Bridesmaid's dress in style evolution

This coral bridesmaid's dress from my BFF's wedding in 2012 is an ever-evolving piece in my wardrobe. On her big day, it was full-length and worn with delicate jewellery. 

Then....
 
A year later, I had it altered it to knee-length. I wore it with a chunky pearl necklace and white-hot nails to ring in my birthday in Montreal. 

Then...

I wanted to breathe new life into the dress for a late summer wedding this year. My fitted black waxed denim jacket, a long beaded tassel necklace and buckled stilettos gave the delicate chiffon pleats some edge, and toned down the girliness.

The military style of the jacket seemed fitting: the wedding took place on a military base. 

To create a cleaner line for the necklace, I snipped off the fabric flower decoration on the bust and secured it to my clutch with a little double-sided tape.

 

It was a nice wedding, with lots of dancing and the chance to catch up with friends we haven't seen in a while. The weather was ominous, but what are a few grey clouds when you're wearing a colour this cheerful?

 

Dress - Bari Jay

Jacket - Paola Prata (consigned)

Shoes - Aldo

Clutch - Coach

Necklace - Consigned

Birthday gifts in round boxes

I celebrated my birthday recently, and my hubby surprised me with a felt wide-brim fedora I'd been fawning over for weeks. It was outrageously expensive and I told him I'd kill him if he bought it. BUT he knows how frustrating it is for me to find hats that fit, and that's how I came to unwrap a round silver box from Nordstrom amid shrieks of excitement. After all, he said, aren't birthdays gifts meant to be the kinds of things you'd never buy for yourself? Some girls lust over Chanel handbags and Louboutin shoes. I lust over Rag and Bone hats with a size small tag. With its all-season slate blue colour, I know I'll get a lot of wear out of this hat in spring and autumn alike. However, I couldn't resist taking it out for a spin with a pair of summer print shorts, before the cooler weather sets in.

xx

Shorts - Vero Moda

Tank - 9/15 via Saks Off Fifth

Jacket - Saks Off Fifth

Hat - Rag & Bone

Shoes - Aldo

Necklace - Ardene