novel dress: classics

romeo and juliet by william shakespeare // forbidden romance floral dress

I'm not sure how I unlocked this strange fascination, but I cannot get enough of matching dresses and literature (see my first and second novel dress posts!). I tried to keep it classic with these choices, which was a fun challenge. So far I've only included books that I know and love, but this collection includes two stories I haven't actually read yet -- Little Women and The Wizard of Oz. Looking through book lists, especially of classic books, always heavily reminds me of my ever-growing to-read list. I'm sure my life will be spent constantly adding to that list, which is both exciting and depressing considering the time restraints on life. I hope there's a very big library in heaven.

This post is partially inspired by Ruche extending their sitewide Perfect Match Sale for 1 more day! It ends tonight at midnight. Which means that every dress in these posts (including the sale dresses!) is an extra 25% off. Shopping is a great way to fight those midweek blues.

Enjoy!

the adventures of sherlock holmes by sir arthur conan doyle // night at the theatre dress

treasure island by robert louis stevenson // marcelline printed dress

the great gatsby by f. scott fitzgerald // constellation sequins dress

the wizard of oz by l. frank baum // pebble lane colorblock dress

little women by louisa may alcott // trixie polka dot dress

moby dick by herman melville // jemima dress

emma by jane austen // leanne lace dress

a tale of two cities by charles dickens // love in bloom floral dress

the hobbit by j.r.r tolkien // winter solstice dress

the dirt on the pencil skirt

I think that's the last time I wore a pencil skirt. (That's me on the left).
Fancy, right?

The thing is, I was in a super dress-coded choir all throughout college. Pencil skirts abounded on a near-daily basis. Pencil skirts, heels, button-ups, cardigans, lipstick, curls. The whole 9 yards.
In fact "dressing to the nines" was a repetitive phrase among us.

When I graduated and finished the last choir tour, I threw out all pencil skirts, lipsticks, and curled hair habits. It was freeing, it was deliberate, and it was wonderful. 
I had grown tired of the hairspray, the split ends, the hours of getting ready. The lipstick teeth. The chapped lips. The sore feet.
My hair has been straight, my skirts have been loose and twirly, and my feet have been clad in boots, sandals and flats.
Until yesterday.

LOOK OUT.
The pencil skirt is back.

In classic rebellion, I went as casual as humanly possible while still donning the fitted skirt.
I've gotta ease back into it.

I've bought two amazing pencil skirts in the last few months, both on sale and too good to pass up. The first was a great textured navy skirt from Anthropologie, which I have yet to wear, and the second is this delightful caramel number from LOFT.
My work is so casual that I'm not sure I'll ever go back to choir-mode again, ever, but I may go as far as tucking in a blouse or two. Maybe I'll even curl my hair again.
Too much, too soon.

Top/Skirt (shop!): LOFT, Shoes/Purse (shop!): Target, Sunglasses: Ruche

#myfoxpurse

Everybody loves foxes.
I posted a video at the end of my last post, and since then it has exploded (definitely not because of me), gone viral and caused children of all ages to go wild with foxiness. I'm all for it.
If you haven't watched it, you're currently over 14 million views behind the times.
(The Fox by Ylvis). 

I've pretty much driven my husband crazy singing it, because I think it's in my head until I die.
What does the fox say?

the law wife

I remember when we first moved to Virginia two years ago for my husband to begin law school, and I was introduced to the concept of "The Law Wives". 

I was contacted shortly after we were settled into the little fort we called home by a woman identifying herself as my "mentor". She was an older law student who wanted to meet up with me and encourage me in this new experience.

I was overjoyed. 

I had my first friend!

Granted, it was a friendly assignment which isn't quite the same, but going downtown to that quirky coffee shop was exciting and nerve-wracking and she gave me some of the greatest advice:

God doesn't call one spouse without calling the other. 

Dress: Anthropologie, Belt: LOFT, Necklace: Francesca's

This statement struck me as very profound, and I instantaneously felt the shift in my heart and mind.
We're a team. I was committed, I was in it to win it, I was ready.
I am a law wife. 

Over the next few weeks and months, I fell in love with the ministry that was The Law Wives.
I mean, how often do you get the opportunity to be a part of a community that strengthens, nourishes, and encourages you while you all travel the same rocky roads of change and transition together?
How often do you walk into a room of strangers and hear, We've been waiting for you! and We're so glad you're here! and Here, have some baked goods!
Strangers that are so happy to have you there, and are so supportive of you and your marriage and this journey, that they are active and intentional, and plan monthly events. Like going apple picking in the Fall. Like marriage retreats. And oh, my favorite, having a fancy Christmas Tea each December.

I remember my friends making fun of me at first, because I always sounded so snooty.
"Oh, I'm going out with the Law Wives tonight."
It sounds strange, like some bizarre club, but it has been one of the biggest blessings (if not the biggest, for me) of being here for law school.

I realized after a while that the reason it sounded so strange was because it was special.

This was my outfit for Monday night's law school event, the first of the year!
The Dean's Reception is day 1 of orientation for all of the new 1L students, so we got to go as mentors and mingle and enjoy dressing up and preparing ourselves for our very last year.

So cheers to the Law Wives, past, present, and future.
And cheers to being stronger now than we ever were before, and to being on this adventure together. 

love sweet love

Snapshots of all things valentine. 

<3