Friday Favorites #151

Wow, it's been a WHILE since I did a Friday Favorites post, huh? I'm finally embracing all things spooky, which makes it the perfect time to share some of the things I'm loving lately with you all.

These ghoulish pieces from Unique Vintage speak to my almost-Halloween-baby soul.

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This Betsey Johnson PSL bag is actually anything but basic.

And I'm totally taken with this harvest print dress from Hell Bunny:

Although I'd love a pumpkin pie purse, this Kate Spade cake bag would be a sweet substitute.

And these Irregular Choice heels are enough to put a girl into a sugar coma.

I love these little Kate Spade dishes (and popcorn bowl!):

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This David Lynch brooch is a must-have.

I just adore these cozy jumpers from Joanie Clothing!

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This literary dress is so pretty, too.

I'd love to curl up with a good book under one of these lamps:

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I know most people don't keep address books anymore, but this could could convince me to...

I've been thinking that I need to create an actual workspace at home (right now, I just work on my couch). I already have an adorable desk, but I'd like a nice chair like these to go with it!

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I might need this Dapper Dans tee.

And how cute is this Collectif music skirt!

And finally, this new Kat Von D palette is sooo cool. I don't think I'd make good use of the colors, but it's stunning to look at!

Have a great weekend!

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Briar Rose

Another day, another floral. I'm trying to work through my photo backlog so I can start showcasing more autumnal outfits! If you're not a florals-in-fall kind of person, I think this Micheline Pitt For Unique Vintage "Budding Beauties" dress could work well for a Disneybound or quick Halloween get-up. Pretty much all of my outfits could become costumes in a pinch!

Although this rose print dress definitely skews more summery, the heavy cotton sateen works well for any time of year. Next time I style it, I'll be opting for a cardigan and ditching the belt (since the waist of the dress is a bit below my natural waist, I think it makes the belt look funny). I really adore this dress overall and I think the small details make it special. I sized up to an XL in this dress due to the way the bust is constructed, which was definitely the right move. While the waist might be half-inch too big, the bust is perfect – and I think that's what matters with this kind of dress.

Outfit Details

Alice Budding Beauties Dress: Micheline Pitt For Unique Vintage

Rose headband: similar  ||  Heels: Chase and Chloe

Lately, I'm trying to achieve a better balance between my work and my personal life, so I'm trying not to work later into the evenings (and consequently, give myself more time to blog for pleasure). But I'll be starting rehearsals pretty soon, which means life is about to get busy. It seems like there are never enough hours in the day to do everything... Wish me luck in trying!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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!)

Pretty As A Postcard

Happy Tuesday, friends! It's been a minute since I had a chance to put together a post. I had a great time enjoying the Rochester Fringe Festival last week, but seeing so many shows left me no time to blog. I'm trying to create a better work/life balance for myself though, so I'm hoping I can get back on schedule soon. That said, I'll be starting rehearsals for a show in a week or two... so I'm trying to figure things out quickly without putting too much pressure on myself.  :)

It may be the end of September, but it's been hot as all get-out for the last couple of weeks. I actually don't mind that much, since this summer was pretty temperate and I didn't get much of a chance to wear seasonal clothes. It's going to cool down later this week, but before it does, I'll be wearing this J.Crew postcard print dress as much as humanly possible.

Ashley was the ideal enabler and convinced me to buy this dress when it was on sale. I'm really glad I did, because it's the kind of dress that works in nearly any situation. I love the off-the-shoulder neckline (so much that I actually like wearing my hair up with it – and that never happens!) and it's so easy to wear. Whether you're running errands or on vacation, this is a great go-to. Unfortunately, it's completely sold out, but I found a few good dupes! Scroll down to the outfit details for my picks.

Outfit Details

Postcard print dress: J.Crew (similar at ASOS, Macy's, and Nasty Gal)

Necklace: similar  ||  Toni Pons wedges: available here

As much as I'm enjoying wearing my summer wardrobe, I'm finally feeling ready to do fall things! I hope there'll be some apple and pumpkin picking in my future. What are you hoping to do this fall?

The Language Of Flowers

It's feeling more and more like fall every day here, but I'm still stuck on springy florals... so you're going to have to look at them on my blog for a bit longer before I start styling autumnal pieces! I took these photos at The Ellwanger Estate's gardens months ago(?!) and I can't believe I'm just getting around to posting them. The gardens there are absolutely gorgeous and made the perfect backdrop for this Retrospec'd dress.

I really lucked out because these gardens wasn't technically open to the public when we went (they're open only during specific hours). But the owners were so kind and let me snap some photos anyway. Not only are the gardens beautiful, but the rooms in their B&B look incredible, too. I wish I had a reason to stay there! Someday, if I ever manage to develop a green thumb, I'd love to have a little secret garden like this. To find out more about Ellwanger Estate, give their Facebook page a little love!

Outfit Details

Gigi Dress in Enchanted Fleur: Retrospec'd

Wide-brimmed hat: similar  ||  Vintage basket purse: similar

Flower book brooch: George Eastman Museum  ||  Flats: Aerosoles

Last week had some ups and downs. On the upside: I was cast in a really fun show (for fellow musical theatre nerds, it's called First Date  – it had a brief run on Broadway not too long ago), which goes up in December. I took a substantial break from doing theatre for a while to focus on my job and take some time for myself, but I'm finally ready to get back into the swing of things. However, it might be tough to find time for blogging. I'll really have to get creative with my time management!

For the downs: I got in a very very very minor little fender bender and it threw me for a loop. I'm totally fine and so is my car, but I was really shaken up and my entire work schedule was kind of derailed. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't a big deal. But it was the first time I'd been in a situation like that and as a Highly Sensitive Person, I think my reaction to it was more pronounced than what other people might experience. Fortunately, I was able to take some time for myself and I'm feeling much better now.

That's all for now. I hope you have a great week!