A Dress for Every Occasion

Years ago, an elderly woman came into the shop looking for something to wear for her birthday. She ended up leaving the store with one of our giant, ruffled, sparkly ball-gowns and we all watched in admiration as she hoisted the overstuffed garment bag over her shoulder and went on her way. Since then, I've found myself, on a number of occasions, thinking about that marvelous woman and musing on her enviable self-worth. The simple act of buying a big, silly, beautiful gown as a birthday present for herself spoke volumes of the high regard in which she, quite rightly, held herself. I have no idea where or to what she was planning to wear her new frock, but there wasn't a doubt in my mind that whatever she ended up doing to celebrate was going to be fabulous.

High-Fashion Flapjack Flipping - Tyson

Inspired by the aforementioned well-dressed lady, we decided to throw together this impromptu photo shoot with award-winning photographer, Tyson Ritter. Ritter brought his impressive talent and creative energy to a concept that was, admittedly, nebulous without his input. We wanted to showcase two current trends for 2013: neons and dressing for your bliss.

Neon

Thanks to pop-princesses like Ke$ha and Nicki Minaj, bright neons are everywhere. While it may seem like a risky move at first glance, on the right skin tone, a bright pink and orange like the ones pictured on this Vizcaya ball gown by Mori Lee can make the wearer appear sun-kissed and glowy. Stick to your color temperature and you won't go wrong. If you're unsure, electric blue and neon coral can be pulled off on just about any skin tone.

Breakfast with a Disney Princess - Tyson Ritter

Dressing for your Bliss

It is the fashion world's version of following your bliss and it is huge for 2013. It is the style inspired by little kids playing dress up in the bathtub and elderly women wearing quinceanera dresses to their own birthday parties. It is the philosophy that you decide your own dress code. If you want to wear a fifties swing dress and Marilyn Monroe hair to the laundromat, go for it. If you want to wear lederhosen to the beach, more power to you. If you want to go to the gym in full hair and makeup, that is between you and your pores. 

Pancakes fit for a Princess - Tyson Ritter

 The point is, your schedule may be taken up with trips to the grocery store and endless housework rather than dancing the night away at a grand ball, but that is no reason not to break out the gorgeous little number you've been saving in your closet for a special occasion. Your day job may be mundane, but there's a princess in all of us. So never mind that you're "all dressed up with nowhere to go," never mind that your favorite dress is hot pink, orange and bedazzled, and never mind that its skirt is so big it may knock over small children as you stroll down the cereal aisle of the grocery store. You don't need a special occasion to wear your special outfits. Let your inner princess out and dress for your bliss.

Blue Bottles - Tyson Ritter