Map Quest Dress

After this post by The Clothes Horse I just had to try my luck at finding a wearable map-printed-dress. So off to Etsy I trudged - and look what I found!

(click on the photo to be taken to it's Etsy page)

Too bad it's out of my price range at $200. Maybe if I find some map-printed fabric Heather would help me make one...

Fun Week End

Dress - Merona
Tights - Kohls
Boots - Thrifted
Sweater - Kohls
Belt - Thrifted


Tee Shirt - Walmart
Jeans - So...
Ballet Flats - Kohls
Jacket - From a Neighbor


White Shirt - Limited Too
Red Plaid Dress - Thrifted
Jeans - So...
Ballet Flats - Kohls

White Blouse - Kohls

Cardigain - Vintage
Jeans - So
Brown Heels - Kohls

Well, this is what happens when I go away for a week end - I end up coming back with more outfit pictures than is good for me. *sighs*

But I did really have a lovely week end. It was my family's Christmas party, and this was the first year I participated in the white elephant. My reward was a lovely 1980's wedding gown with a lacy, high necked collar, and long, lacy sleeves - it even had a veil! It fit me perfectly, and my five year old cousin told me that I was "more than pretty." (He's so cute!)

I got to wear the dress to a friends party later that night, and had a great time! It was a role playing party and I went as my character, Audra. It was fun to act like her, though I kind of wished I had gone as a more talkative character, like Audra's friend Gordana - still, it was fun! Several hours into it I looked at Molly, and suddenly realized that we had both been talking with a British accent without even noticing! We both found this very funny - especially as Audra is from the fictional country of Ilonia, and Molly's character was from Missouri!

And then of course there were several birthday presents, as my sixteenth birthday is this Friday, and I won't be able to see most of my family till sometime next year. I think, however, that I shall save that, and write about all my presents on/after my birthday. Right now I need to get to bed...

~ Katie

Snow Day

Shirt - Thrifted
Purse - Thrifted
Jeans - So...
Ballet Flats - Kohls
Belt - Thrifted
Necklace - Plato's Closet

I had the idea to use this skirt as a shirt several months ago, but didn't have the courage to try until recently. I put a white tee-shirt under it because I didn't want to wear a sleeveless shirt, and the belt gives it a waist. :)

We were supposed to have snow storms yesterday, but after half a day of flurries had collected on the ground it rained. Luckily today we got some more snow. Now the ground is covered in a mixture of slippery slush/ice and snow. Earlier today, before it snowed again, it felt like spring - I wish it were. I don't know what I shall do once it gets too cold for me to venture outside to take pictures. I'm nearly freezing as it is, and I have a strange inkling that my cold is due to my going outside without a coat on...

But the snow is lovely, and reminds me of last November when I was writing my NaNoWriMo novel, Audra. that was the first, and - to date - only novel I've ever finished. I still don't know how exactly I did it - the characters just sort of took over. I put a part of myself into all of them and "all I could do was trot along behind them with a paper and pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what they said and did."

I would sit in my room as the rain/snow fell outside my window and write away - it was so peaceful (most of the time). For once I was finally able to put some my thoughts and emotions down on paper. I still miss it...

Advancing Backwards

I once heard that in the days of the Revolutionary War, when the patriot army was loosing, that George Washionton said they were not retreating, they were simply advancing backwards. Well, I'd like to find some way to adopt that saying for my NaNoWriMo experience this year. It was rather awful - I only got halfway.

The strange thing is - I don't mind. In the past year I have written a first draft of Audra, and edited it to the third draft. I think I deserved a break! And I had a great month even without NaNoWriMo. I got to talk with my best friend/unofficially adopted sister, Heather, a lot this past month, which was really nice, and then she got to come for Thanksgiving, which was a blast!

And speaking of Heather, here is a re-creation of the outfit I wore that day to pick her up. I've decided that I'd like to keep a sort of picture-diary of my favorite outfits to keep the memories, since at some point the clothes will wear out.

Shirt - Thrifted (it's actually maternity!)
Jeans - So..
Ballet Flats - Kohls
Necklace - Vintage

Changes

Well as you can see I've made some changes - I've finally got around to fixing all the pictures on my blog (yes, that guy really freaked me out), and taken off my screen name - since I have decided to make this my main blog.

