Wedding Dresses!

This is so fun. I just was cleaning up my iPhoto pictures and came across all of the pictures I have from me trying on every dress I could possibly love. Some are totally nerdy, but here's a look at how I arrived at my dress. My first stop was a bridal store in downtown Denver. I loved my experience there in March 2013, but ended up walking away empty handed. I don't remember any of the brands of the dresses that I tried on and didn't buy... it was over a year and a half ago. #longengagementproblems

This 1920s style dress was SO pretty, but it didn't scream wedding to me... especially not mountain wedding.

This one I likes because I liked the top of it, but hated two things: the bottom and the ugly broach up top. It was out.

I almost picked this dress and altered the crap out it. The top had feathers... which was weird to me. But I like the criss-cross overlay on the top and the bottom was so manageable. I wanted the train to be a little longer, but I knew that I had found my SHAPE of a dress. It ended up being the inspiration for the dress I ultimately picked.

I fell hard for the back of this dress. Like hard. But the front was not doing anything for me... see?

Now we fast forward about 4-6 months to D'Anelli Bridal in Lakewood where I finally found my dress. This dress was on clearance for $500 and I REALLY liked the back of it and knew that I could alter the front to actually fit. I am just now noticing that the front had that criss-cross thing I liked from the runner-up dress above. But the sparkles on the top were the deal killer for me.

In the end... this was my winner. It's by Essence of Australia and given the chance to pick a dress again, I would pick it... over and over and over. It ticked all of my boxes: under $1500, simple, figure flattering, feels like a wedding dress.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

So which one would you pick for me? For yourself?

Sunday Store Stalking: 23rd Ave in Portland

There's a boy place, I know (Whitney Houston, come on people)... where you can walk the entire street and find gem after gem. On 23rd Ave in Portland, Oregon there is a good mix of chain stores (Francesca's, Urban, Brooklyn Industries) and one-off/local spots. What I love is that there is no sales tax in Oregon (HOLLA!) and the prices for most things on 23rd are awesome sauce. Typically around $40-60 for a dress and $30-60 for cute shoes. For clothes that no one else in Colorado is going to have, it's a pretty sweet deal. And just look how cute this street is! Let's start our street long store stalking at Ellington Handbags. These beauties were soft as butter, a baby's bottom, and velvet all wrapped up in one. My mom might look skeptical in this picture, but she thought and lusted after that bag long after we left the store. It was gorgeous and I licked the leather... just making sure you're still with me.

Little pops of color variations in these beauts... I wanted this one as a casual, everyday friend of mine, but I need another bag that is casual like I need a hole in my toe. We went down the block and found shoe heaven a few stores down. I have refused for three seasons to not buy gladiator sandals because I just don't like them. I don't have a good reason, other than... nope, no reason. Just not my jam friends. But these are cute and not a darn pair of these shoes was over $50. Huzzah. These little fall booties had style and sass for miles... I love you sweet bootie friends These last two cute little dresses were both on display outside of one of the bigger (in size) one-off stores. Their stuff was a little more pricey-- like $40 for tops and dresses hovering right around $60, but it sure was adorb. Do you have a fun street like this in your hometown? Where are your favorite NON MALL places to throw down some serious fashion dollars?

To see the other Store Stalking Sunday posts, well, click here.