Saturday, July 16, 2016

Rainbow Row

It's been hot as blazes in Chicago for the past couple of weeks, so I've been a bit hesitant to break out the petticoats and go full-on cupcake. I am the world's biggest baby when it comes to tolerating extreme temperatures. More accurately, there's an approximately five-degree band in which I am happy and comfortable. If the temperature dips below about 65, I shiver and complain. If the temperature goes above 70 (75 with no humidity, max), I melt, complain bitterly, and refuse to do anything useful. Of the two extremes, though, I'd pick the dead of winter over the dog days of summer every single time. (Yes, even a Chicago winter.)

This is why there's been such a dearth of poofiness in my outfits lately. Instead, I've been wearing skirts and dresses that look cute sans petticoat.
bernie dexter rainbow row dress

I picked up this discontinued Bernie Dexter dress a while back, from one of the swap/sell groups I'm in, and I'm not sure why it took me so long to wear it. It's the perfect casual work-appropriate dress and it has pockets! I love that Bernie Dexter dresses are shorter than a good deal of the other retro-reproduction dresses I have, but still long enough to fit bike shorts underneath without an unsightly spandex reveal.

While I'm not the world's biggest fan of blue, I'm slowly and consciously adding more blue to my wardrobe as part of my style journey. While my first instinct was to pair this dress with a pink belt, I went with this sparkly, stretchy pastel blue belt from Modcloth, and I like how it looks. Rather than contrasting with the dress and drawing attention to my waist, it almost has a photo-negative effect that I think looks intriguing.
Air conditioners are the bane of my using-brick-buildings-as-backdrop existence.
I've had those bracelets for about 15 years and I still adore them! I'm a little nervous that they'll melt and fuse together before summer ends.
bernie dexter rainbow row
Red lips sink ships.
Dress: Bernie Dexter Rainbow Row, discontinued
Shoes: Gap
Belt: Modcloth
Brooch: Jolly Hollieday

In case you couldn't tell, the theme of this photo shoot was 'make silly faces, somewhat on purpose.' I took these photos right across from one of the spots where the University security guards stand, and ended up having a long conversation with the security guard on duty about sundresses.

Which bothers you more: extreme heat or extreme cold?

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7 comments:

  1. I hate extreme cold! Haha. I have this dress too but in a different cut (the high neckline that ties in the back) and NEVER wear it. It's the one Bernie I may part with eventually...high necklines annoy me. YOU look wonderful though and I love the belt with it! I think Bernie dresses look good without petticoats (I'm biased, as I hate wearing petticoats haha but still!). They're such statement pieces that I feel they can be worn any which way. XO
    Lauren-Blair

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    1. I don't actually think I've seen that version of this print! If you want, I'll keep my eyes peeled for this dress in an XS for you, since the print is so fun! Bernie dresses are just so unique and fun to wear, with or without petticoat!

      After this heat we've had all week, I could TOTALLY go for winter right now, hehe. Though in the depths of winter, I'd probably agree with you about the cold!

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  2. EXTREME HEAT! Oh man do I hate hate hate being hot. Summer is not my friend right now - I am a winter gal. I mean, when it's cold I miss being able to slip on a dress and go but I will take tights and cardigans over dripping in my sweat! UGH hate it! I am trying to make the most of it though and enjoy dress weather!

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    1. AGREED. This heat is making me extraordinarily grumpy! The worst part is knowing that we still have all of August ahead of us. You have so many cute summer dresses, so I guess the upside is wearing them without tights. I'm trying to remind myself that I'll be pretty grumpy when winter returns...

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  3. I LOVE extreme heat! LOL - that's why I live in Vegas. HOWEVER, it is NOT fun wearing petticoats n' such during this time. So I am on the same page - I most certainly am wearing my dresses sans petticoats.

    Love this dress on you! <3

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    1. You'd pretty much have to love heat to live in Vegas year round! When we went there on vacation, it got up to 110 and Jeff wore shorts for the first time in like 5 years. The chub rub started to kill me after a couple of days.

      Thank you!! <3!!

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  4. LOL chub rub - I am all too familiar. I wear workout shorts underneath my dresses....damn big thighs.

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