Floral Shirtdress

Just a rebel without a coat, determined not to let this dress that I had to buy, hang in my closet for the next six months. I do swear I'll get around to sharing some more seasonal content, mother nature will of course force my hand and it will be all sweaters and boots until April.

I often feel like my biggest gripe with fashion as of late is that it was never intended to make sense. Models walk down runways with eight layers on top and next to nothing on the bottom. There is no weather condition ever that would work for. But even though we are forced to live in the real world, we want to emulate it all the same.

Take a quick scroll through your blog feed and I promise it wont take long before you come across someone wearing a dress like mine but with a blazer or leather jacket draped over the shoulders. If it's cold enough for the jacket, then it probably needs to be actually on, and bare legs are probably not going to work. The next thing you'll probably see is a super warm and cozy sweater or cardigan being worn with half or all shoulders exposed. Such a look serves no function other than esthetics, because if it's cold enough for nubby sweaters, why would you want your shoulders to freeze?

Am I much better, spending half the year dying of cold, trying to take outfit photos without a coat? Probably not, but I swear I want to be different. I want this space to be more than just pandering for page views and trying to sell you something. After all, I bought this dress because I loved it and it was on sale. It's 90% sold out, so if you want it and aren't a 00, you'll have to stalk the page like I did and hope for your size to pop back in.

 J.Crew X Abigail Borg shirtdress, leopard clutch, coach pumps-4.jpg J.Crew X Abigail Borg shirtdress, leopard clutch, coach pumps-8.jpg J.Crew X Abigail Borg shirtdress, leopard clutch, coach pumps-5.jpg J.Crew X Abigail Borg shirtdress, leopard clutch, coach pumps-9.jpg J.Crew X Abigail Borg shirtdress, leopard clutch, coach pumps-7.jpg J.Crew X Abigail Borg shirtdress, leopard clutch, coach pumps-3.jpg J.Crew X Abigail Borg shirtdress, leopard clutch, coach pumps-14.jpg J.Crew X Abigail Borg shirtdress, leopard clutch, coach pumps-10.jpg
The Rundown 
Floral Dress J.Crew
Pumps "Gennie" Coach thrifted similar
Leopard Clutch Clare V c/o Shopbop
Loyce Earrings Elizabeth Cole c/o Shopbop
Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Gold Herkimer Diamond Ring c/o Lumo
Chevron Ring Etsy via Silver Canyon Jewelry
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx




Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Fall

24 comments

  1. I do love that dress! The print and color scheme are sooo pretty! I wanted it when I saw it too, haha
    https://www.closet-fashionista.com/

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  2. This is such an exquisite print Lydia ! Glad you wore it.
    The accessories are total eye catchers: starting with the bag and the earrings .

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  3. It's true you have to laugh at some of the fashion runway looks. I used to think the same thing looking in magazines. So now I just try to get inspiration from the big picture...if possible.
    Actually I thought the same thing about peep toe booties, yet now I have 2 pair...they seem great for the transitional days. Not everyday though....
    Love this print, and as a shirt dress, at least you could wear it as a duster maybe??
    XOXO
    Jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

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  4. That´s a lovely dress, dear!
    xx
    Mónica Sors
    MES VOYAGES À PARIS
    NEW POST: THIS JACKET... & WHITE BOOTS

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  5. That is such a gorgeous dress - I'm glad you wore if before the weather turns. I really love the length of it, and don't get me started on how wonderful the pattern is.

    Courtney ~ Sartorial Sidelines

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  6. I chuckled reading your observations Lydia. I totally get what you're saying! I absolutely hate showing my arms (they are so hard to tone and I've always hated them) so I often will wear a jacket, kimono, or cardi on top even if it's warm out. I like the look of a draped jacket, but I swear people only do that for photos. It's too uncomfortable otherwise! So if you ever see me doing that, know it's just for the photo factor ;) You look fab in this dress and I'm glad you are creating content around actual outfits you wear, not just outfits you want to wear!

