Here’s a color that will wake you up in the morning! This might be the brightest thing I own. In a good way. The fact that is also super soft, and a flattering wrap dress, just seals the deal. Love it. It’s been trotted out for a few date nights and various slightly-fancy shindigs. I wore it yesterday just because, somehow managing to snag pictures between rain showers. So if it looks more damp than usual in my backyard, that’s why.
A point I want to discuss: why is it so hard to find a good, actual wrap dress these days? Shabby Apple delivers, but almost everywhere else, it’s faux-wrap dresses with elasticized waistlines that hit at odd places. I only own two wrap dresses, and they are both from the same store! Why have real wrap dresses become so scarce when they are almost universally flattering? It makes no sense, people.
What’s your take on wrap dresses: faux or real? Also, keep scrolling down for a treat!
Colors: Poppy Red, Light Grey, Gold
Dress: Polly Hill dress by Shabby Apple
Shoes: Soda Crochet Linen Ballet Flats from Shoetopia
Necklace: Spike My Diamonds Necklace from Tulle (sold out)
Rings: knot ring from a Renaissance Fair, leaf ring from ModCloth Stylish Surprise
Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, Transatlantic Blonde, Kiwi Women’s Style, Style Elixir, Because Shanna Said So, Lena B Actually, and Two Thirty-Five Designs.
For those of you that kept scrolling, I also have a fun giveaway, from the same store where I bought the dress above. In case you’re not familiar with them, Shabby Apple is an online dress boutique that specializes in vintage and retro dresses. In other words, cute, fashionable apparel in a range of classic shapes. I love how their product shoots all tell a story, instead of just showing the piece on a mannequin (though it is useful to see that, too). I also love their mission statement:
“A return to what dresses were always meant to be — a one-piece outfit. No need to add anything…no tank tops, no cardigans, nothing (except accessories, of course!).”
So many clothing items nowadays are so dang sheer it’s impossible to do that, so that is certainly something I appreciate. 
Some of the items I own and love (besides the dress I’m wearing in today’s post) are the Jacobethan dress (seen here), the Yarmouth and Chatham tees (which I wear ALL the time – so comfy), and the Inca Trail dress (though I have the orange version). And I’m lusting after plenty more of their pieces, like some of these:
I’m especially eyeing that purple dress.
And one of you, my lucky readers, will win a $50 Gift Card to their store! (I maybe glummed a bit that I couldn’t win it myself, haha). Lucky you guys! Enter via Rafflecopter below.
**Giveaway is only open to those with a US shipping address.** It will run until midnight on Tuesday June 25th. Winner will be announced on the blog on the 26th, and emailed. If I don’t receive a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.
**While I am an affiliate of Shabby Apple, I am not being compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.**
Ok, let’s just get some things out of the way up front: yes, this is by the author of the Twilight series. Yes, I enjoyed that saga, if not the prose itself. No, this book is not related to that series at all. No, there are not vampires or werewolves in this one. There are, however, aliens. Meyer has decided to dip her toe into the world of science fiction, and I for one think I might like this even more than her other series. It is the story of Wanderer, an alien being who is part of a species that takes over the minds of their hosts while leaving the bodies intact. Earth is their latest conquest. It is also the story of Melanie, the human whose body Wanderer is placed into, and who refuses to fade away and give up her body completely. As a reader, you side with her at first. How could you not? She’s a human whose mind has been violated in the most profound way. But the soul of Wanderer is also a compelling and sympathetic character, and you come to see her side as well. What follows is a story that explores what it means to be human, what it means to love, and whether the idea of ‘the enemy’ or having sides is really ever that simple. It is intricate, and not naive regarding the behavior of humans facing the extinction of self. I think Meyer’s prose has gotten better, as well. There is a lot of emotional drama, as you’d expect when two souls with different feelings and different aims inhabit the same body. Overall, I really enjoyed it. It didn’t make me cry, but there were some very anxious moments. I’d recommend it. I haven’t see the movie yet, but I hope it does the book justice.
