dress Archives - Lace & Pearls

The Dress for All Seasons: Chambray

July 25, 2017

Can you believe that I got this chambray dress from Costco?! It’s such a great find. What makes this dress so great is the versatile sleeves; you can wear them tabbed in the warmer months and full length in the fall and winter. I can already picture my cold weather outfit: fleece-lined tights, tall boots, and a chunky cardigan. I do have this other chambray option, but it’s a bit too small.

Why Chambray?

Chambray is a great neutral. You can literally wear it with any color. I styled mine with these metallic sandals by Nicole Shoes and added a pop of color with these turquoise fringe earrings. Another cute way to style your chambray would be with a scarf, hat, or even both!

Speaking of, have you heard of Nicole Shoes? If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you might know that I have issues with finding a comfortable shoe. Nicole Shoes are a great alternative for happy feet. Who knew that there was an entire brand dedicated to comfort and style. These sandals are amazing! No break in time needed, which must be from the cork sole. I love the color and am obsessed with the adorable tassel at the back. Be sure to check out their site for more stylish shoes. I’ll definitely be scouring their site come Fall.

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📷’s by Luba Kochubey Portraits

Get West Coast Glam With Tobi

September 13, 2016

📷’s by Luba Kochubey Portraits

I am excited to be reviewing some pieces from Tobi. They have so many cute styles and I love their dresses. Both of the dresses that I received are true to size and fall just above the knee. Perfect for my 5’4 frame. Based out of Los Angeles, their fashion is chic and effortlessly cool.

Tobi Mad Love Shift Dress

Dress: Tobi c/o | Necklace: J. Crew | Sandals: Josef Sebiel | Lipstick: Make Up For Ever c/o color C211 (Rose Wood)

The Mad Love shift dress is my favorite. I’m obsessed with the color! I think this wine/burgundy tone is going to be big for fall. I love the pockets and zipper in the back. The chest area is a bit tight on me, but doesn’t take away from the overall look. For reference, I am wearing a size large.

Tobi Beverly Cut Out Shift Dress

Dress: Tobi c/o | Necklace: Rebekah J. Designs | Sandals: Josef Sebiel | Lipstick: Make Up For Ever c/o color C211 (Rose Wood)

Confession time: I don’t own a little black dress (LBD) and have been looking for one. I like how this one has a little flair to it with the cut-out sleeves. I have a feeling I’ll be getting a lot of wear from it. For reference, I am wearing a size large. This dress is also tight in the bust and arms, but still wearable.

Both of these dresses can transition from day to night. This will allow me to go straight from work to the next adventure. Other dresses I might need to pick up are the Andei Lace Shift dress, Wonder Why Scallop Shift dress, and the Swoop In Shift dress.

Tobi Call It A Day Draped Jacket

Jacket: Tobi c/o | Tee: J.Crew | Necklace: Rocksbox (use code laceandpearlsblogxoxo at checkout to receive your first month free)| Sandals: Josef Sebiel | Lipstick: Make Up For Ever c/o color C211 (Rose Wood)

Tobi has a wide variety of clothing choices (cozy sweaters, cute accessories, and shoes). This drape jacket might just be my new go-to. The thin material drapes nicely. The color on the site is called “Toast” but I would say it’s more of a blush tone. You can wear it like I did with jeans, or over a dress/skirt. Other items I like are the Around Here Blouse and this Maggie Crochet sweater.

Tobi posts 20-30 new arrivals a day. Best of all, new customers get 50% off their order. If you thought the drape jacket was cute check out the Roses Drape Lapel blazer and the Angles All Around blazer. Both of these are on my wish list!

*Tobi graciously provided me with the clothing in today’s post, but all opinions are my own.

Golden Tote – Clothing and Surprises

August 23, 2016

📷’s by Luba Kochubey Portraits

Do you love fashion? Does the idea of having your own personal stylist sound appealing? What if you could combine both of these things while providing input on the process. Work with someone who not only knows all your measurements but also won’t put you in something you hate. Sounds nice right? I’m here to tell you that Golden Tote is your answer.

What is Golden Tote?

Golden Tote is a flash sale site that launches a new collection the first Monday of every month. Depending on your order, both you and your stylist will choose a few items. For example, I chose two items and my stylist chose three.

How Does My Stylist Know What I Like?

I am impressed with Golden Tote’s style profile. When you sign up you’re prompted to create an account. You are then encouraged to share your measurements, color preferences, likes, and dislikes. I also appreciate how you can select the items that you would not wear, such as a crop top or flared jeans.

How Much Does It Cost?

The price is similar to other retailers, but with an insider discount. It is more cost effective if you buy a tote instead of individual pieces from the boutique.

Tote Options

The Golden Tote – $149 Pick two pieces/stylist chooses three
The Surprise – $89 Stylist will choose three items for you based on your profile
The Mini Tote – $59 Pick one piece/stylist chooses one

Return Policy

You have two options; the traditional method where you can return a full or partial order, or join their Facebook group to swap, trade, or sell an item.

What I Received

My choices

The stripe shift dress is my favorite item that I received. I styled it with this distressed denim jacket and added a cute parrot brooch to the pocket. I requested a size large, but the dress was too big in the hips and upper body. I am narrow through the hips, so the extra fabric wasn’t necessary.