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  7. that dress is such a beauty and I love the sleeves. Ok I think I actually need it! I have so few nice dresses.


    xo
    Pinksole

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  8. Such a pretty dress! I admit to being a person who has taken those photos. Not so much for the "it photo" but more because with a jacket totally on you cannot see the top underneath, and often it's really cute and worth showing. :) Definitely not totally practical or how I always walk around.

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

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  9. This dress is so pretty on you! I love how you patterned mixed with your clutch. I try to be practical with my photos. I love when I can wear my coat for blog photos in the winter! It can be so cold standing outside for photos!
    xo,
    Jacqueline
    Stylin In St. Louis

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  10. Love the two mixed prints together! So fierce and fabulous!
    xo, allie
    www.champagne-tuesdays.com

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  11. Okay but these two prints mixed together are FABULOUS and the clutch totally makes it fall-like, right?

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  12. Hahaha too true but sometimes a girl has to suffer a bit for fashion--just kidding. This dress and it's print is so pretty and love the contracting patterns. Super on trend.

    Allie of
    www.allienyc.com

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  13. This dress is just gorgeous! I love the darker floral and how you styled it in a classic but unexpected way with that leopard clutch!

    http://www.mylittlenest.org

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  14. This floral dress is amazing, you look chic & trendy in this outfit. Amazing clicks, xx
    Target Promo Code

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  15. This dress is so lovely, on and the print is fantastic. I LIKE HOW YOU ADDED AN ANIMAL PRINT CLUTCH.
    new:
    https://www.melodyjacob.com/2018/10/black-heavily-embroidered-vintage-midi.html

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  16. It is a beautiful dress and I can see why you had to have it! :)

    I find it funny when people are wearing outfits that aren't practical for the weather, but then I notice that with my winter wear. I'm all bundled up for work and then the next day I'm at home with the boys as we are in lighter layers - because I'm just going from the car to somewhere indoors for them to play, instead of a freezing commute to work and home, haha! Not that I can talk much anyway, I'm still posting photos from early spring when it's summer like temps here now!

    Hope that you are having a nice start to your week :)

    Away From The Blue Blog

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  17. This is a great dress, and funny, I wouldn't have thought twice that this dress was out of season since it makes perfect sense for San Diego weather! And I find black-based florals like this more fall/wintery than white based ones. But regardless, when we really think about it, most of fashion is pretty nonsensical and "just for show" anyway. What we wear in the comfort and privacy of our own homes vs. what we wear in public for work, events, etc...those usually look pretty different. ;)
    Gina || On the Daily Express

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  18. I think there is a difference between pandering/trying to make sales and styling for the pure joy of it. I grant - I don't always wear my clothes exactly as I present them on my blog, although I tend to keep my outfits as close to reality as is reasonable. Some clothes that are highly functional look much more aesthetically pleasing and interesting in a way that doesn't make sense. Trench coats are a great example of that - half the time, for photos, I wear mine halfway off. In reality, that's silly, but it photographs beautifully and why have beautiful things if you can't use them to create beautiful images? That's my take on it, anyway. For me, fashion is intertwined with fantasy and always will be.
    xox,
    Cee

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  19. Such a cool print- and I love the ladylike cut!

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

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  20. I'm definitely more of a practical dresser/shopper too, so I appreciate that you keep it real around here. (And I totally get the coat-free photos, I don't usually wear a coat in my outfit pics either.) I love the print of this dress--dark floral is everywhere right now, and I LOVE it, and I like that this one is a little but more funky than what I've seen lately.

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  21. I always wonder about bloggers in the far south in their cozy sweaters and OTK boots the first of September. I mean if I am still in shorts, how are you not dying of heat? The same in early spring. It's freezing here until May so I do my best to show weather appropriate styles too! That dress is gorgeous on you!

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  22. This looks so cozy and chic dear. Love the collar and the sleeves. Also, classic floral details.

    Jessica | notjessfashion.com

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  23. Hi, beautiful dress! I want to buy the same dress preloved and I am wondering what size you are wearing?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Karina, I'm wearing it in a six, which I would say is true to size based on J.Crew's size chart.

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