Let me just start by telling you that the Harry Potter ride at Islands of Adventure is AWESOME. Probably the best ride, ever. I loved it! We had a great day, although I didn't take pictures. I brought my camera with several fresh batteries, but didn't take it out once. Sad. Can we talk about bathing suits for a minute? I hate them. Really, really hate them. I went shopping for one on Sunday and it was AWFUL. I prefer a tankini for the practical purposes of having a two-piece but the modesty of a one-piece. However...NONE of the bottoms are made for anyone above the age of 12. Seriously! Why are they all SO low rise? I want one that comes to just under my belly button, not just above my lady-ness. Is that so much to ask? Really? And I've tried boy shorts, but they look ridiculous. On everyone. They make me look like I'm just wearing shorts that are way too short and tight and they're not at all flattering. So no. Grrrrr.
Anyway.
Today's dress is the one I mentioned last week and even though we still have office guests, I decided to wear it anyway. I like it. I can wear it without the little bolero/jacket if I get too warm, or on the weekend, but it's office appropriate with the jacket. And it's comfy. And it has adjustable straps so I can make them a little longer if I want to. Yay!
I'm only in the office two days out of four because I was off yesteray and will be off on Thursday to leave for the SheBlog '11 Conference this weekend (is anyone else going?), so these two days in the office will be BUSY getting ready for our Town Hall meeting next Monday and our board meeting on Tuesday.
Whee!
Today's outfit:
Dress and Jacket: Sears
Belt: Wal-Mart
Red Sandals: From my mom
That is a WAY cool dress. It's so cute and fun. And, of course, I love the shoes. I have a pair of light brown strappy sandal heels and that's it. :( I am sure I will get more some day.
ReplyDeleteHave fun at SheBlog '11!!!
Great summer dress!! I am really impressed that it is from Sears!! Really cute...
ReplyDeleteMelissa, Target has a retro-style one piece (that comes with a removable halter strap) that is SO flattering, comfortable, modest, yet sexy. I bought one last year in blue and have already bought two more because I don't want to ever not have this swimsuit. I know you were looking for a tankini, but it might be worth checking out (I'd link it, but it's easy to find on their website - I think it's online only, as well, because I've never seen it in stores)
ReplyDeleteOh Mel, I love this dress!!! You could definitely wear this all the way into Fall and it's appropriate. Love the bolero that comes with it too, and of course, love that you belted it! :)
ReplyDeleteMan, you'd think I'd come up with another verb besides "LOVE", huh??
I love this! You look gorgeous in red. So, so cute!
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel about the swim suits! Boy shorts are not for people with thick thighs or hips, which, as you said, is no one over the age of 12. Try Victoria's Secret (a little pricey but all kinds of styles), Fashion Bug, or Lane Bryant. The outfit is cute! Love the color scheme, but I am really loving the jacket.
ReplyDeletetiannamae.blogspot.com
I love this bold print on you. Very bright and cheery---and matches your personality!
ReplyDeleteI hear ya on the swimsuits. I look at catalogs and magazines and every suit has a teeny tiny bottom! Am I the only woman in the world that wants to cover her butt? I wear tankinis (my torso is freakishly long and I can't wear one-pieces) with skirted bottoms. My favorites are by Nike and I've bought them at Kohl's for about $40. If you have a Kohl's near you check them out. :)
I love the bold print on that dress! And with the red jacket and sandals, it is perfection!
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at "lady-ness". lol But seriously, it was so hard to even find one that covered up my c-section scar! Ugh. And I'm totally jealous you got to go to the Harry Potter park. I can't wait till my kids are old enough to go!
Orange is definitely your colour, this outfit looks great, I love the dress, and very professional!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty cheery dress. Love how you found a perfect cardi for it.
ReplyDeleteHey where is this 'islands of adventure' place?
Would love to check it out with the kids.
Oh, re swim suits... Tankinis are nice but they do tend to ride up when swimming. I like monokini's a lot. There are styles where the middle piece is quite thick providing great coverage. Give it a try. My torso is short though so I always have to alter them a bit.
Daphne.
http://fashiondivamommy.blogspot.com
I like the bright red jackets. I agree about swim suit bottoms being too low rise. It is hard to find one that makes me feel properly covered!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, the Harry Potter ride is soooo awesome!! I actually loved the entire Harry Potter section. I read all of the books and I'm a fan, so I really appreciated all the details they included throughout the park (like the butterbear, did you taste it?).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I know what you mean with the baithing suits.. I never enjoy shopping for those (that's probably why I haven't changed baithing suits in a couple of years). I actually buy bikinis, but I ALWAYS wear shorts on top..
This dress looks beautiful on you btw! The shape and print are just fabulous.
www.thejoyoffashion.blogspot.com
Super fun dress! How cute. As far as bathing suits go, I know what you mean. I usually do the skirt bottom. I call it my mom bathing suit, but I feel so much more comfortable. Plus, they can be cute if paired with the right top. Have fun at the conference.
ReplyDeleteWhat bold bright colors - I love this!
ReplyDeleteUgh, we won't speak of bathing suits - I shudder just to think of them!
That is one awesome dress - I love the hot red!
ReplyDeleteCute red bolero!
ReplyDeletethat dress looks great on you! I could see it being very versatile this summer!
