[CLOSED] GIVEAWAY: Win a Dress From Dolly & Dotty!

It's been a little while since I hosted a giveaway for you all – and now that summer is winding down, it seems like the perfect time to offer a little treat. I've teamed up with UK brand Dolly & Dotty (with whom I've collaborated in the past – you can see other posts featuring their pieces here!) to offer something for one lucky follower as we transfer into fall. But first, I wanted to show you a closer look at the pieces they sent me!

Dolly & Dotty was kind enough to send me two dresses – the Amanda and the Lily – from their collection. As a girl who can't say no to polka dots or pastels, these frocks fit me to a T! Both feature a nice amount of stretch and pockets – two features that I always look for.  Their website has a wide selection of vintage inspired dress styles and prints to choose from. I also love that they carry a size range from US 4-22! And that brings me to our giveaway... Start looking at what's available on their site, dear readers, because you might be able to choose a dress for yourself! Keep scrolling to get all the details.

Giveaway Rules

One (1) winner will win a dress of their choice from Dolly & Dotty. Simply enter the giveaway through the Rafflecopter widget below and complete all required entries. This giveaway is open worldwide and will run from now until 11:59 PM (EST) on Saturday, September 5, 2020. The giveaway winner will be contacted via email. The winner must respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. Please note that dress style and size must be in stock at the time of selection. In the event of product unavailability, the winner will be asked to make a comparable substitution. Best of luck and thank you for supporting my blog!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Garden Variety

After one of the longest winters in recent memory, spring has finally arrived here in Rochester! I was starting to go a bit stir crazy, so I'm relieved the weather has finally warmed up and things are starting to bloom. But when the temperatures were still frigid, I paid a long-overdue visit to the Buffalo and Erie Botanical Gardens on a gross and rainy day. What a beautiful escape it was! I can't believe I had never been to these gardens before. They had a bunch of different rooms, each more lush than the next. I couldn't even pick a favorite!

This place served as the perfect backdrop for this Dolly and Dotty floral dress. This Elizabeth style fits really nicely and due to the fabric's stretch, it was surprisingly comfortable. And the print is so pretty close up. It's currently on sale (and almost sold out!) for a steal. They also carry a beautiful long-sleeved dress in this same print. I've had such good luck with their dresses -- they're a lot better for everyday wear than some of my other pieces but are easy to dress up when needed.

I'm really relieved the weather is finally nice again. But even so, I have to admit that I'm struggling a lot lately. I've been trying to make some adjustments in my personal life to prioritize self-care, but I'm still having a really hard time (and have been for a while). I'm impatient by nature, which makes it hard for me to accept that things aren't just going to magically improve overnight. And I have to remember that making significant changes is really hard and to not beat myself up over it. I guess I just keep hoping that the change in seasons will bring about a change in myself... and who knows, maybe it will.

Outfit Details

Elizabeth Floral Dress: c/o Dolly and Dotty

Hair flower: similar  ||  Flats: Amazon

Have a great rest of your week!

Natalie

This weekend really felt like fall (and yes, I know it's October), but it's supposed to warm up again this week! Since the weather can't seem to make up its mind, I'll keep on wearing cute florals for as long as possible. This adorable little dress from Dolly and Dotty has been a great summer staple but it'd be easy to layer for cooler weather. For this post, I decided to go full-out garden party and opt for a hair flower and parasol.

Dolly and Dotty has definitely become one of my go-tos for affordable, cute dresses. Although their gingham halter dresses are my all-time favorite, their other patterned dresses are really nice, too. This fabric has a bit of stretch, which makes it super comfortable. The only downside is that there's probably slightly too much room up top as a result, which is a rare occurrence for me. I've become accustomed to longer skirts, but this dress is actually a really nice length. Plus, it has pockets! It'll be a great option for occasions that require a bit of dressiness without dressing to the nines.

I spent most of this past weekend cleaning. It was MUCH-needed. I'm a horrible housekeeper, to be perfectly honest. I'm incredibly messy and it stresses me out a LOT. I always vow to be better... but then I get lazy and then pretty soon it looks like a bomb went off in my apartment. The best thing I've found is to take care of little things right away instead of procrastinating, but it's hard to get up the motivation sometimes. Any tips you've found for staying organized?

