If you’ve been reading for a while – here at The Demoiselles, or over at Broke & Beautiful or Awakened Aesthetic – you already know that the two of us are insistent that everyone needs to own the basics, including a great pair of jeans, comfortable – but sexy – dress shoes, and a well-fitting t-shirt (among other things).  Our oft-discussed favorite online boutique, Mapel, is in complete agreement, and was kind enough to offer us a new tee – the burnout by Alternative Apparel – to try out.

[Jen would like to add, before we continue, that Alternative is strongly focused on social responsibility, and that many of their items are made using sustainably-produced materials, including organic cotton.]

We got to choose our own tees – Jen picked the V-Neck Tee in Moss; Elle got the Long-Sleeve Burnout in White – to show off our individual “Alternative” styles.  So, without further ado…

Jen’s style: I am all about the t-shirt and jeans look.  Always have been.  Long before Elle indoctrinated me into the fashion world, and certainly before I bought my first designer jeans, my fallback was always the same: v-neck shirt, pair of jeans, heels.  Repeat as necessary.

Though my fallback ensemble is easy to pull off, it can also be an easy excuse to go too casual – replacing the heels with sneakers, wearing something baggy and shapeless instead of body-skimming – which ruins the whole effect.  The point of a t-shirt and jeans is to look effortless, not slovenly.  (Trips to the grocery store at 10AM on a Sunday notwithstanding, of course.)

Because of my obsession with this super-basic look, I didn’t do much with my Alternative Apparel v-neck.  I kept it simple with a black tank top (also from Mapel, also by Alternative Apparel), a pair of straight-leg jeans (Converse by John Varvatos) and some black suede platforms from
Banana Republic.  To add a little pop, I topped it off with a cameo-inspired octopus necklace (a present from Elle – aww!) and bright red lipstick.  (When a girl’s gotta vamp, a girl’s gotta vamp…at least a little.)

Alternative Apparel Burnout Tee (Size L), Converse by John Varvatos Jeans (Gilt), Suede Pumps (Banana Republic)

The best thing about this top isn’t the cute, longish, cuffed sleeves (which are awesome) or the burnout fabric (also awesome, but in an understated way).  It’s that the shirt – and the tank top too, in fact – is really, really soft. Sleeping puppies soft.  Warmly cuddling with a lover soft.  Barely-there soft.  Shall I continue?

Elle’s Style: Did I really just get a stark white, long sleeved shirt? With… a tiny bit of transparency? Are you kidding me? To the untrained eye, white is a harmless idea. In fact, it’s even considered peaceful and positive. I know. But as a heavier girl with more protrusive attributes, we are taught that white is not our friend. White will make is look fat(ter) and blah-blah-blah-something relating to Shamu in a wedding dress. Because of this deadly childhood lesson, I’ve positioned myself as far from white as fashionably possible.

Well, until I shook my head free of the societal logic chains and realized that – hey – white hasn’t done anything to me – what gives?

So when Mapel offered to send us these Alternative Apparel items for review, I knew I had to take a chance. I mean, Alternative Apparel is all about being unique, but basic – the beauty of the oxymoron is that it works. What’s more classic than a basic, white, cotton shirt? Nothing. But what’s basic about a banded, burnout top with long sleeves and a longer design? Nothing. I had to go white. It was scary, but I mustered through.

And boy am I glad I did.

Alternative Apparel Burnout Tee (Size XL), Black Cropped Pants (ebay), MIA shoes (OnlineShoes.com Warehouse sale)

Look, ladies! I’m still alive! I am a size 14 girl, standing a mere 5’6″, wearing white and I don’t look anything like a sea mammal. The beauty of this shirt falls in many categories. First of all, the white is actually white – not dulled, not yellowed, not blue… WHITE. The sleeves are extra long, and for a girl who loves to pull her sleeves down, it’s a dream because I no longer run the risk of stretching or, worse, tearing holes in the cuffs. Think this is a silly “pro”? Just take a look at what I did to my favorite high school sweatshirt. Yeah, not so silly now, is it? As for the burnout – I was a burnout virgin prior to this piece, and I have to say I love it. It shows some skin tone without showing too much else. You just get a glint of decolletage instead of the look of a bunch of holes, which many people assume burnout will produce.

