Kelly

Sometimes I get so caught up in my favorite dress styles that I forget to try something new.  As a longtime Bernie Dexter fan, I know which cuts work for me and which don't.  She's recently released a Kelly style, which is essentially a classic shirtwaist dress.  I've never been a fan of anything that didn't have a full back zip, so I was hesitant to try one on.  I'm glad I did though, this dress is such a winner!











Dress- Bernie Dexter (available at Unique Vintage and Pinup Girl Clothing)
Shoes- c/o Bettie Page Shoes
Brooch- Luxulite
Petticoat- Malco Modes
Hair scarf- Vintage

The best feature to the Kelly dress is the zip front.  Because of the zipper, you don't have to worry about gaping in the chest.  Buttons are a busty girl's worst enemy and this dress eliminates that problem entirely.  It's a ridiculously comfortable dress that you can zip into and go!  Like all of Bernie's other swing dresses, it's made of 100% breathable cotton and has side pockets to accompany the full gathered skirt.  I'm dying to add the Beauty Mark Kelly dress to my collection now.  I feel like this is a start to another Bernie dress obsession...

This week already feels like the start of a vacation.  I had a very busy weekend at work, so I've been taking full advantage and bumming it up here at home.  While I'm not completely off this weekend, I only work one day.  Which means I get to spend some extra time with Kevin and Bianca.  I'm super excited about it!

I wanted to just take a minute to say thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway!  I've been working tirelessly to add in all these extra Instagram entries (I have to do them one by one) so I can choose a winner.  I'm gearing up to pick one on Friday, but it may have to be Monday in case I run out of time.  Either way, I'll be announcing the winner here very soon!

xoxo

Ashley

What's On My Radar: Current Loves

Is it just me or is there constant retail temptation at the moment?  I feel like this month's wish list was a mile long!  While I've given in here and there, I've highlighted some (but not all) of my recent purchases along with things I can't wait to get my hands on.  You know, when I win the lottery or something.

Unique Vintage

1. Paris Dress in Cherry Print

2. Kelly Dress in White Beauty Mark Print

3. Paris Dress in Orange Print

4. Paris Dress in Record Print

5. Kelly Dress in Kitchen Print

I've been buying Bernie Dexter Dresses through Unique Vintage for years!  They even carry exclusive designs by Bernie, so I'm always stalking their website for a new pretty dress.  While the Paris has been a longtime favorite, the Kelly has me completely smitten!  I may or may not have ordered one... (I did).

Tangerine Menagerie

1. The Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland

2. Pinup Mermaid Neverland Mermaid Lagoon

3. Jean Harlow Old Hollywood Glamour Portrait

4. Cute Little Kitten

5. Painting the Roses Red - the Queen of Hearts Rose Tree from Alice in Wonderland

Julia has the best brooches, I seriously can't get enough of her!  While her regulars are adorable (the mermaid is a favorite), I'm dying over her new portrait series.  How she gets so much detail into something so small is beyond me.

Retrospec'd

1. Sun Dress Polka Dot Pink

2. Sarong Hawaiian Sunset

3. Norma Jean Sunday Rose

4. Elizabeth Swan Lake

5.Laura Lots of Knots

Retrospec'd is a new favorite of mine.  I recently acquired one of their Sun Dress styles and I love it so much!  There's an endless variety of beautiful florals and kitschy prints in figure flattering cuts.  I have a feeling I'll be adding more to my closet soon!

Shop House of Mouse

1. Alice Daydream Mouse Ears

2. Twinkle Turquoise Sequin Mouse Ears

3. Star Wars Mouse Ears

4. Sequin Jasmine Mouse Ears

5. Polka Dot Mouse Ear

As a southern California native and a Disney Annual Pass Holder, custom Mickey ears are a must!  There are more choices than you can possibly fathom and custom orders are always available.  You can go down a serious rabbit hole visiting this store!

Hearts and Found

1. “Flowers in Bloom” in a Floral Border Print

2. “Soda Fountain Pink” in a Pink Checkered Gingham Print

3. “Summer Rose” in a Rosy Floral Border Print

4. "Shark Attack" in a Shark Novelty Print

5. “Lobster Season” in a Hawaiian Tiki Lobster Print

I've been a Hearts and Found fan for awhile and I love all the fabric options!  Their styles are adorable and you can request a custom order if needed.  I seriously can't get over that lobster skirt, I need it in my life!

Lease A Penny

1. Space Babe of Tomorrow Key Chain

2. Tiki Tree Hand Painted Glitter Frame Brooch

3. Far Away Galaxy Alien Key Chain

4. Fiery Tiki Goddess Hand Painted Brooch

5. Submarine Voyage Poster Hand Painted Brooch

Be still my heart, this shop has my name written all over it!  Lisa is a ridiculously talented artist and her items are to die for!  I happen to own one of her Disney ticket holders, but I'm gearing up to ask her for a custom painting very soon.