Dress: Golden Tote c/o | Sandals: Josef Sebiel | Necklace: Stella & Dot (old) | Bracelet: Tory Burch for Fitbit (similar)| Lipstick: Wet n Wild (Stoplight Red)

The second item I chose was the Picnic Perfect dress. I love everything about this dress from the color to the pattern. It comes with the belt which helps add definition to the waist. Unfortunately, this dress was tight in the chest. For reference, this dress is a size large and my chest measurements are a 24DD.

Stylist choices

I am a big fan of this lace skirt from Blush Noir. I have never worn a pencil skirt and was surprised by how much I liked it. It’s a bit body conscious for my liking, but the fit is nice and super flattering. The length was good, too. It didn’t hurt that the material is lace (my fav). The waist was a bit large. Otherwise, it would have been perfect. I don’t think that I could take a smaller size.

My favorite piece that the stylist chose is this purple top by Skies Are Blue. The silhouette is one that I wear often, but the color isn’t. I am not the biggest fan of purple, but I love this shade. I’ve worn this blouse so many time since receiving the order.

Dress: Golden Tote c/o | Necklace: J.Crew (similar) | Lipstick: Wet n Wild (Stoplight Red)

My least favorite item was this fitted floral dress by Collective Concepts. I am not a fan of bodycon dresses or (as I mentioned before) the color purple. This dress was surprisingly flattering, especially in the midsection (my trouble area). I still didn’t like it on me. I felt like it made me look a little too mature, (older than my age).

Would I try Golden Tote again?

Heck yes! The experience was so much fun. I’m curious what the fall collection will look like. Be sure to head over to Golden Tote and sign up for their newsletter.

*Golden Tote provided me with this tote and the clothing, but all opinions are my own.

How to Make the Drop Waist Dress Work For You

July 19, 2016

📷’s by Luba Kochubey Portraits

Drop waist dresses are a favorite of mine. They are great for covering the midsection and are non-constricting. They do have the stigma of only working for certain body types, but with my tips, it can work for you.

I have never been one to follow fashion rules, but I do try to dress for my body type. I have an athletic build, broad shoulders, and just shy of 5’4″. I’m narrow through the hips with a large bust and midsection. I usually stick to fabrics that drape nicely, such as silk or chiffon. Sometimes I still wear items that are not the most flattering, just because I like them. The drop waist dress is one of those pieces. It’s just so girly. I can’t resist.

Tips for Wearing the Drop Waist Dress

Slender – the drop waist dress is ideal for those who are slender with a small bust and hips. This type of dress allows you to show off your toned arms, collarbone, and legs. You can wear yours fitted or loose, but if you’re petite, a loose cut will overwhelm your frame.

Apple Shape – if you carry weight in your midsection, this dress does a great job of minimizing this area. Be sure to avoid those that are more fitted through the waist. While a longer hemline may give you the appearance of a longer torso, it will also make your legs look shorter (stick to a short hemline).

Hourglass & Pear Shape – the drop waist dress places a strong emphasis on the hips. Choose one that is slim through the waist and has strong details along the neckline. This will pull the attention away from your hips.

Plus size – if you carry your weight in the midsection or are straight up and down, this dress will flatter. Opt for one that is loose fitting with a waist that falls low in the hips. This will elongate your figure and show off your legs.

How I Wear the Drop Waist

I am wearing a chambray drop waist dress in a petite medium. I went with a smaller dress size than my norm (I usually wear a large) and chose petite instead of regular. If you’re on the shorter side, always check out the petite section, even if you’re curvy.

The jacket is another score from the Target Who What Wear Collection. See all my WWW looks from this past month. The bag was a major score from Old Navy. They seriously have the best handbag selection! Don’t take my word for it, check it out after you finish reading this post. My shoes are Cob Hill and the cute necklace is from Loft (my kryptonite).

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The Everyday Dress

June 14, 2016

📷’s by Luba Kochubey Portraits

The length of a dress can make or break you, especially when you’re on the shorter side. This dress falls just above the knee and I love the woodblock-inspired print.

I can wear this look pretty much anywhere (wedding, date night, office). If your office is business casual, throw on a cardi or a light weight blazer and you’re good to go.

My favorite thing about this dress is the silk material. It’s super flattering and helps minimize imperfections (midsection, large bust, etc). If you’re not a fan of silk, try chiffon or polyester to achieve the same look.

I also like the adjustable straps, making it easier to dial in the neckline.

The accessories are from Lucia K. Jewelry (shop). The designer Kirsty lives in Seattle and blogs at Lucia K. Jewelry.

The Tag Earrings are 14k gold plated and made to order. I love the antique-like finish and the oval shape. If you like these, ask Kirsty to make you the shorter version. The Rectangle Tag Necklace is also 14k gold plated. I love how minimal it is. Be sure to check out Kirsty’s shop for more beautiful pieces, such as the on-trend lariat necklace.

Kirsty is offering a discount to Lace & Pearls readers, use Laceandpearls20 to get 20% off your order.

This necklace was gifted but all opinions are my own.

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The Dress for All Seasons: Chambray

Why Chambray?

Get West Coast Glam With Tobi

Tobi Mad Love Shift Dress

Tobi Beverly Cut Out Shift Dress

Tobi Call It A Day Draped Jacket

Golden Tote – Clothing and Surprises

What is Golden Tote?

How Does My Stylist Know What I Like?

How Much Does It Cost?

Tote Options

Return Policy

What I Received

Would I try Golden Tote again?

How to Make the Drop Waist Dress Work For You

Tips for Wearing the Drop Waist Dress

How I Wear the Drop Waist

The Everyday Dress

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