More Than Just a Pretty Jumpsuit

I’d like to share a little post from New York today for a few reasons.

I was going to start out this post talking about how this outfit is perfect for Valentine’s Day. How this $600 Alexis jumpsuit can be rented for only a fraction of the cost via Rent the Runway...and how Rent the Runway is having their highly-anticipated Clearance Sale! Maybe I should talk about these hoop earrings and how it’s become QUITE THE THING?

Then I thought about what’s happening now in our world. 

And I’ll admit, I feel conflicted, as many bloggers do in light of recent events. Do we directly address the issues at hand, here in a space where you come to find outfit inspiration?

Or do we set that aside and work to provide an outlet where you can escape the madness?

For me, I need to do both. I want to provide a distraction, but I also want you, as my readers, to know where I stand. 

I can’t and won’t sit back and watch people suffer. If I had been a bit smarter, and more dedicated to schooling, I would have loved to be a lawyer. Finding justice for those who can’t do it themselves is something I’ve had a passion for my entire life. I’m currently looking into ways that I can personally help the displaced, those who are fleeing from turmoil and persecution. 

Which brings me to New York.

90 years ago, a boy arrived on Ellis Island from Greece. The first thing he remembers about arriving in America? The taste of ice cream…which they didn’t have in the very small town he grew up in overseas. This man grew up, met the woman of his dreams, fought for our country in WWII (and was honored two years ago by the Boston Redsox) and raised 6 children outside of Boston, Massachusetts. 

That man was my grandfather.

It all started in New York. If our country hadn’t welcomed him with opens arms, I wouldn’t be here today. 

So as you begin or continue to form your opinions on what’s happening in our world, I encourage you to think about how we became the great country that stands today. And to never forget the immigrants, the refugees, the war heros and the friends who fought for us, who died for us, and helped build the nation we all call home.

Wearing Alexis Jumpsuit, Shinola bag, earrings and bracelet via Rent the Runway, Cuyana coat and belt.

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Diner en Blanc x Rent the Runway

• SHOP & RENT THE POST •

Wearing Alexis dress, Kate Spade bracelet, and Slate & Willow earrings via Rent the Runway, Lucky Brand heels (similar on major sale), Jeffrey Levinson clutch

Summer has semi-officially come to an end, but before it did, we got to celebrate it with a night in all-white for Diner en Blanc.

If you haven’t heard of Diner en Blanc, it started with one man in Paris who wanted to have a dinner party, but his apartment was too small. So he told his friends to meet in a park later that night and to wear all white, so they could all find each other easily. 

Thus started the tradition of Diner en Blanc, the world’s largest secret dinner party. It started in Paris, but continues all across the world. Everyone has continued the strict all-white outfit requirement and invitations are scarcely released…but if you signed up, and get that lucky invite, don’t hesitate! It’s worth all the crazy requirements, trust me.

This is DC’s third year celebrating the event. I attended last year with my friend Bree and this year, and this year, with my very first blogging friend, Alicia! 

My first stop after booking our tickets was Rent the Runway. First, I visited online to I could browse a few styles, then I made an appointment in-store to try on a few! If we're besties on instagram, you may have seen a few of the top contenders - but this Alexis beauty one won by a landslide!

I mentioned this last year, but I can’t express enough how great their “Try-on Appointment” is. Honestly, worth every penny. I had Sam from the Georgetown location help me out, and she was THE BEST. Not only does she have impeccable style herself, but she was honest about which dresses looked best on me, and reminded me of things I would have never considered…like the movability, breathability and ideas on the perfect accessories. 

So when the day came for the event, I was ready. We gathered our picnics, and headed to our pre-determined meeting location…still unknowing of where we’d be dining that evening. But once our group arrived, we all started the 10-block walk to our surprise destination. Once we arrived, we all set up our picnics with some of the nation’s most incredible views of the Lincoln Memorial!

We mingled with new friends, enjoyed our meals, snapped a thousand (or so) photos, walked around the Lincoln Memorial barefoot after dark (HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS, FRIENDS) and danced the night away…the perfect way to end a very successful summer.

I’ll leave you with a few important tips about Diner en Blanc:

1. Wear a comfortable, danceable dress.
This Alexis beauty was not only flattering, but also super comfortable. It was stretchy and long enough that I didn’t have to worry about it moving around in unwelcome ways if you get my drift.

2. Pack the night before
I laid out my clothing and packed up the plates, table cloth and glasses the night before. No last-minute trying to find the items we’d need this year, no siree.

