Fresh Scallops

No, no...I don't mean the seafood. Though I don't mind a nice seared scallop...mmm. Anyway, while I was perusing the Saks sale in search of pastel frocks for you guys (the post is right before this), I found this lovely white shift dress from Walter, on sale for $178.80. The scalloped detail is so fresh and light, and the white is perfect for summer. What I like about this dress is that it works for summer, but it could also be paired with a nice cardigan for cooler weather, or even black tights and a jacket for winter (very Zooey Deschanel).


If I had to pick a pair of summer sandals to wear this with, I'd probably go matchy matchy and pick a pair of white or cream sandals. Really, almost anything in a neutral colour (though I'm not so hot about the idea of black shoes and a white dress) would work, even a fierce pair of gladiators. Here are some choices from the clearance circuit that would complement this lovely dress perfectly.

For those of you that want a simple, basic summer sandal that you can use again and again I'd try this crossover flip-flop like variety from Steve Madden. It's on sale for $19.99, and it comes in silver, gold, and black. If I was coordinating this pair of shoes with the Walter dress, I'd go for the silver and gold, but if you need a pair of black sandals by all means try those.




For those of you that want something edgier to neutralize the super-girly scallops on the shift, I would try a more unique sandal, like one of these two pairs. I'd still stick with white, but the first pair of flip-flops, on sale for $25.90 from Chinese Laundry, are a great way to add a little tiny bit of punky studs to any ensemble. The second pair of shoes, on sale for $49.99 from Steve Madden, echo the gladiator/Grecian styles that have been popping up so much. The ankle detail is reminiscent of many avant-garde styles of footwear, yet the simple buckle detail and strappy structure keep this sandal wearable with many different outfits.

Prom at Bloomingdales

If you're a high school senior, 'tis the season for pretty dresses! With prom and graduation recently coming to a close for all of the high school alumni out there, and mine being only next year, I started getting into my own fashion mode. It may be an entire year away, but...it's always good to stay ahead of the game right?

I decided to try out a department store known for classy evening dresses, Bloomingdales. This definitely is not the cheapest as far as dresses are concerned; at the same time, the prices could be a lot worse. This year at prom, I noticed that a lot of girls at my own school had abandoned the traditional long, beaded, frou-frou gowns that are typically associated with prom and instead went for chic cocktail dresses with interesting details that made them stand out from the crowd.

For my tanner skintone, I decided that white would be a good option; not many girls would be wearing it, but it would still stay true to my style palette of white, black, and beige without being too basic. I found two dresses that satisfied the criteria of being chic white cocktail dresses with enough detail to make them stand apart from the crowd. The one on top is from Lauren Ralph Lauren, and I love the detailing but I'm wary about the idea of wearing a belted dress to my (future) prom. The one on the bottom is absolutely gorgeous; the shutter pleats add interesting details while still maintaining a figure-flattering sheath silhouette.



Not counting the white dresses above, if I was dress shopping I'd probably go for a subdued colour, either very pale or very dark. The dress on top is another gorgeous find from BCBG with a very classic combo of an A-line skirt and a sweetheart neckline. To me, it's like the stereotypical poufy prom dress, reinvented. Though the dress on the bottom probably fits the graduation slot more accurately, I still can't help but love the old school halter neckline.



If, however, I decided to splash out and try a louder colour, I'd go for something without a lot of fussy details. I was able to find two dresses that incorporate a cute bow into their design, perfect for my bow-loving self. The first is a fire-engine red dress, which has a figure-hugging silhouette (perfect for little me!) and a tilted bow perched on its side. The second is a silk dress in an unbelievably gorgeous shade of blue. This one might not work for everyone, as its silhouette is sort of boxy and doesn't really flatter many figures, but it could also go both ways, as a graduation dress or a prom dress, depending on how formal those occasions are at your particular school.