You are a garden rose

Outfit Details:

Flora Dress: Voodoo Vixen

BAIT Footwear spectators: ModCloth

Necklace: Forever 21 (similar)

Okay, so here's some real talk about this outfit.  First of all, I absolutely love the colors and print of this dress.  I've mentioned before that I can be picky about floral prints, but this one is incredibly stunning.  I have some major love for UK brand Voodoo Vixen, who makes this dress; they have really great prints and do some awesome vintage reproductions.  And normally, I'm all about a fit & flare dress.  But unfortunately, there is something about the fit of this dress that just doesn't work on me.  I think part of the problem is where the pretty pink piping and the seaming falls on my body -- it emphasizes some areas on the sides that I'd rather not.  It might be the kind of thing that could be corrected with some shapewear underneath, but that's not an ideal solution for hot summer days.  I think the seaming on the bust is a little strange on me, too.  All in all, it's a gorgeous dress, but I'm still on the fence about whether or not it'll remain in my closet.  Since I've had good success with the first week of relaunching my "shop my closet" store (again, thanks to all of you who've already purchased something -- and to those who haven't, there are still plenty of great pieces left!), I'm definitely going to be doing at least one other update within the next month or two, so I'll have to decide whether this dress and I will stick it out or part ways.    

The Jazz Fest gig on Saturday went well, under the circumstances (i.e., having no real sound check and not being able to hear ourselves the entire time).  We had a pretty huge turn-out (thousands of people!), so that was cool.  But the calling hours and funeral for my friend were also this weekend, and those were incredibly difficult.  These past couple of weeks have been a bit of an emotional roller coaster.  I think I've been trying really hard to keep it together.  I go back and forth between being motivated and wanting to curl up into a ball.  I guess maybe that's part of my mourning process.  I'm frustrated because I feel like I'm stuck in a "one step forward, two steps back" situation sometimes.  I suppose a little headway is better than none though, and I'm trying to remain positive, even though it's proving hard.  Mostly though, I just miss my friend.

I hope you have a nice Wednesday.

xox Sammi

Flowers and frogs

Outfit Details:

Tilly Dress: Voodoo Vixen

Cardigan: Target (old)

White flats: get them here

Wicker purse: Chicwish

I really love the print on this dress.  I initially had some trouble with the fit (too tight in the bust but too loose in the waist -- which happens a lot with these types of dresses on me), but wearing a camisole underneath helped camouflage the gaping a lot.  Plus, double-sided tape could probably be considered my best friend at this point.  I use it for everything from gaping in tops to the inside of my belts, when the "tail" is too long and won't stay down.  You can use it for temporary hemming, as well.  It's easy to find, too -- they carry it at Jo Ann Fabrics, and there's a ton in each package.  Anyone else use this?

One thing I wish double-sided tape (or any other method of wardrobe magic) did would be to make the perfect cardigan length for any and all dresses.  My cropped ones work well for some dresses, but not for others.  This dusty rose cardigan is an oldie, and it matches the pink flowers in this dress perfectly, but the length never looks quite right.  If it's past a certain length, it makes the whole thing look dowdy; on the other hand, if the cardigan is too short, it can make me look rather round.  I decided to try tying this one for a different look, and though I wasn't 100% happy with it, I think it can be a good option.  I'll probably wear a white sweater with this next time.  This gorgeous cardigan (from the same site) looks like it's made to go with this dress, so I've been eyeing that, but it might actually be too matchy-matchy.

While taking these photos, I met a little friend!  I will admit that I'm pretty sure he was actually a toad, not a frog, but I decided to forgo accuracy for the sake of alliteration.  He was huge (but cute)!  I startled him a little, but he seemed pretty relaxed when I took photos of him.  There are so many creatures in our yard around this time of year!

Have a great Monday!

xox Sammi

Out on the lanai

Outfit Details:

Tilly Dress: Voodoo Vixen

White belt: eBay (similar here)

White flats: Yeswalker (on sale!)

Ahh, I like these photos so much better than the ones in my last post!  It helped that I waited 'til later in the afternoon to take these (that whole golden hour thing is very true).  I still don't fully have the hang of things, but I'm trying to make myself read a lot of tutorials (most of which I pinned a long time ago and subsequently forgot about).  I kind of have to do it in small increments though, haha.

It also helps that this dress just makes me smile.  It always makes me think of Blanche Deveraux from The Golden Girls for some reason (or maybe just Florida in general?), which is where I got the blog title from (if you're a diehard fan, you'll get the reference).  I'd been eyeing this dress for a long time a while back, and then it seemed to be sold out before I could purchase it!  I'd assumed it was gone forever, but then I happened to check the Voodoo Vixen website on a whim, and saw that it was back!  I had to order it immediately (after consulting with my friend Jana of Small Town, Big Smile on sizing -- thanks, Jana!), and I'm so glad I did.  Granted, the sizing is a *little* wonky on this dress, but it kind of has to do with my proportions more than anything else; the top gapes a LOT (I kept having to make sure all the buttons were buttoned), but the waist is quite roomy.  The latter was solved with the addition of a belt, but I think I'll need to find a matching camisole to wear under this before I wear it again, as I did experience a bit of a wardrobe malfunction a couple of times!  Oops.

It's strange to be posting these photos when the temperature here is in the single digits (and with the windchill, it's around -10 degrees -- which is like, -23 for those not in the USA).  I tried to take photos outside yesterday, forgetting how blasted cold it is, and I immediately regretted it.  I only took about 3 photos before I had to call it quits.  Sad, too, because I really liked what I was wearing.  I'll have to try again and hope that it warms up a little.  I really hate taking photos inside.  There's never enough light in my bedroom, and I'm still not satisfied with it as a backdrop.  I'm already anxious for spring to arrive.

I love my bangs so much more in these photos, too!

Have a wonderful Thursday!

xox Sammi