Saturday, December 6, 2014

Modern day mermaid

seashell we dance dress modcloth

I had sort of accepted that I was unlucky when it came to giveaways, so I was ridiculously excited when I ended up winning a giveaway from I Love Crafty a few months ago.  I love all of Laura's creations (her donut line is to die for!), but I've always been very partial to her mermaid line -- and I ended up winning a wonderful set of sea-siren-inspired pieces!  I decided to remix my Nishe seashell dress (see another way I wore it here) for the cooler weather and utilize my ASOS seashell purses and Pinup Girl Clothing jelly wedges (because if mermaids had feet, they'd probably wear jelly shoes, amirite?).  

nishe dress
i love crafty mermaid
shell purse

I also happened to luck out with the weather when I took these photos.  It's been cold this week (though not much snow in sight!), but it was nice to not have to wear heavy tights with this dress -- or make my way through the snow!  I dislike most of my shoe options for winter, as most of my practical boots don't look right with dresses.  I haven't had to worry too much about that as of yet, but we have 3+ more months of wintery weather to look forward to here.  I'm happy with having snow from the week before Christmas through New Year's Day... but in upstate New York, winter can last 'til April!  I guess I'll have to enjoy the lack of snow while I still can.

i'm really a mermaid jewelry
jelly shoes
nishe dress modcloth
embroidered dress
mermaid-inspired
Outfit Details
Seashell We Dance? Dress: ModCloth (similar)
Mermaid necklace & ring: c/o I Love Crafty
Cardigan: Storevny (available here)
Jelly wedges: Pinup Girl Clothing
Shell purse: ASOS (similar)

bettie bangs
Have a great Saturday!
xox Sammi

Friday, December 5, 2014

Friday Favorites #73

 Happy Friday!  The weeks are flying by lately.  I'm definitely getting into the holiday spirit (in fact, my mom and I are planning on getting our Christmas tree today -- our first real one in years!).  Here are some of the pieces that caught my eye this week:

Firstly, a new batch of novelty purses!
novelty clutch

 a   //   b   //   c   //   d   //   e   //   f   //   g   //   h   //   i

 I love these sweet holiday sweatshirts!
a   //   b

 This Christmas pudding fascinator is darling!

And these Irregular Choice Santa shoes are so fun!
irregular choice santa
You could look like a walking Christmas tree this season with these little light earrings!
dolls kill
I really love this new version of Sourpuss Clothing's Christmas kitties dress:
sourpuss cat dress
I'm not often a t-shirt kind of gal, but I'm really into both of these:
modcloth tees

1   //   2

doge

I would feel quite foxy in this dress!  :)  Though I often go for bold prints, I love the subtlety of this particular one.  I've also been seeing lots of foxes around here lately, so it's timely!

modcloth fox print dress

I really need some more sweaters, since layering them over dresses has become a fun challenge for me.  I'm loving these ones in particular:

h&m sweaters
 1   //   2   //   3

This sweater is pretty rad, too:
wildfox dollskill
I'm swooning over this sweet pink coat!
pink kawaii coat

And speaking of pink... this Ducky tote is so great!
pretty in pink tote
I'm a sucker for coats with little attached capelets, like this one:
blue lolita coat
I'm definitely getting into the holiday party spirit!  I have my Christmas Eve and Day dresses already set, so I'm sort of looking ahead to New Year's... but these unique LBDs would be great for any festive celebration!

black party dress
a   //   b   //   c

I also love this dress for a more casual NYE option (it would be a great Chanukah dress, too):

mod dolly

I had never personally thought about decorating with a tapestry before, but this one is pretty enough for me to consider it:

urban outfitters tapestry

And finally, this Up hair bow is wonderful!
up bow hot topic
That's all for this post!  I hope you have a fantastic Friday!
xox Sammi

Please note: This post contains affiliate links.  If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I may receive a small commission, which helps to run my blog.  I link only to items I absolutely love, from companies I wholeheartedly support.  Thank you for supporting The Soubrette Brunette!

