Cut it out

I feel that I've been a lot braver this summer; showing more skin than I normally do, and while a cutout dress may have previously fallen outside my comfort zone, the strategically removed fabric on this dress from Zinke did not leave me feeling overexposed.

The higher neckline compensates for the vanishing back, while the fuller skirt keeps my waistline looking tiny. And let's not forget that it has pockets, the one thing you can count on to make any girl love pretty much any dress.

I actually got to pick this dress out from Zinke at the RewardStyle fashion week party nearly a year ago. It was shipped to me in December, which meant it would be another six months before I could actually wear it, and in the interim Zinke shut down their site. So this dress is no longer available, however if you love the print, you can still get it in an adorable crop top and shorts set.

The Rundown

Cut Out Dress c/o Zinke similar

Sandals MRKT via DSW similar
Grayson Bar Bag Linea Pelle
Ear Jackets TJMaxx similar
Necklace c/o LydellNYC
Cloudy Agate Bracelet J.Crew
Gold Wrap Ring gift from Meg similar
Crystal Bar Ring Upper Metal Class
Sunglasses Vogue via Sunglass Hut
Nail Color "Find Me An Oasis" Essie

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Summer

and

Monday Mingle

Hometown

Sorry I got so quite this week. I usually like to get my blog posts 90% done over the weekend, and then over the week just write the copy the night before; but the last couple nights I became too bleary eyed in front of the computer screen before I could even string a few words together.

I've been house hunting with Sean, which has proven to be more draining than I would have thought. It's one thing to house hunt from the comfort of your computer screen, browsing all the properties with little concern for your actual budget, where the house is located, or whatever oddities are cleverly concealed by professional photographs.

Once that list is considerably shrunk by monetary limitations, further narrowed by geography, and you have a handful of homes to go see in person, the real fun begins. I'm by no means a seasoned house hunter, but thus far I've encountered a home with a graveyard in the back and a construction site across the street, a house with the fuse box located in a crawlspace under the house accessible only by outside (umm, what happens when my hair dryer blows the fuse in the middle of the winter with three fee of snow on the ground?), a house with about five completely unnecessary doors (Is this a closet? No, it's just another door into the kitchen.) and no place that I could actually imagine myself living in.

Even if I could get past seeing a home with someone else's life installed and try to imagine what mine might look like, it's not easy to find a place that feels like home.

The Rundown

Chambray Dress Forever 21 similar
Leopard Sandals Target similar
Brown Leather Tote Hobo via ebay similar
Panama Hat J.Crew
Ear Jackets TJMaxx similar
Lariat Necklace Made by Me similar
Spike Bracelet "Baby B" c/o Marrin Costello
Gold Wrap Ring gift from Meg similar
Nail Color "Bunny" Julep

Linking up with Jeans and a Teacup's Flashback Friday (One year ago today)

and

Linking up with Forage Fashion's Friday Finds

In spot pursuit

The Rundown
Leopard Dress Calvin Klein via TJMaxx similar
Sandals MRKT via DSW similar
Bag Tahari c/o TJMaxx similar
Earrings Urban Gem via Rocksbox (one month free with lydiaxoxo)
Palm Rope Necklace Jenny Bird via Rocksbox (one month free with lydiaxoxo)
Spike Bracelet "Baby B" c/o Marrin Costello
Gold Wrap Ring gift from Meg similar
Hammered Gold Ring Thrifted similar
Sunglasses Halston thrifted
Nail Color "Bunny" Julep

Linking up with Mix and Match Fashion's Summer Style

and

Happiness At Midlife's Throwback Thursday (last time I wore this dress)