Three Years

Happy Monday!

I started this little blog three years ago this week. 

In celebration I threw on a orangy-red sweater dress and matching statement earrings. Pairing it with OTK boots and a faux fur wrap makes the outfit perfectly wintery for a 40º February afternoon. 

After three years you sometimes have to revisit your motivations and evaluate what's important to put time and effort into. On a milestone like this I like to remind myself why this is important for me to keep up with. Why do I blog? Because I love clothes and I love finding different ways to style things, and I want to share that passion with others who enjoy fashion and styling. Clothing is such a fun way to express yourself, and I choose my outfit each morning based on how I feel that day and what look feels right to reflect that. I always like to pair things in new ways so my outfit is always fresh and current to my mood and not stale or repetitive. While it's always fun to have something new and exciting, lately I've been challenging myself to wear old favorites in new ways or to style unique pieces into wearable work outfits. I like being able to share my fashion adventures in this way and connect with other people who share the passion for getting dressed each day.

I haven't been posting as much the past few months as I would like to... it can be awfully hard to find time to shoot photos during the daylight, and then have time to edit them and write as well. As we are getting into the spring I will have more daylight hours to work with (yay!) and hopefully will get settled into a good work routine that will allow for me to allocate more time to a blogging schedule. I've had lots of ideas lately for posts involving other aspects of life as well, such as restaurant spotlights, "book club" posts, and home decor that I'm considering working into the rotation as well. Let's see what this next year brings!

Dress: J.Crew (similar 1/2). Boots: Sam Edelman. Faux Fur: Urban Outfitters (1/2). Earrings: J. Crew (1/2). Lip: MAC 'flamingo.' 

xoxo, CC

Six Foot Three in Heels

Give me a 6 inch wedge, and suddenly I'm a giant! Such is the struggle of being a tall girl who loves heels. At this point in my life I usually only wear 4in heels or under so that I feel more comfortable, but today I decided to pull this pair out of my closet and give them a whirl. I love the bright rainbow stripe on these wedges, and the way that the nude upper tones them down so they really match with anything. I decided to pair them with a bright orangey shift dress for a fun and colorful ensemble.

A nude-colored bag plays off the shoes and keeps the focus on the colorful elements, while simple accessories finish the look. This easy shift dress has quickly become a favorite since it can be worn in so many ways. I have paired it with cute sandals and simple jewelry for work, with a lace up shoes for dinner out, and I plan to add a statement necklace and jacket to transition into fall. This bright orangey-red color is one I am consistently drawn to (as you may have noticed by now 1/2/3/4) and can never seem to get enough of!!

I am actually selling these wedges on my Poshmark account (username ccnoordsy), but since they are so fun and summery I wanted to give them a little love and wear them with a bright summer outfit.
I have a ton of old clothes and jewelry for sale on my Poshmark page, as well as several pieces that have been seen here on the blog! Re-selling old items is a great way to make room in your closet and gain a little cash for new purchases, and it's always nice to renew your wardrobe a bit with each season, so that means letting some old stuff go :( It can feel good though to make space and refresh with new items instead! Has anyone started thinking about fall fashion yet? I usually put it off because I can't bear to let go of summer!

Dress: Olivaceous via mint. Shoes: Steve Madden. Bag: H&M (similar: 1/2). Watch: Kate Spade. Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters. Necklace: Kate Spade. Earrings: Gorjana.

xoxo, CC

Orange Dinner Dress

Last week some friends and I decided to treat ourselves to a fancy dinner at a delicious restaurant. We wanted an excuse to get dressed up, wear those heels that always sit in the closet and indulge on delicious food, no limits. This textured orange dress was the perfect pick for a fancy dinner with my girls because it is both sexy and sophisticated. The tight fit is counterbalanced by the knee length and modest neck. A white denim jacket and striped clutch maintain the crisp color palette. I paired the look with some sandals for the earlier part of the evening before changing into a pair of nude heels for dinner. 

Do you remember this dress? I picked it up for less than $10 at the Gilt City Warehouse Sale that I shared with you a few weeks back.

Dress: Best Society (1/2/3/4). Jacket: Gap. Clutch: Ruche (1/2/3). Necklace: BaubleBar. Sandals: Franco Sarto. Nails: Essie Turquoise and Caicos. 

xoxo, CC

Little Orange Shift Dress

The perfect piece for summer: an easy shift dress in a sunny hue. And when it's in my favorite dress color I really couldn't resist! I know this one is going to be getting a lot of use in spring, summer and even fall. It is perfect with sandals on hot days, or a jacket and booties in cooler weather. 

I find that a shift dress looks best with a long necklace to balance out the loose fit and high neckline. Also adding a jacket or cardi breaks up the look, adds dimension, and give the silhouette more definition. I may experiment with using a belt or a statement necklace as well to mix up the looks for more variety. I love how cheerful this color is, and it definitely gives my skin a little bit of a glow!

Some contrasting nails and nude sandals complete the look for a nice walk in the park after a day at work.

Dress: Jack by BB Dakota. Denim Jacket: Gap. Necklace: American Eagle, similar. Shoes: J. Crew, similar. Earrings: Kate Spade.

xoxo, CC

Cupcakes & Dresses

I couldn't resist sharing more photos of my mini blogiversary celebration, because the cupcakes were just so darn cute (and delicious)!! Today, February 6th, is the real LOD "birthday" but since it was a Thursday last year, it seemed ok to start celebrating a day early :) 

This dress is the perfect little party dress; it has a simple silhouette but fancy details in the stacked lace neckline. Plus, it's orange! Perfect for the occasion. A touch of cozy yet glam fur was necessary too, since it is still winter after all! The cupcakes were so tasty, and a perfect way to celebrate making it one year! I just love how the light blue frosting pops agains the orange dress. 

Dress: Ruche (similar 1/2/3). Faux fur wrap: Urban Outfitters. Cupcakes: Magnolia Bakery NYC.

xoxo, CC

One Year Blogiversary!

Can you believe it? It's been one whole year since my first post on The Little Orange Dress! Wow, how time flies. 

Looking back at the year there are many things I am proud of, and many things I know need improvement. I was hesitant about starting a blog, but  when I finally made up my mind to do it I dove into it head first, no looking back. I have enjoyed sharing my personal style and thoughts among the voices of the style inspiration world, and watching my readership slowly grow. I have learned a lot about the blogging community, about how to use some html and formatting, and the power of positivity. I delight in having this space to put my creative energy into, and I hope you enjoy reading it!

Over time I've grown more confident in the work I share, and worked to broaden my content. I was thrilled when Ruche even shared some of my outfits on their blog last spring! Then, life brought me to New York City this summer and that presented whole new excitements and challenges to the blog. My biggest challenge, as I see it, is getting good quality photos, and that is something I plan to improve upon going forward. 

A year ago I left my readers this thought and I wanted to share it again because I think it is still pertinent and something we often forget: "Sometimes donning a bright daring color (like orange) does just the trick to make you feel confident, courageous, and refreshed. So, next time you go to your closet, instead of reverting to your same old LBD try a bright color or a fun pattern instead. It’s amazing what a little color can do!"

In honor of this milestone I have rounded up a collection of my favorite moments looking back over the first year of blogging. Let me know, what were your favorite posts? :)

(each picture is a link, click the photo to see the original post)

 Here's to another year!
xoxo, CC