Outfit Details

Natalie Retro Floral Dress: c/o Dolly and Dotty

Hair flower: similar  ||  Parasol: similar

Necklace: similar  ||  Heels: Amazon

Have a wonderful start to your week (and month!)

Country Cutie

As an introvert who spends most of her working hours (and some of her non-working hours) in front of a screen, it can be easy to forget how important it is for me to get outside and spend some time in nature. Actually, one of the reasons I still really enjoy blogging is that it almost forces me to spend time outdoors and allows me to reset mentally and emotionally. Studies have found that spending time in nature is incredibly restorative and reduces stress and depression, so even though I wouldn't consider myself an "outdoorsy" person, I've been trying to soak up these nice days and spend as much time as I can outside. 

This past weekend was really great, and I think that has a lot to do with the fact that I spent a significant amount of time outdoors with people I love. As I mentioned on Instagram, I went peach-picking with my mom, went to a local nature park with my boyfriend, and went to a huge sunflower field extravaganza (photos coming soon!) all in the span of a couple of days. We might not be able to get down to the lake again this summer, which has now become a favorite summertime activity, so I'm glad I was able to take a few photos in this cornfield near the lake house.

I actually already own this Dolly and Dotty dress in the black and white colorway, and I wear it ALL THE TIME. (I styled this version here.) Chances are that if you've seen me in real life this summer, I've been wearing it. It's super comfy and appropriate for virtually any summertime activity. Another great thing is that the fabric is sturdy enough to go braless, which means it's an awesome grab-and-go option (and makes a good swimsuit coverup!). I was eager to style the red version because 1) I can always use another casual, lightweight dress and 2) it reminds me of picnic tablecloths and there's literally nothing better than that to end the summer. 

Outfit Details

Sophie Check Dress in Red: c/o Dolly and Dotty

Boater hat: similar  ||  Necklace: similar

Flats: Aerosoles

Do you have any Labor Day plans? I'm not sure what we're doing (if anything), but during this week/weekend, I'd really like to go to a baseball game, go swimming, go on walks, and eat lots of food. With everything that's going on right now, I feel very fortunate to be able to even look forward to these kinds of things and enjoy the rest of summer.

Have a great rest of your week and have a safe holiday!

Checkerboard

Did you all have a nice Easter holiday? I enjoyed the most delicious brunch at my parents' and soaked up the sunshine. We had a beautiful couple of days here, so I've been trying to get outside as much as possible. And it was finally nice enough to wear this adorable checkered dress from Dolly and Dotty! In my opinion, there's nothing better than gingham and checked dresses for spring and summer. This one is super comfy and easy to throw on, so I know I'll be wearing it a ton over the next few months.

Outfit Details

Sophie Dress: c/o Dolly and Dotty

Cropped cardigan: available at Trashy Diva

Hair flower: similar  ||  Flats: Amazon

Belt: from another dress

Have a great start to your week!

Dotty For You

Happy almost Valentine's Day! I had planned on trying to squeeze in two valentine-y outfits this year, but I'm afraid the weather isn't going to cooperate for that. In case it doesn't, I wanted to make sure I posted this beyond-adorable polka dot frock from Dolly & Dotty. I got the chance to try a Dolly & Dotty dress last year (see my post here) and found it to be a great fit and of really nice quality. Much to my delight, I found the same to be true for this "Annie" dress.

The "Annie" is one of the brand's staples and is available in several other colors and prints. It's a great staple dress and is quite comfortable (and affordable!). While I've seen similar dresses on the market, this one has the longer length and fit I'm always looking for. Plus, it goes perfectly with this heart brooch from Femme de Bloom! I can't wait to style it in other ways as the weather starts to warm up.

Outfit Details

Annie Dress in Red and White Dots: c/o Dolly & Dotty

"My Sparkle Heart" brooch: Femme de Bloom

Cropped cardigan: available here

Heels: similar

Did you do any celebrating this weekend? We just relaxed, but I'm hopeful for at least some yummy chocolate in my near future! :) Have a great holiday!