So, yes, it is still me, and I am still going to blog about fashion, I'm just going to blog about the rest of my life as well.

Gotta Love the 80*s

While visiting my family for Thanksgiving I got a chance to visit my favorite thrift store - which just happened to be having a sale on everything in honor of Black Friday. They had %50 off everything! Needless to say I was happy, and walked out with quite a lot of stuff.

I was able to wear one of the pieces yesterday, but since I was traveling most of the day and didn't have my camera with me I wasn't able to take pictures. Today, however I found my camera and stumbled on a way to get decent looking photos while still keeping some privacy. I am very happy now.

(Sorry for such a bad picture - I didn't find my camera until late and I didn't have much time to get a good one.)

Jacket - Thrifted
Belt - Thrifted
Jeans - Kohls
Boots - Thrifted

Above is the outfit I wore today - yes, the jacket is very 1980's, but I don't mind that much. I like it - shoulder pads and all.

On another note: those of you who got comments from me under a different name this week end, that is because I am going through some stuff trying to decide what to do about my blogs. What I might end up doing is taking my online name off this blog and putting my real name up and then just making this my main blog instead of just my fashion blog. I want to blog about writing as well as fashion, but I think it is my favorite blog and I'd rather keep it than start a whole new blog. Plus I love all my readers on this blog. You girls are the best. <3

~ Caitie

The Five Love Languages

With being a "wedding novelist" it's no wonder that I often find myself thinking about love lately - not to mention the fact that my uncle getting married this past week end.

The question that comes up most often is how can one show love?

One of my friends was mentioning the five love languages a few weeks ago, which got me thinking about that. For those of you who don't know the five love languages are as follows:

Words of affirmation,
Quality time,
Receiving gifts,
Acts of service,
and Physical touch.

She said that she thinks that can sometimes cause problems - people show love in different ways, and their loved ones don't always have the same love language, so they don't always feel loved (if that makes sense).

This would make sense, I thought, and when my friend said that her love language was quality time I instantly saw a flashback of all the times I had texted her while watching TV and not really been in the conversation. I hadn't meant to be rude or insensitive - my love language is words of affirmation, and was constantly making sure to tell my friend how much I appreciated and loved her. However, when I found out her love language I started making a conscious effort to give her my full attention when we talked, and to spend lots of time with her. I wanted to make sure she realized how much I love her.

This past week she got to come for a visit, and we watched part of The Lord of the Rings almost every night. This is my friends favorite movie, and so I wanted watched it with her even though it isn't my favorite movie in the world.

Well she went back home last night, and when we were texting today our movie choices while she was here came up. I told her that I hadn't minded not watching Persuasion because she was the guest and because I knew how much it meant to her - I also mentioned that I had been trying to show her I loved her through her love language. Well, she really liked that, and told me that she had noticed that I had been more "always there when she needed someone," and that totally made my day (see, I'm easilly satisfied!).

I'm not sure exactly why I started posting about this - I just felt the need to talk about it - but now that I'm finishing up I do see a point behind this story. We could all use to think about our loved ones love languages and what they'll like a little more - a way to show them we love them by doing what they'll really apriciate.

Thank-a-Thon Blog Contest Entry

Sorry for the long absence, since deciding not to post anymore pictures I've been rather in the dumps. I need to get a dress makers form so I can photograph it and post the pictures. But, until that happens, hopefully I can entertain you with my entry for the Mod-Cloth Thank-a-Thon Blog Contest:

I've heard people ask, 'how close can you be with someone you met online?' The answer: very close.

'I think it is so nice that you blog together! I always wnated a best friend like that, one I could do about everything with. Perhaps you can stop by and see my blog. I am reading through yours so I can get to know you better, that is why I may commit more then once.
For now I bid thee both adieu, Maiden Capitola'

For as long as I can remember I have wanted an older sister; but on November 13, 2007, when I clicked on the profile of the above commenter, and found out that she was 20 years old, I never would have guessed that she would be my SOS - my sweet older sister.

I was thirteen then, and very immature. The idea of being friends with anybody more than three years difference in age was utterly and completely beyond my realm of thought. What in the world can I have in common with a 20 year old? I wondered. Now, almost two years later exactly - I'm still wondering that.

