The Happiest Midi

If you follow me on Instagram (@thelaureledit), you might remember I posted a photo in this dress letting everyone know it's currently on sale.

My mom is the one who originally saw this dress first and suggested it to me. I was a little hesitant because of the length (I typically shy away from midis and maxis because of my height, or lack thereof!), but the print was too pretty to pass up, and I loved the shoulder tie detailing.

I'm so glad I went (a little) out of my comfort zone and bought it, because let me tell you, it is so comfortable and stunning! The floral print really gives me pastoral, strawberry-picking vibes, and the geranium and yellow colors make it such a happy, colorful dress.

I also like how the bolder colors are subdued and complemented by the baby blue, mint green, and butter yellow hues that also run through the entire dress. Best of all, it has pockets! Deep pockets, actually.

It's also really easy to slip on and off because the entire dress can be buttoned and unbuttoned, which I find really convenient since I'm always worried about my makeup transferring to my clothing when I get dressed. Not to mention, the buttons make a cute detail.

The dress is designed as a midi, but sits at a more maxi-length on me, who is 5'1". That being said, it still hits at a flattering length and is, I think, quite petite-friendly.

As I've mentioned before, I'm not a huge Urban Outfitters shopper because their style is typically quite a bit different than mine. With that being said, I have had some massive success this summer finding some really beautiful pieces, and I undoubtedly consider this dress one of them.

Now that it's been marked down, I decided to share it with you all because I think the under $50 price tag (which will probably be further reduced in the coming weeks, if it's not sold out) is reasonable for the quality and style, which reminds me of Reformation.

Obviously I adore the floral, but the dress comes in several other very lovely prints (I like the white and blue multi) that are worth a peek.

Self-Portrait for Less

Self-Portrait is by far one of my all-time favorite designer brands. I love almost everything they create--it's feminine, chic, original, and there's oh so much guipure lace! Each season, they manage to present new, unique designs, while preserving a sense of consistency within their very recognizable aesthetic. I've been fortunate enough to be able to purchase a few Self-Portrait dresses on sale and second-hand over the past few years, but at such high price-point, they're certainly not the kind of brand you can splurge often.

I wanted to seek out a few dresses from more affordable brands in order to try to capture Self-Portrait's vibe at a more discounted price. I'm in love with Self-Portrait and think the quality of their dresses is fantastic, but I wanted to present some items that are similar in style but more accomodating in price point!

I've placed the dupe on the left, along with its designer inspiration on the right. Needless to say they're not identical, but I thought the affordable dresses were alternatives that mimicked the same overall look of the original, at a much more palatable price. Hope you enjoy!

Lulus (here) $49 vs. Self-Portrait, $555

Lulus (here) $66 vs. Self-Portrait, $546

Shein (here), $33, vs. Self-Portrait, $440

Bardot (here), $149, vs. Self-Portrait, $390

    

Chi Chi London (here) $119, vs. Self-Portrait, $335

Let's Go (Sale) Shopping: Reformation

Reformation is one of my favorite shops ever. They have such unique styles and prints, not to mention an impressive commitment to keeping their factories and clothing as sustainable and ethical as possible.

While their racks of clothing are stunning, so too are their prices...Reformation clothing is typically very pricey and hardly ever goes on sale.  I've picked up a few heavily discounted items from Nordstrom Rack before, but that can be hit-or-miss, and the Reformation site and ateliers themselves are usually always full (and I mean full) price.

...Until the semi-annual sale comes around! Luckily, the summer sale is happening now, so it's the perfect time to swoop in and shop all of the discounted spring/summer styles. A lot of the discounts are really remarkable (up to 50% off), and even though some items still have a large post-sale price tag, this is pretty much the lowest they're going to go (if it's any consolation!).

This season, I made one purchase: the Amanda top (pictured above in the first row, second column). Such a flattering cut, and the print is something I've never seen before.

Like many other Reformation fans, I've put together a little collection of my favorite sale items. Hope you enjoy, and let me know if you've made any Ref purchases you love!

Black, White, and Red All Over

It sounds silly, but as soon as I saw this café, I knew I wanted to style an outfit around it. The architecture and decor have such a vintage flair, and, for some reason, I was reminded of those iconic 1930s era photos of women sitting outside Parisian cafés, sipping their morning coffee in style.

Photo from Pinterest (allposters.com)

The rest of the inspiration for this look, the color palette, came from seeing everyone reading the daily newspaper as they enjoyed their breakfast.

I have to admit, since I'm only 5'1, I usually steer clear of midi and maxi dresses because they tend to be way too long on me. This one, however, fits just perfectly, and I've found the hemline to be very flattering. I'm also such a sucker for anything with the little keyhole/knot detailing on the bodice.

The shoes have been my go-to sandals this summer, and are actually part of my July Favorites (check out the Current Favorites tab to read a little more about them!).

And of course, no summer look is complete without a pair of oversized sunglasses to block out those rays. 

Undoubtedly a modern spin on the ladies pictured above, but I still think this outfit has a vintage feel to it, just like the café.

dress is sold out, similar linked below

The Sweetest Summer Dress

When I think of sweet, I think of one of my favorite French desserts, the macaron. Lately, I've also been thinking of this little dress! The pale blue and white rose linen-esque fabric really gives me provincial French vibes, so I thought it was the perfect outfit to wear as I stopped at a French patisserie for a quick snack.

                            

How cute is this little French café? Some of the patriotic decorations were still up from Bastille Day a few weeks ago.

The open back/knot detailing makes the dress a little more casual, as well as light and airy, perfect for the summer months.

It's so comfortable and easy to wear, yet still looks effortlessly polished. I decided to wear it with nude sandals and a little rattan basket-purse, but I imagine it would look just as chic dressed up with some low heels and a clutch if you wanted to wear it to a garden party, etc.

Très mignonne! 

shoes and bag sold out, similar linked below