Monday, August 2, 2010

Lost and Found. And Found Again.

True to my word I spent this weekend taking several naps, folding laundry and OD'ing on Dateline, 48 Hours and 20/20.  On Saturday I had grand plans to get up early, do some light cleaning and later spend the day outdoors.  Instead I got caught up in a vacuuming frenzy during which time I thought I had burnt out the poor machine entirely when it made the most odd whirring noise.  In a panic I called on the Chef (who was in the other room watching baseball while I toiled away - where is the justice in this wicked, wicked world??) who carefully removed the vacuum from my white knuckled grasp only to disassemble it and find a sock stuck in the hose (a sock I've been looking for too btw - thereby debunking the whole dryer eats sock myth).  

Interestingly enough I don't even recall seeing a sock in my path.  

Anyway, having gotten myself all worked up I decided to open one of the closets (damn fool) and was inevitably sucked into a tornado-like swirl of shoes, boxes, more coats than I know what to do with and a few items I barely even recall purchasing (she admits sheepishly).  Thankfully I emerged safely a couple hours later with a pair of heels and 2 pairs of boots that are basically foreigners to me, and a dress I knew I had, but had been saving for warmer days. Forget that nonsense.

Remember this lovely lady from the H&M Garden Collection?

It sold out faster than you could get down there and pull someone's hair out for it.  I called in pronto when the line was released and all the liner-uppers had robbed me of my dreams of wearing the dress while riding a unicorn over the rainbow to the pot of gold (or something like that).  My heart sank as I spoke with the girl on the telephone.  We lamented, patted one another's telephone shoulders (she had wanted one too), and felt sorry for ourselves before she held some additional items for me and then exited the conversation.

Later that day I stopped by to check out my held items.  The person who had helped me on the phone had left for the day, but her shopgirl colleague said, "Ohhhhh you're the one with the Rose dress," as she walked into the back room to get my stuff.  I thought, "Wow I must have really been a pathetic mess on the phone if they talked about it amongst themselves afterward.  I need to reel it in."  As I was finishing up this thought she came walking around the corner with none other than THE.DRESS.  I swear I heard the heavens open and a choir of angels burst into song!!  My shopgirl had saved a returned dress for me!!  What are the odds of one getting returned the very same day??

I ran off into the fitting room, zipped it up, and the rest is history...history in my closet until yesterday.  The Chef had said to me, "It looks great, but I don't think you're going to wear that thing."  Met with the withering look of a girl in her newly recovered, coveted dress he sweetly re-adjusted with a grin, "Okay, where are you going to wear that thing.  With what?"  And I said I'd wear it everywhere.  Around the house vacuuming, watering my plants, to the store with flip flops, and maybe to a friend's afternoon bridal shower - pretty much wherever I wanted to (does this sound familiar?)  All he said was, "Yeah sure you're going to wear it casually around. Suuuuure."  So I bought it. And then I found it in my closet. And then I wore it all day yesterday.  Ha Ha Chef!

I wore it to Petco to get a treat for my cats.
Then I wore it while I waited patiently in line at Cold Stone Creamery.
The journey continued while I strolled around in the dress eating Key Lime Raspberry ice cream.
I wore it with a pair of my favorite flats.
 
Another thing I remembered I had in the closet; worn sparingly and with love.
 When the ice cream was gone I continued to window shop in the dress.
I came out of a pink door in the dress.
I looked around some more in the dress.
And having torn up the town, I walked home in the dress.
Right after I had him take a close up of its exquisitely feminine features.  
I'm so glad I challenged myself to buy and wear it.
The dress is so pretty and I felt like such a girl in it.  
My favorite part was the knowing smiles I shared with other women
who walked by.
Us girls, we love a cute dress.  It can make our day.

In recent years I have begun to make more pointed purchases like this.  Before I would have shied away for reasons similar to those expressed by the Chef - and there's nothing wrong with those reasons in and of themselves - but I got to thinking.  You know, I'm only going to live once.  And if I keep on putting these types of purchases off, there will come a point in my life when it won't be age appropriate to wear things like this anymore.  And I will look back with regret having missed out because I played it safe.  Life's too short.  Every day can be a garden party dress day - even if you're just running to the post office or grabbing a can of catfood.  Or simply vacuuming up your sock. 