Heather - for that is her real name - and I are almost total opposites. I'm tall; she's short. I love fashion and make up; she doesn't. She loves snow September though May; I'm wishing it would melt by early January. She thinks anything above %20 is humid; I don't even notice it until it gets above %80! She loves adventure books; I love sweet romances.
And yet, for all our differences, we get along splendidly, and the majority of all our quarrels are only in jest.

She's not the older sister I thought I wanted; I always imagined my older sister (if I had one) to love fashion. I would borrow her clothes, and she would do my hair and make up for me. Heather lives three states away, so there's no borrowing of clothes, and she hates make-up, so I have to practically force her to let me put it on her - but I know that if I had the older sister I always imagined I wouldn't love her half as well as I love Heather, and we probably wouldn't get along half as well.

So this Tuesday before Thanksgiving I am going to run up to Heather the minute I see her at the train station, throw my arms around her, and give her a big hug - just like I did the last time I saw her. We're going to run around and be crazy together again, and at the end of the day we're going to snuggle up on the couch to watch movies together instead of texting like we usually do before bed. And on Thanksgiving day I'm going to thank God for sending Heather my way - just like I do everyday.

Caledonia, Missouri

Nestled among the tall, tree clad hills and between the rich, lustrous, cattle filled pastures of Eastern Missouri is a little town by the name of Caledonia. If you're looking for a cute little town where you can pass a night in a cozy little bed and breakfast stationed in a hundred or so year old house, and check out some antique stores - then this is the place for you.





And here's some of the goodies I found inside the antiques shops!







I so wanted both of those 1920's photographs, and I was amazed at the price of the hats! Some of them were just $6! One could turn around and sell that one Ebay at least four times that price! All and all it's a quaint little town, that I could go on for hours about, but I am tired, and my shoulders ache from leaning over the key board, so I won't. Instead I'll just post a link to my Flickr page where you can see even more pictures. :)

~ Caitie

Hello Again Chaos, I hope you enjoy your stay!

Well with working on my writing, and getting ready for my friend, Heather to come, I've just not had any time to post. In fact, I've barely even had time, or desire, to try anything different with my wardrobe. I haven't been to a thrift store for several weeks, and except for a hat I got in Caledonia, MO, I've not got any new clothes since the beginning of July.

But this week a change will come. My dear friend, Heather, is coming for a ten day long visit. She's one of those friends that can't be considered an "old" friend - I've only known her a little over a year and a half - but nonetheless you can't imagine living without. I met her online, and was blessed enough to be able to meet her last August. Since then we have exchanged around a half a dozen phone calls, and have texted/emailed each other nearly everynight. And now she is coming for a visit. :D I'm so excited.

What's really funny about us being friends is that we're totally opposite. Part of the chorus for Taylor Swift's You belong With Me says:
"She wears high heels,
"I wear sneakers."
And it sounds just like Heather and I. She's the tom boy, I'm the girly-girl. Lately, though, she has had an interest in fashion. She "wants to look like a young Christian girl, not just somebody who woke up and put on a sweatshirt and skirt because it was near by." She's been asking me for advice and now I'm sooo excited to be able to go to the mall with her - not to mention put some make up on her! :D

This week promises to be a an exciting, adventourous one. Full of mistakes, chaos, confusion and all other manner of things that come when one is spending a week in a house with five crazy young girls (did I mention my friends Molly and Anna were also spending a week with us?). Outitings - the zoo, the city, the renaissance fair, the mall, etc. - fashion descusions, geek fests, and make-up test runs shall not be in short supply. The past few nights I have been testing make-up styles (vintage, of course) on my little sister (much to her annoyance - I can't understand why she didn't like being made up as a flapper and sixties girl!) and I am looking forward to having some new guinea pigs. ;)

In other news, I regret to announce that I shall no longer show my face on this blog, or on Flickr. I shall still post pictures of my outfits, but my face will be blacked out/covered up in some way in all of them. This has nothing to do with my wonderful, loyal readers, but some creep who found me on Flickr.
"He's a creep on a creep train headed for creep island where they drink creep nectar out of creep coconuts!"
He was kind enough to send me a very disturbing message describing me in ways I could have gone my whole life without being described! He meant it as a compliment, but it was not received as one. I've never posted pictures of me - or even dressed - in a way to attract men and boys attentions, and his certainly were unwanted. Once again, this has nothing to do with my readers, I love you all to pieces and wish I could still post pictures as I have before, but this creeps message made me realize that I need to bump up my security on here. Thank you all bearing with this change.