Overall, I’m in love. I’ve worn this shirt so many times that I almost lost it – I’m not even kidding. I wore it to my first day at my new job, I wore it out when my Dad was visiting from Seattle, and I believe I even wore it the last time I was in Seattle… I’m obsessed – not only with burnout, this shirt, and the look – but with Alternative Apparel. The cotton is crazy soft, I’ve never felt anything like it.

All I can say: I can’t wait to get more, and I will happily pay the ~$20 per piece, any day, any time.

What’s your favorite way to wear a basic t-shirt?

As far as personal style, we’d be hard pressed to put any two women next to each other and proclaim that their style is identical or remotely the same… Style is a culmination of your interests, personality, and history. It doesn’t define you, you define it – you’re running the show, and everyone is different.

…Which is why we’re fascinated by one piece of clothing in particular: jeans. If we asked you to give us one name of a woman you knew didn’t own a pair of jeans – could you? Seems like a pretty long shot, right? So how is it that, in a world chalk full of personal styles… we all seem to gravitate towards on particular pieces of clothing?

They’re an essential. And our motto when it comes to essentials is definitely “quality over quantity”.

So when emerging denim brand, Thimbler, offered us a couple pairs of jeans – we had to try. Besides, these weren’t just jeans, they were custom jeans. The very idea of custom jeans resulted in two very giddy bloggers.

We were asked to log on to the Thimbler site and follow the steps of ordering a custom pair of jeans – a practice that neither of us had previously experienced. We selected our style (bootcut, slim, etc.) and proceeded to enter our own, individual information. Customizations included over 30 measurements, which are all kept on file and easily edited for future orders. We then got to choose the wash, pocket style, rivet style, and fabric for our jeans.

… A few weeks later, they arrived.

Here’s how they turned out…

Jen’s Impression: Being as short as I am, just a little weight fluctuation can change my pant size pretty drastically.  For that reason, I was nervous when I ordered from Thimbler: what if I gained or lost five pounds while they were being made?  It might make them unwearable…

…and, low and behold, they were.  Though I was able to get them on, the Thimblers were uncomfortable: the waist was too tight, the length was too short (unless I was in flat sandals) and I felt just a little crushed.  To avoid assumptions, I checked the measurements I entered against the measurements of the pants…and they were the same.  Either I’d measured wrong, or gained weight. Ouch.

However, with the jeans had come a receipt, which contained a note: “Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.  We want to make sure you’re happy with your jeans.” Not only that, but the note was from a real person, with an email address and phone number.  When I explained my situation, she (along with other Thimbler reps) were quick to make it right.  Not only did they ask lots of questions (How many inches longer would you like them?  Are they a half inch too tight, a full inch, or more?  What about the hips?), they even asked for pictures.  (Hell no, I’m not showing you them.  Bad lighting and a muffin top do not make for blogging bliss.)

The second, re-measured pair of jeans were made and shipped fast, along with another note – from the same representative, even – inviting me to contact her again if I had any further concerns.  And the fit?  Well, see for yourself:

Want to see more detail?  Click the image!

As you can see, I got the dark wash, with classic pockets and a boot cut. The waist fits high – just at my navel – which is a nice addition to my collection of low, mid, and high-waisted jeans; the hips are comfortable without being all loose and…hippy.  And those pockets?  High enough to flatter my rear and roomy enough for the usual credit cards and cash. They’re that perfect balance between work-appropriate and casual comfort, which is perfect for my lifestyle.

I’m impressed with the jeans, but I’m even more impressed with Thimbler’s customer service. When my jeans weren’t right the first time, Thimbler made every effort to correct the problem with personable care and constant support.  I would definitely do business with them again, purchasing another pair of these, or trying their skinnies.

Elle’s Impression: Okay, let me start off by divulging to you a secret that only the priveledged know…

I refused to wear jeans until I was about 13. And when I did wear jeans – you bet your sweet seat that I was pulling up my neon socks and scrunching them down over the cuffs. It was a good look.

Needless to say, my relationship with denim is a highly dysfunctional one. One day, we’re best friends; strolling through the park with ice cream and all that. The next, we’re complete foes. They’re baggy in the crotch and tight in the knee – what is going on?

My biggest struggle, though, is the waist-to-thigh ratio of most jeans. I have big soccer thighs, and a waist that is not only high, but also about 10″ smaller than my hips, and that’s a sharp incline when you’re a short-waisted 5’6″. So they’re either too tight in the thigh, or too tight in the waist. What is a girl to do?!