Happy Monday everyone! Hope your weekend was grand! 

Outfit details:  Tom Ford Sunnies, Martin + Osa Denim Jacket, H&M Rose Dress/Garden Collection, Arnold Churgin Flats, Sorial Handbag, Melinda Maria Rings, Melinda Maria Cuff.

104 comments:

Nasan Faris Naufal said...

you look so cute!

Diana Mieczan said...

So true....life is way too short and I love love love that jeans jacket with it....Wow...I want that dress so much...I love the smiles too:)

You looks beautiful,sweetie
Kisses and have a wonderful,sunny and very happy Monday:)

Anonymous said...

I LOVE the dress. It looks amazing and you can do anything in it :)

annelise said...

The dress is gorgeous and you wear it well :) I'm such a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. And because of that, sometimes I can feel a bit slobby. I really do need to take note of this advice.

Laetitia said...

You look beautiful with that dress Carrie!!!

xoxoxox

jemina said...

I LOVE your post :)), and you look magnificent in that dress, this should call for a celebration my dear, what are the odds of owning that dress, this is EPIC!!!! sending love hugs and kisses your way :), mwah! xoxo

Rohini said...

You look super fab! LOVE that dress. You're so lucky you found one. Why do things like that never happen to me? *envy* ;)
Xx

STYLE'N said...

I love the dress and especially love it with the jean jacket. I love wearing stylish beautiful feminine dresses with jackets. When you are done with that dress send it my way :) actually you are probably a size 0 so might be too small for me!!!
Oh and love the sock in the vacuum cleaner!
naina

Jessica said...

It was fate, Carrie! The dress is completely worthwhile, even if it did just sit in your closet (but I'm happy that it finally made its debut).

Regarding vacuuming: one day I came out of the shower to find Nate vacuuming the living room - it was as if angels were singing!

BrooklynBlonde said...

It certainly was fate! I love how you paired it with pieces that gave it more of a simple look!

Unknown said...

i want it too. this is so lovely!
great post!!!
new post!!new post!!new post!!

Vicky from Hot Gossip

Taylor said...

Great post! Wow, I love your outfit so much...you have great taste! I love YOUR SHOES! They would be my favorite too if they were mine! And I am glad you found your lost sock...but I don't know, I still might have to believe that the dryer eats them. My dryer is like a black hole.

Anonymous said...

You look amazing in red! I love how you styled the dress w/ the jean jacket and flats, keeps it from being too dressy... just adorable! xo

FarmGirl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
FarmGirl said...

Love the look!
Have a fab week and thanks for the comment on my blog!
xxx

Anonymous said...

You're right! We should make the most of every day and look fab in a dress and heels EVERY DAY! That's why I have such a love-hate relationship with jeans. You look fantastic!!!

Anonymous said...

Haha, well you showed him. I love it, hope now you get your chance to ride that unicorn ;)

Petite Gorgeous said...

That's a beautiful shade of red! I like red myself :).

J. said...

wooo! hooo!! You got it and I don't see any claw marks on your face! I think I've been going for it a little more with fashion too. I mean, if I love it then I can just mind ninja other people into loving it too haha.

http://jammer10am.blogspot.com/

Sara said...

I love this dress! I like how you paired it with a denim jacket and flats but it can also be dressed up.

xo,
Sara
www.travelsinheels.blogspot.com

Leia said...

That dress IS simply gorgeous! I've been known to lounge around in sequins, so I totally understand, haha. :)

Leia

samantha ramage said...

so jeaulous you got that dress! i was too late to get it! looks faboo on you!

Lynzy said...

OK I am ridiculously jealous! I wanted that dress so darn badly, but of course it was sold out :/ Looks great on you!


xo Lynzy
http://fromskirtstoskillets.blogspot.com
Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Lisa - respect the shoes said...

Gorgeous dress - glad you got it and wore it with pride!

Anonymous said...

Adorable! I love red and denim.
Just bought my daughter some moccasins this weekend.

Nikki said...

Ahhhh that dress!
I kick myself everyday for not scooping up one of those dresses! It looks amazing on you.

