Betsy

I'm always eager to add a pretty floral print to my wardrobe, and the Betsy dress from Voodoo Vixen really fits the bill. I love that it's both a subtler floral and an LBD, as that'll make it versatile for many occasions throughout the year. I've owned several Voodoo Vixen dresses, and though I've found most of them to run pretty true to size (and even a little big in the waist at times), I would definitely recommend sizing up in this style if you're well-endowed. Because of the side zip, it was a bit of a struggle to get this dress on – but I absolutely fell in love once it was on! It's flirtatious and fun without being bare in any way; I love a good cleavage-bearing dress or top, but I don't get nearly as much use out of those pieces, and I'm always reminding myself to diversify my closet with items that will allow me to get a lot of longevity out of my clothes! If you've got your eye on the Betsy (or any other beautiful Voodoo Vixen dresses), you can use the code Sammi20 to get 20% off your purchase on their website!

Outfit Details

Betsey Dress: c/o Voodoo Vixen

Beauty Everlasting Brooch: c/o Erstwilder

Belt: from another dress  ||  Shoes: BAIT Footwear

If you follow me on Instagram, you might've seen that I've been kind of stressed out. Lots of changes are happening in a very short period of time, and while it's good stuff, I've been feeling really overwhelmed and anxious. I just want to thank anyone who reached out with wonderful self-care ideas and anxiety-reducing remedies. It really means so much to me! I'll update you all on these changes very soon.

Breana

When you live in Upstate (or Western, to some) New York, you learn to appreciate long-sleeved dresses. It's starting to get really chilly up here, and my light cotton dresses are no longer cutting it. Fortunately, I recently added this adorable (and practical) dress from Voodoo Vixen to my collection. Although the sleeves are only 3/4-length, this baby kept me warm while snapping these photos (no easy feat!), and unlike a lot of my other pieces, it looks great with tights and boots. Plus, who could resist that collar?

I found this dress to run true to size, and although it features a (dreaded!) side zipper, I actually had no trouble zipping it up. (Fellow busty gals, you know what I'm talking about.) The collar actually unbuttons a bit as well, which is a great feature when you want to keep your 'do looking picture perfect. The skirt portion is less full than what I'm accustomed to these days (even my thin pettiskirt didn't look right underneath it, so I opted for a slip instead), but it's actually a nice change and means that it's more versatile and work-appropriate than many of my other pieces. It's always pleasant to realize you'll wear a dress more than you initially thought you would!

Outfit Details

Breana Dress: c/o Voodoo Vixen

Boots: B.A.I.T. Footwear (gift)

Charm bracelet: vintage (Grandma's)

Tights: similar

In case you missed Voodoo Vixen's huge Black Friday sale (or you had your heart set on a new arrival dress like this one, which were excluded from discounts), I'm offering my readers 20% off the Voodoo Vixen website with the code SB20! I've personally got my eye on this sunflower dress and this snowflake cardigan.

Have a great day!

These apples

I've really loved taking photos in orchards this year. Whenever I've gone fruit-picking, it's been such a serene (and delicious) experience. I think I'm the kind of person who needs to be surrounded by nature on the regular. I've never liked camping or have considered myself to be particularly outdoorsy, but going to places like these makes me feel really happy. My best friend Wayne and I decided to check out The Apple Farm last week, and it was a particularly good choice: we had a gorgeous fall day (the sky cleared up even more after I took these photos), they have a huge variety of different kinds of apples to pick, and they just happen to make the best donuts I have ever tasted in my life. All in all, it was a wonderful afternoon.

I knew I wanted to wear this sweet Keira dress from Voodoo Vixen for our excursion. It has both apples and strawberries on it, which means it could be worn throughout the seasons, but I think it's a great piece for early autumn. The color combination is so unique, and I got tons of compliments on it throughout the day (and into the evening, when I just changed my shoes and headed out to a work party). I normally dislike side zippers, but this one is much more accommodating than most, and I didn't have to worry about the buttons gaping in the front (which is a common problem I run into with most dresses of this style). I found this dress to fairly run true to size for the most part; Voodoo Vixen tends to run a little big in the waist for me, but luckily, the addition of a belt solves that small issue. (This dress does come with its own fabric belt, but I opted to swap it out for a different one from my own collection for these photos.) I also decided to finally take my novelty apple purse out for a spin!

