Day 47 of 57: French Connection

    Day 47 of 57 Days of Dresses was an evening of Middle Eastern food, belly dancing and hookah smoking. Jason and I went out with the lovely Emily Thomas to see our belly dance instructor, Claire, perform at the local Middle Eastern restaurant, Jerusalem Garden. Watching her was mesmerizing, and the control she had of her muscles was impressive. I'm happy she's my teacher.
    After enjoying food, wine and entertainment, we hoofed over to the hookah lounge and enjoyed a smoke and conversation. We were all going to check out the '60s R&B dance party at the Admiral, but it was pretty late so we called it a night before turning into pumpkins. After a wonderful night out, the last order of business was a quick photo shoot in front of the french doors of our pantry in our new house.
    I found this fabulous leopard-print A-line shirt dress at a thrift store here in Asheville. The dress buttons fully from top to bottom, and the large structured lapels provides a vintage-inspired Judy Jetson feel.
    The deep-V neck and sleeveless cut make this dress very sexy, and great to accessorize with classic styles like a pearl necklace, pearl earrings and a Victorian lace blouse. The above-the-knee circle skirt flares nicely from the hips. I have the waist set off with a bright red vinyl belt. What a find!

 

day 41 of 57: Jump street

    On day 41 of 57 Days of Dresses my mom and I went to lunch at Jamaciaway, then hit up the Andy Warhol exhibit at the Frist. The silver mylar baloon exhibit is the coolest installation I've ever walked into. We both really enjoyed it, and the we went to mÄmbu for diner later on. I wanted to wear something that looked like I was going to the Factory, so what better than something polka-dot and something bold?
    So, I wore two green dresses in a row, but now two jumper dresses in a row? You better believe it. This is a red jumper dress that I got at Thriftsmart for a few bucks. It's a bold burgundy red that buttons in the front. The skirt falls slightly above the knee and the sleeveless bodice has a plunged V-neckline. The sleeveless straps are attached to suspenders that button to the scooped back. I'm wearing a polka-dot shirt underneath and polka-dot vintage pumps. With Debbie Harry and Liza Minnelli as my backdrops, this dress is beyond rad.

Me and my mom at the Warhol Live exhibit at the Frist

 

day 38 of 57: Late night flat

   So on day 38 of 57 Days of Dresses, Jason and I were gallivanting the streets of downtown Asheville, and came across this perfect pile of tires by the side of an auto repair shop. Looks like a great place for a photo shoot.
    This is a vintage 1980s shirt dress I got at Thriftsmart for $5 - what a find! It's in pristine condition, and still has its matching belt, which you can see in the photos. The tea-length skirt is ruffled and has pockets, and the 3/4 bat sleeves have a buttoned cuff, which I have turned up. The front buttons form a V-neck and button from top to bottom - I like to leave a few bottom buttons open to create a pee-a-boo front slit. The bodice has 2 breast pockets, the shoulders have light padding for structure and the collar can be folded down to make a small lapel, like I've done in the photos. The fabric sports a very '80s floral/ graffiti print. I really dig this dress!

day 36 of 57: Red dress special

    Today is day 36 of 57, and I have only 21 more dresses to go! It's been a long summer of dress celebration, but I can't wait to put on some pants for a while - although I still browse the dress section of any clothing store.
    This red midi-length shirt dress is another vintage thrift gem from the Salvation Army up the street from me. $5 made it mine. The hidden placket sports a full button closure, which is great for adjusting the height of the slit. The 3/4 sleeves are somewhat over-sized, and the seamed waist is perfectly fitted and has belt loops, which I have a polka-dot sash looped through it. The dress is pretty simple, but totally feminine and elegant for day wear. 

Day 34 of 57: Oo, La La!

    So on day 34 of 57 Days of Dresses I had an early celebration of my 28th year on this planet! That's right, it was a birthday party! And what better way to party then like a kid again at an indoor amusement park and bowling alley. Plus there's a bar! Talk about an occasion to wear a beautiful dress.
    This is a sweet mini dress I got at the Salvation Army for $2. Swoon! It's an A-line shirt dress with princess seams and darts that make it fit like a glove. It has a very cool geometric pattern with of black, white and blue triangles. The plunged V-neck is accentuated with ruched seams. The dress has belt loops, which I have my favorite red belt looped through, and the front of the dress buttons from top to bottom. The short sleeves are buttoned at the cuff, and the skirt is detailed with a pleated tier around it that looks oh-so cute! Yeah, this is another dress that I love!