I had a similar experience with the Jimmy Choo for H&M collection on New Year's eve... you can imagine my terror.

xx
Nikki

Bárbara said...

that dress is so beautiful!!!!! I wasn't that lucky!! :)

Brianna said...

You look beautiful :) and you're lucky the salesgirl did that, most people don't think about the customer after theyre out of the picture (or off the phone, in your case).

Anna Walker said...

I love, love, love that dress it is so cute! Also I loved what you did over the weekend! such fun! :)

Josie said...

JEALOUS. I am absolutely in love with this dress -- what a gorgeous shape and a fantastic color! It looks absolutely perfect on you, my dear. And at least you OD on legit TV; I spent all weekend watching the first season of Gossip Girl...
xo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com

Laura said...

I LOVED the story behind this dress, and I have had the same conversation with my boy so many times! I'm sure if I looked in my closet I could find stuff I barely recognised >< The dress so so pretty though, I can see exactly why you HAD to have it!!

L x

Lila said...

Yes we need to live in the moment.

I love how you paired the jean jacket with such a girly dress.

Giveaway http://bellagetsreal.blogspot.com/

Stacey said...

You look great in that red dress and i especially love it paired with that denim jacket! Gorgeous!

Ms. Emmy N said...

Gorgeous!! I put off wearing my favorite dresses because I want to wait for the perfect occasion, but I am gonna take a tip from you and just wear them... everywhere! Well maybe not vacuuming, but at least for dinner with the girls or a casual date night, I love the idea of pairing it w a jean jacket. And, its always better be over dressed than under :)

Louise (Fifth Sparrow) said...

Fate! This is such a gorgeous dress, I desperately wanted it too! The roses are so delicate and pretty, I love how good it looks dressed down too!

Oh, My Darling said...

Glad you got the dress, that's quite a story!

Valerie said...

I'm so excited for you that you got your hands on this dress! It's adorable on you and I love that you proved the chef wrong and wore it doing everything you normally do on a weekend. I've been secretly wanting to do this for years every time Gabe asks where I'll wear an item. I'm going to do it! HAHA. Oooh, and I love Cold Stone.

xo
Valerie

alli/hooray said...

Such a great post. LOVED your story, you've inspired me throw on something nicer next time I'm shopping for cat treats :) The jacket + flats take the dress to a whole new level of cuteness!

k said...

oh goodness, i heart you. so there chef!!!!! red dress WORN! booyah :)

Young at Heart said...

wear it with pride........it looks gorgeous!!

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

C you look so cute- I love this post!

And of course the dress-

augustalolita said...

beautiful dress!! the color is lovely!! and those flats were adorable!!

great blog :)

Jessica said...

This was such a cute post! I'm glad you found your dress and got to wear it!

Annie said...

ahhhh I adore that dress!!!!!! I so wish I got it. I'm so glad you did - looks awesome on you! xo

ryan said...

What a dress! I love the way you were able to wear it in a casual way!

Welcome said...

Carrie, that dress is gorge on you!!!

XOXO
Kiki

DT ~ RDH said...

Ha, i love it! New motto: Life's too short - wear the red dress.

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I am soooooo jealous. I coveted that dress so. It looks amazing on you!

Joyti said...

OMG...its GORGEOUS. And looks GREAT on you! I'm a little jealous of you having that fabulous dress...

Ahn said...

love the way you dressed it down...that dress is awesome and way too cute not to buy. the other petco shoppers were lucky to see you looking so cute!

Danielle (elleinadspir) said...

The cleaning part of your post made me laugh. I wrote a post about the same type cleaning frenzie that I had last week. Haven't posted it yet. Sounds like we had the same few hours!

Love the dress. It inspires me to buy a special dress and wear it for no special reason. In fact...I think I need to do that!

Lady Grey said...

I love the textures! You look fantastic!
oxo

Abby said...

This post actually made me laugh... especially the cleaning part. This dress is really cute!

the chirpy bird said...

I Heart HnM!
Fantastic!
xo tash
http://www.thechirpyladybird.blogspot.com

Emz said...

way to rock it girl!!

It's beautiful. :)

YAY!!

Unknown said...

The dress is divine and so girly.

I don't have any special occasion pieces I wear it all whenever I want! Save it?? Save it for what I say!

