Friday Favorites #120

I'm really glad it's finally Friday. And I can't believe January is almost over! Here are a few things I've been loving this week... starting with the perfect Valentine's gifties to treat yo' self with:

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This brooch by Kate Gabrielle is pretty purrfect:

I may have already ordered this suspender skirt from The Oblong Box Shop...

... And I kind of really want to pair it with this sweater!

I need to take a trip just to have an excuse to get this weekender bag:

This might be the sweetest lip gloss set in the entire world.

And I <3 these flats!

I'm all googly-eyed over these purses:

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This looks like the coziest sweatshirt ever.

And these lapel pins by Creature Type are adorable!

Flamingo shoes!!

This dress! Ah!

And this one, too:

I love this vintage makeup tutorial! So fascinating.

These swimsuits have me dreaming about warmer weather (and also about baked goods):

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Hats off to Aerie for this! It's awesome to see more "mainstream" brands embracing body positivity.

And for that matter, kudos to Mattel for finally introducing Barbie dolls with different body types and skin tones! (Though honestly, it took them long enough, and I think the "curvy" Barbies look pretty average-sized by actual human standards.)

Someone please get me these stuffed animal otters, please!

And finally, this list is all too real for me!

Oh Jinkx, I love you.

Have a great weekend!

PS: Be sure to check back here on Monday for a very exciting post I promise you won't want to miss! :)

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I may receive a small commission, which helps to run my blog. I link only to items and brands I absolutely love. Thank you for supporting The Soubrette Brunette!

Dolly & Dotty

I'm always on the lookout for new resources for vintage reproduction – especially ones that carry or produce garments that are both high-quality and budget-friendly. I was vaguely familiar with UK brand Dolly & Dotty before, but after receiving the "Darlene" dress you see here, I'm completely delighted with this company. The sheer amount of variety of pieces on their website is almost dizzying, and the price point is incredibly reasonable. The average price of their dresses is around $50 (which is already a bargain), and they're also having a sale right now – the dress I'm wearing here is currently selling for $38! Because of the low cost, I was a little skeptical about whether the quality would be up to snuff, but I was so pleasantly surprised by just how lovely this dress is!

It takes a lot for me to fall in love with a dress that doesn't feature a novelty print, but I'll admit it: I'm head over heels for this one. It might be one of the most flattering dresses in my closet, thanks to the detailing under the bust, and I love the neckline. Even though their size chart indicated I should order a size up from my normal choice, I was further advised to stick with my normal size, which ended up fitting perfectly. The "Darlene" dress also comes in cream + navy, but I had to go with the mint green + coral – it's a color combination I adore (and don't see often), and it matches these heels perfectly! The one sticking point for me is that because of the hidden side zipper, it can be a bit of a challenge to get this dress on and off without mussing up one's hair or makeup, but that's ultimately not a deal-breaker for me – especially when everything else about this dress is so great! I'm totally sold on Dolly & Dotty, and if you're a savvy shopper looking to add some retro reproduction into your life, I'd definitely advise checking out their wide array of styles!

Outfit Details

Darlene Dress: c/o Dolly & Dotty

Petticoat: Pinup Girl Clothing

Heels: B.A.I.T. Footwear

Hair flower: similar

On a totally non-outfit-related note, I'm in rehearsals for my newest project (called Elephant and Piggie's "We Are in a Play!," based on the books by Mo Willems) – which is going to be adorable – and I just found out that I'll be playing Heather Duke in the musical version of Heathers after that! (If you're familiar with the film, it's the Shannen Dohrety part.) I'm totally ecstatic, since both shows are going to be so much fun. I'm always happiest when I have several creative outlets (which is one of the reasons why I started blogging in the first place), so I'm really looking forward to the next few months.  :)

Have a great day!

Sunflower, good morning

It's way past sunflower season, but I think there's something very cheery about wearing florals in winter. Sunflowers always put a smile on my face (they remind me of my mom), especially when there's snow on the ground. I actually wasn't sold on this dress initially, but after seeing it on Ashley, I decided I needed it (Ashley seems to do that a lot)! I'm really glad I changed my mind on this dress, because I'm going to wear the hell out of it. Despite the fact that all of my Bernie Dexter "Paris" cuts fit slightly differently, they're still my favorite – and I end up wearing them year-round.

I spent the better part of last week sick in bed, but I'm finally feeling better. Luckily, last week was a relatively slow one for me, as it was my time off between my last show and the rehearsals that start tonight for my next one. I guess if I had to pick a time to get sick, that was it! Other than that, I'm glad that we didn't get hit with the blizzard a lot of other people are experiencing (though we already have lots of snow – much more than you see here – and snowstorms are business as usual for us)... but it's been plenty cold, so I've been holed up inside like everyone else!

Outfit Details

Paris Sunflower Dress: Bernie Dexter

Sweetie Sweater in Black: Heart of Haute

Petticoat: Pinup Girl Clothing

Opal necklace: gift (old)

Shoes: ModCloth

Have a great start to your week (and stay warm)!

