mixed cotton tank dresses

I was double checking on the McQ line at Target to see if they had re-stocked their racks with new styles and sizes (sadly they had not) and I stumbled upon the Converse One Star collection. This cute cotton tank dress reminded me of a Theory dress...

Converse One-Star Huntsville Dress $29.99

This empire-waist dress has a double ribbed scoop neck tank on top and a slate gray cotton A-line skirt on the bottom. I love the mixture of different textures of cotton materials and the separates-as-dress appearance, which I saw last season in Theory dresses.



Theory Boasa tank dress for $295

This dress also has two textures of cotton, a scoopneck tank top and A-line skirt, but also a thick waistband and patterned A-line skirt.

crumb catcher

french connection mini $129.99 (orig. $218)

I found this beautiful crumb catcher mini dress in a merlot color at french connection today. Holiday party season is over, but maybe it could be a valentine's day dress...or any other occasion that requires a flirty party dress.

I love the crumb catcher style. First of all, it's called a crumb catcher, which summons imagery of an elegant young woman making a mess of herself while eating crumbly cookies and muffins in a fancy party dress. Second of all, the well-placed pleats at the top solve the "spillage" issues that oftentimes occur at the top area of a strapless dress, which creates a beautiful neckline instead of an embarrassing bulge. This "spillage" is the reason why I think most women openly state "I dont do strapless." Well perhaps you thought you don't, but with the crumb catcher maybe you do.

The crumb catcher style was extremely popular in wedding gowns in 2008.

Platinum for Priscilla of Boston
Carolina Herrerathe always lovely Vera
(images from New York Magazine and InStyle )

abaete sample sale

The Abaete sample sale started on Thursday at 11am and I was in the studio trying on my first dress by 11:02am. This is by far my favorite sample sale that is held about twice a year, and every time I leave with about two absolutely gorgeous dresses. If you don't know much about this brand, it started in Soho (the design studio is one floor above my office) and they are best known for their flirty and well-crafted cocktail dresses. Many of the designs incorporate geometric shapes in bold solid colored fabrics with details like silver exposed zippers. This year in addition to the silky cocktail dresses and retro-inspired swimwear, they also had beautiful cashmere knits and wool day dresses.

I left with three dresses: an argyle cashmere 3/4 length sleeve sweater mini dress (pictured), a navy and black scoop neck sleeveless sheath dress, and the famous strapless Rita dress (worn by Rachel Bilson!) also in black and navy. I think the black and navy combination is divine.