ReplyDeleteLove this dress, the print is awesome....and I agree with you, bathing suit shopping sucks!
ReplyDeleteThis is just so perfect! Super hot, super sophisticated. Who cares if you're breaking all the rules - you look damn good.
ReplyDeleteUgh I hate bathing suit shopping. Even at a size 4, it's impossible to find something that fits and flatters. I found a suit on etsy, but it's currently outside my price range. I want a one piece, but it's hard to find one that has some structure to it and will fit a pear shaped body.
i'm in love with this look! you look so great in this dress and that jacket just completes the look so well! seriously, this might be my fave so far (and you've had some amazing looks!)
ReplyDeletei hate bathing suits too. i just started looking for one this week, thinking i better come up with something. i keep wearing my bikinis from pre-2 babies and i just stare at my stomach and hate it. i know i shouldn't cuz it had 2 babies. but still...
anyway, i found victoria's secret has a pretty good selection and you can pick what kind of bottom you want. so that's nice. if you wait til the end of the season you can even get them for really cheap (i got a tankini once for $15 both pieces!)
spinning-threads.blogspot.com
Melissa, you look wonderful in red, and I love the print of this dress!
ReplyDeleteI love that dress! It's pattern and colors rock!
ReplyDeleteI hate bathing suit shopping too. They never fit my bottom the way I like. Too low. Too small in the rear. Too baggy if too big. Ugh. It's stressful thinking about it. I wear tankini's at our local pool because some high school students lifeguard and my former student lives near me and I need some coverage. I did however find a tankini at target, polka dot top and solid bottom. CupcakesandCardigans
Cute Outfit. I can't wait for our meet up on Friday. I haven't try a swim suit on in years.
ReplyDeletehttp://amyfashionblog52.blogspot.com/
Those shoes are hot and I love red on you!
ReplyDeleteLove the bold print of the dress
ReplyDeleteI'm going to agree with you on the Harry Potter ride! I went last summer and though we had to be in line for about an hour, it was worth the wait!!! That was seriously the best ride ever. Certainly at Islands of Adventure. :)
ReplyDeleteLovely print on your outfit today!!!
You look smashing today friend! Love those red shoes and the print!
ReplyDeleteI love this dress on you! Red is a great colour. I especially enjoy the yellow bracelet.
ReplyDeleteGood luck bathing suit shopping! We all understand!
Emilie
www.liveeatsmile.blogspot.com
Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous! Beautiful, perfect summer outfit!
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you with bathing suit shopping..definitely not one of the funnest things to shop for!
Love the dress, Mel, and I'm so glad you had fun at Harry Potter World. I want to go so bad!!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Sears, since I see that's where the dress is from, does your Sears have a Land's End section to the store? The swimsuits are a little more expensive, but they're fantastic quality, and they cover all of the bits that need to be covered. I like to try them on at Sears and then order online, where there are more options and usually a sales code. Just a thought :)
You got that dress at SEARS? I haven't been in a Sears in... well, I went to go pick up some grinding tool bits for an engineer last year. Yep. Didn't walk by the dresses at all. I love this look and the sandals are so fun!
ReplyDeleteTaylor's reaction is the same as mine: "Sears?!?!?" I love those sandals, too. Where'd Mom get them?
ReplyDeleteI love the different neckline of that jacket! Did the pattern work out ok? No comments from the guests?
ReplyDeleteAnd I've never tried this, but is there anyway you can layer a one piece and a two piece??
That dress is perfect! I love the bold print and colours! And bathing suits... ugh. I have to be in a pretty good mood to even have the energy to go looking and to feel that I look ok in the suit but not in a super amazing mood because I know that it would be spoiled by the end of the experience!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the bathing suit support, ladies! It really is frustrating.
ReplyDeleteTaylor, yes to Sears! I never went in there either but I was at the mall and walked by so I figured it wouldn't hurt to look. It was originally $60, marked down to $20, and rang up for $10!!!
Missy, I think the sandals were from Payless, that's where she used to get most of her shoes. But that was YEARS ago! :)
I love the print and color of your dress! Your bolero jacket looks fab with it!
ReplyDeleteHELLO comment queen of the universe! :) JEEPS. I had to scroll down like 8 miles before I could get to the form!
ReplyDeleteYOU LOOK AMAZING. Seriously, red is so your color. And that dress fits you like a DREAM!
I did the bathingsuit gig a few weeks ago and it wasn't pretty. I'm not excited about it AT ALL, but I really love the suit I picked up from Old Navy. It's a one piece, though. And I've learned over the past few years how to make it very practical. Ahem, pull to the side, anyone? ;)
very cute dress on you! :)
ReplyDeleteAs for swimsuits- I got a great tankini from JCP a few years ago- the bottoms were a little bit lowrise, but with the tankini top, it was perfect coverage- it was made by "mixit"
Good luck! Trust me, next week when I'm at the beach, I'm sure I'll be scaring people with my big pregnant belly! LOL
This outfit looks great on you! Red is such a flattering color on you :o)
ReplyDeleteCheck J.Crew for a swimsuit. It's pricy (~$85) unless on sale, but I swear by them. I've had both a two piece and one piece swimsuits from them and each suit has held up for an entire summer of swimming and sunshine. I actually LOVE their one pieces this season and that's what I plan on buying this week!
ReplyDelete