fall frock

 MARCO BOLOGNA Dress via RENT THE RUNWAY, KAREN WALKER Sunglasses,

 KENDRA SCOTT Earrings, ASOS Belt, ESSIE "Fifth Avenue" Nail Polish, CHINESE LAUNDRY Flats (1/2 OFF!)

dressed up just because

CLOVER CANYON Sequin Print Dress, ERICKSON BEAMON Earrings, and KOTUR iPhone Minaudiere via RENT THE RUNWAY ($25 OFF your 1st order or $20 OFF $75+ with code TREAT2014) c/o, RAY-BAN Sunglasses, ANDREW MARC Perforated Moto Jacket c/o, BCBG Booties, ESSIE "Fifth Ave" Nail Polish

PHOTOGRAPHY: SAMANTHA of STYLE OF SAM 

Have you ever been to 14 weddings in one calendar year? Oh, word? You must live in the South like me. Seeing the same people in rotation almost monthly is the best excuse to buy a closet full of cocktail dresses, but then there's the issue of buying a closet full of cocktail dresses when you've already spent your money on waffle irons and steak knives. Luckily around this matrimonial time a few years ago, I was introduced by a friend to RENT THE RUNWAY. Not to toot my own horn (tooooot) but I ended up being the best dressed guest all the way from Virginia to Alabama, y'all. 
    The experience couldn't have been easier or more fun, and I've been a devoted RENT THE RUNWAY customer ever since. You can't help but feel like a diva when Cushnie et Ochs dresses and Oscar de la Renta Jewelry are waiting for you at your hotel. My kinda #roomservice.

The best part? Not only do you get a FREE backup size, but for only $32 you can pick a second look! Perfect for the rehearsal dinner or farewell brunch. Oh, and instead of "champagne struggling" to pack before you leave- simply stick everything in the prepaid envelope RTR includes and drop it in a mailbox. No dry cleaning, no steaming, no problem. It seems too good to be true- but somehow...it is the truth (click here if you don't believe me).

However, you don't have to be on a red carpet or standing at an alter to find an excuse to wear a head to toe designer ensemble. I've worn over $20,000 in dresses and accessories for everything from barbeques to golf tournaments at less than 15% retail. RTR has been adding straight-from-the-runway jewelry, handbags, and accessories if you're just looking to add statement earrings and a moto jacket to your new jeans.

I spent this past weekend in Dallas with my mom and visited friends with no grandiose plans. Just a couple of dinners and drinks but I felt like being a little more snazzy than usual so I wore this CLOVER CANYON dress and this MARCO BOLOGNA shift. I got a ton of compliments and it was so fun to wear something new "just because..."

Ode to Oscar

Sweater. Coat. Skirt. Gown

OSCAR DE LA RENTA Earrings // $25 OFF of your first order

1.  2.  3.  4.  5.  6.  7.  8.

weekend wedding

SHOSHANNA Dress ($25 OFF your 1st order!)  BADGLEY MISCHKA Necklace via ER, FOREVER 21 Bracelet, MERONA Belt, DONALD J. PLINER Heels,

Jessica Rabbit 2.0

 CUSHNIE ET OCHS Dress via RENT THE RUNWAY, HOUSE OF HARLOW Chelsea Sunglasses, ASOS Jewel Bug Earrings, ASOS Pom Pom Heels, ARDEN B. Snake Print Clutch,

Summer Dream Dress

TIBI Colorblock Backless Maxi Dress / also here or (rent), Pink & Green Necklace & Gold Snakeskin Box Clutch (similar), GUCCI Pink Horsebit Heels

Kaleido-tropic

STELLA MCCARTNEY Hawaiian T-Shirt $985 & ERDEM T-Shirt Dress $680

If you're having trouble finding less pricey kaleidoscopic/ tropical/ vintage Versace-esque hybrid print pieces, here is my shopping list of more affordable options:

TOPSHOP Shorts $70

TOPSHOP Skirt $76

TOPSHOP Hi-Lo Dress $76

ASOS Pencil Skirt $35.81
MAJOR STEAL

 Two of my favorite watercolor/inkblot/kaleidoscope dresses are still available on Rent the Runway, if you'd rather love, wear, return....

TIBI Calla Dress & BRIAN REYES Watercolor Dress

NYE

I've had my heart set on wearing this Brian Reyes dress for the longest.

Since I've glitterized and bedazzled almost everything I own, and have been wearing sequins every weekend for the past 3 months, I decided against glitzy apparel for NYE. I thought it would be a little predictable? Annnnd, like I said I couldn't wait any longer to wear this damn thing. Just like clock work, my website savior- RTR dropped it on my parent's porch New Year's Eve Eve with a little incentive for a preview.

You can bet your sweet ass I ripped that box open faster than you could say "this better freaking fit!" and snapped a picture for good old Twitter in my 12 year old sister's Justin Bieber shrine bathroom.

It fit! I would say I breathed a sigh of relief, but I didn't really breathe at all. I kind of stood there and held my breath for a minute hoping the dress wouldn't rip when I finally exhaled. Well, it didn't rip thank the Lawd, but I couldn't get it off... so I waddled to the intercom on the wall and said "helllp. meee.," in a dramatic gasp. After 5 minutes of no one responding, I remembered the intercom system hasn't worked since early 2003. Ok then. I plopped on the bed and wiggled out of the dress in a way which I mustn't describe online. If it doesn't hurt, it's not fashion, people!

Speaking of suffering in vain- I ordered an Herve Leger dress as well which my mom ended up wearing on NYE,

but I liked so much I made impromptu dinner plans so that I'd have an excuse to wear it if only for an hour or so. Um, note to self. Don't ever eat in a body-con dress again. Ever.

As for the RTR requested "PARTY PICS," I submitted these:

My handsome date.

Another rental success. The next morning I popped the dreamboat dresses back in the mail and in Llyod Chrsitmas fashion, drove away staring at the post box singing "goodbye my loooooove" until I hit a tree and my airbag deployed. Not really but that's what it felt like!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS! I can only hope your 2012 is healthy, productive, and full of love.
Love, love, love. Love is all you need.

Okay, I'm done.