This dress is a new favorite of mine! Although the color may be more spring/summer, you can style it so many different ways. As temps get cooler here in Illinois, I will pair it back to my cowboy boots and neutral booties to transition into the next season. The long sleeves give me great versatility. Sometimes if you take a step back from your wardrobe, you realize all the ways you can wear each piece!
I know it’s been awhile since my last post, so thanks for sticking around!
Dresses are my go-to in the summer, and I have a feeling this one is going to be a favorite all season long. I dressed it up for church yesterday, but I can also style it with sneakers or sandals for a more casual look. Yesterday was an extra special day because it was our first wedding anniversary. I decided to wear my wedding day heels which have been such a fun addition to my wardrobe, and clearly, they are perfect for more than just a wedding! I’ve gotten quite a bit of use out of these over the last 365 days. I try to buy pieces like these I know I will get a great deal of wear out of.
I hope you have a great start to your week and make smart purchases! XO, MS
I feel like the spring is usually full of events from weddings to Easter and Mother’s Day. Something’s always going on, so I found you the perfect dress for at least one of your upcoming events. I mean, if you’re a bride, you need this!! Blue and white toile is definitely a favorite of mine in home decor and clothing, and on this dress, it’s fab! All you need are a pair of simple heels and a dainty earring to complete the look. Happy spring!
I’m in the life stage where many of my friends are getting engaged and married! It’s definitely an exciting time, but it can also be challenging when you’re trying to pick out the perfect gift for this special occasion. Above, I’ve linked some of my favorite gifts I received and things I think would commemorate this occasion perfectly. All I want my besties to feel is oh so loved when their engagements happen!
Finding the perfect dress was one of my favorite parts of wedding planning but also maybe one of the toughest. Let me tell you why, but first, a little background on my process. A few things I knew I wanted going in were straps, texture and a v neckline. My mom, grandmother and I visited three Dallas bridal salons: Warren Barron, Bridal Salon at Neiman Marcus and Stanley Korshak Bridal Salon. We did this all in one day which was helpful because I needed to see what my options were and make a decision quickly due to a short engagement.
I was very hard on myself when it came to choosing my dress, and I think that’s because I work in fashion and didn’t want to choose a dress that everyone had seen before. I wanted my dress to be unique, special to me and a showstopper. Yes, Dallas has a great number of bridal salons, but I kept thinking I was missing out on something else. I essentially needed to make a decision that week, so traveling to another bridal salon wasn’t an option.
After trying on quite a few dresses, I kept coming back to this Monique Lhuillier. I knew there were a few different things we could add that would make this dress a one of a kind. Once I decided this was my dress, we placed the order with extra lace to make the jacket. I thought the jacket would be the perfect addition for our church ceremony – conservative, polished and feminine. Our seamstress not only hand placed and sewed each piece of lace onto the tulle jacket, but she also tied the most beautiful bow that was ready to go on the wedding day. The blush ribbon was added to accentuate my waist, bring out the blush in the dress and add another dimension to the overall look. Finally, we added a simple blush veil to tie it all together. Because there were so many details already, we decided to go with a plain veil instead of one with lace or beading.
I wouldn’t change a thing about the dress I wore, but I thought it could be fun to show you guys a few other dresses I tried.
This Vera Wang is the first dress I tried and loved. I was drawn to the nude underskirt, the coordinating lace veil and the lace cap sleeves, but there was a problem. The lace sleeve prevented me from dancing, and dancing was one of the things I was looking forward to most.
Next, I tried this three dimensional Mira Zwillinger dress with the coordinating veil. I don’t like wearing strapless, but if I did, I’d wear this stunner. I love how the flowers add so much texture to an otherwise sleek and simple dress.
Are you open to wearing a little color on your wedding day? Initially, I would’ve said absolutely not, but after seeing this Monique Lhuillier beauty, I considered it. If I had chosen this dress, I was going to make the front all one length and probably add a fuller skirt.
You can probably tell that I have a thing for Monique Lhuillier. I just love how every single one of her dresses is feminine, elegant, drapes perfectly and falls softly. No matter your figure, there is a Monique dress for you.
As you can see, the Magnificent dress is very similar to the Maeve dress I chose. There is a long sleeve jacket and a fuller skirt you can layer on top. This is an easy way to switch up your ceremony and reception looks without having two dresses. I remember feeling like Kate Middleton when I put this one on.
The Monique Lhuillier Bloom dress was my runner up. I mean, how stunning! It’s funny how different my final two dresses were. Maeve is traditional in cut and fabric, and Bloom is more fashion forward with the print, color and texture. I had such a hard time deciding between the two, but once again, I had to think about my dancing capabilities. There was very little arm mobility in this dress, so I had to sadly say goodbye to Bloom. In my next life, she’s all mine!
