I’m totally losing my mind, you guys. If you didn’t read my last post, do it. It’s a quick iminapsychopanic kind of post. Easy read. I’m talking all about the home buying process and how much of a crazy stress it is. People don’t warn you about it. Nope. They just all go on, buying houses, keeping their panic to themselves. Not me. No way. I’m spreading that panic everywhere. Sharing it with the world. AHHHHHHH.
Ok, I’ll calm the hell down. But let me explain how I’m losing my mind. I keep forgetting everything. I keep forgetting to send emails, or sign something, or pick up something. Memory = gone. Just the other day, when I was unpacking my suitcase from my Portland trip, I noticed that I was missing a shirt and a leather jacket, both of which I had just purchased a week earlier and hadn’t worn yet. Since I hadn’t ended up wearing them in Portland, I started wondering if I had thrown them in the wash. When the wash showed up empty, I started jumping to conclusions thinking someone had stolen it out of our room. Or out of my bag while traveling. I started thinking everyone was a bad person. I started getting hella pissed. So I called the hotel questioning them. Like a real assh*le.
I left the clothes in the hotel closet. Like a real assh*le. They had the clothes in their Lost and Found. Like good people. Ugh. I hate myself right now.
But back to fashion fridays, because that seems to be the only calm I have at the moment. Shopping is so fun when you’re stressed. All I’ve been looking at online is anything french bulldog related that I can put in our new house. Pillows, drawings, decals. Everything. I need to get it together. I’m becoming a cat lady. But with a dog. And a soon to be husband. Anywho, here are some of the pieces I found while shopping in Portland. I tried shopping at some boutiques downtown, but they were a bit out of my price range. Once we ventured out to Lake Oswego, I found some cute boutiques that I could afford!
This sweater. Comfy, casual and lightweight for the non-snow Colorado days.
{ White Quilted Sweater found at Mapel Boutique on sale for $39 | Grey Flying Monkey Jeans from Hailee Grace Boutique for $54 – similar pair here and here | Dolce Vita Leopard Print Flats for $40 (now sold out) – similar pair one, two and three | Earrings from Nasty Gal for $18 | Pink Bead Necklace from Inspyre Boutique for $15 – similar one and two }
This tshirt. I don’t really like tshirts. I don’t own many. I’d just much rather expose the shoulders. Expose, haha. But this tshirt is flowy and has sweater material on the back. So I just went for it, ok??
{ Riley Mocha Tee from Mapel Boutique for $62 | Black and White Striped Cardigan from Modcloth (now not sold) – similar one here and here | Maroon Distressed Jeans from Hailee Grace Boutique for $54 – similar pair here | MZWallace Julie Cocoa Bedford bag | Miranda Frye Solar Necklace for $79 }
These booties. They are just divine. So comfortable, so sleek, and I feel like cat woman. Or a dominatrix. Either way, I love them so damn much. And they were on sale. Nothing is better than shoes on sale. Nothing. Except for Jackson.
{ World Market Silver Coin Statement Necklace for $37 | Trouve Faux Leather Leggings for $55 (now sold out) – similar pair one, two, three and four | Coral Top from Twirl Boutique – similar top for $37 | Yellow Zipper Clutch from Common Threads Consignment for $20 – similar clutch one and two | Diba Femma Bootie on sale at DSW for $45 }
Wedding dress shopping!! I was lucky enough to try on dresses at the beautiful boutique, The English Department. They were so sweet and helpful. This was my first time trying on dresses and only one really gave me the “wow” moment. I started tearing up wearing it. Of course, I’m not sharing the picture of that dress. I plan on going to one more store to try more on and see if anything can beat that feeling I had.
I forget how many dresses I tried on but I think it was around 8-9. This was one of the first dresses. This Nicole Miller lace, strapless look was pretty much what I was thinking I would wear. I loved it. The lace is called a coral lace and it’s pretty light weight so it would be perfect for a beach wedding. AND it pushed up my boobs, which I’m always a fan of. Just being honest here.
This was the same exact Nicole Miller dress but without the lace. I wanted to try that on because I had some ideas about dressing up the dress a bit and making it pop in other ways. Again, loved that it pushed up my boobs. And loved the shape. It’s one of those dresses that pulled and moved in all the right places, which I love.
This was not a style I thought I would like at all. I thought it would look trashy with boobs my side (sorry I keep talking about boobs) but it didn’t at all! This Elizabeth Dye dress was super light weight, comfortable, and I loved the back (can you believe how many moles I have? unreal) and the lace detail on the stop was beautiful. But I just didn’t really feel like a bride for some reason.