What's on your list this month?  Did you purchase something you love recently?  Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo

Ashley

P.S. There's less than three more days to enter my giveaway!  Get all the details by clicking HERE!

Fish Bones

I'm a sucker for a good novelty print and Unique Vintage has really come through with them this summer.  I went to their flagship store looking to try on Bernie Dexter dresses, but I ended up stopped in my tracks with this fish bones print.  Their Golightly dress is easily one of my favorites, so I was excited to see it in a new print!  They've also added new features to this dress, so I'll highlight them below:











Dress- Unique Vintage
Shoes- c/o Unique Vintage
Belt- Old
Petticoat- Malco Modes
Lipstick- c/o Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss in Socialite

My favorite new feature would have to be the removable and adjustable straps.  Not only can you wear the straps straight or crossed in the back (like I did), you can remove them all together.  Elastic shirring on the sides of the bodice have also been added.  While this may excite a lot of people, I'm not a fan at all.  I'm a pretty true XS, but because of the elastic the bodice ends up being loose.  I love a nice fitted bodice with a big puffy skirt, but I can't get that look with this dress anymore.  Thankfully, I have other old run Golightly dresses to achieve that silhouette.  As always, the large side pockets and super full skirt make the Golightly a favorite of mine.  Let's just hope it comes in lots of fun prints in the future!

If you don't already know, I'm hosting a great giveaway at the moment.  There's only four more days to enter, so make sure to get all the details HERE!

xoxo

Ashley

GIVEAWAY: Pinup Girl Clothing and Bettie Page Shoes!

There's never a bad day for Mary Blair!  The pink umbrella skirt that released last summer is easily one of my favorites, so there's no surprise that I sprung on this year's color way: butter yellow.  I love how it matches the dark green peasant top perfectly, but also looks great with a black and white striped top.  I took these pictures on a June gloom morning and the weather matched my skirt flawlessly.











Top- Pinup Girl Clothing
Skirt- Pinup Girl Clothing
Shoes- c/o Bettie Page Shoes
Petticoat- Malco Modes
Belt- Old
Bracelet- c/o Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski
Lipstick- Besame in Cherry Red

As I mentioned earlier this week, I wanted to host a very special "20K Giveaway" as a thank you to everyone for supporting me and this blog.  With a big thanks to Pinup Girl Clothing and Bettie Page Shoes, you'll have the chance to win a head to toe outfit (much like the one I've featured here)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway To enter the giveaway, use the widget above and participate in as many (or all) of the possible entries I've provided.  Up for grabs is a $200 online store credit from Pinup Girl Clothing and your choice of shoes from Bettie Page Shoes by Ellie.  You'll get a brand new outfit from two of my favorite brands!  I've also added an Instagram entry option, which you can share the image (provided on my Instagram to repost) once per day.  You don't need to use the widget for the Instagram option, I'll end up inputting those entries manually once the giveaway ends.  Here's how you enter via Instagram:


1. Repost the giveaway image on Instagram
2. Follow and tag @southerncaliforniabelle, @pinupgirlclothing and @bettiepageshoes
3. Use the hashtag #socalibellegiveaway

If your profile is private, I won't be able to see (and therefore input) your Instagram entries.  So make sure your profile is public if you'd like to participate!  Unlike the widget entries, you can share via Instagram once per day.

Good luck and thank you so much for your support!

xoxo

Ashley

Mahjong

Remember when I was head over heels over the newly released Trashy Diva Mahjong print last week?  Well here it is, in all its kitschy glory!  While I gravitate more towards Trashy Diva's 40's inspired styles (the Ashley dress is my favorite), this 50's inspired Annette dress has rapidly taken my heart.  As a novelty print enthusiast, this new collection has my name written all over it.  I'm sure you can see why I rushed to put this one in my closet!











Dress- Trashy Diva
Shoes- c/o Bettie Page
Underskirt- Pinup Girl Clothing

I'm glad I didn't hesitate to snag this dress because my size sold out in one day!  I'm a pretty true size 4 in Trashy Diva, but at the suggestion of the size chart I went with a 2.  It was the perfect fit!  Because it's made from a lightweight and summer friendly cotton voile, there isn't much stretch.  I'd recommend checking the chart before you purchase just in case.  The straps are adjustable, which means it can accommodate my long torso.  The skirt is lined and extremely full, complete with deep side pockets.  While I chose to wear an underskirt for some extra volume for these pictures, it does quite well without one.  Overall, this may be one of my favorite Trashy Diva purchases of all time!  Which kind of says a lot, because I have quite a collection...

