I don't know what I did to deserve it but Shabby Apple gifted me with one of their AMAZING dresses. It took Dave and I literally hours one night trying to decide. I let him pick the one he loved the most because I was just plain stumped. For a few days I kept going back and looking at the dresses and I couldn't figure out why I liked so many. This may sound odd but I am kinda picky. Usually there is a clear winner for me in most situations. You show me 5 things and I will pick almost instantly. I started doing a little googling and I discovered something interesting.
This is from their ABOUT US page.
"Shabby Apple welcomes you to great dresses that make dressing simple.
After years of not being able to find stylish dresses that covered enough skin to make you really feel comfortable (without wearing a tank top, cardigan or long slip), owners Emily and CK decided to do something about it.
They visited trade shows, marketplaces and designer studios only to discover the problem was not that department stores weren't buying the right dresses, but that designers weren't designing them.
Shabby Apple is proud to offer you fantastic dresses that allow you to look fabulous, without having to compromise anything else.
A return to what dresses were always meant to be — a one-piece outfit. No need to add anything...no tank tops, no cardigans, nothing (except accessories, of course!)."
It was like the light bulb moment in cartoons. It was like they GOT me. They understood my complaints and founded a company JUST FOR ME! I don't like to show a lot of cleavage. I don't wear sleeveless and I don't like my dress to be so short it doesn't cover me bum when I sit down. I loved them all because I didn't have to do anything. No pinning, no camis, no nothing! I could just wear it and not worry about anything!
Dave chose the Champs Elysees dress from the Oh La La french collection.
(If you know me you then you know I am a sucker for all things French!) Now let me start of with my one all be it tiny complaint. I have to respectfully disagree with their size guide on this particular dress. I can walk into virtually any clothing store, grab a medium and it will fit. I know there are always exceptions but I am a pretty solid size 8. I did some measuring and according to their sizing guide a medium would fit and it would probably be a bit big but that was OK because it is cotton and I always shrink everything unintentionally.It said that this particular dress "fit generous" The first dress arrived (yes first) and it was too small! I could put it on but there would be no breathing. I was so embarrassed. I laid the dress out and got out my tape measure. It was 27 inches in the waist. I made Dave measure it too because I wanted to make sure it wasn't my vanity talking. The sizing guide would fit a waist was 31-32 inches meaning the dress would say 34 inches to accommodate that? I contacted customer service and offered to pay for shipping on a new dress. They were amazing. They said it wasn't a problem and they could send me a new dress free of charge and if that one didn't fit they would send another! I got a large which says it will fit a 33-35 inch waist. The new dress just fit. I can't ever shrink it and a size 14+ with a 33-35 inch waist could not wear it. Laid flat the outside dress measures 32 inches. (I had Dave measure again)
Now that I said all that (it honestly wasn't really a problem. I just wanted to say basically that you might have to buy a different size. If not they will gladly exchange it!) The dress is a crisp light cotton. It nips in at all the right places and has a total vintage feel which you know I LOVE. (Hello Mad Men! Just call me Joanie!) It has a fun folded, pleated waist detail and it has the most amazing full skirt! (no need for a crinoline but can you imagine it with one?!)
Hello wind!
It was so refreshing to see a company pay as much attention to the back of the dress as the front. So many companies forget the back. They just throw a seam and leave it at that. This one had a nice little pleated collar down the back.
I felt beautiful. I felt confidant and I didn't have to fuss once all day!I didn't have to worry about pulling it down or bending over or any of my typical complaints. I have to say that it got lot of comments from strangers. We caught more than one person poke the person with them and point at me and smile.
It was a hot summer day too and since it was a amazing natural fabric it was breathable! Nothing worse than over heating in a cute dress.
This dress retails for $88 at Shabby Apple. I will totally be buying more dresses from them. They quality and customer service can't be beat. For the month of July they are actually having a sale!
"Take 20% off of most items. Enter Summer20 at checkout. (Excludes Manhattan, Skyscraper, Swim and Accessories.)"
PS If I had anywhere to put it I would buy this bike to use with my dress!! (hello 300 sq ft apt)
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