Dress Review: Strawberry Crush

Hello Kittens!

Last week I posted a Perfect Pairing post featuring a dynamic duo of strawberries (if you missed it you can check out my post Matching Your Dress to Your Teaware Part 31: Sweet Strawberries for Spring and Summer here). Today, I wanted to post the full review of the dress I featured in that post.

Back in early March Trashy Diva released their Berry Chantilly collection, the second collection they released for 2017. This spring ready design features a dainty all over print of ripe strawberries on and off the vine, as well as an assemblage of green leaves, white flowers, whimsical white ribbons, and fun black outlined parasols all set against a sunshiney background of soft buttery yellow. This collection was released as a full collection with many cuts including the Hopscotch dress, the 1940's dress, the Trixie dress, the Camilla dress, a romper, as well as several separates, the Alexa tie top, the Hottie top, the classic skirt, and high waisted shorts. This collection even has a dress for the littles (children that is) with the Baby Posey dress. With so many cuts and options to chose from it makes it both hard and fun trying to pick which cut is right for you.

I immediately fell in love with the feminine flutter sleeves of the Camilla dress! I just adore ruffles and all things super girly on my dresses. I imagined pretending I was a 1930's debutante feeling the flutter sleeves gently brushing my arms in the wind. However, it appears that Trashy Diva knows me better than I know myself. When my package arrived shortly after launch date (yes, it has taken me that long to write this review!) instead of the Camilla dress it was the Hopscotch dress that was staring back at me! Since it was in my size and since it was there I decided to try it on anyway just to see it on before sending it back. Lo and behold it was love at first try on. Why did I ever turn my back on the gloriousness that is the fun and beautiful Hopscotch dress?!

The Hopscotch dress is one of my favorite cuts by Trashy Diva. This 1950's style cut features a full skirt, and modest bodice (two things I most prefer in dresses), the bodice is darted to give a nipped in look and has a cute peter pan collar that buttons with a hook and eye closure at the collar. To shy away from being too modest and buttoned up though, this dress has a front slit down the neckline which gives it a little daring without being too cleavagey. This dress also features small sparkling decorative white and rhinestone buttons along the front of the bodice, cap style sleeves, and for a fun little bit of pizazz, a cutout in the back. For full functionality, this dress has an invisible size zip and comes with pockets. This print came in a soft stretch rayon. It took me a bit of get on board with this kind of fabric as I have my reservations on how period appropriate it is and in a way it is so comfortable it almost feels wrong, but I have learned to embrace it and love that if feels almost like wearing pajamas or being wrapped up in a favorite blanket. For size reference I took my usual size in this dress. Even though the fabric has a lot of stretch and I know a lot of ladies like to size down in the stretch rayon, I like how my usual size in this dress keeps me from getting pull at the bust.

Needless to say, I decided to keep the dress. Though it wasn't the one I originally ordered, it ended up being the perfect one for me. I had a joke with my husband that I might as well join a Trashy Diva dress of the month club where I just give them my money and they send me anything they wanted as I would probably end up loving it all. In full reality, there are indeed still some cuts I have yet to try which I would love to. I'm hoping that for those cuts the right prints will come along one day. Another day Camilla, another day...

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in Berry Chantilly- Front View

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in Berry Chantilly- Front View

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in Berry Chantilly- Side View

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in Berry Chantilly- Back View

Trashy Diva Berry Chantilly- Close Up

Matching Your Dress to Your Teaware Part 31: Sweet Strawberries for Spring and Summer

Hello Kittens!

It's been a while since I've done one of these perfect pairing posts so I believe it is more than due time for one! When I first saw the new Berry Chantilly print from Trashy Diva released a couple months ago I knew it would be the perfect print to go with my strawberry tea cozy. <3

I bought this tea cozy from Stash Tea about a year ago (unfortunately though it's long sold out now). This adorable knit tea cozy is made in the form of a ripe strawberry and features a mound of leaves and daisies at the top and three cute decorative strawberries dangling down the side. It has a hole at the bottom as well as two holes on the side to be able to pop over any standard sized brown betty shaped teapot. Putting on a tea cozy is like popping a little sweater over your teapot to keep your fresh brew nice and warm as you leisurely relax and sip away.

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in Berry Chantilly

This tea cozy is the cutest thing to go with Trashy Diva's new Berry Chantilly print. Launched in early March, the Berry Chantilly print is a welcome sight and reminder that spring has sprung and the warm weather will be upon us soon. This print features ripe red strawberries on and off the vine with green leaves and white blooming spring flowers against a buttery yellow background. White ribbons and dainty parasols whimsically pervades the print leaving one with the feeling of dancing a waltz to the sound of spring and summer approaching.

How perfect a match made all the more perfect accompanied by a cup of strawberry herbal tea or for those on the wilder side, a strawberry infused black tea blend!



*Stay tuned for my full review of this gorgeous print from Trashy Diva coming soonish!

