Walking in a Winter Wonderland (Nicole)

News flash: I'm slightly Bernie Dexter-obsessed. (Well, this isn't so much a news flash as it is a confirmation of something that's probably pretty obvious from my love affair with the Kelly dress, the Chelsea cut, and this red gingham number.) I've had my eye on the Winter Wonderland print for ages, and had already decided that this was the year I'd finally nab it when Bernie released the Winter Wonderland Nicole dress. The timing couldn't have been more perfect: here in Chicago, the cooler weather seems to have finally settled in for the long haul, and I've been thinking about beefing up my winter wardrobe. I think we all know where this is going…

Wearing this dress feels a little bit like being inside one of those miniature Christmas villages: the really elaborate ones with tiny working lights on tiny lampposts, and fake snow on the roofs of all the buildings. In other words, I love this dress! This isn't a surprise to me, since the Nicole is basically my beloved Kelly with full-length sleeves and a regular waist seam instead of the inset waistband from the Kelly. The fit is very similar to my Kellys as well: I took my usual large in this dress, and it measures 19.5" flat from armpit to armpit and 15" at the waist.

The print is absolutely stunning and I am over the moon about the long sleeves, since they mean I can let the wonder of the print shine unobstructed by a cardigan. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about having the print on the sleeves, but after trying it on, looking in the mirror, and taking these photos, I'm glad I went with the Nicole over the sleeveless Veronique in this print. The pattern is perfectly positioned and aligned over the front seam, too!

#cottageboobs

Trying that cool-blogger pose: does it work?

As with all of the Bernies I own, this one is the perfect length and fullness for my Malco Modes Jennifer petticoat, which I'm wearing in these photos, but it also looks cute without a petticoat. The pockets are big enough for my iPhone 6 and the sleeves are roomy enough for my super-strong beefy arms without flapping in the wind.

While I'm not usually one to wear much blue, this print is so gorgeous and festive that I can't help but make an exception. It's really more the color of snow at twilight, you see, so it's not like I'm actually wearing blue. I'm wearing snow! That's better, right? Since the print is so detailed, I kept the styling super simple: the belt that came with the dress, my favorite old silvery flats, a red lip, and my most unobtrusive glasses let the dress be the star. When it gets really cold out, I'll throw on a pair of off-white tights and my new cognac riding boots, so my legs don't turn the same color as the dress!

If you're a Bernie Dexter fan who lives in a colder climate, like me, the Nicole dress is an absolute godsend. I'm so delighted to be able to wear this lovely print in a seasonally-appropriate style, especially since I know I'll be wearing it at Christmastime! My parents like to keep the thermostat around 62 degree (to create their very own winter wonderland, I suppose?) so these sleeves will come in handy!

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