I can officially say I've gone overboard!
On clothes.
I'm no fashionista but when it comes to trips I LOVE to plan out outfits in advance to reduce the amount of luggage I bring. I also love being able to just grab something and go without much thought. Careful planning beforehand definitely helps in this department.
My main goals for my outfits at BlogHer were comfort and versatility. I want outfits that can go from day to night with ease just in case there's no time in between sessions and events to change. And because most of the people I'll be meeting have never met me in person I want to give them a great first impression.
So I turned to my favorite dress site online to peruse their selection of women's dresses.
Comfort
New York City in August can be summed up in one word: HOT!
I wanted to plan for relaxed, comfortable, light outfits that wouldn't get to hot as I walked around the streets of New York. This gorgeous Shabby Apple Coco Bean dress is not only light but keeps its form with little wrinkling.
After receiving this dress in the mail from Shabby Apple I didn't need to steam, iron, or tumble dry the dress to get out any wrinkles due to the shipping. So that told me that when I packed for BlogHer I wouldn't have to worry too much about wrinkles when I got to my destination.
I hate irons.
The dress itself is tight on the top but not too tight. I guess the right word would be form fitting. Then right above the belly button it pleats out into a full skirt. This is great for covering up my trouble spot: my belly. The flab from my two pregnancies? Far from gone.
And the dress has built in pockets!!
I am just so excited about this. I can actually carry my cell phone, ID, and business cards in my pockets foregoing the need for a purse! Seriously. Don't know why I hadn't purchased a dress with pockets before this.
I'm already shopping the Shabby Apple site for a skirt with pockets too. Genius.
Versatility
The style of the Coco Bean dress an easily be taken from day wear to night wear with a few accessory changes and hair styles. I absolutely LOVE the military style of this dress and have had a lot of fun shopping for shoes to pair with it.
The metal studs are bronze/gold so I used that as my inspiration for Gladiator style sandals in bronze. But I could easily find awesome heels to go with this outfit and pair it with some awesome earrings to make it a night-on-the-town look.
Some of my favorite features of this dress are the puffy sleeves and the pop collar. Seriously... the color stands up and covers most of the back of my neck.
The only flaw I found with the dress is the fact that the top literally buttoned up. Since I'm a larger chested person this left gaps between the buttons showing off the goods. I simply had the family seamstress (my husband's aunt) sew a straight line along the hem line of the dress to close it up. A simple, quick fix that now makes this dress perfect!
Shabby Apple has a whole site full of awesome clothing and accessories for women and kids. And they just aren't limited to dresses and skirts either! From swim wear to maternity wear to kids styles; they have every style covered!
Head on over to the Shabby Apple site and peruse around. I'm sure you'll find one or ten things you want to purchase! I know I do. I am already planning a wishlist. And since their always adding to their collections, if you see something you like I suggest snagging it while you can!
Remember to follow Shabby Apple on Twitter and like them on Facebook to keep up with the latest styles, promotions, and sales. Fans are the first to know about awesome events and information.
Want to WIN a Shabby Apple Coco Bean dress of your own?
Shabby Apple will be sponsoring one of the prizes in the upcoming Seen in the City
event hosted by the Noise Girls! One lucky winner will receive a Coco Bean dress for their closet!Make sure to come back on July 16th and enter to WIN one of 5 amazing prize packages perfect for any gal hitting the city for a special blogging conference or a great time out on the town!
Disclaimer: I received a dress from Shabby Apple for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.