I don’t have a picture of the front of this dress but it was very short lived. As much as I absolutely LOVE the back, I could barely walk in the dress since it was so snug at the knees. And I don’t really want that much sleeve. But love the low back. I can’t wait to try on more dressed with low backs!
NOW THIS, I absolutely, positively freaking love this Elizabeth Dye dress. Since getting engaged, I’ve dreamed about doing a different colored dress and having my bridesmaids in white or cream. I just love that idea. I walked in the store and about squealed when I saw this dress. You can tell in my face in this picture how much I love the dress. Problem was, it was waaaay too much dress and weight for a beach wedding. But this color just blows me away. I love it so damn much. Alas, I don’t want to have a sweaty butt on my beach wedding day.
Which one is your favorite? Do you have any favorite designers?
























While everyone is commenting on the dresses, which btw you look awesome in, I’m going to agree that BUYING A HOUSE IS THE WORRRRSTTT!!!!! SO MUCH STRESS! I feel your pain, good luck!!
the worst!
Gorgeous! You look so damn pretty in everything you wear! Your figure looks amazing, so you really cant go wrong…I love that light and airy Elizabeth Dye dress, it has a dreamy romantic look that I love…Plus, its so lovely in the front that I bet all the moles will go unnoticed 😉
Martina Liana, Monique Lhuillier, Carolina Herrera are just a few of my favorites.
Juli B-you are adorable. And the thing is, every gown will look stunning on you. I am in love with your style, and I know your final pick will be nothing short of perfection. Enjoy these moments-yes even the stressful, hectic, PANIC, moments. They fly by way too fast and make for great memories later. ️Xo
NICOLE MILLER!!! You look great and her dresses are so amazing. I was married it the Nicole Miller Lauren last year and it was the most comfortable all day and night. Good luck choosing!
Hi Juli – Your blog posts are my favorite! I started following a couple of months ago. This particular post I found very relatable. I bought my first condo last summer and it was super stressful. Everyone makes it sound like fun, but it’s a lot of work. I found the closing to be the most stressful part – well the finding out how much money to bring to closing and rush to the bank to get a bankers check before your appointment. It does get fun though – when you move in and start to make your house your home 🙂 Loved all of the dresses – hope you find something that really fits what you’re hoping for. I too have a ton of moles on my back and like that you’re trying backless options It makes me feel more brave to try something like that with dresses. Congratulations and enjoy all of your fun moments right now!
THE FIRST ONE !!! YOU LOOK GORGEOUS IN IT!!!
Juli, I’m so excited for you! You look beautiful in all of the dresses. My favorite one is the top one, but you really can’t go wrong no matter what you wear. Your future hubby is a lucky man!
awwwww Jill! i miss your gorgeous face! i hope to look as beautiful on my wedding day as you look every day!! tell tyson i said hello!
The first one is the beauty! Love that wedding dress!
I loved the Nicole Miller lace and the Elizabeth Dye dress. The Nicole Miller lace looks fantastic on you but I felt like you were not loving it? Maybe because you had your hands at your hips and it made me feel it may be awkward to walk in it? If you love it though I say go for it. As for the Elizabeth Dye dress – you look much more comfortable in it. It’s more casual looking but if it’s a beach wedding maybe that’s the look you would want? Although I totally think the Nicole Miller lace dress would work at a beach wedding too. Actually what about the dress that is on the mannequin in the first few pics? I know it’s in Portland but if you didn’t try it on and you are still looking, I’d find out who made it and find one near you and try it on. I like the V-neck and straps and it’s lace. they could put some padding in the cups for you too if you wanted. I don’t know, just something about that dress. I like the color of the last one but yes, too much tulle. However you can get shoes that color (would that be too weird?) or have half your bridesmaids wear that color and the other half wear cream…either way have fun planning the wedding…totally stressful but also fun. My favorite stuff was the dinner taste testing, and flower/centerpiece picking. Have fun!
Let’s face it, you would look stunning in a bin bag!!
The dresses you have shown are lovely. The smile on your face in the last photo kinda gives the answer as to the direction you should go in.
I love that colour too btw!
A designer I loved when I was looking was Jenny Packham.
I ended up getting my dress from a high street store in the UK called Monsoon. They had done a layered dress similar to one I had loved by Alice Temperley.
Looking forward to more wedding posts!