I can't remember if I mentioned this before, but this past February marked my fifth year with my blog.  I consider that quite a milestone!  There have been times of frustration, disappointment, and thoughts of giving it all up, but the good outweighs the bad ten fold.  I love the documented journey this blog has allowed me to reflect upon and, most importantly, the friendships that have come from it.  I also just hit 20,000 followers on Instagram last week, which prompted me to host a VERY BIG giveaway as a thank you to everyone for supporting me.  You're definitely going to want to get in on this and I'm super excited to announce everything on Friday.  Keep those eyes peeled!!!

xoxo

Ashley

Miami

Thanks to Unique Vintage my summer wardrobe is in full swing!  As you may already know, Unique Vintage is the official US retailer for The Pretty Dress Company.  I've lusted after their gorgeous dresses for years, but those UK shipping fees always prevented me from purchasing.  Now I can order or (if you're in southern California like me) walk into the store to try them on worry free!  First dress on my list: the Priscilla Miami Midi Dress!











Dress- c/o Unique Vintage
Shoes- c/o Unique Vintage
Belt- from another dress
Petticoat- Malco Modes
Ring- Old

The first thing I noticed about this dress was the weight of the fabric.  It's a stiff (but smooth) fabric that really holds its shape.  The bodice is lined, there are deep side pockets, and the skirt is perfectly pleated and very full.  I went with their UK8 but I found the dress to be a bit on the large side, especially in the waist.  Nothing a belt couldn't fix!  The straps aren't adjustable but I have a very long torso, so the fit of the bodice was perfect for me.  Overall I'm really happy with this dress.  I can't wait to see what this new Unique Vintage/Pretty Dress Company partnership has to offer in the future!

I'm looking forward to a less stressful week, fingers crossed.  Last week was a doozy, but it ended really well.  I met up with my sister and one of my brothers for a mutual friend's housewarming/birthday party.  We had way too much fun!  I stopped drinking alcohol about eight months ago and I'm always worried that I won't have as much fun sober.  I was obviously wrong because I had the best time!  I don't get to see my siblings or friends very often so it really was a special night for me.  Now I just need to catch up on some sleep!

xoxo

Ashley

Green Mums

Talk about a Flash Back Friday!  As you probably already know, Trashy Diva is one of my favorite brands.  I love the comfort and ease of their fabrics and styles.  This Green Mums print is long discontinued (it released in 2009 I think?) but the perfect summer frock.  Made from a breathable rayon, it can take the California summer heat without compromising my style.  I'm also quite enamored with their Ashley cut, I wonder why...











Dress- Trashy Diva (no longer available)
Shoes- Bettie Page
Hat- c/o Modcloth
Bracelet- Old
Lipstick- c/o Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss in Tango

Trashy Diva released a new Mahjong print yesterday and I may or may not have purchased an Annette dress (I did).  It's a cotton voile collection, so I always go a little crazy for a cotton dress with a fun mid century print.  I'm just proud of myself for only buying one piece in the collection!

This week has been a rough one for me.  We just moved Bianca from a crib to a big girl bed and the transition has been so hard!  Before, when she would wake up and cry, she didn't have anywhere to go.  Now she can just get out of bed and into our room.  Just the other night she was awake in our bed from 2:30-5:30am.  I haven't slept properly in days and it's getting the best of me.  Here's to hoping this weekend is a restful one!

xoxo

Ashley

Summertime Glow With Anastasia Beverly Hills

My favorite makeup company, Anastasia Beverly Hills, just released some wonderful new products perfect for summer and I'm in love!  As a very pale individual, I don't spend much time in the sun but love the idea of a "sunkissed" look.  Thanks to all of their new goodies, I created a my perfect version of a summertime glow.  Read my step by step tutorial below!





I began with my normal skin and brow routine (if you want more info on that, I have a post HERE).  I then started with my lids using the new Modern Renaissance palette.  I used Tempera, a matte beige, on my brow bone, Buon Fresco, a matte lavender, on my lid, and Primavera, a glittery gold, in the crease.  I love me some glitter, but I don't like to use it on my entire lid.  Placing it just into the crease is the perfect amount for my sunkissed look.

I lined my lids with the new Darkside Waterproof Liner.  It's the perfect deep black gel liner that has a smooth application and sharp finish.

I then used the Sun Dipped Glow Kit on under my cheekbones, on my nose, and on my chin.  There are four shades to choose from, but since I'm lighter skinned I went with Moonstone.  When it comes to highlighter or bronzer, less is definitely more!  I then finished with my favorite blush, Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Dollface.

Last but not least, I used the New Summer Lip Gloss Set for my lips.  While it comes with six gorgeous shiny glosses, I'm quite enamored with the St. Tropez hue.  It's a rose gold color with a shimmery finish.  Basically, it's my favorite.  It's very saturated and lasts all day!

And there you have it!  What's your go-to summer look?  Have any questions for me?  Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo

Ashley