Outfit Details

Keira Dress: c/o Voodoo Vixen

Cropped cardigan: ModCloth

Apple purse: available here

Belt: from another dress

Pin: gift from Midge

Boater hat: similar

Shoes: similar

I know it might sound silly, but I think it's important (at least, for me) to make time to do things like this. It becomes really easy to say you're too busy or have to take care of other obligations first... but I've found that this kind of thing actually recharges me and makes me want to tackle other things afterwards – and it puts me in a much better mood! Fall activities are my favorite, by far. Next up: going to a pumpkin patch! What's on your autumnal to-do list this year? 

Have a great Wednesday!

PS: the winner of my CHEAP CHIC giveaway has been chosen! Congratulations, Lisa! Thanks so much to everyone who entered (and don't be discouraged if you didn't win – I have something very exciting coming up very soon, so stay tuned). <3 

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Peach + polka dots

I live for the interesting details (both in life and in fashion). In fact, they're often what sells me on a particular garment. If an otherwise ordinary dress boasts some quirky buttons or a scalloped hem or neckline, it will usually end up in my shopping cart. And when an already adorable dress like this one from Voodoo Vixen also has an amazing collar, I'm powerless to resist!

One thing I love about Voodoo Vixen is that they have a ton of variety when it comes to their pieces; they make everything from nautical wiggle dresses to novelty print swing dresses (plus matching cardigans and separates!). I think the fact that they design all of their fabrics in-house is really special, and it's a big reason why I like supporting vintage-inspired & pinup-style brands. And though I wear straight sizes (I fall between a medium and large, depending on the style), I appreciate the fact that they have a pretty great plus-size range as well. They've also just lowered their shipping rates, which is good news for those of us based in the U.S., as shipping now comes out to just under $13 USD (though you lucky ducks in the UK receive free shipping).

This particular dress was more accommodating than some other Voodoo Vixen dress I have, and in retrospect, I should have sized down. The fabric has some stretch to it, and I found the waist to be a bit large on me (hence the wide belt). This dress does come with a white fabric belt, but I found it to be too flimsy for my personal taste. The color of this dress is less saturated than it appears on their website (a common issue when shopping anywhere online), and though I wish it were a little darker for the benefit of my particular skin tone, it certainly doesn't take away from the design. One thing I will say is that I found it nearly impossible to wear any kind of petticoat underneath this dress; the fabric they used doesn't lend itself well to a crinoline, and the skirt was slightly too short to wear even my pettiskirt. I did wear a regular slip underneath this dress, but if you like volume in your skirts, I'd go for one of their longer-length dresses, like the Katniss or the Martina (the latter of which I own and can vouch for the fact that it looks great with a full petticoat). That being said, I think it makes for a really cute + casual summer option, since who really wants to deal with a thick petticoat when it's hot and humid anyway?

Outfit Details

Kris Dress: c/o Voodoo Vixen

Boater hat: similar

Flats: similar

Belt: similar

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Amazing Gracey

Happy Memorial Day! I don't get the day off, but I am back to working for my mom (I had to take the last three weeks off for my performing gig). As much as I've loved feeling like a professional actor this past month, I'm kind of glad to be getting back to some normalcy for a bit. I guess I'm sort of out of practice; not only did I become really dehydrated during the rehearsal process, but I also really messed up something with my hip. My body is definitely telling me I need to take it easy right now, and that I need to start taking care of myself better and build up some stamina and strength. I'm already in rehearsals for my next show (but the process won't be anywhere near as grueling), but I'm definitely going to make that a goal for this summer.