…Get a pair of customized jeans, apparently, because man – these did the trick. I actually received two pairs of these fancy jeans because they’d mistakenly left out one of my measurements which ended up being surprisingly critical – my knee measurement. They sent me both pairs, which I was surprised and thankful for, and the without-knee-measurement pair are WORLDS different in fit.

I selected the Plus Sized Slim Leg jeans with a dark wash, and classic detailing.

The wash is amazing – it’s still as dark as it ever was, after a couple months of wear! The length is perfect, it’s great for cuffing, heels, flats… There are very few things these jeans can’t do.

The only downside is in the same vein as Jen’s: I lost weight. And I never thought that would be a “downside”, but I’d lost about 5 lbs. between the time that I’d ordered them and when I received them. They fit me like a dream right when I got them out of the box, but as I continued to lose weight, the baggier my new favorite jeans got. As of now, right out of the wash they fit perfectly, but because of the ever so slight stretch in the material, I think they’re permanently past the “perfect fit” stage.

Overall, I’m still in love with the jeans. I’m in love with the way they look, the way they feel, the fact that they only carry an $89 price tag for a customized fit, and having all the control over the details. Would I order from Thimbler again? Oh, hell yes. I absolutely plan on it. Their service is amazing, and their product is wonderful – why not?

If you’d like to try a pair of Thimbler jeans for yourself, visit their website!

Think about your favorite pair of jeans. You know the ones: you wore them until they started falling apart, then you got them discretely patched, and when they wore out for a second time you kept wearing them until your best friend (or boyfriend, or mom) insisted that it was time to say goodbye.

Then, you kind of sort of maybe mourned a little.  (But just a little.)

Okay, you may not have done this, but I have.  Finding the right pair of jeans is hell.

• I’m short.
• …but I have long legs.
• …and a short torso.
• …and a big butt.
• …with a small, short waist.

It’s freaking complicated.

A few years ago, my favorite pair of Calvin Kleins bit the dust. After a brief period of denial (I could totally have re-patched the thighs…for a third time…) I went to my trusty Nordstrom to find another pair.  I was disappointed with the women’s section – everything was too long – and I left the teen section empty-handed rather than deal with jeans so low I’d get mistaken for a plumber.  I made one last attempt in the petite section (known for its plethera of polyester and “mom clothes”) and was handed a brand I’d never heard of before: Kut Denim.

At the time I was introduced to them, they were called Kut from the Kloth and the branding was kind of…”mom jeans.”  The trusty sales associate assured me, though, that trying these on was worth it…and she was right.  They fit like a dream, and looked as good as they felt.  Kut’s About Page explains the method behind the marketing (in a less “mom jean” way):

With an emphasis on a strategic fading, each pair of our jeans is individually hand sanded giving it a warm, naturally faded look. Our cut is designed to slim down and elongate your thighs. Our pockets accentuate the body. The fit, feel, and shape are universally appealing. And our attention to fit means you will always feel comfortable in KUT™ without sacrificing style.

And they’re not lying:

Shirt: Market Clothing
Jeans: Kut Denim
Wedges: 80%20 – Lily

The snug, comfortable fit, combined with a relaxed wash and fade (love that whiskering at the front pocket) make it a really easy weekend jean.  (Even if I’m feeling gross otherwise, my legs will still look good when I bump into that irritating ex at the grocery store.  Looking good?  Why yes I am, thank you.)

So I’m not only defending Kut Denim, I’m outright telling you to try a pair.  Whether or not they’re mom jeans, they’re still hot.

And I’m okay with looking like a MILF.

Here at The Demoiselles, we discuss almost every trend that comes across the board.  By doing this, I’ve come to realize I have this very anti-hipster attitude when it comes to style.  I’m not into the shade sunglasses (they have them at Topshop and they’re overpriced + overrated if you ask me).  I think it’s funny that kids who weren’t technically AROUND for  the 80′s are embracing giant Hypercolor tees, skinny jeans and funky colored high tops.  What’s next?  Crimped hair, one earring and jazzercise??

I kid, mostly; however, I do find it ironic that kids who weren’t around to experience these fads have embraced them as fashion trends.  What’s more, they’ve embraced all the fads together to assemble outfits that say: “I look cool by not looking cool”.  In trying to look cool by putting together the tackiest outfit possible, these kids have embraced irony and seriously put me off one or two trends that might actually look great on me.