Friday Favorites #119: Valentine Outfit Inspiration

I know it isn't even February yet, but because I know I'm already planning my Valentine's Day outfit(s), I have a sneaking suspicion that some of you might be, too! (And if you do a lot of online shopping like I do, you know that you have to give yourself plenty of time to find and receive something.) So this week's Friday Favorites post is all about Valentine outfit inspiration. Here are some of my absolute favorite V-Day pieces – and where you can find them.

Red, of course, is the classic choice for St. Valentine's Day. I'm going to be wearing red this Valentine's Day myself, so here are some of my favorite red hot pieces that I've been lusting after (for a long time, in some cases!):

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If you love to match your novelty print to your holiday, I'm Your Present always has great options:

game of love print   ||   conversation heart print   ||   kiss print

Although I've often gone in favor of red, there is something so sweet about wearing pink out on a Valentine's Day date (or a Galentine's Day dinner)! Here are some of my favorite pink pieces:

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I also adore this anatomical heart print dress!

You could also go for the *darker* (or at least, more neutral) side of Valentine's Day... whether you like the idea of a sexy LBD or you simple want to celebrate Valentine's Single Awareness Day in your own way, these options are picture perfect:

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I'm not sure what my Valentine's Day will be like yet this year, but maybe I won't even leave the couch... in which case, these options will make me feel both festive and cozy (and will mostly likely represent what I'll be eating all weekend long):

robe   ||   pizza purse   ||   flats   ||   sweatshirt

Do you know what you're wearing for Valentine's Day yet?

Have a wonderful weekend!

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I may receive a small commission, which helps to run my blog. I link only to items and brands I absolutely love. Thank you for supporting The Soubrette Brunette!

Retroversible

I love the thought of being able to get a lot of longevity out of my wardrobe. When you're drawn to novelty and statement items, that can be a difficult goal to accomplish. I've started to embrace more basics and practical separates as of late, so when one of my favorite designers, Julie Mollo, reached out and asked if I'd be interested in reviewing something of hers, I was over the moon. Julie actually makes some of my favorite kitschy stage looks (Julie, if and when I ever form a band, I'm calling you to make me some outfits!), but I love that she also makes incredibly wearable and versatile pieces, like her retroversible skirts.

Julie's reversible skirts come in several different colorways, but this black & plaid one happens to be my favorite. I'd actually been needing a nice black skirt anyway, and I really love this particular plaid. The skirt has a side zipper that fully unzips (which makes going from one side to the other a breeze), as well as a gold button to fasten it at the top. The quality is superior, and I love the fact that both sides are really wrinkle-resistant. Julie sent me the XL size, as she told me that this style runs a little small, but I think I probably could have gone with the L (though the XL is fine and gives a bit of extra breathing room) – which means the size chart on her site is actually quite accurate. It really is like having 2 skirts in 1, which makes it an awesome staple that I'll wear a ton. I decided to style it in two different ways to show you each side of the skirt. Which way is your favorite?

Outfit Details

Retroversible Circle Skirt: c/o Julie Mollo

Black collared top: similar || Black cropped cardigan: ModCloth

Wanda pin: You Were Swell || Hat box purse: Playclothes Vintage

Floral vamp top: Pinup Girl Clothing  ||  Green cropped cardian: c/o Doll Me Up

Petticoat: Pinup Girl Clothing ||  Betsey Johnson typewriter purse: available here

Name necklace: c/o oNecklace  ||  Flats: Amazon (similar)

Have a wonderful Wednesday! 

(And pssst! You can get 15% off Julie Mollo's website when you sign up for her mailing list!)

Poppies

Although my first love is novelty prints, I have a special place in my heart for landscape and photographic prints. I've liked this Bernie Dexter poppy field print for a long time, but because the dress version is in her "Chelsea" style (which I don't really love on myself) and because I wasn't a huge fan of separates until recently, I never thought to add it to my wardrobe. But now, I'm so glad that I have the Trixie skirt version (and coordinating cropped cardigan) from Doll Me Up. Even though they're both lighter pieces, they're still totally wearable during the colder months, and I know I'll get a ton of outfit combinations out of them.

As far as sizing, the Trixie skirt runs a bit smaller than my other Bernie Dexter pieces. I ordered my normal size and it fits, but there's less wiggle room than in some of her dresses. If you're between sizes, I would probably recommend sizing up. I own about 15 of these cropped cardigans and I wear them with pretty much everything – and Doll Me Up carries nearly every color I've ever seen. Doll Me Up also has a ton of new arrivals I'm drooling over (including more Bernie Dexter pieces and B.A.I.T. Footwear!), and I love the fact that they have higher-priced brands (like Heart of Haute) interspersed with inexpensive basics and fun accessories.

Outfit Details

Bernie Dexter Trixie Skirt in Essex Poppy Field: c/o Doll Me Up

Tootsie Cropped Cardigan in Viola: c/o Doll Me Up

Martha Mother Goose Brooch: Erstwilder

Shoes: B.A.I.T. Footwear (similar)

White tank top: Target

I had a crazy-busy weekend, but in the best way. We managed to put together a wonderful play in 6 days(!), and it went incredibly well. I hope we're able to do it again, because I had an absolute blast. I'm currently fighting off a cold, which is kind of a bummer, but what can ya do. At least I made it through the weekend! I hope your week is off to a good start!