Two Hearts

 

Happy Valentine's Day! Normally I'd have tons of Valentine's/Valloween content by now but I'm just starting to get back into the groove of going out and taking photos again. It's been cold, dreary and rainy (which I *love*) so I haven't had many opportunities to go outside but this dress deserved its own post. I've had this dress for years but never actually worn it out... that needed to change immediately!

Dress- Sister Jane

Shoes- Swedish Hasbeens

Hat- old (similar)

Heart box- vintage

This Sister Jane dress has everything I love: puffy sleeves, a fun print and gorgeous details. I'm not a fan of molded cups (mostly because I never fit into them) but this dress is an exception. I almost always wear a size medium in Sister Jane and this dress is a great fit. If I had to change anything, I would add pockets and extend their size range. Let's get some actual plus sizes please!

I hope your Valentine's Day is filled with love, whether you're in a romantic relationship or not. Kevin and I love to make this day special for Bianca so she knows that this holiday is more about love than romance. We will most likely be going out for burgers (veggie and otherwise) and enjoying a rainy night in on the couch!

xoxo

Ashley

Mourning Dove

 

Welcoming 2024 with lots of realistic hope! While I know we're probably gearing up for lots of big changes, I want to make sure I keep a positive center whenever that's possible. I've had my share of loss these past few months (two of my dogs passed away) and this mourning dove print dress from Sister Jane felt like the representation of how I've been since then. I also have a very big family of mourning doves that I feed daily in my backyard so this dress works in more than one way!

Dress- Sister Jane (on sale)

Shoes- ASOS

Hat- old

Bag- La Femme En Noir

Belt- from another dress

The Evening Dove Midi Dress is a poly dress that features puff sleeves, contrast collar, functional pearl button down bodice, midi skirt with hidden side pockets and a side zippered closure. I've said it many times before but Sister Jane dresses can be tricky when you have a big bust! This dress is a medium and it *just* fits in the bust but I am swimming in the waist. I opted for a belt to complete the look. I love that this dress has pockets (most of my Sister Jane dresses do not) and I hope to see more pockets in 2024! I am a huge fan of this dress and I love that the print feels very personal to me.

While I love Sister Jane designs and I look forward to every release, I do want to mention that they do not carry sizes above an XL or US14. I know they've revamped their chart and now offer up to an XL, but there's always room for inclusion and I hope they continue to move in that direction.

2024 marks the 13th year here on this blog! I'm impressed that I've continued (although sparingly) to post here through so many major life milestones. While social media comes and goes, I'm glad I have this space to share a bit of what I'm feeling at that moment. Hoping this year has a lot of great things in store for me and you!

xoxo

Ashley

Love Spell

 

I know blue velvet isn't really considered a Valentine's Day fabric but I can't help but feel like it's an incredibly romantic thing to put on. Although I don't get the chance very often, velvet is one of my favorite things to wear. It takes a silhouette and immediately elevates it. This Sister Jane dress from Ivory Sheep Clothing isn't something I would usually pick for the big day but when I saw the back I knew it was the right choice!

Dress- c/o Ivory Sheep Clothing

Shoes- Chinese Laundry

Hairbow- SHEIN

Tights- Target

Ivory Sheep is a Canadian small business run by a wonderful woman and her partner. They carry some of my favorite luxury brands like Sister Jane, Selkie and LoveShackFancy. Since Sister Jane is a UK based company, I enjoy grabbing my favorite pieces from Ivory Sheep since it gets to me much faster. They also choose to carry each of their brands in a full size range, including plus (if that company produces in those sizes). Ivory Sheep also ships every order with the most beautiful packaging and a hand written note. They appreciate every one of their customers and it shows!