To remedy my fear of all things ironically hipster, Elle secretly sent me a little package of two of the trends I’ve refused to embrace.  The two things I vowed I’d never buy came wrapped in a pink box with a bow… She sent a pair of skinny jeans, and a pair of leggings.

My aversion to skinny jeans is this: I hate the idea of tapered pants.  I think jeans should be straight or bootcut from the knee down.  I don’t mind slim cuts; I might consider cigarette pants.  In my opinion, though, the tapered look should be left in the 80′s/early 90′s.  I’ve got a whole list of complaints about skinny jeans.  For example, they’re revealing – every bump and lump on your legs is ultimately apparent.  They give you flat hipster-ass.  They’re trendy.  UGH!

My aversion to leggings stems from the whole “let’s wear these as a substitute for pants” movement.  Ladies, leggings are not an appropriate substitute for pants.  If you have to tug down your shirt when you walk around to keep from flashing someone, you need to rethink either the length of your top or the style of your bottom.  I also sort of feel like if you’re going to wear tights – why not buy them with the feet on.  Leggings also look like workout gear.  Who wants to look like they should be biking the Tour de France in their little spandex pants all day?

You see my dilemmas?

Elle recognized my aversion to trends that seemed ironically hipster and encouraged me to try them anyhow – with great results.  Skinny jeans??  At first I felt like an impostor in them, but after wearing them around for a day, I love them!  I have been so anti-tucking-pants-into-boots; I realize it was because I never had the right pair of jeans.  They feel natural tucked into my blowfish boots, and they look fab with a wedge heel.  And leggings?  Though I still advise against wearing them as pants, I love the look they offer when paired with skirts or dresses and wedges/flats/sandals.  Here’s what I’ve been wearing:

The skinny jeans in question – worn with flats and 2 layered tanks.

The leggings – worn with heels, and a shirt-dress.

So now I need to know – how do YOU wear your leggings or skinny jeans?  I want tips, tricks and outfit ideas!

I encourage you to take a second look at those trends you might balk at for whatever reason, and also, when your gal pal says “Try this on”, don’t look at her like she’s lost her mind.  It pays to listen to your girl friends when it comes to shopping.  Often, they are the ones who realize the trends we resist will ACTUALLY look good on us.

We admit it: we gave in.

After seeing Miss Elle feature these 80%20 Lily patent covered wedges on the sidebar of Broke and Beautiful, we began looking for any excuse to feature them on The Demoiselles. Once they went on sale at Amazon.com we knew there was no going back. We each ordered a pair and, after trying them out for a month, penned our respective opinions on them. The good, the bad, and the ugly (blisters!) are all below.

Jennifer Nicole’s first impression: I was so nervous about trying these on. I have high arches and a bad back (car accident), and when we couldn’t find any reviews I figured it was a bad sign…but when the three of us realized we all wanted to try a pair, my fate was sealed.

First, I have to say that these are actually true to the color in the photo on the site. When I pulled them out of the box (which was an actual shoe box inside a shipping box – a nice touch, though a bit wasteful) they really did look exactly the same, color and all. That also meant that they looked fragile: I immediately checked to see if the “skin” of the shoe had any nicks or tears. There weren’t any, and to my surprise, after wearing them to work, through a muddy yard, and even out with the dog, they still look pristine. Impressive!

However, another thing that hasn’t changed about these wedges is the stiff toe box, which gives me blisters on the tops of the last two toes of my right foot every time I wear them for more than a couple of hours. I hope that a little more breaking in (I’ve only worn them three times) they’ll soften up, but if they don’t, they’ll still be great with thicker nylons and for short happy hour jaunts.

Jennifer Nicole’s style: I figure buying orange shoes means showing off my orange shoes, so when I wear these, I tend to pair them with a toned-down outfit.  One thing I didn’t want to do, though, was play to my usual strengths: instead of going with my tried and true “everything goes with black” mentality, I wore the wedges with browns and creams.  (Okay, and a black bracelet. So?)  The shorts are from the Gap, the shirt’s from Nordies, and that sheer white shrug was a steal from Target.

Click to enlarge.