~ Caitie

Awards

I am aware that I am in need of a new post, especially when I have been so blessed as too receive two wonderful awards. I do appreciate them, please don't think that I'm not appreciative just because I haven't posted about them yet. It's just, well, how is one to think of fashion, and fashion blogging when one is having the best time of writing in three years? For once I love my story, and my characters more than any of my friends'. Plus, I'm actually on a third draft of my novel - and this is coming from the same girl who used to change her plot every two weeks. :D
But, I shall try to be a better fashion blogger despite my burst of inspiration for my novel. I'll try to post at least once a week, and I'll try to comment on all of your lovely blogs, too. :)

And now, on to the awards!

The first award is from KellyAnne of Kaleidoscopic Refrains. I'm very grateful to her for this award. It is my first award, and I'm very surprised at that, it took me months to get my first award on my other blog, and that's coming from a very small, welcoming blogging community. And it's very fitting that my first award should come from KellyAnne. She was the first person to start regularly checking my Chictopia page, and the first to comment, and regularly comment, on my blog. I'm very grateful to her for that as well. I don't know if I would have kept blogging if not for her. :)
In passing this award on, I'm trying not to award people who already have it. If I do, I'm sorry. If I don't award you, that's probably just because you already have it, or I think you do. :D

The Clothes Horse
Diary of a Young Designer
Blooming Leopold
Giggly-Cupcake
Some Girls Wander
Liebemarlene

The other award is from Kirsty of Giggly-Cupcake. I was surprised to get this one, too, especially when I haven't updated in so long. This one, too, is also appreciated, and it's so cute! I'm so very happy to have gotten it. Now I'm passing it on to:

In Bug's Drawers
Strawberry Koi
Penelope Nightingale
A Cat of Impossible Color

Once again, thank you both for these blogs. I'm so happy to have received them. When I started this blog less than two months ago, I was lucky to get two comments. And now, such a short time later, my last post has eleven! I'm so glad to know that people actually like my blog. Before I was commenting on so many peoples blogs and seemed like I was just getting ignored (except by KellyAnne. ;-] ). So thanks everyone! I really will try to post and comment more.

~ Caitie

And it was very nice to see that at least someone appreciates my blog,

20's Love

I've just spent the last half-hour fixing photos Flickr so I could upload them to Chictopia, and now I am tired. I shall, nonetheless, try to write a post that is not only coherent, but, perhaps, inspiring.

Well yesterday, prompted by a dress that had a flapper feel to it, I did some research on the 20's and flappers. My conclusion is that I don't hate them as much as I thought I did - on the contrary, actually - they are now my newest obsession. I'm not saying I'd want to live back then or anything, but I do like some of the styles - some of them I liked even before I realized they were popular in the twenties, oxfords for instance.

While looking around at photo's from the twenties, I came across these beautiful ones:

Photo Credit






Photo Credit

The second to last photo is a picture of Gabrielle Chanel, founder of the Coco Chanel line. I just love her outfit! It's just so chic!

The last picture is a picture of Bessie Love, an actress of the 20's who stared mostly in silent films, but some early "talkies" too. I found several pictures of her here, and I love almost all of them. She looks so happy and cute and lady like. (I desperately want to get my hands on one of her films, I don't care if it's a silent or a talkie! If anyone has any ideas on where I could find one, I'd love any suggestions!) The funny thing about that particular picture of her is that I got a skirt almost exactly the same just a week or two ago! I didn't love it when I got it, but it was cute and for less than $3 I couldn't pass it up (though I nearly did! Now I'm so glad I didn't!). I hadn't worn it yet - until today. I decided to try my hand at a 20's inspired outfit, below are the results:

Photos taken from my Flickr Photo Stream

Alright, my family is watching a movie now, so I guess I'd better go, please comment!

~ Caitie

My New Thrifting Finds

Well, I finally got up and made myself get some pictures, so here there are!
After my last post I'm sure you all know how much I love oxfords, so imagine my joy at finding a beautiful tan pair for only $3!
Well, I finally got up and made myself get some pictures, so here there are!

And then last night I found another pair! This one doesn't have the t-strap, but it's still lovely!


