When this dress arrived in my latest Gwynnie Bee box, I couldn't believe the tag said Coldwater Creek. One of the coolest parts of being a member of Gwynnie Bee is that I learn about new brands… and get a different opinion of ones I thought I already knew! I wished the weather was warmer and I would have worn it with some strappy heels. The dress is a beautiful color and fabric – it would be great to wear to a wedding or a date night! Click here to learn more about Gwynnie Bee.
The belt was a staple of mine in high school and I completely forgot I had it. Over the holidays, I cleaned out the office and in there was a box of clothes from high school. Amid the acid-washed denim jackets and school football jerseys was this belt and I was excited that I could still wear it and it still fits my personal style.
I just bought this, can’t wait to get it & wear it! I have gained 40 lbs in the past couple of years, and my job right now is very stressful & depressing: my daily appearance has reflected both these things. Gwynnie Bee is easing me back into loving the way the look even at this bigger size. I love this dress on you, Allie, and looking forward to seeing it on myself.
Allie! Your lipstick colour here is fantastic! I have the same colouring as you and would love to get my hands on this colour – what’s it called?
Sadly it’s no longer available online, may be in a sale bin at Sephora. It’s their Lip Vinyl pencil in… Strawberry something. It’s a straight blue-pink hot pink, the blue tone is what makes it work so well! 🙂
You look lovely in this dress! I had a question about your bookshelf….are the pictures just leaning against the wall, or are they attached? (I live in calif earthquake country!)
Right now they’re just leaning. The goal is to frame our concert posters and decorate the walls with them an our ticket collages… Just haven’t had the time yet. Until then the leaning works 🙂
You look lovely in that dress! Gorgeous colour on you, nicely fitting but flattering draped style… purty! (I don’t think today’s emerald green number quite flatters in the same way…)
Hope you had a great date night. 🙂
Ooh, I just saw that dress on the site (I really like some of their dresses) and loved it but was afraid it would be too short — even though I’m 5’3″ I don’t want them to hit above the knee. But it looks great on you. Maybe I’ll try it!
Awesome! I wish more dresses had that!
You look so beautiful in that cut and color, and I also love the styled bookcase! I’ve found that surplice cut dresses are flattering on me, but I have a hard time keeping the top from gaping. Did you pin it? Yours looks lovely!
Nope it came with a button at the neckline, brilliant! And thank you!
Brands are upping their game – I love when they surprise you like that! When people ask me what brands I like, or what’s in my closet, it’s usually a mixed bag of pieces from Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, J. Crew. Even some Express thrown in there (ok, so just ONE Express piece). Brands like Lands End and L.L.Bean are even branching out and embracing the practical side of fashion. I love it because it’s real people fashion!
Yeah, I’m not sure that old lady automatically equals unstylish anymore. CC has some great pieces and this dress is one of them. As you all know, I also have a Gwynnie Bee crush. I just upped my monthly allotment to five pieces at a time and put all dresses in my “closet” as my daughter’s First Communion is next weekend ! I’m going to add this dress to my Gwynnie Bee “closet” too !!!
You look so pretty! That color is spectacular on you. It’s also nice to see your beautiful home — I love the framed concert tickets. They look like great graphic design that way.
Thanks Jennifer!
It’s different from what you usually wear. I guess that’s a plus of receiving picks someone else makes.
It’s true, I wouldn’t have bought myself such a dress… Wouldn’t have even tried it on but I took a chance and was pleasantly surprised 🙂
Gorgeous dress! And you look gorgeous in it! Thanks for reminding me about Coldwater Creek… I haven’t looked in a while, but if they are creating dresses like this, I’m there.
It looks like the bookshelf is at least partly Karl’s. I am admiring his old camera collection and his Richard Avedon book. Does he ever use any of the cameras?
Not now though he has. All the cameras belonged to either him, his dad, or his father and one we used when we went to Norway about a decade ago 🙂
I really like the way you look in dark blue – and black, of course.
Gorgeous! And not my stereotypical idea of CC at all. You look lovely and so modern.
Just got my first Gwynnie Bee box yesterday – and am wearing a great blazer from them today. Thanks for telling us about this company – I have to admit, my first reaction was “wearing previously worn clothes – weird,” but I am really impressed with the quality of clothes and customer service. Plus I know I will try pieces that I wouldn’t have thought to look at for purchase. I love your dress – would definitely not think Coldwater Creek!
In my latest box I also got a gorgeous bright emerald green ponte dress from Lands’ End that you would think was from J. Crew or Boden. Hope to wear it tomorrow. It’s amazing these clothes have been worn before, but then you think they’re maybe worn 1-3 times by folks before returning and when you think how many times something is tried on at a mall store… how often it is returned and put right back on the floor… Gwynnie Bee’s clothes are likely in better shape than “brand new” from the mall! Yeah, I have a mega Gwynnie Bee crush 🙂
This looks beautiful on you. It’s a simple style but such a great effect.
Really pretty outfit. Yeah, Coldwater Creek is one of those brands that surprises me. The stores always look very old-lady, but the website has some shockingly cool stuff (esp. on sale!). Plus the construction & fabric quality tends to be top notch.
Who says ‘old ladies’ can’t/don’t want to be stylish? My problem with Coldwater Creek has been quality issues. But from the looks of Allie’s dress, CC must have been working to correct this. Also, I trust Allie and Gwynnie Bee enough to think that they wouldn’t push low quality garments.
Chris, I too have been disappointed by CC quality, but this dress is pretty fantastic and I know GB scrutinizes pieces before they are part of their collection. Nice to see an improvement!
Yes, I loved the construction of this dress! A button at the neckline to keep the bust under wraps, an elastic waist that looks pretty without a belt, a faux wrap that keeps everything covered on a windy day, and the material itself is quite lovely!
This is such a lovely colour of blue and the draping is gorgeous. A classic I think.
bisous
Suzanne
i’ve been looking for cute belts can’t seem to find any! I love this dress. I’m a big fan of Drapey stuff for my uper half of my body.
Karl took the pictures sitting down and it sort of makes the neckline look dowdy when it was anything but. This dress is pretty fabulous, all drapey and Grecian inspired and very kind to the upper body!