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Crimson and clover

burgundy dress

I'd been looking for a winter-y dress in a deep red color for a while.  My first choice was (and still is) something in velvet, but I saw this dress on the LuLu*s website and decided to order it.  I didn't realize at the time that it's actually made by Kling, a brand I really like.  The dress definitely runs large, and I really liked it at first, but in looking through the pictures, I realized that it's not really the most flattering for my body type.  It looks fine in the photos I ended up choosing, but despite the fact that it's such a pretty color and is very warm, I think I might end up listing it in my Shop My Closet store.  It'll look great on someone with less of a curvy figure than I have.  Live and learn, I guess!

kling
kling diller dress
lulu's dress
Outfit Details
Dress: LuLu*s (available here)
Boots: ModCloth (similar)
Belt: from another dress
Hat: Target (similar)
Tights: similar

I don't have much else to say today, so have a happy Wednesday!
xox Sammi

Monday, December 1, 2014

Blogger Interview: Serli from Le Soleil Chic

Goodness gracious, it's already December 1st?!  November absolutely flew by, and luckily, I have the perfect post with which to usher in December.  Today's Q&A is with the adorable Serli from Le Soleil Chic.  I instantly took a liking to this sweet SoCal gal with a love of novelty prints and retro-inspired dresses.  Get to know more about Serli below, and be sure to follow her blog!

vintage blogger

Name: Serli (pronounced like Sara-Lee)

Age: 24

Where do you blog?  I blog over at Le Soleil Chic, which is French for "The Stylish Sun."  I am weirdly obsessed with anything sun-related (sunflowers, sunshine, sunsets, etc.), so the name was perfectly-fitting!  When I created my blog, I strictly had fashion in mind, but over time I've started to incorporate my daily life and other interested into my posts.

How did you get into blogging?  I decided to start blogging fairly recently -- this past summer -- when I realized I wanted to share my style with more than those I saw in person every day.  Blogging has connected me with a whole community of stylish and inspiring ladies who share my tastes in fashion from all corners of the world.  Yay for the internets!

Where you work or what you study/studied in school:  I graduated from UCLA two years ago with a psychobiology degree and landed a job there soon after as a research assistant in a cancer research lab (where I currently work).  The job can get pretty science-heavy, so having a fashion hobby on the side is a fun and refreshing outlet!

What's your dream job?  To be a professional food taster.  I'm a huge foodie and love going to new restaurants.  Thankfully, Los Angeles has a diverse food scene!  I'd love to travel just so I could try foods from different countries.  At the moment though, I'm trying to get Elite status on Yelp.  Baby steps!

modcloth

Your favorite musician, singer or band:  Coldplay.  I associate a lot of their songs with happy memories.  Their music is almost hypnotic and listening to them always lifts my mood.  I went to their concert last year and it was amazing.

Your favorite musical:  I have never actually been to a musical!  Le sigh.  I would love to see Wicked, but I miss it every time.

What's your favorite Disney movie?  Frozen (not to be cliche).  I love how it's centered on the love between two sisters!  It's a nice change from the usual prince-and-princess-live-happily-ever-after ending.  And who doesn't like warm hugs?!

What's your favorite guilty pleasure?  Shopping... online shopping.  Yay for the internets, part 2!  Speaking of which, I might or might not have gone a little crazy with all the Black Friday deals...

What's one thing that most people might not know about you?  I have grapheme synesthesia.  My brain perceives numbers and letters as colors.  I sound like a freak when I try to explain it, so usually I don't try to!

bernie dexter poppy dress

Drink of choice:  Berry lemonade from my favorite restaurant, Granville.  Why don't more restaurants put berries in their lemonade?

Favorite food in the world:  Fries, any kind.  Sweet potato.  Garlic.  Truffle.  I love 'em all!  Also, Cheesecake Factory has the best sweet corn tamale cakes.

What's your favorite season and why?  Summer, because I love sunshine and the warmth of the sun on my skin.  I'm spoiled living in Southern California -- it feels like summertime almost year-round here.  If we're lucky, we get rain a few times a year, and it's hilarious how everyone freaks out (myself included).

