What I Wore: Universal Standard Astelia Cupro Shirt Dress

If you ask me what my favorite color is I say orange… but a bright green is a very close second. So when I saw Universal Standard came out with their Astelia Cupro Shirt Dress in Kelly Green I HAD to have it!

Dress: Astelia Cupro Shirtdress c/o Universal Standard (XS) | Earrings: Large Carmine Hoops c/o Jenny Bird | Shoes: SARTO Franco Sarto (on sale!) | Bag: OTAAT/MYERS Collective (similar) | Watch: Metallic Watch c/o LOFT | Large Bracelet: c/o Chico's (similar) | Smaller Bracelet: Metal Marvels

I'm honored to have built a relationship with Universal Standard that I can see a gorgeous green dress in one of their daily emails, contact them, and they will send it to me. They are one of the first brands I actively pursued, believing so much in what they were doing. The quality, the style, the size range, and how they are constantly looking for ways to improve impresses me. This dress is made of cupro, and if you're like me you may have no idea what that is. It feels and moves like a heavyweight sandwashed silk, but is actually cotton. This article delves into the fabric but it's a fabulous vegan and eco-friendly alternative to silk. This dress has such beautiful details that justify the price.  Between the buttons are hidden snaps so no gaping at the bust or even further down when you squat or sit.  The threads to hold the self-belt are not just loose loops but sewn flat against the dress to keep the belt in the right place and to have them virtually invisible. I have large arms and non-stretchy sleeves usually dig into my skin, not with this dress.  And hello pockets!

It's clear I'm a fangirl for Jenny Bird jewelry.  I bought my first pair of earrings, the medium Edie hoops I think almost two years ago and they continue to be worn regularly.  Since then I have bought two more pairs of Jenny Bird earrings and a necklace.  Jenny Bird reached out to me on Instagram and to thank me for the love, offered to send me two pieces from her latest collection.  I chose these earrings, ones I've been loving since I saw them at Nordstrom (I got the smaller version during the Nordstrom sale but really wanted these too).  They're just as spectacular as I expected.

And these shoes… who would have thought bright pinky magenta suede heeled sandals would be worn so often? I wore these all day, after this shoot we ran some errands and then I went to the National Harbor to meet my friend Tonya from The Real Chic Life for lunch and my feet were happy the whole time.  They're now on sale; if you're looking for a shoe in the same color that's better for transitioning into fall, I found these slide loafers, and these block heel slides!

These photos were taken at the new MOM's Organic Market in College Park, Maryland. MOM's has resided in College Park for many years and is one of our favorite grocery stores; last month the store reopened on the other side of the strip mall in a space double the size of their old location.  The store is gorgeous, more merchandise but also an organic vegan cafe, bakery, coffee shop, places to sit and eat or telework… and a pinball arcade! The pinball machines come from the personal collection of MOM’s founder Scott Nash. We're so lucky to have such an amazing organic supermarket virtually in our backyard!