2. Carry your items in a mobile folding cart
Last year we tried to carry our stuff in a cute picnic basket. NOT THIS YEAR, FRIENDS. One long trip on the metro carrying ALL OUR STUFF followed by a a treacherous walk to the destination convinced me that there had to be a better way. So I bought this mobile folding cart and the trip was seamless. 

4. Pack a light meal
Last year, we loaded up on the carbs…but this year, we kept things much more simple…for carrying purposes and also to make sure we weren’t too stuffed for dancing. ;) I made a whole-wheat angel hair pasta with zucchini and a ricotta cheese spread, while Alicia brought strawberries, grapes, cheese and a baguette. 

5. Order boxed flowers
I can’t tell you how many times I watched someone drop their vase of flowers, or pull out a broken vase from their bag at the event last year. LESSON LEARNED. So I brought two boxes of white roses from my friends over at The Flower Luxe, and shared one box with a couple who’d broken theirs...

6. Ladies, pack flats.
One thing to not forget? A pair of flats or sandals for walking to the dining location and for dancing. YOUR FEET WILL THANK YOU.

7. Have a safe way to get home post-party
Friends, you know as well as I that wine can catch up to you faster than a cheetah after a gazelle. BE SAFE and have a plan to get home that doesn’t involve driving.

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Waking to Dinner in Soufriere

I don’t know about you, but typically, I’m a terrible packer. I bring far too much and end up with so many options that overwhelm me when I’m trying to decide what to wear. This trip though, I felt like I really had it together and packed JUST ENOUGH outfits. Or so I thought.

During the day, it’s SO easy. Swimsuits all day, cute clothes (aka look presentable) for dinner. Seems like it wouldn’t be that hard. But this one night…I realized I had packed ONE OUTFIT UNDER what I’d need on the trip.

Cue mini meltdown. Since we were walking (more like trekking) into town (we thought we’d save money on a taxi this one night and it was NOT WORTH IT - always hire the taxi if your destination is more than 2 miles away), there were lots of things to consider. Comfortable shoes (I’d brought five pair of shoes total - one heeled sandal, one sneaker, one slip on and two pairs of sandals.) Plus I had to wear an outfit that was nice but walkable. I was stressing out.

I finally landed on this skirt/top combo that ended up being one of my favorite from the trip (figures.) I’m going to let you guys in on a little secret - I scored this Alexis skirt for $40 on Thredup. WUT. Yes. A $400+ skirt lives in my closet and I only paid 10% of that. 

Totes didn’t mean for this to end up like a thredup infomercial, nor did I mean to get all crazy pants with my stressful getting dressed situation, but hey. It’s MONDAY. And on Mondays, anything goes. (Especially my sanity.) ;)

On Julien: Skirt, Alexis (similar.) Top, GAP c/o (similar.). Necklace, Take 5 Boutique. Bracelet, Sophie Blake. Purse, VASKA via Estiletta c/o.

Alexis Skirt

Ever since I cleaned out my closet last month and sold half of my clothes to ThredUp (a chic consignment website that I'm mildly obsessed with - use this link for $10 off your first order!), I’ve been aching to fill it back up. Here’s the thing, I’m into beauty and art. In all forms. Whether it’s finding the perfect shade of lipstick, nailing the milkmaid braid or discovering a local artist whose paintings brighten my day or photographing another blogger during the golden hour…art is everything to me. 

And because I’m so driven by beauty and art, I let my emotions do the shopping. I want to FEEL good in an outfit and I want to experience joy when I wear it. That’s why I’m not into super tight skinny jeans. And that’s why I don’t wear 5 inch heels. 

Where I’m going with this post, even I don’t know…but I do know that I experienced that same butterfly-in-my-stomach joy when I spotted this skirt. It’s by the brand, Alexis, which carries ultra-feminine pieces like embroidered crop tops (I know the Bible says ‘thou shalt not covet’ but I am coveting big time over this top big time!) delicate, lace skirts and ruffled white dresses. It’s bohemian heaven. ::Insert all the heart emojis::

So yes, sometimes (*cough* always *cough*) I shop purely based on emotion. Can I wear it to work? No. Can I wear it to the park? No. But will I look like a rockstar when I finally get the chance to wear it? I’d like to think so. ;)

On Julien: Skirt, Alexis (similar.) Top, vintage. Mules, J.Crew (on sale!) Ring, Samantha Wills. Bracelet and earrings, Hanuel.