I'm so happy to actually be finding really beautiful things at thrift stores. It used to seem like a lost cause to me. On Saturday I got this dress:

I think it's probably from the 80's, and it's just lovely! I'm surprised how much I like it, really, since it's not only very 80's, but orange too - I hate orange on me.

Tomorrow I need to post about my favorite find, my lovely vintage suitcase, but I have too many pictures to do it in this post, so check back later!

~ Caitie

Updates

Well, I know I haven't updated in a while, I was hoping to update while visiting my friend Molly this past week end, but, as you can see, that didn't happen.

I did get to do some thrifting while out of town though, which was awesome. I got a lovely orange 1980's dress, that surprisingly, I like. It cost only five dollars, and is now one of my favorite finds. I got a wonderful vintage suitcase that I'm guessing is from the 1940's for four dollars. I really need to post pictures later. I also got a belt for with the dress, a charcoal gray pleated skirt, tan heeled, t-strap oxfords (which I love despite the fact that they're a little small).

Then earlier tonight I went thrifting with my friend Christina, I got some black heeled oxfords, a pretty knit pink sweater, and a beautiful summer frock! I love all of my finds, and I can't wait to start taking some pictures to post! I never even posted pictures of the three skirts and dress I got before my trip! I will get some pictures soon!

~ Caitie

P.S. Thanks for everybody who commented on my last post! Before that post, my record number of comments was two - now it's eleven! *thumbs up*

Heeled Oxfords and Penelope

I have been wanting to post about one of my favorite movies for a while now, but, being a procrastinator, I'm only now getting around to it...

The movie is Penelope staring Christina Ricci and James McAvoy. Penelope's style in it is so beautiful and feminine, that I love it all.

For this post, though, I especially wanted to point out my favorite outfit in it. I did several Google searches to find a picture of it, but, unfortunately, I could not find any good ones.
I did, however, notice another lovely aspect of her style. She wears a lot of heeled oxfords, which I love! I only noticed them once or twice the first few times I saw it, and I didn't even know what they were called. I just knew that I loved those shoes! Today, however, while looking through the screenshots, I realized that she really wears them quite often, and that I now know what they are! I have seen them many times before on Some Girls Wander, which I have been reading (and admiring) regularly the past couple weeks.

Penelope

Emily

Penelope Again

Emily Again

The shoes are so old-fashioned and lady like, yet fun and creative with the colored tights. They're so elegant, and yet they are casual enough to wear for no reason in particular. I don't know what it is, but I just love these shoes. And I now I desperately want some. As soon as I can find the right pair, you can be sure I shall drag my dad over to the computer and make him help me order them!

Give Away

Give Away

This looks pretty interesting. I'm always looking for more ways to style the mop that is sitting on my head. :D

~ Caitie

Plato's Closet

Yesterday my friend Christina invited me to go along with her to Plato's Closet a consignment store I had been to once before. Eger to do some shopping, I greatfully excepted and came back overwhealmed with good finds. It's all rather on the modern side, but it's all lovely, too! I don't have pictures of it all, but here's what I wore today, featuring my new shirt and purse:






And here is a close up on the purse:



Ok, so I guess the purse is kind of vintage looking. *hugs it* I just love it, and for $5, who could pass it up??? I think it goes well with the tank top too. The two together look so whimsical and cute, which is what I love about this outfit. Very me. :D

I owe the hair style idea to Bloomingleopold. She hasn't updated her blog yet, but you can see her Flickr page here.

~ Caitie

P.S. If anyone is actually reading this blog could you please comment? It seems to me that only around three people are reading this, and I am curious... Thanks! <3

Vintage Wedding Refashioned Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Vintage Wedding Refashioned Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

This dress is simply lovely! I MUST stop spending all my money on modern pieces! Not that I don't like them, but I want a more vintage look too. I need my own bank account. If I could order the stuff myself, without having to wait for my dad's help, I wouldn't spend so much IRL, I could do most of my shopping online...

~ Katie

What a Day

Today is a perfectly happy Enya-sort-of-day! Some of her music is very calm and peaceful, the sort of stuff I want on a grey and rainy day when I feel to lazy to do anything. But some of her music is so happy, and (sort of) upbeat, that I just have to dance to it! That's the kind of music I want on days like this! It's not loud and obnoxious, but it's up beat and - happy!