Now, a little bit about this adorable Voodoo Vixen dress! Seriously, who doesn't love gingham? I think this tiffany blue gingham is incredibly sweet, and I like the fact that the neckline is a little more sultry in contrast. The buttons are a lovely detail too (though all are purely for show), and I always appreciate a back zipper in a dress (I am very anti-side-zip!). I normally like my skirts a little bit longer, but this would definitely be a good option for hot summer days. The cotton fabric is on the thin side and the skirt is unlined – which, again, is good for the heat factor, but it's a little too sheer for my taste (though wearing a slip underneath helps). This dress does run true to size, but if you're in between sizes on the Voodoo Vixen chart, I would recommend going with the larger size in this particular dress, since it doesn't contain as much stretch as some of their other pieces. All in all, the Gracey is a great option for summertime BBQs, picnics or simply enjoying the sunshine.

Outfit Details

Gracey Dress: c/o Voodoo Vixen

Sunglasses: c/o Unique Vintage (similar)

Flats: Aerosoles (old)

Have a great day!

xox Sammi

Eucalyptus

As you can see, it's still a bit snowy here, so I'm continuing to infuse spring into my daily outfits!  I've always loved the print on this dress from Voodoo Vixen, but I sometimes forget about it during the colder months.  But when I received this adorable Kevin Koala brooch from Erstwilder, I immediately decided I really wanted to pair them together!  I ended up really loving this ensemble (though I do wish I could've swapped the snow boots for something daintier), and it just goes to show that you can wear florals at any time of year, no matter the weather.

I've been a fan of Erstwilder's darling brooches for quite some time, and I'm excited that I was finally able to start my own little collection.  I'm not a big jewelry person these days, but brooches are probably my favorite way to accessorize an outfit, and the ones from Erstwilder are incredibly well-made.  There's so much variety, and I've had fun collecting the few I have so far (it's almost like the sensation we got from collecting Beanie Babies, but it's even better because you can wear them!).  

Outfit Details

Tilly Dress: Voodoo Vixen  (Get 20% off with code BUNNY15)

Kevin Koala brooch: Erstwilder

Cardigan: Trashy Diva

Pettislip: Amazon (similar)

Belt: ASOS

Boots: eBay

Have a great Monday!

xox Sammi

A toast to 2015

I'm totally dismayed -- how is it almost 2015?  A lot has happened over the past year.  If I'm being perfectly honest, it's been a very difficult year, filled with a lot of loss.  I've struggled a lot to find my footing and figure out a direction for my life (which is something I'm still working on).  But there's also been a lot of soul-searching and self-discovery, and learning more about yourself and what you want (or don't want) is never a bad thing.  Navigating your mid-20s is tricky enough without essentially having to scrap the plan you had for your future, but if nothing else, being adaptable -- and daring to re-imagine something more for yourself -- improves character and makes you realize how strong you truly are.  I am fortunate to be surrounded by people who care about me and I've been given some great opportunities along the way.  And even if my life doesn't currently look like how I envisioned it, I am looking forward to what the new year might bring.

One of my favorite facets of caring people in my life include the dear friends who I have met through blogging.  Even though I haven't met most of these blogging ladies in real life, their friendships have meant the world to me, and I feel very lucky to have made these virtual connections with such wonderful individuals.  Two of these individuals are Amanda and Katie of Junebugs and Georgia Peaches, who were kind enough to send me this beautiful Voodoo Vixen dress!  I drink very rarely (I'll have a cocktail maybe twice a year), but this martini print dress is so darling, and I thought it'd be perfect for New Year's Eve.  I usually like to opt for sparkle or luxurious fabrics for NYE, but this is such a fun alternative!  Although I'm working all day and planning on a low-key night in (not my ideal choice, but them's the breaks), I still like to dress up for the occasion!

What are your plans for New Year's Eve?  And more importantly, what are you wearing?  :)

Outfit Details

Dress: gift from Amanda & Katie

Black coat: Tatyana Boutique

Belt: from another dress

Heels: Aerosoles

Ring: Forever 21

Petticoat: eBay

Tights: ASOS

I hope you all have a fantastic & safe New Year's Eve!
xox Sammi