Photos by Drew
Dress: Catherine Dress, gift from Alexandra Grecco
Shoes: thrift store
This is the first red dress I’ve owned in, oh, ages. Around five years ago red was my favorite color, and my car was red and so was most of the furniture in my apartment. Then over the years I stopped wearing it, mostly because I was more into neutrals and other quiet colors. Red was for femme fatales and Bette Davis in Jezebel, but not for me.
Then a few weeks ago Alexandra Grecco, one of my favorite designers/bloggers, offered to send me the Catherine dress in red, and it was so gorgeous that it changed my mind on wearing the color. It doesn’t hurt that the dress leans more ingenue than femme fatale—it’s delicate and sweet, but not too sweet. Simple and just right, and I can already tell that I’ll be wearing it to every wedding/fancy event (not that there are many) that pops up this year. Alexandra wanted me to let you guys know that she’s taking pre-orders right now for the Scalloped Mesh Bell Dress, which is one of my all-time favorites from her. She’s doing a small run on them for spring, so if you’re interested be sure to pre-order and get your name on the list.
Drew took these photos last week because it was supposed to rain this weekend (but didn’t), and we went to a little 1870s-era church to take photos of my dress and the building itself. I wish we’d gone this weekend instead because it turned out to be sunny and 70 degrees. Well, Saturday was cloudy so we went to Antiques Row and to a thrift store, where the only thing I bought was a Cabaret soundtrack record (last week I spent too much time one night watching Liza Minelli clips on Youtube, and sometimes I feel like dressing like her). We went to the mall too, but just to look. (still plotting what to buy with my Madewell gift cards from my birthday two months ago–I’m slow).
Last night I was extra boring and stayed in and baked (cinnamon raisin bread) and watched British tv shows on Netflix (I watched something from the ’70s about Wallis Simpson and the Prince of Wales, and the clothes are beautiful but the actress playing Wallis just isn’t good—southern accents where there shouldn’t be any and not really as chic and bitchy as I imagine W.S. to be). And today I ran and tonight we’re making sushi and watching Downton Abbey instead of the super bowl.
PS–I found these shoes in a thrift store last Friday, and they’re ’90s sparkly with thick heels and they’re my favorite thrift store find in a long time, even if they did tear up the backs of my heels from wearing them tightsless.
I feel like I go off red for a while, but then when I come back to it, it’s like the only colour I want to wear and I just buy heaps of red fabric and wool. But then again, my name is Ruby so I’m never too far away from it!
Beautiful photos and what a gorgeous church. It seems like lots of country churches are being sold and the really weird/wacky ones are getting rarer and rarer.
Wow, what an absolutely gorgeous dress! And you’re right– it does tread the line between ingenue & femme fatale very well. I know what I’ll be saving up to buy next, that’s for sure!
Ohh, you look INCREDIBLE in red (I’ve never seen you in it before!) And the fit is beautiful too – I love off the shoulder pieces! x
So simple but so beautiful!
You look so good in “Red”! The dress is beautiful and the church is certainly the best background setting
the the shoot!
There is a sort of general store that I passed once. I was coming from Chattanooga and going north on hwy 58 for about probably forty minutes to maybe fifty. It seems like a place you’d like. It was first started in the thirties I believe. You have to use cash to buy anything. There is also a list on the outside of the building of people’s tabs. I thought it was really neat to see them still putting things on a tab.
Inside was shelves of dusty bottles and cans and some cold cokes in bottles. A wood stove in the middle and several older people gathered around it talking. Really cool place. If you’re ever in the area again, might be worth checking out.
Chandra, that sounds amazing! Thanks for the tip . . . I’ve never been up that way north of Chattanooga but I’ll have to check it out. I just read about an old general/hardware store in Rutledge Georgia too that I want to go see. Those places are always so much fun.
Lovely dress! I am less inclined to go out exploring if it’s freezing (which it is for me). Funny also about Madewell, because I got a gift card for my birthday back in the fall and I still haven’t used it either. It seems like they have great shoes, though, so maybe I’ll find a nice pair. Not sure yet.
Oh, Madewell is so good; every time I go I see something I want, but it takes me forever to decide–I have to get the right thing. I think I’ll probably just get shoes too though. They have such good ones, and I want to get a pair of sandals that aren’t ridiculous to walk in.
beautiful pictures! and that dress is gorgeous, you look really lovely in it!
x
Gorgeous gorgeous…I’ve been on an ongoing hunt for the perfect red dress for so long I don’t think I’ll ever be able to buy one! Sparkly shoes are always a good idea xXx
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Lovely photos and stunning dress, the shoulders are exquisite.
Oh, so pretty! Red looks so sweet on you, and that dress is truly lovely. The location is beautiful as well!
It’s like this shade of red was made just for you. So, so, so pretty.
prett pretty pretty! You look gorgeous in red.
You look stunning! The color suits you for sure. Alexandra’s clothing is to die for.
It’s refreshing to see such a womanly cut. I love the straight lines and girlish designs in fashion these days, but as a woman with a figure that, when dressed properly, can look like Joan from Mad Men, THIS dress is inspiring. And of course, you are workin it guuuurl
E
Aww, thanks, Emily. I bet you would work it too!
I know what you mean . . . I wish I could wear the straight up and down dresses I used to but pretty much everything has to have a waist for me now.
Thanks so much, everyone!!
Ooh you look great! May I ask what size you’re wearing?
That dress is gorgeous, so so stunning and you look amazing in it. I have total clothes envy right now, red is my favourite colour too and I don’t own enough red clothes (is it even possible to have too many clothes in your favourite colour?).
love this dress and the photography, dotted with beautiful landscape/ architectural shots, beautiful, I’ve shared you here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/S-L-C-S-L-C/102550743129397
gorgeous! red definitely suits you. and the shoes are such a great find as well.