Birdie’s first impression: I could not WAIT to pop these babies out of their box and wear them around. I like to test out shoes while doing something like vacuuming my house – it’s a bit of walking around on my soft carpet and because I’m moving, I feel like it’s an accurate day to day test. I was at work though, so I immediately tried them on at my desk and thought “OH NO!! They are too small…” The toe-box didn’t seem cramped width-wise, but definitely cramped height-wise. I know I don’t have ogre feet or anything, but it felt like my big toe is too tall for them. There’s definitely enough room for my little toes, though.

The soles are pretty stiff on these shoes – a good breaking in would be nice. I also feel like if I’d gone any bigger, they might slip off the back of my foot (also making me worry about blisters from rubbing on my heel). I’m lazy and don’t want to have to change the strap length, because I worry the leather will be all lumpy.

So far, I’ve worn them around the house to cook breakfast, I wore them to an art party and I’ve worn them to work a couple times. They don’t hurt on these short jaunts, though they do slide around a little (less so if I wear tights/socks) and if I don’t wear tights, they turn my feet orange.  I cannot wear them for entire days or  if I’m going to be on my feet for extended periods of time as they do cause little blisters around my toes.  The heel height isn’t bad and the toe-box just needed some breaking in, because my feet feel much less smooshed now that I’ve worn them.

Birdie’s style: I bought them in grey.  I have so many black shoes and I just don’t quite know about the orange… it could be any shade of orange and I don’t know where on earth I would wear them!  The grey is lovely like a smoke powder color – they’re almost a nude shoe!  Elle made me wear leggings and I can’t get enough of the leggings and wedges look.

I went straight black and grey with the 80%20 Smoke wedges, black Isabella Rodriguez bubble dress, grey Gap favorite tee and black Charlotte Russe leggings.  The result was fantastic:

Click to enlarge.

Elle’s first impression: WOW. Pulling these shoes out of the box, I’m filled with a little bit of trepidation combined with total shock. I’m amazed and ecstatic at how true-to-color the Amazon photos were – these babies are just as bright as they ever could have been on a decently calibrated monitor! The “crinkle patent leather” was kind of a scary phrase to read before ordering, but once they were in my hands, I realized that the “crinkle”-ness of the material is neither unsightly nor strange, really. Trying them on, I was a little nervous.

Anything with a mary-jane strap gets me excited, admittedly. They work so well under jeans, with skirts/dresses, shorts… There are very few things that you can’t (read: shouldn’t) wear a good wedge, or a good mary-jane with – what’s not to love?

Let me tell you – the arch support in these shoes are phenomenal. I have moderately high arches (nothing in comparison to Jennifer Nicole!) and shoes almost never make full contact with them. I’ve walked all over Chicago in these shoes without the slightest inkling of a blister. These offer comfort, style, vibrancy, and a definitely unique edge that’s hard to beat.

Elle’s style: I decided that these shoes are so radioactively bright that they definitely needed to be the center of attention, or at least the most saturated color on my body. Pairing them with a pinstriped shirt dress (Torrid) offers shape without distraction, and some sleek, black leggings (um, Torrid, again) with the faintest leopard spots add a little bit of edginess that only compliments the brightness of the shoes. The belt, whose origins are unknown at this point, nip in my waist and offer a little structure to this outfit.

Click to enlarge.

How would you wear these bright shoes? Or would you at all?

After reading all of your questions and concerns last week, all three of us at The Demoiselles decided to try the voluminous bubble hem trend.  You’ll remember some of our concerns about the product: added volume; a round, balloon-like shape; over-accentuated curves and extra fabric that hides features.  Could we find a dress that fit the bubble hem trend and looked good on all three of us?

We certainly tried.  The dress we chose is designed by Isabella Rodriguez and was purchased from an online store that’s plagued many-a-shopper with temptations – 15DollarStore.com. If you haven’t visited, it’s just as alluring and self-control-conquering as it sounds.

For reference, here’s the product photo from the website:

Here’s how the bubble hem trend stacked up:

Birdie’s thoughts: On pulling it out of the package, I thought “You know… this might be okay.”  The dress we picked was cut well, though the torso looked short, but there was a lot of extra fabric.  The extra fabric was my big concern – I didn’t want to look like a balloon.  I have features I like… I’m proportionate and slim.  I can’t fathom hiding my waist!

