Tag Archives: striped dress

Architecture of an Outfit: Stripes Never Go Out of Season

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Regardless of the season, and, despite what fashion experts say, stripes are always in style. Spring summer trend reports always predict stripes “coming back”, but if they’re always in season, there’s no reason for a comeback. Stripes don’t make a comeback; they command the room, never stand in the back, and never, ever leave front and center.

If you couldn’t tell, I’m a fan of stripes.

{ Architecture of an Outfit } Stripes are always in style

Butter by Nadia, black and white striped dress, frilly striped dress, crumb catcher
Butter by Nadia, black and white striped dress, frilly striped dress, crumb catcher

This striped dress by Butter by Nadia is probably my fave. And the crumb-catcher frilly thing on the neckline? No one else has it.

And the leopard wedges… of course.

I reviewed the dress last year in this article: “Butter By Nadia, The Lulu Dress.” And you’ve seen this dress with neon royal blue tights last Christmas. See? It’s a multi-seasonal wardrobe weapon.

Butter by Nadia, black and white striped dress, frilly striped dress, crumb catcher
Butter by Nadia, black and white striped dress, frilly striped dress, crumb catcher

OUTFIT ARCHITECTURE / DETAILS
DRESS: Black and white striped swing dress, Butter by Nadia
BAG: Leather satchel, Audrey Brooke via DSW
SHOES: Leopard wedge heels, Aldo Shoes

ALTERNATIVES / WHERE
DRESS: Bold stripe dress, Kenneth Cole; Zig zag striped dress, NM; Striped bustier dress, Silence & Noise.
BAG: Tan leather cross body satchel, The Leather Satchel Co.; Asher Tumble Satchel, Ralph Lauren; Mulberry Alexa Satchel, tan.
SHOES: Leopard wedge heels, Matiko.

Love you. Have a great weekend! See you on Sunday!

Me ke aloha ~ With love, Xx
Mae

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Butter by Nadia Lulu Dress – Review

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Awhile ago, I snagged a Butter by Nadia Lulu Dress on a flash sale. Luckily, I was able to grab the last signature stripe print dress. The dress is a one size fits all bubble hem dress with an empire waist, constructed of high quality jersey knit. It’s friggin’ adorable.

Butter by Nadia Lulu Dress, 60s stripe, striped dress, butter by nadia

Butter by Nadia Lulu Dress, 60s stripe, striped dress, butter by nadia

{ Architecture of an Outfit Details: 60s Stripe Lulu Dress, Butter by Nadia. [Alternative: Bold Stripe Dress, Modcloth.] Silence & Noise lace slip. [Alternative: Betsey Johnson Lace Slip.] Blue Opaque Tights. Black patent leather platform Mary Jane heels (similar). }

The Lulu Dress’s luxe cotton jersey and bold stripe print are gorgeous elements that make a unique and comfortable dress. The shoulder straps are convertible, allowing the dress to have a cap sleeve or off-the-shoulder style, but the sleeves could be twisted and worn halter style as well. The stand-out feature of the dress, though, is the unique crumb-catcher frill at the collar. Pulling from historical collar inspirations, a crumb catcher detail jazzes up a boring neckline with a cute and unique flare. The Lulu Dress’s crumb catcher falls forward, creating an adorable frill at the bustline, but it can be starched a little so that it stands straight.

Butter by Nadia Lulu Dress, 60s stripe, striped dress, butter by nadia

I love the way it fits my large-for-my-petite-frame bust, and how it falls to just the right, flattering length above my knees. The free sizing (OS – 0-12) is a bit misleading. It fits my size 2/3 body just right, if a bit tight around my C-cup chest. Though the jersey stretches, not sure how it would look on a size 10 or 12. I’m sure it would be cute, but I’m not willing to stretch out the material just to test a hypothesis. Butter by Nadia’s models are mostly buxom, curvaceous goddesses, so the theory might hold water. Basically, the dress looks good on me, so I’m a happy camper.

Butter by Nadia Lulu Dress, 60s stripe, striped dress, butter by nadia

Here is another convertible piece, the Vanity Bustier, as seen on Elle (Fast Food & Fast Fashion). (I rue the day I discovered BBN through Elle. Color me obsessed now. Thank God I’m broke–no more temptation.)

BBN pieces are available in the Butter By Nadia online store or Prices of all Butter by Nadia pieces are upwards of $100USD – $200USD, with those in the lower price range pieces that are on clearance. Unfortunately, I snagged the last Lulu dress. But the rest of the collection is of comparable awesomeness.

Butter by Nadia Lulu Dress, 60s stripe, striped dress, butter by nadia

What do you think of the dress?

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{ Architecture of an Outfit/OOTD } Whippin’ round, striped girl dancing to the ground

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Music, music in my soul. I dance, dance ’round, whip myself, grind, grind, grind into the ground.



Dancing used to be so much a part of my soul, that the mere idea of not dancing regularly for a long period, almost an era… an epoch that began from my move to Detroit, where, as I was unaware of at the time I moved, intense indoor smoking was unregulated. At first I thought, a little–or a lot–of smoke, lung tar, or what have you, wouldn’t stop a hardcore House music-head.

Except it did.

It’s not that I went to dance halls, dark lounges, and clubs for sport, to browse through the sweating, writhing masses for a future mate, or a wry, tawdry tousle between the sheets. It was all about the music. The melodic thrum, the beat thudding in syncopation with my heart, soothed my raging, angry brain, my restless, endless thoughts. I danced to sooth, smooth, move, flow. I danced for forgiveness. I danced for forgetfulness. I danced to celebrate… I danced to elevate my soul.

I haven’t danced the way I used to, like the floor was mine three nights a week. But things inside me have been stirring since I found myself last December. Though the pulse of anger still ripples through me now and then, it eventually fades to a sweet undulation of satisfaction and even a jubilant calm.

I might not dance again the way I could when I was a young thing of twenty two and twenty three, the way I moved seven years ago, with my hands in the air, and the flashing lights moving just for me. But in other ways, I’m more elevated than I ever was, and I only have higher to go.





{ Outfit Architecture }
*Denotes Eco-stylin’ piece
Pouf-sleeve striped dress, Forever 21. [SIMILAR]
Cognac flounce, circle skirt, J. Crew. [SIMILAR, SIMILAR]
Patent leather, faux “gater” belt, Forever 21.
Jeffrey Campbell style cage heels, Miss Me. [SIMILAR, SIMILAR]
Watches: Marc by Marc Jacobs locket heart watch (gifted), Target Merona Boyfriend style watch.
Wendy Mink Hammered Gold filigree cuff.
*Alex and Ani repurposed gold bangles*, via Charlie and Lee (gifted). [Same brand]
Rings: Wire-wrapped ring, Miss Selfridge’s; Architecture ring, Modcloth.
Necklace: UO.
Feather earring: UO. (Yes, I’m only wearing one.)

{What makes my heart dance}




My family. Yeay. Win.

PS. Some of my outfit photography from 2011 was streamed live at a fashion event this weekend in The Bay Area with the help of La La Valentine. Second feature! Yeay!!

Have you joined the Pajama Party yet?

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