Fictional character with whom you identify:  My friends say I remind them of Jessica Day from New Girl (which is why I started watching it).  I guess it's because she's quirky, a bit naive, and just the right mix of feminine and feminist.  Also, she has an absolutely wonderful wardrobe!  She totally copied my style.  :)

Favorite TV show: The Office!  I can watch reruns for days.  Michael Scott is the best boss ever.  This makes me reconsider my answer to the "dream job" question.  My dream job would be working for Michael Scott!

Favorite book (from childhood or now): The Da Vinci Code.  I love a good mystery thriller novel.  The movie version doesn't do the book justice.

polka dot skirt

What's been your favorite post from your blog thus far?  My favorite post is this one.  Last Christmas, my boyfriend got me this polka dot skirt and chose the green top to go with it.  It's kind of funny that my favorite outfit is one I didn't buy myself.  I added the red heels and red necklace and created a look that reminded me of candy!  It's such a happy and vibrant combination.  I also love this outfit because it reminds me of the good time we had at the beautiful Balboa Park that day.

How would you describe your personal style?  I'd say it's vintage-inspired with a feminine, modern twist.  It can change depending on my mood or where I'm headed.  I love novelty prints, kitschy items and colorful outfits.  Oh, and I love details!  Like I'll wear an airplane-print skirt with an airplane necklace and airplane earrings.  [Didn't I tell you she was a girl after my own heart?  -Sammi]

What's the most beloved article of clothing or accessory you own?  I remember as a kid, my mom had this really cool snake ring made out of real gold that she would wear on special occasions.  She was very protective of it, so you can imagine how excited I was when she decided to give it to me!  It's a beautiful piece that holds sentimental value and I wear it all the time.  I truly cherish it.

What's your go-to accessory?  My black and white Sourpuss Floozy bag.  I sort of bought it on a whim, but it's become a staple in my wardrobe.  It's one of the most versatile purses ever, and I'm so glad I bought it!

Your favorite place to shop, favorite clothing brand or favorite designer:  Definitely Bernie Dexter.  Her dresses are of amazing quality and I love the unique prints.  No other dresses fit and flatter me as perfectly as hers do!  I can't wait to own more of her dresses, especially in the Veronique cut.

bernie dexter veronique

If you could live during any other time period, what would it be?  I'd love to experience the 1950s, if only for a day.  I can see myself wearing the snazziest retro outfit and sitting at a local diner enjoying a milkshake with one of those red and white swirly straws.  The feminist in me would hardly tolerate the whole women's rights struggle thing, so I don't think I'd like to stay for longer than a day!

Do you have a style icon?  If so, who?  I have so many!  A lot of the bloggers I follow have been huge style inspirations since I started my blogging journey.

Do you have a favorite fashion mantra or piece of style advice?  We don't have to have perfect bodies to look good and feel good.  Fashion is an important part of how we express ourselves, and it doesn't matter what your style is as long as you feel confident in it!  Also, money doesn't buy style.  It's about how you put your outfits together, not necessarily how much you spend on them.  Some of my favorite outfits are comprised of pieces I bought at a bargain.

emily & fin

What are some other blogs that you love?  I have so many!  Before I started blogging myself, I found the blogs of ladies whose styles I loved via the ModCloth Style Gallery.  One of these bloggers was Ashley of Southern (California) Belle.  I actually reached out to her with questions about the blogging process, and she was SO helpful and a huge motivator for me to start blogging (and I got to meet her in person too!).  A few other bloggers I'm inspired by are Kate from Scathingly Brilliant, Alexandra of Into The Woods, and Katie & Amanda of Junebugs and Georgia Peaches.  After starting my own blog, I discovered blogs like Sans Scrubs, Prefer to be Demure and of course, The Soubrette Brunette.  Those are only a few -- it's impossible to list all of them!

If you could wear only one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?  Something cute, and if I have to wear it forever, it'd have to be comfortable too.  I'm going with the outfit I'm wearing in the first photo of this post, but I'd switch out the heels for comfy flats.

