Rate My Look: New Dress!

As you may or may not remember, I did a little bit of shopping last week and it was a magical trip. Every time I turned around, there was something fabulous in my line of vision. My credit card was smoking by the end of the day.

By far, my favorite purchase of the day came at the end of our trip when we popped into the Armani Exchange store. I'd held true to my "elevate" mantra throughout the day, not even considering items at fast fashion stores, or that I know isn't high enough quality. Armani Exchange was one of the last stores we visited and so many things were right in line with what I'm looking for right now- high quality garments that are well made and unique. That was where I found this dress:

I am completely obsessed with this dress- everything about it is awesome! The fit, the color, the details, the hem- I love it all! Speaking of the hem, you can't tell in this photo, but it's actually a high-low hem. Check it out: 

So cute!

I wore those little glitter booties while I was out shopping and if it weren't for that happy coincidence, I might never have thought to put them with this dress. They work SO well together, though! Things like that kind of make me have an "a-ha!" moment where I resolve to go through my entire closet and try to pair things up that I might not normally put together. 

Anyway, I love this dress so much that I wore it the very next day to work and then again on Easter Sunday. It's a perfect bright Easter dress! I wore different shoes, but other than that, my look was pretty similar. 

I think I may have even worn those shoes last Easter with another bright dress, but I'm not entirely sure. And no, I didn't wear anything on my head. I thought about wearing a fascinator of some kind, but not only did I not have anything quite right, but I think the dress is fabulous enough on its own, especially when paired with those amazing floral heels. 

Today I've got a very busy schedule that I'm excited about. I'll be heading over to a local middle school to speak at their career day event called "World of Work." I'm excited to share the story of my career- how I went from one job to another and all the valuable things I learned along the way. I also have a fun activity planned for the kids if there's enough time at the end of the session. It's a group of 7th graders, so wish me luck- they can be a tough crowd!

After my career day event, I'll be heading to the airport to hop on a plane and go see the Professor! I'm super excited to spend some time with him and the kids. I packed some cute outfits for while I'm down there, and I hope the weather cooperates and I don't end up running to the store for more cold-weather attire. I'll do my best to snap photos while I'm there, of course.

Well, enjoy the rest of your Monday, everyone and as always, thank you for stopping by and reading my blog!

Diffusion Confusion

A diffision line is a term for a ready-to-wear line of clothing produced by a typically high end designer. It's a line designed to reach the masses and the items therein are significantly less expensive than their runway counterparts. Isaac Mizrahi led the way with discount department store diffusion lines with his line designed for Target. Lots of designers have followed in his footsteps including Vera Wang who has designed a line for Kohls and Alexander McQueen who also designed for Target.

The list of designers with diffusion lines could go on for days- Marc by March Jacobs, D&G by Dolce & Gabbana, and Emporio by Armani to name a few- but you should be aware of the differences in these diffusion lines. No, my friend, not all diffusion lines are created equal, and therefore it is understandable that you might have some diffusion confusion. I hope I can clear some of that confusion up for you.

The easiest way to break it down is to divide the diffusion lines into two types- the first is the type that is still handled by the designer. Marc by Marc Jacobs is a good example of this. The second is the type that is handled by design teams who work with the chain or department store where the product will be sold. Isaac Mizrahi's line for Target is an example of this type of diffusion line.

A mass-produced diffusion line is certainly a lucrative way for a discount department store to create a frenzy in their store- H&M had a run on their Karl Lagerfeld diffusion line, but that's a whole other story. The point I'm trying to make is before you plunk down your credit card, take the time to closely examine the garment you are buying. Some diffusion lines are still made with high-quality craftsmanship, while others are poorly tailored, and use cheap materials. To generalize, it is a safe bet that a diffusion line that is handled by the designer themself will be of a higher quality than one that is handled by a team associated with the chain store. Regardless, when considering a piece from a diffusion line, make sure you are buying it for the right reason- because it looks good on you. If you are buying something simply for the label inside it, you are bound to be disatisfied and will be far less likely to wear it. After all, who can see the inside label except you? Think about it.

Remember that when purchasing a piece from a diffusion line, you are buying something that is most likely mass-produced. When purchasing a designer piece, you are getting something that is made with high quality craftsmanship and it is more than likely a unique piece and sometimes even one-of-a-kind. Isn't that why we like buying designer duds? The idea that we can have something no one, or very few others will also have is appealing! When you purchase from a diffusion line, you may have a "designer" item in your closet, but it's likely not a one-of-a kind item. If that's not important to you, then onward! If you get nothing else from this post, remember that in purchasing ANY item of clothing the most important criterion is how that garment looks on you. Designer pieces, thrift shop or garage sale finds, department store items- any of these can be equally fabulous or fatal if they are not flattering on you.