) I'm obsessed with this Retrospec'd dress 2) these photos capture my favorite time of year (lilac time!) and 3) I got the chance to shoot with my friend Emma, whose photos I've included among my own. Not only is Emma a great photographer, but she's become a dear friend since she was hired as one of our content writers. She's truly wonderful to work with and I can't wait to do more with her this summer. Be sure to check out the Emma Rizzo Photo website for more of her work!

Photo credit: Emma Rizzo

It's official: I have a new favorite retro reproduction brand. Retrospec'd has some of the highest quality dresses I've seen in a long time, and their prints are to die for. I actually received this dress as a Christmas present from my mom, but I decided to save it for the spring. It's quickly become one of my favorite dresses and now I'm on a mission to get my hands on as much Retrospec'd as possible!

Photo credit: Emma Rizzo

Outfit Details

Norma Jean Sweet Violets Dress: Retrospec'd

Necklace: vintage (get it here or here)

Flats: Aerosoles

Special thanks to Emma for taking the time to share her talents on this shoot! You can stay up-to-date on her (and our) adventures by giving her photography Facebook page a like! ;) Have a great start to your week!

Blue Jean Baby

This outfit is a bit of a departure from my usual style. But when I saw this little dress at Kohl's, I thought it would be such a great casual go-to for summer. It gives me a 60s/90s vibe, which I quite enjoy. It's actually from the juniors section (shhh), which makes me wish that department stores carried cuter stuff for grown-ups. No wonder I do most of my shopping online!

I can't believe it's almost June. I've started compiling my to-do list for the summer, which includes going on some day trips, picking (and eating) lots of fresh fruit, getting regular exercise, trying my hand at sewing, and spending as much time outside as possible. I've found it difficult to fit in everything I intend to do, but now that the weather's nice and it stays light outside past 8pm, I hope I can muster up some motivation. What are your summer goals?

Outfit Details

Denim Dress: Kohl's 

Flower clip: similar 

Flats: Aerosoles

Have a great day!

Watermelon Summer

Happy Memorial Day! I actually get the day off today, so I'm excited to spend time with my guy and eat some tasty BBQ. Since today is the unofficial start of summer, I thought this Unique Vintage watermelon dress would be perfect for the occasion.

This is actually my second watermelon piece from UV (see how I wore their watermelon skirt here), and I really love this dress a lot. I sized up in this one because there's really no stretch in the fabric and I'm between sizes, according to the size chart. It could probably be taken in a tiny bit in the waist, but it's definitely the right fit up top. I can't wait to wear this all summer long! If you've been eyeing this beauty (or anything else at Unique Vintage), you can snag it for 20% off today! Just use the code MEM20 at checkout.

Outfit Details

Watermelon Dress: c/o Unique Vintage

Hat: similar  ||  Wicker bag: Chicwish

Jessica Simpson flats: Amazon

Have a great holiday!

Gondola

Hello and happy Monday! I had such a nice weekend that I really didn't want it to end... but this sunny skirt is making my morning a little bit more bearable. I was never really drawn to the red colorway of this Italian landscape skirt, but the yellow version makes all the difference for me. I was so happy to find that the shade is actually a lovely butter yellow, rather than the saturated canary in the stock photos. Plus, this skirt has pom-poms and pockets!

Of course, the Erie Canal is a perfect backdrop for this skirt. It's my nautical go-to, like with my other Venice print dress from Trashy Diva (seen here). I definitely have my favorite photo spots, but now that it's getting warmer out, I'm exploring all of the beauty the Rochester area has to offer. I still don't love taking photos in very public places, but my eagerness to find pretty new locations outweighs my self-consciousness (...sometimes).

Outfit Details

Top, Skirt, and Boater Hat: Pinup Girl Clothing

Aerosoles Flats: Amazon

Have a great start to your week!

Dogwood and Magnolia

I'd been waiting to wear this Trashy Diva dress for months! When the Dogwood collection came out, things were still really snowy here. But I knew the magnolia trees in Highland Park would be the perfect backdrop, so I patiently put off taking these photos until they were in bloom. They're mostly gone now, but I'm glad I was able to capture them while they lasted!

I'm absolutely in love with this print, but now I wish I had gotten the skirt instead of the Alexa dress. It's really a cute style, but since side zips are my arch nemesis, I'm hoping I can eventually find the dogwood skirt in my size. This collection is nearly sold out online, so I'll have to keep a sharp eye on eBay...

...Or hope that they might just have some at one of the Trashy Diva boutiques... because Ashley and I just booked our girls' trip to NOLA for this August!! I'm SO excited! We planned to go last summer, but had to put it off because of my new job/apartment. It's a trip that's long overdue. I can't wait for us to plan out our itinerary (i.e., where we are going to eat). If you have any favorite places in New Orleans, we could definitely use your recommendations! 

Outfit Details

Alexa Dress in Dogwood: Trashy Diva

Dogwood necklace: vintage  (similar)  ||  Hat: vintage (similar)

Chase & Chloe shoes: Amazon

Did you all have a nice Mother's Day? The weather is supposed to be beautiful this week, which is ideal for the Lilac Festival! I'm determined to get my fill of my favorite flowers. After a few weeks of chilly, in-between weather, I'm so happy that spring is finally here!

Have a great start to your week!