reader request: garden party, part 2

i had to cut down on my clothing expenses for a few weeks on account of the recent Alexander McQueen splurge. i've been avoiding temptations like Barneys and yoox.com and instead i've been shopping thrift and consignment stores for inexpensive additions to my spring wardrobe.

perfect segue for part two of the spring/garden party outfit reader request (although you might not be able to wear a white dress if it's a wedding party... hmmm) anyway...

once again, the background pictures were taken from the flower show earlier this month.

"lacy white minidress" has been on my spring shopping list for a while, something Valentino-esque (minus the price tag!) and not too boho. two weekends ago i crossed that off my list when i found this cotton lace dress, fully lined and perfectly tailored to my body as if it were made-to-measure.



i considered getting rid of the linen shoulder panels - a little too Blair Waldorf perhaps - but decided to keep them because they give the dress a little character. the linen panel in the front is actually detachable, in case i wanted to show off a little more cleavage (not likely.)

this next dress is also from a thrift shop. it is by Vivienne Tam, black mesh with navy velvet accents, and it is also very well made and fits me perfectly.



i have always been envious of kate moss's neverending supply of vintage minidresses so i'm excited to start a collection of my own!

randoms

some random outfit pictures which i dug up from my computer while attempting to free up some disk space. for one reason or another these have never gotten their own dedicated blog post. i think the first set i just forgot about after downloading from my camera, and the second i'm pretty sure i didn't like the shoes and ended up changing them but didn't bother to re-take pics. oh well, here they are anyway.





Alexander McQueen padded shoulder tee (from net-a-porter.com) - the "tails" are tied in the back in the last photo; Balenciaga leather skinnies (old, from yoox.com); Rick Owens boots (from brownsfashion.com sale); Ann Demeulemeester cropped biker jacket (from Bergdorf Goodman sale/NYC); Alexander McQueen pashmina (from Alexander McQueen/NYC); Hermes collier de chien cuff; sword pendant (from etsy.com); Hunter "Huntress" wellies (old, from zappos.com)




D&G dress (from Joan Shepp clearance/Philly); Balenciaga blazer (old, from eBay.com); Marc Jacobs shoes (old, from Bergdorf Goodman clearance/NYC); Tres Fluo leather bag (very old, from oogaboogastore.com)



*** not sure how many of you noticed, but i added a new page for my old StyleDiary outfits, which you can access by clicking the link up top, right under the header. those pictures aren't linked so if you have any questions about specific items, just ask! maybe i should be real nerdy and edit to add row and column numbers or something...

reader request: garden party, part 1

i received a reader request to post outfits appropriate for a spring/garden party in april. unfortunately most of my spring clothes are still boxed up in storage at my parents' house in nyc so i won't have many to post right now, but here's one. this is actually what i'm wearing today so i killed two birds with one stone! some pictures i took at the flower show earlier this month provided a perfect backdrop.



i picked up this cotton trench coat from Urban Outfitters the other day. now that Alexander McQueen has passed away i can't abuse my McQueen trench as much as i used to so i needed an alternative. i like this one because it's floppy and not stiff, kind of like the McQueen one. since it's cotton i can throw it in the washing machine as many times as i want - hopefully it will soften up even more with time.




ITEMS (mouse over to view detailed picture)
Urban Outfitters cotton trench coat
Banana Republic ivory camisole
Dolce & Gabbana lace trim camisole (old, from Filene's Basement/NYC)
Rick Owens silk bias skirt (old, from Filene's Basement/NYC)
vintage Hermes collier de chien belt
Christian Louboutin patent leather leopard wedges (old, from Barneys sale)
pearl and gold jewelry




ok, enough blogging - off to enjoy this gorgeous weather!!! have a great weekend everyone!