Today is a joyous day. I got my iPod back, after being grounded from it for a week. *hugs it* Because my lap top is all messed up I wasn't able to listen to much music all week, so I am very glad to have it back now! I listened to it the whole time I got dressed and did my make up for the family birthday part today. It's for my sister, my dad, and my uncle. It's nothing fancy, but I put on a dress anyway, since I have been loving dresses lately! :D The only problem was that the two dresses I wanted to wear were both dirty. :( One of which I stupidly wore yesterday. But it didn't matter in the end, because I raided my closet and came up with and outfit that I love!





Shirt - Deliahs
Skirt - Merona (I should do a whole series on different ways I can wear this skirt! :D)
Scarf - My sisters
Shoes - Charlotte Ruse
Ring - Gift Shop
Earrings - A gift from my Kiwi friend
Headband - Who knows. Target?

The twirly pictures are me dancing to Storms in Africa. My mom always tells me I dance like a nymph, all twirly, but I can't help it! I don't know any "real" dances, but I must move somehow! I'm just so happy! It's finally warm today, I have music again, and I have a lovely outfit!

That's part of what I love about this outfit. The colors are so bright and summery and happy! They totally fit my mood today!

The colors remind me of this dress, and the style of this outfit reminds me of this one.

Edit: I got several compliments on this outfit today, which always makes me feel good! Someone (either my grandma, or my great-grand-aunt, I can't remember which) asked if it was one piece! :D All and all this outfit did all I wanted! Provided a nice alternative to a summery, floral dress like the ones I've seen on Modcloth, since I can't get one yet. And was comfortable too!

Balance

I'll just write a short post now, because it's late, but I felt the need to post. At the moment I am hating summer. I know it sounds weird, who hates summer, right? We get out of school, and the weather is nice. But it also throws off ones schedule, and I am not dealing well with that.

I'm scrambling to finish school for the year, which is difficult, especially because I am already a little behind. My room hasn't been able to stay clean for longer than two hours at a time for the past week or two. And I am trying to get a balance in my wardrobe. I think I've mentioned before that I'm kind of just coming out of a very trendy phase. Well, the thing is, I still like some more modern clothes, but I like the vintage look. It's more me. I'm a very old fashioned person, and I like dressing in a way that expresses that. But I am wondering how to incorporate my modern pieces in with other pieces to get a vintage-y look.

On top of that the whole taking pictures of my outfits thing is really stressing me out. I like photography, but not self photography. It is difficult and I don't like having to have pictures everyday. But I like being able to show my outfits, and have a catalog of sorts with them all.

So anyway, I am very confused, and if anyone has any advice (if anyone besides KelleyAnne is reading this, that is, which I doubt) I'd really appreciate it!

~ Caitie

Thrift Store

After seeing all the lovely things KellyAnne, PenelopeNightingale, and Liebemarlene have gotten at thrift stores, I could not rest until I, too had tried my luck. So I straightaway dragged my mom down to the near-by good will, and viola!

Sorry the pics are bad, I'll get better ones when I actually wear the stuff. :)

None of it is vintage, but I am pretty happy with it.
The light blue one looks very
much like a dress from the regency time (early 1800's) when on. And I the navy blue one (that is navy, not black) one will be so cute when I get the top taken in.
The skirt on the other hand, fits perfectly, though it needs a

snap sewn on, which I can do in just a couple minutes. I'm hoping to wear it to church tomorrow.


And as for the dress I was hoping to bid on, I decided not to. It was just a couple inches too short for my liking, and besides, I just spent the money on said dresses and skirt (along with a purse and candle holder which I'm not posting).

I was going to post my outfit for today, but instead, I'll just give you the link to it on Chictopia.

~ Caitie

Envious

My style has changed a lot these past months. This past winter I was in a very trendy phase. I wore jeans almost everyday, rarely venturing into a dress, and I wore a lot of eye make up.
Now I'm doing a much more natural make up look, and wearing dresses almost everyday. I've bought three new dresses in the past month (which is a lot for me) my mom asked me if I have enough the other day, and I said no. I would still like to get some more, particularly because I don't like all the ones I have.

So I've begun to look at ebay. And look what I found!

Ebay Store

They're all beautiful, but I am absolutely in love with the last one! I love the ruffles on top and the big, purple satin bow. The whole dress has a very 1950's look to it, which I love! I am determined to get it! Hopefully I can put a bid in tomorrow after I mow my neighbors yard. :D

~ Caitie