Leeann @ Join the Gossip said...

That dress is incredible! Great choice! So nice of the salesperson, too!

P.S. I am a NUT for Dateline and 48 Hours Mystery. I DVR the episodes and have my parents DVR the reruns bc my crappy Time Warner doesn't offer the crime channels hehe!

allison said...

That dress looks awesome! I love it.

BusyB said...

hahahhaha!!! I luv it!!!!! that is something my husband would say! lol! ah I would so prove him wrong too!!!! WHAT A great dress I love the jacket with it very well done...and again LOVE that dress!

April said...

I know that feeling so well: if I can just have this I'll wear it all the time, to anything! I'm glad you're actually living out the fantasy! :)

Jessica said...

I just love how you put things! That dress is simply amazing and you were amazing in it and for challenging yourself to buy it and wear. I sometimes don't make purchases too, because I think I won't ever wear that, but you are absolutely right if I don't wear it now when will I ever wear it?

Daniela said...

AMEN GIRLFRIEND! I need to start doing the same.. We're such homebodies these days (fiance and I are getting old) that I feel like I hardly dress up anymore.

I WILL find something in my closet I haven't worn in forever and wear it, to do nothing, to go nowhere. lol

love this post!!

Closet Fashionista said...

Oooh! Its so cute!! Great way to dress it down for every day use :D
http://aclosetfashionista.blogspot.com/

Couture Carrie said...

Loooooove your dress, darling ~ congrats!

xoxox,
CC

Marcie said...

Isn't closet shopping the best?! I just love rediscovering items. That dress is AMAZING and I love how you made it more casual with the jacket. Great job, Carrie!

xo Marcie
PS- Salt is excellent and well worth the trip to the movies.

Style, She Wrote said...

Lucky girl! The dress looks fab!

Bren said...

That dress is AMAZING Carrie! Love that you made it more casual, and proved your point! LOL! Don't those kind of dresses make you feel SO girly! I totally would've given you the "nod" if I'd seen you out and about!

xoxo,
Bren @ Chasing Beauty

Click here to enter my In-vita Paper Studio giveaway

stylenuggets said...

Fantastic buy. You must have been the best dressed shopper that day!

SweetHome said...

Love the fact you wore it just because. Denim jackets def are my goto to ake a cocktail dress down a few notches. Love the look.

erica said...

could you please send your wardrobe! LOVE IT! You look absolutely amazing! xo

daily mix LA said...

love it! looks great with the denim jacket

Jordan Cole said...

What an amazing and beautiful dress, ughhh I hate that we do not have H&M! You looked adorable in that outfit, I might have to borrow the inspiration for my outfit tomorrow!

Jordan Cole said...

PS, I wanted to put you on my blog roll and I was like why can I NOT find her, I wasn't following you! I am such a dork!

tara said...

oh wow!! i love that dress! sad we dont have h&m here.

t said...

Love the jean jacket paired with that dress!

http://initialed.blogspot.com

Elle Sees said...

love it! hell yeah, wear it everywhere!

LyddieGal said...

That's such a great story, and so awesome your shop girl managed to get the dress for you!!

I too am very guilty of buy beautiful things that make me soooo happy, and then not have anywhere to go in them. So they sit in the closet. And then they make me sad. All that money and love and there it is getting dusty.

I think I need to challenge myself to wear those things more too.

Chic on the Cheap

PursuitOfLLT said...

haha way to outsmart, Chef!! The dress can totally work both ways and you definitely did it :)

http://pursuitofllt.blogspot.com/

PinkFleurette said...

Haha! I love when I get items I've been lusting after! And good job getting the dress, that was a really nice shopgirl to save it for you. And you did a great job wearing it out and about :)

-Erica
Classy and Delicious

Emy said...

I really liked how you paired the dress with the jean jacket! I live in dresses and jackets :-)

Gorgeous Glam said...

I couldn't agree with you more! I buy dresses n'such not knowing where in the world I'm going to wear them, but they are just too presh to pass up for that absurd reason! I love that you made it into something tangible and real instead of just for a big party or event. It's a breath a fresh air to dress that way no?
p.s. you asked me if I was christian from my wisdom post and I is ;) xoxo

heather said...