Anything else you'd like to talk about?  As a fairly new blogger, I'm honored that Sammi chose me as her December interview subject.  I love her style, especially all her cute, unique bags!  I had so much fun answering these questions (I learned some things about myself, too)!  Please feel free to drop by my blog and say hello!  I love meeting new people.  <3

Have a great December 1st!
xox Sammi 

Saturday, November 29, 2014

I plan on writing an epic poem about this gorgeous pie

pie dress modcloth

I felt like this dress was the perfect piece for Thanksgiving, since the holiday is sort of just one big prelude to pumpkin pie for me.  I've worn this dress a few other times on the blog (see here and here), but it'll always be one of my favorites and I enjoy coming up with different ways to wear it.  I also recently finished watching Twin Peaks, and I love how important pie is on that show (hence the title of this post).  Plus, this outfit finally gave me the chance to wear my new brooch from Dainty Geekery!

dainty geekery
novelty print modcloth

I had a nice -- albeit uneventful -- Thanksgiving.  I ate too much, so my Weight Watchers points for the week are basically shot... but you can't win 'em all.  I bought a couple of things yesterday for Black Friday, but some of the Cyber Monday deals are actually better, so I'm waiting for that.  Other than that, I'm working a lot this weekend; the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra always has a weekend of Nutcracker performances with the Rochester City Ballet, so that means a lot of craziness for our box office.  At least I have a new nutcracker print dress to wear!  :)

white shoes
pie ring
modcloth dress
Outfit Details
You're In Luck Dress in Pie: ModCloth
Cardigan: ModCloth (available here)
Paving Grace Heel: ModCloth
Pie brooch: Dainty Geekery
Pie ring: gift from Kate
Belt: from another dress

Have a great weekend!
xox Sammi

Friday, November 28, 2014

Friday Favorites #72: Black Friday Edition (contains discount codes!)

TGI(B)F!  Although I absolutely love Thanksgiving (and any holiday that involves eating copious amounts of yummy food), Black Friday is definitely the shopaholics' holiday.  We spent yesterday being thankful for all the wonderful things we have... and then today is all about materialism and commercialism.  ;)  I've already done most of my Christmas shopping, so Black Friday is a time where I can snag some great deals for myself!  Here are some things I've been coveting this past week -- and be sure to scroll down to the bottom for a huge list of promotional codes (including one for my own Shop My Closet store)!

I feel like it wouldn't be a Friday Favorites post without some novelty purses...
novelty bag
1   //   2   //   3   //   4   //   5 
6   //   7   //   8   //   9

Aren't these lip balms adorable?
TONYMOLY

A gal can never have too many coats, and these are so pretty!

a   //   b   //   c

I also love the color of this vibrant lavender coat:
lavender coat

I tend to drink lots of tea and hot chocolate in the wintertime.  This infographic will help keep my beverage choices interesting (and delicious)!

spice up your hot chocolate
(via)
I can't talk about treats without mentioning these donut notecards!  I need them!
notecards

I'm also a big fan of salt water taffy, and this pumpkin pie taffy looks especially good:
pumpkin pie taffy

This phone case is pretty sweet (pun intended)!  It's sort of cotton-candy-inspired!
asos phone case
I'm very much into documentaries, and I recently watched two films that I absolutely adored.  The first was called I Know That Voice, which is all about voice acting and the actors behind many of the most beloved voices in animation.  I've always secretly wanted to pursue voice acting and voice overs as a facet of my career, so I was already familiar with some of the cast, but holy smokes, if you're at all interested in performing or entertainment or just like cartoons... you should check it out.

i know that voice film

The second film I watched was called Advanced Style.  I wasn't familiar with the Advanced Style blog, but the film is centered around some of the women who had formerly appeared on the blog (which is about New York women who are over 50 and have impeccable style).  As someone with a flair for the dramatic when it comes to how I dress, this film really spoke to me and was truly inspiring.  If you're into fashion (I can only assume you are, since you're here!), give this one a watch.  Both of these films are streaming on Netflix Instant!

advanced style

Okay, back to the clothes.  A pastel blouse with scalloped edges?  I'm in love.
blue blouse
This would be such a fun gift or party-time game!

mystery date urban outfitters

I have holiday parties on the brain!  Either of these dresses would be gorgeous for Christmastime.

lindy bop
a   //   b

And this bright red dress would be such a fun holiday option, too!
red dress

These little trees are so cute for smaller spaces!
decorative trees anthropologie

I love a good pair of red flats, and these look like little wrapped Christmas presents!
red bow flats
I love this Cath Kidston sweatshirt -- it's so perfect for Christmas morning!
christmas sweatshirt

ModCloth always goes all-out for Black Friday, and they currently have hundreds of new arrivals on sale for 50% off!  Here are a few of my favorite dresses from the sale:
novelty print dresses
a   //   b   //   c   //   d   //   e

And finally... here is my list of Black Friday promo codes.  I may end up adding to this list throughout the day, so stay tuned!