This spell velvet dress features voluminous puff sleeves, black pearl trim, bubble hem and a show-stopping deep v back. I tend to vary between many sizes in Sister Jane and I'm wearing a medium in this dress. I honestly feel like I could have taken a small, but I also think it would have been too short so I think the medium was the right choice. Overall I think it's a great dress that can work for many occasions, including Valentine's Day tomorrow!

xoxo

Ashley

Angelica

 

I'm gearing up for a hot weekend, which means wearing all the comfy dresses!  If you've been reading this blog for some time, you know that I have a serious love for Sister Jane.  Their silhouettes are romantic, the details are intricate, and the fabrics are always top notch.  My only issue was that they didn't offer extended sizing.  Thanks to some progress on their part, they have extended their sizing on their new collections!  This dress is one of many offered in their new size range and I can't express how much I love wearing this absolute showstopper.

Dress- Sister Jane via Ivory Sheep

Shoes- Diego's

Hat- Amazon (similar)

The Angelica dress is made from a jacquard fabric with a springy print and features puff sleeves, bust cups, a black bow detail at the bust and an ankle length skirt with a front slit and a peplum hem.  I'm wearing my usual dress size, which is a medium, and it fits great.  As someone with a large bust, I wish the cups were fuller but I also understand that not everyone has the same issues as I do.  Sister Jane ships from the UK but I tend to shop their collections on Ivory Sheep, which is an amazing small Canadian business.  They carry many of my favorite brands and their customer service can't be beat!

You can read more about the Sister Jane extended sizing HERE.  They've opened up their sizing to a UK18/US14, which is progress but still needs a way to go.  Here's to hoping they realize that *all* bodies want to wear their clothes and that they continue to extend their size range!

xoxo

Ashley

Valentine's Day

 

Happy Valentine's Day!  While we all know this holiday is about celebrating love, my favorite part of this day is putting on a cute outfit, preparing a themed lunch for Bianca and giving her all the cute gifts.  My husband and I choose not to celebrate each other because we *just* celebrated our anniversary and his birthday is later this week.  It's a lot!  But I like to make it a big deal with Bianca and we always have the best time.  This year, my outfit is all about pink!  You know I love all things black and spooky but there's a large part of my heart that enjoys pastel colors and cute themed outfits too.  There's always room for both!

Dress- Sister Jane

Shoes- Halogen x Atlantic Pacific

Coat- ASOS

Hat- vintage

Brooch- c/o Erstwilder

Backpack- Hot Topic

Everything I'm wearing here, with the exception of the brooch and backpack, are staples in my closet that I've worn for years.  I know it mostly feels like I share new things here and it's probably because I'm excited about wearing them!  But when I first started this blog I was obsessed with remixing outfits and showing you how to get the most wear from the pieces you already have.  In everyday life, I still remix my favorite pieces and this wrap dress is one of my absolute favorites.  Perfect for a day at Disneyland or a Galentine's Day brunch!  I topped it off with one of my favorite vintage hats and pink coats and instantly felt like a princess!

What's on the schedule for your Valentine's Day?  Bianca is going to school and my husband and I will be working, but tonight I'm going to cook a special filet mignon dinner (and a tofu steak for Bianca).  We will probably get something fancy for dessert and eat it in our pajamas on the couch.  Can you really ask for a better night?!

xoxo

Ashley

Overflow

 

As much as I'm dragging my feet, the holidays are on the horizon.  At first, I'm in the anger phase that Halloween is over.  But I ultimately get on board and try to enjoy it as much as I can.  As someone with a birthday on the holidays I tend to have my own issues, in addition to the stress of making the big day perfect for Bianca.  I'm sure I'm telling on myself here but I'm also a massive over thinker and I probably ruin it for myself!  The one thing I thoroughly enjoy about the holidays is the fashion.  The jewel tones, the layering, and all the hats!  I purchased this Sister Jane dress last year but because of pandemic I have never actually worn it out... until now!

Dress- Sister Jane

Shoes- Target

This jacquard mini dress is absolutely extra.  The sleeves are huge, the skirt is short, and the bow at the neckline is the epitome of a statement.  This style used to be super out of my comfort zone but I've since ditched the "snatched waist only" look and I enjoy trying new silhouettes.  I envision wearing this to a holiday party of some sort but for now I'm just glad I got to wear it for these photos.  The sleeves definitely took up like most of my driver's space in my car though, I wish I had taken a picture of that!  While this dress is long sold out, the style is now available in a new and equally gorgeous print that you can find HERE.

