Bay Area Fashionista

Mysterious navy dress

Pictured: Earrings: Kendra Scott / Sunglasses: Chanel / Lipstick: c/o Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Rosa / Dress: H & M / Cuff: Kendra Scott / Nail Polish: Dolce & Gabbana Turquoise (sold out in USA, similar here) / Handbag: Tory Burch / Shoes: Valentino (old, current season here)

Have you ever spotted the perfect article of clothing, outfit, or dress at a store, only to discover it was maternity; and you weren’t pregnant at the time? Ha! Apparently I just did that!

I spotted the perfect navy dress for the summer at H & M. This dress has a midi length, flowing silhouette, tie belt, and puff top which offered a beautiful drape; all for under $50! I knew right away this navy dress would be perfect during the summer season for church, a wedding, a shower, a fundraising lunch, the theater, or any summer event which calls for a dressy dress! I fell in love, and snapped it up!

Since I often share my church outfit on my Instagram account, I decided to grab the link to the dress to share with my Instagram friends. You can only image my shock when I found the dress on H & M’s website, only to learn it was a nursing dress! Really?? So, I looked down the top, and lo and behold, there was the hole! Yikes! Of course the minute I mentioned it, my husband decided it was some sort of sign that we should go for baby number four. Um no, we are good with three!

I bent into several different positions, having my kids and husband check to make sure the hole was not visible. Everything that needed to be covered, was covered! The dress was safe to wear.

Now that I am over the initial shock of buying a nursing dress without knowing, I have found that I love this dress, and will definitely wear it often this season.

If you are looking for a nursing dress, or just a really versatile dressy dress for the summer, then this is perfect! Especially with a price tag of under $50, how can you go wrong?

Nursing dress and outfit details:

Summer Kick-Off Poptail party at Hotel Valencia

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From top: Rita, Laura (Have Need Want), and me / Patriotic Poptail / Group of Patriotic Poptails / Pink on the Cheek won a Kendra Scott necklace in the raffle!

Last week Hotel Valencia at Santana Row hosted a Summer Kickoff party featuring a fun, summer drink named a “Poptail.” The Poptails featured a Popsicle and small amount of alcohol. There was also a mock Poptail offered, which Laura enjoyed, that featured a Popsicle and sparkling water. These drinks will be offered throughout the summer season at Hotel Valencia. The Popsicle was very refreshing!

The party attracted a very large crowd, which included some of my friends! It was fun to be able to run into some of my friends, and fellow local bloggers, at the event. Kendra Scott had a table at the Poptail party which gave guests details about their upcoming store opening. They also hosted a raffle where several guests were able to win beautiful jewels by Kendra Scott! You can read about the new store opening online here.

After the party, Laura and I enjoyed a yummy dinner at Pizza Antica. We sat outside, which was perfect since it was still around eighty degrees outside at 7:30pm. It was such a fun evening!

You can learn more about Hotel Valencia online here.

Weathering the heat

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Pictured: Earrings: Kendra Scott / Sunglasses: Chanel / Lipstick: c/o Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Rosa / Necklace: Jennifer Zeuner (adjustable length! Love!) / Top: Gibson (on major sale!) / Skirt: BCBG / Handbag: Fendi (color sold out, similar shade here, and here) / Bracelets: Kendra Scott Color Bar (ready-made here) / Ring: 2Bandits / Nail Polish: Dolce & Gabbana Turquoise (similar under $10 here) / Shoes: Christian Louboutin (old, similar here under $100)

It has been over ninety degrees the past week here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Words cannot even describe how hot it has been ! Normally when the temperature rises over eighty degrees, the heat wave only lasts for three days tops, then the fog comes in and turns things back to normal. This time, the fog took seven days to come in, and then the temperatures quickly rose again. Ahhhh!

I wore this outfit to Hotel Valencia’s Summer Kickoff Poptail party last week at Santana Row. I chose to wear this skirt since it is a wrap skirt. Wrap maxi skirts are much cooler than traditional maxi skirts; and I love the warm weather, summer vibe which maxi skirts evoke.

The most comfortable shoes to wear in the heat are espadrilles; at least in my humble opinion. The rope soles are soft to stand and walk in, plus they are made from natural fibers which breath easily, and keep feet from sweating. Love that! So, I paired this maxi skirt with my go-to espadrille wedges. They must be ten years old now. It feels like I have owned them forever. I found a pair made exactly like them, for under $100. They come in several colors and can be found online here. They are must-have in the summer months.

This outfit was perfect for a summer chic soiree held outside, in the heat. I am definitely looking forward to wearing it again to other parties this summer when a summer chic look is in order. When I don’t need my camera, I would pair it with a small fringe handbag such as this one. Or a 1970s inspired saddle bag.

Stay tuned for my recap of Hotel Valencia’s Summer Kick of party at Santana Row posting tomorrow!

Thank you for stopping by,

XOXO

Cathy

Photo credit: Laura Adney/Have Need Want

Summer chic soiree outfit details:

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