Since we picked these lovely little bubble dresses up online without seeing them, I was a LITTLE worried as to their construction.  I expected something you might see at a Forever21 (aka: Cheap ‘n’ Trendy) and though there’s a time and a place for F21, I’m a cautious buyer; I’ve had too many garments fall apart after a month or two.  Since the dress is washable, I also worried the fabric would twist and the seams wouldn’t sit straight.  The good news: the grain on the fabric all runs the same way so I should be safe.  The tight stitch and the fabric are worth $15 alone, so  I was definitely more excited to try it.

I styled that little number with a grey Favorite Tee from the Gap, grey scalloped tights from Old Navy, my Blowfish boots and a beret I made myself.  I felt sort of like I was wearing a kid’s kindergarten jumper.  I chose this outfit to head to work in, though the dress could be styled a number of ways.  I’ve got plans to wear it with button-downs, like a little jumper, and alone on warm summer days.

Overall, the extra fabric wasn’t as balloon-y as I worried it would be, and I felt like it fit fairly well – not really hiding my features, and not being nearly as voluminous as I thought.  Overall, I liked the look of this dress and I feel like it’s something I’ll wear again and again for comfort and style.  I definitely don’t feel like I’m hiding in a wash of fabric.  Isabella Rodriguez did well with this little number!

Elle’s Thoughts: As with any semi-fitted garment that I buy offline, I was naturally half excited, half terrified at the idea of this dress. As I mentioned in our previous post, curvy girls + “bubble” anything typically equals disaster… But upon receiving the box containing the dress, I have to say, I was pretty stoked.

The dress came wrapped very carefully, and looked exactly like the photograph. I was a little nervous because it looked slightly small, but I threw it on immediately and checked the fit. In the product photo, it looks like the waistband falls a few inches below the bust. I should say below the mannequin’s bust, because mine is about 8x as large. The band, unfortunately, landed right around the bottom of my boobs which is less than preferable. Because the band doesn’t lay on my waist or ribcage (both extremely narrower than my bustline… obviously), my midsection looks a lot wider than it actually is. The hem, however, hit me just a few inches above the knee, which is fine. As long as I can bend over without getting arrested, it works for me.

The construction, as Birdie said, was surprisingly good. The seams were solid, there weren’t any frays or loose threads anywhere – it’s actually well made (for $15 dollars, it’s a total steal). As for the bubble portion of the dress… It wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be. The “bubble” part isn’t incredibly voluminous, as I thought it was, and is actually really cute. One of my favorite parts about this dress is actually its versatility. You can wear a top under it, a cropped cardigan over it, or just as a tank dress. The fabric is super soft and moves with you without clinging or being too light and flowing all over the place.

I wore it with a simple, puff-sleeved tee from Old Navy, and some olive green leggings. The white in the patent wedges picks up the white in the top, which makes it all a little more cohesive.

With a unique cut like this, structure is really important. This would be my favorite dress ever if there was just a little more fabric around the bust of the dress. Considering I purchased the XL to accommodate my ladies, I don’t think there’s any possibility of perfect for this dress and me. The cut, though – very cute. Overall, bubble hem wins.

Jen’s Thoughts: I was the last one to get my bubble hem dress, so when I heard that both Elle and Birdie had issues with fit in the bust, I got really nervous.  I was right to feel that way: the band hitme at the bottom third of my bust instead of hugging me below it.  Both times I’ve worn it I’ve spent part of my day tugging at it.  How disappointing!

That seems to be the only disappointing thing about the dress, though.  Like the girls said, it’s really well made – it kept its shape even after I machine-washed it – and the fabric is soft and less-structured than many of the bubble hems I’ve seen before.  I was also surprised to find that it wasn’t too long on my five-foot frame, in the straps or the skirt length.  Other than the bust band issue, this dress really was the perfect canvas to really play with one’s style.

And, of course, that’s what I did.  The first time I wore the dress, I went neutral and paired it with a sheer white shrug and a pair of black patent Mary Janes (which garnered me the nickname “Judy Garland” for the day).  A week later I tried it with some color, using a teal puff-sleeve v-neck by eight sixty and a bright red recycled art glass bracelet by Loot! (pictured below).  Both outfits looked and felt pretty good!  Because of my limited budget and busy schedule, I tend to go for clothing that I can mix and match, and accessorize for a workday or an evening out.  This dress is pretty much perfect for that…as long as I layer it with something that hugs my waist, that is.

How do you feel about the bubble hem trend now?  If you think you might try this trend, what would you wear it with to accentuate your body and style?