Dress Review: The Blanche in Deco Daffodil

Deco Daffodil is the newest print just released from Trashy Diva earlier last month.

It is my favorite prints released by them since the Green Kimono print released in December 2014! And considering how much I love the prints Trashy Diva releases I feel like that's saying a lot about this print! (Though now I must disclose, as I edit and finish writing this review an even newer print just got released by Trashy Diva, Ruffled Feathers, which sends my heart aflutter so... but more on that print later!)

The Deco Daffoil print is a stark and contrasting two color print featuring ghostly white Daffodils against a midnight dark navy blue background. And to say midnight dark is not an exaggeration! The navy is almost pitch black though not quite. The daffodils have a flowy, darkly whimsical, almost like a gothic rococo, feel to it. The all white daffodils are given visual depth and texture though the use of pointillism shading done in navy within the stark white daffodils. There is so much for the eye to take in with this print. To me, it's a mysterious print which divulges to the viewer upon repeat views a sense of melancholy movement, flow, depth, and dark dreamy moodiness.

Perhaps for this reason the Blanche was the perfect choice in this print. In A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche was the mysterious debutante who arrives to New Orleans from her home of assumed opulent splendor in Laurel, Mississippi to visit her sister Stella. Like the character Blanche, the Blanche dress is all femininity with flowing flutters and delicate lady like ruffles. However, through the unfolding of the story told in the midst of the shadows and fog of its setting we find there is more to Blanche's story than first meets the eye. And perhaps, just like Blanche DuBois, the Blanche dress is more than just feminine flutters and ruffles. The Deco Daffodil print adds a decided air of dark mystery to the print while the true cross over design of the wrap style of the dress adds an element of playful energy.

A bit more about this cut... one thing that I did not immediately notice viewing pictures of this dress online is that there are actually double ruffles at the shoulders as well as a double layer of fabric along the skirt. Furthermore, the ruffles in the front of the dress extend around the neck which, in my opinion, gives it a bit of a sailor style silhouette to it. There are so many gorgeous features such as these which I feel can so easily get overlooked when merely looking at stock photos of it online. The material is made from a stretch rayon knit much like the glorious fabric used the in Trashy Diva's Victory Floral print. Regarding fit, I found this dress to fit true to size and took it in my usual size.

Trashy Diva Blanche dress in Deco Daffodil- Front View

Trashy Diva Blanche dress in Deco Daffodil- Front View

Trashy Diva Blanche dress in Deco Daffodil- Side View

Trashy Diva Blanche dress in Deco Daffodil- Back View

Trashy Diva Blanche dress in Deco Daffodil- Close Up

Trashy Diva Deco Daffodil- Close Up

Outfit of the Day: Would You Like Cream and Sugar With That?

Last weekend I went to one of our nearby tearooms

I did not go though to treat myself to a spot of tea. Instead, I was there to help serve the tea!

I noticed one day a couple weeks ago walking past the tearoom that there was a help wanted sign in the window. I've kind of been toying with the idea of having the dream of one day opening a tearoom of my very own and seeing that this tearoom was looking for some part time help I thought it'd be a good way to get an inside scoop of what goes into the daily workings of a tearoom. Having a little extra pocket money would not be too bad either. So I put in an application, put on an apron, and started my new part time weekend job last weekend.


Outfit of the Day:
Friday:
On Friday I had some errands to run after work. I really felt like wearing some separates. I paired this brown woolly skirt from H&M from several years ago with a floral 70's style top I got in Korea also from several years ago. The top came with a cute flower and feather brooch. I paired this with brown sweater tights I got from Target a couple weeks ago, brown flats from the Gap Outlet from several years ago, a mustard MAK cardigan I got from Modcloth I think last year, and my trusty red wool coat from Target also from several years ago. For a finishing touch I wore some golden fan shaped earrings I got from Modcloth a few weeks ago. For the somewhat mild Northern California winter I was toasty warm. 

H&M brown skirt with 1970's style top- Front View

H&M brown skirt with 1970's style top- Side View

H&M brown skirt with 1970's style top- Front View

H&M brown skirt with 1970's style top- Side View

1970's style top with flower and feather brooch- Close Up

Saturday:
Saturday was my first day working at the tearoom. I thought it would be fun dressing the part. I wore my Hell Bunny Emilie dress which I got from JBR Clothing (now Modern Pinup) a couple years ago. I paired this with a mustard MAK cardigan from Modcloth, beige Vera Wang sweater tights from Kohls from a couple years, and a pair of black velvet mary jane flats from Urban Outfitters from a couple years ago. For a finishing touch I wore a pair of cream colored flower studs.

Hell Bunny Emilie dress- Front View

Hell Bunny Emilie dress- Front View

Hell Bunny Emilie dress- Side View

Hell Bunny Emilie dress- Close Up

Sunday:
On Sunday for my second day working at the tearoom I decided to keep to the black and white theme of the day before. I decided to wear this Steady Stella Wiggle dress which I got from Unique Vintage several years ago. I paired this with a pair of black with black polka dot tights from Nordstrom Rack from a couple years ago and a pair of black flats also from a couple years ago. For a finishing touch I paired this with a pair of sparkly black bow earrings but I forgot to take close up photos of them.

Steady Stella Wiggle dress- Front View

Steady Stella Wiggle dress- Side View