Black Friday Discount Codes

ASOS: 30% off with code TGIBF
Audrey Stars Boutique: 20% off site-wide with code FILLYABOOTS
BAIT Footwear: 30% off site-wide with code GLITTER
Betsey Johnson: 33% off + free shipping with code BLACK
Candy Strike: 20% off site-wide with code BLCKMON14
Cats Like Us: 20% off with code BF14-20 (exclusions apply)
Chronically Vintage: 25% off with code BLACKFRIDAYSAVE25
Coco Fennell: 10% off all orders with code FRIDAY
Collectif Clothing: 20% off site-wide with code BF20
Crush Vintage: 25% off storewide
Dear Creatures: 40% off all new styles with code DCblackfriday
The Crave Yard: 20% off all brooches, necklaces, totes & purses with code turkey20
Delia's: 50% off site-wide + free shipping with code BFSALE
Dethrose Vintage: 20% off storewide
Dolls Kill: site-wide markdowns (+ get a free $20 GC for every $100 spent)
Emerging Thoughts: 25% off site-wide with code gobblegobble
eShakti: up to 70% off
Flapper Doodle: 30% off entire purchase with code mistletoe
Folter Clothing: 40% off site-wide with code happy40
Forever 21: extra 30% off clearance
Hello Holiday: 25% off all outerwear & shoes with code BRIGHTFRIDAY
Her Tiny Teeth: 10%-75% off select merchandise
JBR Clothing: 20% off site-wide
Lady V London: up to 60% off
Lindy Bop: 15% off
Loly in the Sky: 20%-50% off select items
LuLu*s: up to 90% off + free shipping
Missguided: 30% off with code CYBER30
Miss L-Fire: 15% off all shoes and handbags
Miss Selfridge: up to 50% off site-wide
ModCloth: 50% off hundreds of new arrivals
Modern Girl Blitz: 20% off entire order with code CHEERS2014
Motel: 25% off all full-priced items with code CYBER25
New Look: up to 50% off select merchandise
The Oblong Box Shop: 30% off with code blackfriday30
Pinup Girl Clothing: 30% off site-wide
Queen of Heartz: 40% off site-wide (excludes separates & accessories)
Raleigh Vintage: Storewide markdowns
River Island: 30% off full-priced items
Ruche: 30% off site-wide with code BLKFRDY
She Loves Cute Stuff: 35% discount with code THIRTY5
Sourpuss Clothing: 25% off site-wide with code BLACKFRIDAY
Steady Clothing: 20% off entire site + other Black Friday discounts
Stop Staring! Clothing: 15% off site-wide with code THANKS
Tara Starlet: 40% off all party dresses with code TGIF
Tatyana Boutique: 50% off with code FRIDAYGLAM
Tiger Milly: 10% off site-wide with code BLACKFRIDAY10
Topshop: 30% off select products; 2 for 1 on mid-season sale items
Trashy Diva: 30% off site-wide with code BLACKOUT30
Unique Vintage: 25% off site-wide with code THEBIG25
Urban Outfitters: additional 25% off all sale online
Vivien of Holloway: 24% off with code IG24VOH (valid on Friday only)
Voodoo Vixen: 20% off with code BLOWOUT
When Decades Collide: 20% off storewide
Yummy You: 20% off site-wide with code BLACKFRIDAY

...plus, you can take 15% off my entire Shop My Closet store with the code BLACKFRIDAY15


Happy Shopping!
xox Sammi

Please note: This post contains affiliate links.  If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I may receive a small commission, which helps to run my blog.  I link only to items I absolutely love, from companies I wholeheartedly support.  Thank you for supporting The Soubrette Brunette!