I had so much fun going down memory lane with you! I can’t believe that this was exactly 11 months ago. Wow, how much has changed since then!
I can’t believe I am now in my 4th year out of college. Honestly, it feels like just yesterday I was in high school but at the same time, a lifetime ago. Anyway, here I am – officially an adult and booted from my parent’s health insurance. Sigh.
It’s hard to get settled in the early years out of college. Roommates change, jobs change, cities change. I am now in my third home since graduating, and every apartment/duplex has looked very different.
The first year and a half out of college I had two roommates, and we lived in your typical young people’s apartment building. Pizza and beer always in the hallway. One roommate moved to a different part of town to be closer to work, so then my roommate, Margaret, and I were on the hunt for a two bedroom apartment. We were tired of the “lively” apartment scene, so we found ourselves living in a complex full of people over twice our age. Sounds lame, but it was the best! Just a couple of months ago, we moved for the third time because the owners of our place wanted to move back in. We packed up our things and moved into this adorable duplex near SMU. We are enjoying our new home and making it our own with the help of Districtt.
Districtt is a home furnishing subscription service tailored to young professionals who want the freedom to move frequently. Currently they serve Atlanta and Dallas with the hopes of expanding. As I’m sure you know, it can be hard to commit to purchasing furniture when you don’t know if it’s going to work in your future spaces or if you will even like it years to come.
This is where Districtt saves the day! They offer premium furniture that can be rented for however long you need, and friends, this is high quality stuff! I’m obsessed. I love that Districtt has such a curated selection of furniture and accessories. No matter what you choose, you will have a cohesive look that can turn a blank apartment into an elevated home.
Once you’ve submitted your order, Districtt will arrive on your specified day with white glove service to make sure all furniture is assembled and just the way you envisioned. They do the heavy lifting, hanging and debris removal too. And when the time comes to move again, Districtt will be there to remove your furniture, extend your subscription or swap it out for something different. You can even buyout the pieces you love without paying more than retail!
Margaret and I chose three Districtt pieces to complete our home. First, we chose the Malley Bar Cart because we had a goal of entertaining more. We’ve already put it to great use and look forward to many more parties!
Next we chose the Zana Loveseat because we wanted to round out our study. It’s the perfect place to drink your coffee in the morning or read a book. The room has so much natural light, so we are definitely drawn to sit here.
Lastly, I needed a new full length mirror, so I chose the Elaina Mirror which is super sleek. I love the gold trim and the light that bounces off of it from the windows in my room. Of course working in fashion, I need a space to review my outfits before leaving each day.
All in all, Districtt gives you the flexibility that most young people desire! We move, needs change and styles evolve. That is why I am so excited to share this company started by two fellow SMU alumni. If you head to their website now, you can get $100 off your first month of furniture!
I hope you all are doing well! Today, I want to share some of my most-used items since all of this craziness started. I’ve spent a lot of time outside, whether that’s working out or reading. These plastic wine glasses have been perfect for our neighborhood walks and time spent on the screen porch. On rainy days, I’ve stayed cozied up under this cashmere blanket and in these fuzzy socks.
Over the last six months, I’ve found a way to wear a headband with almost every outfit in my closet! Thanks to Tinsley Allison Designs and their promo code, SanfordStandard20, I added another, AND YOU CAN TOO! They are also having a holiday sale right now if you want to add a headband to your wardrobe or get one as a Christmas gift for a friend!
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It sure was nice being home.
Today, I want to share Flow Hydration with you! I try to drink a lot of water each day, and I feel best on the days that I do. I keep a large Yeti water bottle at my desk and fill it twice throughout the day. I also drink water before I go to work and of course after – while exercising and with dinner.
I’ve added Flow Hydration to my morning routine, and I LOVE it! Flow is mineral-rich spring water that is delivered in a sustainable container. You can say goodbye to plastic bottles! They offer flavored water options too! If you’re interested in trying it out, use the code SanfordStandard15 for 15% off your order!
Who watched the SMU game this weekend?! Oh my mercy! That was scary but so proud of our boys! The team deserves a much needed week off. I started the game in the stadium and finished it eating ice cream in a bar with my friends as we cheered them on in overtime! If you haven’t been to a game yet this year, you must! You won’t regret it.
I am transitioning my summer tops with darker jeans and a bootie or fall sneaker. This is how I create more mileage in my wardrobe, and you can too! I love when friends send me photos of their outfits when they need guidance, so feel free to do the same!
