Bloggers Who Budget: Dresses For Less

We had our first wedding of the season this past weekend, & it was such a beautiful & totally "Nashville" shin-dig! I wore this dress, & I've gotta say, it was very nice to receive many compliments on it, and ever nicer to be able to brag about how affordable it is!

This month, the Bloggers Who Budget are showing off the budget friendly dresses that we have been loving lately! Check out these babes below & their warm weather looks:

Pearls & Twirls | Living in Color | Here&Now | Stylin in St. Louis | Sharing My Sole

dress: pink satin dress ℅ Chicwish

When I first tried on this dress, I was admittedly underwhelmed & shared my "blah" feelings on Snapchat. While the dress did have some fit issues, I loved so much about this dress (the open back, perfect blush color, length, thick satin fabric) that I was dedicated to find a way to make it work. I considered getting it tailored, but the open back straps made that route more complicated than I wanted to deal with. Then I remembered my favorite armadillo belt (leave it to Kate Spade to make a chic armadillo belt!) - and as it cinches to any size, it did the perfect trick for making it fit along my waist, & made the back ruffle detail look much, much better.

The wedding involved lots of dancing, and I felt secure and confident in this dress all night. Sometimes just playing around in your closet leads to the best outcomes!

*Backless/open-back dresses do come with their own underwear issues, but I have a low back bra (similar to this one) that I wore on my own wedding day, that I still wear with any open back dresses - I love that the bustier style stays up so much better than most strapless bras do on me!

belt: similar skinny gold belt here & here (both under $40!)

shirt: Suburban Riot graphic tee

shoes: Steve Madden heels

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

Have you had any recent triumphs in solving a clothing fit issue?

Any one else super excited for wedding season?? I love getting to party with my friends & see their love cemented into something so special!

primarily speaking

{ What I Wore: J.Crew Blythe blouse // Kate Spade gold belt (LOVE this one) // skirt ℅ Oasap (similar) // Nine West leopard heels (love these the most, but see below for the rest of my top leopard heel picks!) // earrings ℅ SheerAddiction Jewelry }

all photos | Zipporah Photography 

I just can't get enough of this skirt & in fact, this here is a prelude to the next "Bloggers Who Budget" post. I hope you gals adore a wardrobe item that really goes the extra mile, on a regular person budget, as much as I do. It's officially my jam.

This time around, my friend Shelby encouraged me to pair said adored skirt with another primary color & to do this shirt poof over the belt trick. Seriously, isn't getting dressed more fun with friends!?

Looking to rejuvenate your wardrobe? Don't forget to enter to win 1 of 2 Le Tote subscriptions up for grabs!

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holiday lights

1 pretty frock, 2 holiday party looks.
Head on over to the Fringe & Lace blog to see today's MidWeek MixUp!

{ What I Wore: borrowed Fringe & Lace "In Bloom" dress // J.Crew coat & clutch (similar) // Kate Spade armadillo belt (similar) // Nine West heels (I die for these) // necklace ℅ Stella & Dot }

Which MidWeek MixUp look do you prefer?

Velvet blazer + OTK boots?

Or polished coat + patent pumps?

Day 27: primary

So apparently three-color-dressing is a thing, but what about four?

Well, who cares because dressing like a pack of crayons makes this girl smile!

{ What I Wore: J.Crew cashmere sweater, silk blouse & cropped wool trousers (all currently 30% off with code "XOFACTORY") // Kate Spade armadillo belt (turned around backwards) // ShoeMint Mona loafers }

{ Get the Look }

navy sweater {$34.99} + silk blouse {on sale for $29.99} + cropped trousers {$49.00} + gold belt {$21.00} + gold loafers {$34.99}

Day 1: look at what I got

{ What I Wore: Urban Outfitters plaid button down // J.Crew skirt // Kate Spade armadillo belt // Steve Madden boots // GoldenPonies clutch }

{Get the Look}

plaid button down {$14.99} + red skirt {$13.98} + leopard clutch {$44.00} + black boots {$23.50} + gold belt {$21.00}

Day 1 of my Fall 30X30 Challenge is officially in the books - guess that means I can't back out now!

double life

Blogging question: Is your social media integrated for your blog and personal life? 

Or have you created separate profiles for each?

{What I Wore: Gap (via eBay) jean jacket {similar} // boutique dress {love this one}  // Kate Spade armadillo belt {similar camel belt} // J.Crew wedges {these are so cute!} }

My real life and online blogging life are about to meet, and it worries me.

blazer prep

Good morning! Continuing my week of embracing closet staples.

 I hope you are all on the same page as me, in that closet staples are staples because they help stretch the life of your fun, inexpensive, trendy pieces, but stand by you year after year.

Take this new J.Crew maxi skirt... I mixed up it by pulling the skirt up to my armpits to make it a jersey dress, and threw a closet staple on top... the blazer

done and done

Blazers are perfect year 'round, and during the summer months I find myself craving a simple white blazer, as well as light bright colors to throw over flimsy sundresses and shorts

I will take any of these colors to add to my basic blazer collection of white, navy & black

"old school pin" via Cosmopolitan April 2012 Issue

{ What I wore: J.Crew maxi skirt (similar here & here) // Urban Outfitters blazer (similar) // Kate Spade belt (I think I need this matching purse!) // Target wedges // House of Harlow bracelet }

Are blazers work horses in your closet like they are in mine?
What color blazer are you craving this season?
Happy hump day!
xx

Jessica

something blue, something armadillo

Good Morning, I am off to go brunching. 

Mustache party was a blast last night!

{Day 8 of my 30X30 Remix Challenge}

Keeping it classy in a dress + blazer

It is one of those cloudy, but awkwardly bright days today in Nashville!

{ Dress J.Crew (thrifted), Kate Spade Belt, Nine West heels, Urban Outfitters Blazer, Boutique Clutch }

Why yes, there are kissing armadillos on my belt. Thanks for noticing!

xx

Jessica

P.S. I really do need to get on "re-enacting" outfits from the 3 days I couldn't take pictures... maybe a extra hefty post tomorrow!

armadillo love

It was unseasonably warm these past couple of days, which meant I got to wear a skirt without tights (so free!) and you get to see my paleness! This is my favorite J.Crew summer sale skirt, and the belt that I got on Tennessee Tax Free weekend (cha-ching!). Not everyone is into armadillos, understandably, but how can you resist kissing armadillos from Kate Spade?! I don't think any reason you give will appease me... just warning you in advance. 

guess what... it has POCKETS!

Shirt/Skirt/Shoes: J.Crew
Belt: Kate Spade

xx

Jessica