rhinestone collar.

old navy ponte sheath dress

elle rhinestone collar blouse {thrifted}

dexter claire flats   •   target belt

{ exact dress (also in plus size) / similar blouse / similar flats / similar belt }

this outfit is pretty similar to one i wore a week ago but i just had to do it.  i love the look of sleeveless dresses, button-downs, and a belted waist!  i lamented the poor fit of this blouse a couple months ago but hidden underneath a dress no one is any wiser that a few of the buttons don't stretch far enough to button!  of course i realize the rhinestones aren't even that visible beyond my hair and the way the collar falls - grr!

i usually don't condone keeping clothes that fit poorly or have to be rigged in order to be worn - i once found a new target stock skirt at the goodwill that was about 4 sizes too big so i pulled the fabric taut on one side and affixed a binder clip to keep the waistband together and masked it with an open cardigan and big belt - that is way too much work for a skirt that wasn't even all that great!  after that silly experiment, i decided never again.  it's too easy to get sucked into thrifting things that aren't your size that you convince yourself you can make work.  it was hard to accept that reasoning and pass up this blouse though so i'll have to reassess the fit the next time i want to wear it to see if i am going to keep it around!

copycat dress.

merona button down   ·   old navy ponte sheath dress

impo tesla booties   · forever 21 belt   ·  one wink necklace

{ similar button down / exact dress / similar belt / similar booties / similar necklace }

i am one of those people who doesn't mind drastic changes in the weather from week to week at all.  last week we had warm temps in the low 70s and this week it's 20-25 degrees cooler.  perfect opportunity to wear more outfits like this with tights, booties, and thicker weighted materials before "spring" hits.  it's hard to see, but there the pindots on the shirt are the same color as the pink belt.  :)

if this old navy dress looks familiar it's because i also have it in navy (review here, outfit here).  it fit so well that i had to buy it in a second color (this one is a charcoal gray) when i came upon it for a pretty good deal online.  i also just have to share a funny story: these booties get such a rise out of some of my older residents.  one of my memory care residents wheeled up to me in her wheelchair today and said, "WOW!"  i bent down and said, "do you like my shoes?" and she gave me the biggest nod and smile.  i said, "do you want to try them on?!"  and she vehemently said "no!" and wheeled right on by me.  haha!  i know i don't talk about my job a lot because hipaa and confidentiality (in fact, i probably shouldn't share that above story at all), but my residents lift me up so much.  i wrote in my five year diary right around a year ago, "i feel like a tool for goodness at work.  that feels amazing.  i thank god every minute for the love he lets me share, because i know i do share it and that it is received" - and i feel blessed that i continue to have interactions that resonate the way i felt a year ago.  i hope all of you, my dear readers, have equally as fulfilling jobs!

thanks so much for reading!