Poppies + Popovers

There are quite a few dresses that have gotten away from me – so-called "unicorns" that I missed out on when they were readily available and now spend a fair amount of free time trying to track down. This Bernie Dexter beauty was one of those dresses, until I spotted it in a swap & sell Facebook group and managed to get my hands on it. It was only sold at ModCloth (though this print is still available in three other styles on Bernie's website), so it was a stroke of luck that someone happened to be selling it in my size. 

Another such stroke of luck was stumbling upon Hurd Orchards, where these photos were taken. Hurd Orchards is a family-owned fruit and flower farm in Holley, NY that's been in existence for decades. They have pick-your-own fruit, fields of beautiful flowers, a shop full of preserves, jams and other delights, and themed luncheons (based on what flowers and fruit are in season). My mom and I decided to make reservations for the Poppies & Popovers Luncheon without knowing exactly what was in store, but eager for a bit of an adventure. We had a beautiful afternoon, and a delicious lunch! We learned a lot about poppies and ate some poppyseed-filled treats, and then explored the grounds a bit before heading home. They're currently offering pick-your-own strawberries, but I'm planning on going back for pick-your-own cherries; not only have I never done that, but I have the perfect cherry outfit in my closet for the occasion! If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend taking the time to go (even just to take a peek in their gorgeous gift shop).

The poppies were essentially on their last legs, so unfortunately, my idea of being able to take photos in a poppy field went unrealized. But I was pretty content to be able to look at them (and eat part of them!) in such a lovely atmosphere. I've come to the conclusion that it's really important to make the time for things like this that bring joy, especially during the work week. Sometimes it's not possible to drive an hour to a luncheon during the middle of the day on a Friday... but when it is, it's all the more enjoyable. It's definitely one of the perks of working from home! :)

Outfit Details

Bernie Dexter dress: Facebook swap group

Belt: from another dress

Shoes: similar

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

ice cream daydream

Is there anything better than ice cream? I have an overly-developed sweet tooth by nature, so I'm generally a fan of desserts, but there is something pretty wonderful about ice cream on a hot summer day. It's only fitting that I have a dress that proclaims my love for ice cream... and now, thanks to Just Daydreaming, I have an ice cream necklace to match! Just Daydreaming is an adorable UK-based online boutique that specializes in whimsical, carefully-curated creations. They carry everything from unique stationary to quirky jewelry to housewares and knick-knacks, and they were kind enough to send me a surprise package with a bunch of fun gifties (which included this necklace).

Even though it's totally impractical, I love this pink telephone purse! I bought it from Lizzy at Shop Bananas (who you might know as @theconoisseurofcute on Instagram), and it usually just ends up on display most of the time – but I couldn't resist! It looks like her shop is closed for the time-being, but I hope she'll reopen soon so that you can check out all of the adorable things she has for sale. For now, follow her Instagram or official site for updates!

Outfit Details

Ice cream dress: ModCloth

Necklace: c/o Just Daydreaming

Telephone purse: Shop Bananas

White flats: similar

The items pictured above are what came in my generous c/o package from Just Daydreaming. Although not all of the items fit my particular style, I love that they have so much variety (I could browse their pages for hours!), and they're a fantastic place to look for artsy gifts, for stocking stuffers, for kids, and any number of other occasions. I'm very passionate about supporting artists and small businesses, so Just Daydreaming is a great one-stop-shop option to be able to do that – plus, the prices of their items are very reasonable, and everything arrives beautifully packaged. If you're interested in snagging these items for yourself, here are the direct links for each piece:

ice cream necklace  ||  cupcake pin  ||  cherry hair clips

bird temporary tattoo greeting card  ||  pocket mirror  ||  cat buttons

Have a great Monday!

Friday Favorites #97

Happy Friday! In all honesty, I'm exhausted (I stayed up late re-watching the second season of Orange is the New Black in anticipation of the third season release), so this week's Friday Favorites is going to be pretty short. So here are just a few things I've found and loved this week...

If you follow Amy Rose on Instagram (and you should), you know she makes incredibly endearing prints and portraits... but you may not know that she also makes adorable brooches! I can't get over how cute these little beauty brooches are!

shampoo brooch  ||  hairbrush brooch

perfume brooch  ||  hairspray brooch

This skirt is the sweetest!

I may be in full-on summer mode, but these pieces from Moschino's fall collection are pretty great.

a   //   b

Novelty purse time!

book clutch   ||   whale bag   ||   baseball cross-body   

I love these shoes! They're like ric-rac for your feet!

This hoedown romper is so perfectly kitschy, I can't stand it.

And finally,  31 accessories every '90s girl will recognize. V. important reading.

Have a great Friday!

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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!

Sweet dresses + sweeter friends

I am a natural introvert who often finds herself in situations that are probably better-suited for extroverts. I value my alone time and rely on it to recharge. But I'm also very grateful for my friends these days. I've always been the type of person who would rather have a few dear friends than tons of casual acquaintances, but I feel like the number of people I keep close to me has dwindled a bit over the last couple of years. I no longer have the built-in social life of college, I'm back in my hometown, I'm single, I work from home, and I guess I'm ultimately pretty choosy about who I let into my life. I have a handful friends from work and from the theatre community that I love and see fairly often, but I am sort of solitary for a lot of the time – and I'm mostly okay with that. Between my day job and the work I do for blogging, I end up spending a lot of time on the computer, so I feel really fortunate to have 3 best friends who are just a click away. Though we've never met in person (yet!), Ashley, Amanda and Katie are such wonderful friends, and I'm so thankful for the kindness they've shown me. I've met some amazing girls through the blogging community, and being able to chat with these three every day – about blogging, clothes, and life in general – is something I treasure.

The reason I'm getting all sentimental is because this pretty vintage dress used to belong to Amanda. She recently lost quite a bit of weight (and looks incredible!), so she thought this dress would be perfect for me... and I dare say, I think she was right! I love the color scheme, and the little flower embroidery is so sweet. I paired it with a yellow cardigan (since it still doesn't totally feel like summer here) and my mom's daisy brooch, but since the dress is sleeveless, it'll be great for when it gets hot! I'm so happy that Amanda thought of me when she was going through her closet; her (weight) loss is my (clothing) gain! :)

Outfit Details

Vintage dress: from Amanda

Cardigan: Trashy Diva

Brooch: vintage

Pettislip: similar

Flats: similar

Have a great Monday!