Oh Carrie, You are wonderful! I loved reading this post so much, just like all your posts, really. And the dress if fab! I agree with you, we should be as pretty as we please when we please! Plus you can always dress a thing up or down. LOVE it!

xoxox

Lovely week to you!!

Unknown said...

ah, what a great post. i, too, have been the victim of the boyfriend's retort of "where will you where that?" you've inspired me to wear my new alice + olivia dress (that I keep forgetting i bought) to do some house cleaning this weekend :) and then maybe for tacos...

you're awesome. that is all.

xx
anna jane

Alicia Lund said...

ahaha!! "telephone shoulders" ... Carrie your posts always make me chuckle! loving that dress on you!!! ;)

Vanessa said...

LOVEEE THAT DRESS!! thanks so much for commenting, i absolutely love your blog and im def following HARDCORE! :)


xoxo
http://themaverickdiva.blogspot.com

Caitlin @ Candyfloss & Persie said...

omg, love the dresss! And it sounds like it was a battle to get it so props to you. I think I love even more the shoes you paired with it, the fact that you didn't have to pull anyone's hair to get to it and that you wore it to Petco. What a doll! I bet there was a lot of panting at that store!

Ms. Pink said...

I love the entire ensemble!!! a fantastic find my dear :)

mp
http://www.thepinkandblueblog.com/

Renee said...

Love the dress, it's so cute!

Ashley/ MILK TEETHS said...

Those flats are so great! (I love when I see girls in flats rather than heels) <3

xx
MILK TEETHS

S said...

Babe you pulled another goodie out of the bag! Yes we girls love a cute dress - a) that is a real cute dress b) so glad you did an SATC on us and wore it to the cat store and c) looked natural and comfortable in it! Great stuff, you're a free bird indeed :) xxx

Marie a la Mode said...

This post made me SOL. (That's Smile Out Loud and yup, I just made that up.) Don't you love finding clothes you forgot about? It's like Christmas morning! The dress looks fabulous on you and I'm so glad you proved Chef wrong ; )

Anonymous said...

well done. well, well done. "I came out of a pink door in this dress."

you kill me. jean jacket = perfect touch. a deconstructed blazer would have been too fussy, and an undone chambray shirt would have been too "walk of shame"-ish. So yeah---perfect.

Kristin W said...

Whoa. That dress is wonderful! I can't believe it almost went away to die in the closet! And the story of getting the dress makes me yearn for a fashion experience of the like. You rocked the dress perfectly :)

Susan said...

You look Fab in that dress and I hope you wear it again and again...

with the jean jacket Yeah!
and those shoes Yeah!
shopping for cat goodies Yeah!
eating ice cream Yeah!

Total Yeah Day!

cheers
Susan

Susan said...

BFF's you're so cute :) Send FB message.

Anonymous said...

You should have walked your skinny butt over to the jail and waved at Lohan and her bad manicure. She would have REALLY felt like crap. EXACTLY what she needs as she trapeses off to rehab!!
PS: You're pretty.

Kristen said...

I really really reallllly wish I could go through your closet, I bet it is amazing!

Martha said...

Yes, you are right a cute dress always makes my day. I feel so pretty when I wear one of those.

By the way, I love your sunnies!

Xo

Connie @ SogniESorrisi said...

This dress is fab and can be totally dressed up or down--as you've shown!

S said...

So good I mentioned you and your red dress in my latest post!! :-)
http://vintageapothecary.blogspot.com/2010/08/from-ladyship-to-girlhood.htm

xx

K A T H L E E N said...

i love that dress! come follow me http://www.fashioniceice.blogspot.com xoxo

Nadia said...

Beautiful!

Ps. You're post always make me giggle. In a good way of course :)

xo

Carrie said...

omg, i fell in love with this dress. it's so pretty! aaaahhh, i want it now:D and i love the way you styled it with a denim jacket:D

http://www.readmylifeascarrie.blogspot.com

Kara Endres said...

Love the dress, the whole outfit. I also love that you posted everywhere you wore the dress and what you did/ate in it! Like a day in the life of the little red dress... Great idea.

http://sprinklesinsprings.blogspot.com/

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