Outfit of the Day: Two outfits over Valentine's and Valentine's day weekend

Hello Kittens

Though this was a while ago, I hope you all had a great Valentine's day.

Over Valentine's day weekend Tim and I went up north to Davis for a friend's birthday. Because it was a long drive up and just a little longer of a drive to get up to the snow I suggested to Tim why not start a little earlier and play a bit in the snow before the party. It ended up being such a fun detour and a great day over the Valentine's day weekend.


Outfit of the Day (Saturday, Valentine's day weekend):

When I was planning on what to wear to the birthday party I knew right away I wanted to wear my Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in Hourglass! It's got such a great party vibe to me. However, when plans developed and we made decided to also go the snow that day I considered that  perhaps I should wear something else instead. I didn't ponder this long however as I immediately said to myself, "F*** it. Life is short, wear the dress!" And so that is exactly what I did. :)

I paired this dress with a toasty thick black Trashy Diva knit bolero which I got a few months ago from a swap and sell group on facebook, black fleece lined tights which I got last year from Nordstrom Rack, trusty basic black flats (which I changed out of for the snow), and for a finishing touch a pink beret I got from ebay a couple months ago.

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in Hourglass- Front View

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in Hourglass- Front View

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in Hourglass- Side View

Outfit of the Day (Valentine's Day):

Actual Valentine's day fell on a Tuesday this year. I'm not one for putting things off if I can help it so we went out and celebrated on the actual day. Straight after work, I came home and changed into a dress for the occasion and for going out to dinner that night. I decided to wear my Trashy Diva Lupe dress in Forget Me Not floral as for whatever reason that is the dress I was really feeling for the day. It's sweet and elegant without being too fancy or too themey--- though I do surprise myself writing this as I'm usually a sucker for dressing theme!

Anyhow, it was an unusually warm day that day and so I was able to go tightless (finally!) and only needed to wear my super toasty knit Trashy Diva bolero to keep warm that night. As always, when I don't really put much thought into it, I went with my trusty basic black flats. :)

Trashy Diva Lupe dress in Forget Me Not Floral- Front View

Trashy Diva Lupe dress in Forget Me Not Floral- Front View

Trashy Diva Lupe dress in Forget Me Not Floral- Side View

And just for fun, here are some snap shots of Trashy Diva in the snow! <3

Matching Your Dress to Your Teaware Part 30: Halloween Edition #2

"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

With it being the season of dress up I thought another special Halloween Edition of Perfect Pairings was in order! (You can see the first one from last year here.)

The Hopscotch dress in blue and white gingham by Trashy Diva is the perfect dress for channeling Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz! It features a classic a-line shape with flared skirt, a contrasting white top with a high peter pan collar that secures closed at the top, there are decorative pearl buttons on white discs which give this dress an extra edge of cuteness, and of course, then you have the blue and white gingham!

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in blue gingham

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in blue gingham with Paul Cardew Wizard of Oz teapot

I knew right away this dress had to be featured in a Halloween Edition of of Perfect Pairings! Then when I first saw Paul Cardew's Wizard of Oz teapot I knew I really had a Perfect Pairing indeed! The Paul Cardew teapot features several illustrated scenes from the movie including a ferocious tornado depicted on the spout of the teapot and a harmonious rainbow on the handle. Another feature that I really love about this teapot is a quote from the movie portrayed in an asymmetric cylindrical pattern around the top portion of the teapot. Because of the asymmetric cylindrical design and the changing size of the font, it's like the words themselves are flying around, trapped in the force of the tornado. My all time favorite feature of this teapot though is the cheeky Toto on the lid of the teapot. He stands crouched with his little tail up while standing on the yellow brick road. Such a cute dog and such a great teapot!

Paul Cardew's Wizard of Oz teapot

Paul Cardew's Wizard of Oz teapot

Paul Cardew's Wizard of Oz teapot

Toto- Close Up

"Lions, and tigers, and bears! Oh my!"

Happy Halloween Kittens! I hope you all have a great Halloween weekend and great Halloween day on Monday!

 

Dress Review: Trashy Diva Does 80's!

I'm so excited to bring you this post today that I just have to repeat it: Trashy Diva Does 80's!!! :D 

Well, I don't think it was actually intentional on Trashy Diva's part (they describe this print on their website as a jazzy 50s 60s geometric print), but for me, the first time I laid eyes on Trashy Diva's new Hourglass print I squealed in delight over how incredibly 80's it looked to me.

This print couldn't have been released at a more perfect time. I've been really feeling in the mood for more 80's in my life from 80's music and movies to 80's fashion.

