Velvet Slip Dress

Last year, it started. The velvet frenzy. Everyone couldn’t get enough of it - velvet boots, velvet skirts, velvet scrunchies - I even attended a shopping event where the girls in attendance raced through the aisles to find the last of the velvet blazers.

Now that a year has passed, and we’ve all settled into the trend, and very-much decided it’s not going anywhere, I’ve learned I love it just as much as I did last year.

This Uniqlo dress is just the latest installment of my love profession to velvet. It is *the* perfect shade of blue. Natalie taught me to only buy something if I could imagine it in 3 different ways.

EASY.

With a tee and mules
With a turtleneck and leather sneakers
With a chunky knit cardigan, belts and boots
With a button up shirt over the dress and tied with pumps

You’d be surprised how versatile a slip dress can be - And with a $20 price tag, I’d stock up in multiple colors! Shop my look below and let me know - are you still obsessed with velvet, too?

Wearing Uniqlo dress, thrifted Ralph Lauren slides, linen scarf (similar), Chloe bag, Gorjana necklace (similar here!), Sophie Blake bracelet

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Red Marissa Webb Dress

• SHOP THE POST •

Each season, I always seem to find a color I love. Last season, I couldn’t get enough blush in my life. And while that’s still the case, this season, I have a thing for R E D.

I rented this insanely gorgeous dress Marissa Webb from Rent the Runway for my last vacation at the beach and I shed legitimate tears when I sent it back. It’s the softest silk, perfect fit, modest with a bit of side leg action, and basically everything I could want in a dress. 

And with New York Fashion week only a month away, I’ve already started creating a folder for the looks I want to take with me. Because let’s be honest - I’d much rather have Rent the Runway deliver looks straight to my hotel door than trying to lug all my clothing from DC to NYC. 

I mean - can we talk about how amazing that is just for a moment? Let me give you an example…earlier this week I met up with Lauren Louise to shoot a look for the DC Wedding Collective. I was SO excited to shoot another red silk dress, but when I got to the site and unpacked my garment bag, the dress had fallen off the hanger, into the bag and was COMPLETELY wrinkled. 

Not only was it severely embarrassing, but unprofessional. With no steamer on hand, what’s a girl to do? Luckily, only the bottom was wrinkled, so I threw on my trousers that I’d worn to work to create a more casual wedding look. If anyone asks, TROUSERS are the NEW THING in weddings, ok? ;)

I can laugh about it now, but it was horrifying at the time. That’s just one of the many reasons I love using Rent the Runway for events, shoots and vacations. This dress arrived in perfect condition so I could easily throw it on for dinner without fusing with the iron.

Check out some of the pieces I’ve been eying below from Rent the Runway below and be sure to check out the Rent the Runway Clearance Sale!

Wearing Marissa Webb dress and Loeffler Randall bag via Rent the Runway, Sophie Blake necklace and Finding Ferdinand lip kit

Potomac Mills

As my ten-year high school reunion approaches (well, it’s next year but the planning starts now!), I started to think about all the things I loved about that period of my life. Playing sports, skipping class (sorry, mom), weekend trips to the mall.

Remember how important the mall was to us back then? My friends and I would hit up the mall most weekends - very Mean Girls style - except without the mean and without the cute clothes. We’d spend hours, HOURS, popping into our favorite shops, trying on everything in our size, buying as much as we could carry.

Somewhere after high school, online shopping became a THING. We were all wary at first (is it SAFE to buy online?) but after a short time, it became the only way we shopped. So fun - so convenient - so many shops at our fingertips!

But just as fashion in cyclical al, so are shopping trends. Now, after years of receiving ill-fitting pieces and being too lazy to return them, I often prefer to shop in person! I love being able to feel the fabrics and see how the fit flatters my figure (or vice versa!)

So when Potomac Mills invited me to visit this past weekend and participate in their Work the Shirt challenge, I couldn’t say no. In case you haven’t heard of them they’re the largest outlet mall in Virginia and located just outside the DC area. And until May 31, they’re having a month-long Accessorize Your Spring Sale. As I always like to say, you can never, ever save too much money. ;)

First stop was the Bloomingdale’s Outlet Store (which I didn’t even know existed!) The first thing I spotted were the super popular Vince mules that all the bloggers seem to have - after that, I knew it was going to be a productive trip. I ended up purchasing these Ray-bans (that I’ve been wanting ever since wearing Cheralee’s pair in New York last year!) and a pair of J.Brand high-waisted jeans. Because in DC, spring can mean a jeans/sweater combo in the AM and a skirt/tee combo by evening. 

Next stop - Nordstrom Rack. I tried on ALL THE THINGS here and walked away with the sickest pair of Adidas white sneakers. We’re seeing these everywhere and I was so excited to get my hands on a pair (for next to nothing!) 

Here’s the thing, friends - being on a budget and shopping affordably doesn’t mean you always need to spend an arm and a leg. And shopping at an outlet doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing trends - I saw so many pieces that are on-trend now: off-the-shoulder tops, boyfriend blazers, mules, lace-up sandals…just goes to show you, you really CAN have your cake and eat it to.

A few stores I didn’t make it around to (but I wish I had?) Lucky Brand Outlet, TJMAXX, Levi’s Outlet, LOFT outlet (where my top is from!), J.Crew outlet and Saks Off Fifth.

Also - word of advice - never shop hungry. The end of my shopping excursion was spent in a grumpy daze as my blood sugar dipped to an all-time low. Be sure to swing by Starbucks or Auntie Anne’s Pretzels before you get hangry.

NOW to the outfit - I was excited to style this particular top for a number of reasons - 1. Denim separates are everywhere this season. 2. I love that this chambray top was more of a boyfriend fit, enabling me to wear it tons of different ways. I paired it with the grey, 90’s style mid-rise denim I snagged at the Bloomie’s outlet and the white ADIAS you’ll be seeing on my feet all Spring. I finished off the look with my new favorite pair of black-on-black Ray-bans. 

I’ll admit - I’m a bit overexcited about my Potomac Mills finds. How do you think I did?! If you’re looking to check out they have to offer, check our their website and visit them at: 2700 Potomac Mills Cir, Woodbridge, VA 22192.

Wearing LOFT chambray top, J.Brand denim, Ray-ban sunnies and ADIDAS sneakers from Potomac Mills c/o. Urban Outfitters belt, JOA tank, Sophie Blake bracelet, Kylie Cosmetics lips in “Candy K”