Ruby Red

Frocks & Frou FrouFrocks & Frou FrouFrocks & Frou Frou Frocks & Frou FrouGreatest Love of All Dress – Harlow – (originally reviewed here)

Cardigan: Paper Scissors

Hayden Shoes: Ros Hommerson

So here’s the thing about being happy:

This time last year I was in a fairly rocky place. I’d had a pretty miserable year-and-a-bit, and when I get sad I stop eating.

Today I’m proud to say I’m happy. So happy. My job’s going well, I love my home, my sister’s well, and I’m seeing someone who’s just totally wonderful.

Plus food tastes good again, so hurrah!

The only down-side that I can see is that the waistbands on my winter wardrobe are getting a bit, um, snug.

This gorgeous jersey dress from Melbourne-based brand Harlow is always a winner though. The soft fabric, blouson top and elasticised waist are endlessly comfortable. Harlow only does limited runs of their items, and this “Greatest Love of All” dress is a season or two old, so make sure you snap it up before it’s gone for good. At the moment it’s half price too, so win-win.

 I subbed out the black leather belt that it comes with for a woven brown belt, then added a cardigan in an absolutely delicious berry red.

After one too many recent tumbles my nude pumps were scuffed up beyond repair, so I took advantage of the free international shipping offer at Shoebuy and replaced them with these wide-fit Hayden shoes from Ros Hommerson. They’re lovely and squishy, and the fabric lining means they’re fine for wearing sans-stockings. I liked the loved-heart shaped vamp on the shoes, but I have to admit I’m a little unnerved by how…. nude the nude is. It matches the hue of my legs almost perfectly which gives a slightly disconcerting doll-foot effect!

A Truth Universally Acknowledged

DSCF0032_2DSCF0029_2DSCF0028_2DSCF0027_2

 Dress: Harlow

Blouse: Princess Highway

Cardigan: Glassons

Tights: Uniqlo

Boots: Aerosoles

Layers upon layers upon layers. I’m pleased to discover that some of the “winter” (ha!) dresses that I naively thought would tide me over in New York are actually somewhat functional, as long as I wear seventeen layers of undergarments and my big jacket over the top.

This blouse from Princess Highway has been a particular lifesaver when teamed with frocks, as the peter pan collar sits really prettily over the top of the scooped neckline of my Greatest Love of All dress from Harlow.

The sleeves are a little longer than those on the dress, but the russet cardigan hides the extra cuffs. A wooden cameo brooch featuring Jane Austen’s profile adds a little whimsy, and I’m ready to go!

DSCF0026_2

I hope everyone had a good New Year’s. Due to New York’s “heatwave” I missed out on my white Christmas (boo) but we got an absolute dumping last night, which I’m still a bit bewitched by.