The Trashy Diva Hourglass print is a black background print with purposely ambiguous tiny geometric shapes all over. As it says on their website, are the shapes "martinis, bowties, or the silhouette of a woman"? I guess it is whatever you would like it to be. The small hourglass shaped shapes are neon green, hot pink, brown, and white outlined black. At the skinniest part of each hourglass shape is a two dots on either side of the shape. Neon green, hot pink... Did I mention how much this print screams 80's to me! I'm thinking maybe 1987... 1988 :)

This print came in five different dress cuts (the long awaited return of the Hopscotch dress, a Cage, Liz, Virginia Shirtwaist, and the new Apple Tartlet dress), as well was three separates (a Lena top, Lucy skirt, and gathered mini skirt).

With so many prints coming out from Trashy Diva this year I've been really trying hard to limit my new dress purchases to only one per print but swooning hard over this 80's looking print I ended up with two! Well, a dress, and a pair of separates, to be exact. The Hopscotch dress has been a dress I have long awaited Trashy Diva to re-release. So when I saw this dress was back I had to jump on it (into my basket) that day! However, the most 80's looking pairing of them all in this print, the Lena top with contrasting hot pink at the bodice, and the Lucy skirt with the contrasting hot pink accents on the pockets, could not be left behind! I went a little crazy for this print for sure. But do I regret it? Not at all.



The Hopscotch dress

Whenever anyone asked me what dresses I wished would make an appearance my answer would always be to bring back the Circle day dress, the Hopscotch dress, and the Dixie dress (as well as more Streetcar dresses- especially in cotton voile). These dresses are forever on my dream list from Trashy Diva. I've been hoping for these first three to happen for so long that my fingers have gotten cramps from keeping them crossed so long! And so it was with not a small amount of fan fare that I excited squealed when I saw that this new Hourglass collection was going to include a dress in the Hopscotch cut.

Why the Hopscotch dress? This dress is a gorgeous classically 50's shaped dress with fitted bodice and full circle skirt. It has a higher neckline for those of us who prefer a more modest top, and yet has an open slit at the top bodice for just a touch of daring. Also, the Hopscotch dress has a Peter Pan collar (my favorite collar shape ever) and ornamental black rhinestone buttons down the bodice. In the back, this dress is all play with it's cutout at the upper back. The cutout is situated perfectly too so that no special undergarments have to be worn with it. With it's homage to 50's style and it's daring cutout back, this dress was a perfect cut to come out in this 80's style print, and is a perfect cut for me who loves the classic 1950's silhouette and who gravitates towards more modest tops.

It's a little difficult getting in and out of this dress. You do have to maneuver into it a bit. The hidden side zip allows for this dress to have the awesome bodice it has and the super cute back cut out it flaunts but it does not provide for easy on and off.

I got this dress in my usual size 10 and while it fits, it is very fitted in the bust. For a more comfortable fit, most ladies I have heard from have sized up from their usual for this cut.

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in Hourglass- Front View

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in Hourglass- Front View

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in Hourglass- Side View

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in Hourglass- Back View

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in Hourglass- Close Up

Trashy Diva Hopscotch dress in Hourglass- Close Up

The Lena blouse and the Lucy Skirt

Speaking of Trashy Diva does 80's, there is no other cut in this dress that speaks 80's to me more than the Lena top and Lucy skirt separates! The combination of this black background print with hot pink accents is exactly like something I would have (and actually did have) in the late 80's growing up.

The Lena top is a cropped top which features a structured under bust with contrasting hot pink fabric in pin tuck style folds at the bust. The straps on this top are fully adjustable with three different button settings in the back. There is ruching on the sides to ensure a great fit and a back zip to make it easy to get in and out of.

The Lucy skirt is an all new item from Trashy Diva derived from their past releases, the Lucille and the Lucy dresses. This skirt is a 3/4 circle skirt... not quite a full circle skirt, but still with lots of fullness in the skirt. It features small gathers at the front sides of the skirt, a hidden back zip, and most notably, hot pink contrast pockets in the front finished off with oversized smoky translucent buttons.

I got these separates in my usual size for separates (10 in the top, and 12 in the skirt). I probably could have sized down in the top but I decided to keep it as I ordered it and have this as my more comfortable of the two dresses that I got in this print.

I love how easy is to mix and match Trashy Diva separates as well as how well the separates go together as a set. When worn together these separates could fool anyone into thinking it's a dress but if  I had the feeling to I could easily wear them separately pairing the skirt with a black or pink top or likewise, pairing the top with high waisted jeans, capris, or a black skirt. So many different looks can be made with separates!

Trashy Diva Lena blouse and Lucy skirt in Hourglass- Front View

Trashy Diva Lena blouse and Lucy skirt in Hourglass- Front View

Trashy Diva Lena blouse and Lucy skirt in Hourglass- Side View

Trashy Diva Lena blouse and Lucy skirt in Hourglass- Back View

Trashy Diva Hourglass- Close Up

Hope you enjoyed my review and that you have found it useful!




I debated whether or not to post this today with the impending Hurricane Matthew making its way to Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. I ultimately decided to go ahead and post since there is nothing to be done to stop the storm that is making its way but I do hope everyone will be safe. I am very sad for all you of going through this.