I just realized yesterday that Thanksgiving is next week!  While I'm not a big fan of the holiday or the story behind it, I'm all about the food.  My family and I have gone mostly meatless because Bianca is a vegetarian but we have never been turkey fans... it's all about the sides.  My favorite is stuffing, it truly is the best side!  What's your favorite part of a Thanksgiving meal?  Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Ashley

Blooms and Birds

 

Feeling like the perfect pastel witch with the help of the new Birds and Blooms collection from Deer Arrow!  This collection has two releases: one that was a few hours ago and the other that will be here in a few hours!  I'm showing you some of the new pieces in this collection, along with matching earrings (like this Retro Bunch Brooch and Retro Stud Earrings).  Scroll down to check them all out!

Daisy Bouquet Brooch

Pansies Brooch and Stud Earrings

Deadly Bunch Brooch

Rosie Posy Brooch and Rose Stud Earrings

Purfect Night Brooch

Brooches and earrings- c/o Deer Arrow

Dress- Sister Jane

Hat- The Beheaded

Every piece from Deer Arrow is handmade in house in Queensland, Australia.  Deer Arrow is a family business, which means that their designs are very special and very limited.  Due to their limited numbers and increased popularity over the years, most sell out within hours!  If you're looking to add some Deer Arrow to your accessories collection, make sure to follow them on social media and join their mailing list to be the first to know when their next range launches!

Which brooch is your favorite?  Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo

Ashley

Squad Ghouls

 

Feeling those Halloween vibes and Snag Tights just released the cutest collection of tights for the spooky season!  Snag Tights is a European company that believes in inclusivity over everything.  All their tights are available in sizes 2-32 and they strive to create ethical and affordable products for everyone.  Snag was kind enough to send me a couple pairs from their new Halloween collection and I styled them with some of my favorite outfits below!

Dress- c/o Sister Jane

Tights- c/o Snag Tights

Shoes- Strange Cvlt

Hair Clips- c/o Unique Vintage

Dress- c/o Modcloth

Tights- c/o Snag Tights

Shoes- YRU

Hat- The Beheaded

I chose both the Skele-Fun and Squad Ghouls tights because who doesn't love dead things?  The Skele-Fun tights are a perfect addition to any little black dress when you want a spooky twist.  The Squad Ghouls tights are more vibrant and fun, great for when you want to make an entrance.  Both these tights are thick and sturdy but also comfy to wear.  They're pretty high waisted so they sit nicely and don't ride down.  I can see myself wearing these all through the spooky season (and every other season if you know me well).  You can shop the entire Halloween collection HERE and the rest of their amazing products HERE!

xoxo

Ashley

Handkerchief

 

Gloomy days call for quiet walks in nature.  Now that Bianca is in school I get a few hours to myself... which has been more therapeutic than I ever realized.  I'm an introvert and this pandemic has stifled my alone time to basically nothing.  Some days after I drop her off I just wander aimlessly in some of my favorite places.  I love this Sister Jane dress, which is perfect for wandering, foraging, or just looking cute without trying too hard.  As usual, the small details are absolutely everything and this dress makes me feel like a true cottagecore princess.

Dress- c/o Sister Jane

Shoes- c/o Modcloth

Lipstick- c/o Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Olvera

This beautiful dress is a very small plaid print with teeny tiny sparkles all over it.  I tried to photograph it but it was just too hard!  When I opened this package I was pleasantly surprised by them.  The dress features an oversized collar with ruffles, a slouchy elastic waist, puff sleeves with shirred cuffs, a midi skirt, and a side zippered closure.  I usually take a medium in Sister Jane dresses and I found this dress to fit comfortably.  The fit is supposed to be oversized and I appreciate the extra room.  This dress is perfect for fall and I can't wait to do some more exploring in it!

My husband and I took the day off to go to the movies for the first time since the pandemic.  We're going to see Shang Chi and I absolutely cannot wait!  We have to take advantage of the morning hours because Bianca is only in school until the early afternoon.  It's not very often that we get to spend time alone together so we take whatever we can get!

Hope you have a great holiday weekend!

xoxo

Ashley