27 dresses.

Behind all of the musings, wishlists, weekend adventures, and pretty puppy pictures that we post, we have a genuine desire to see good fortune and happiness amongst our fellow (wo)man. Cheesy? Maybe. But true nonetheless.

On that note, I wanted to take a timeout today to share a great non-profit organization with you.

The Glass Slipper Project collects formal dresses and accessories and provides them to high school juniors and seniors in Chicago who would otherwise be unable to afford them. The dresses are distributed at the Glass Slipper "boutiques" each prom season, and each of the girls are guided by volunteer personal shoppers to help them find the prom dress of their dreams.

 

via The Glass Slipper Project 

This weekend Old Orchard is hosting a pre-prom party in the space between Helzberg Diamonds and Ann Taylor. If you're heading out there to shop, take a glance through your closet and see what you may be able to donate to The Glass Slipper Project. Aside from getting a head start on your spring cleaning,  as a bonus you'll get a $10 gift cert to Old Orchard stores.

B and I have both donated, and you should too. 

There are so many amazing organizations like this one, for everyday needs and for special occasions of all varieties, including weddings. My sister-in-law recently donated her beautiful wedding gown to The Brides Project, another tremendous organization in Michigan. The Brides Project sells gowns donated by brides or bridal shops and all the profits go directly to the Cancer Support Community for programs and services for people touched by cancer.

If you have beautiful things, count yourself lucky, and when you're done with them, pass them along to someone who can feel lucky to have them, too.

And, if you have 27 dresses hiding in your front closet from all your friend's weddings, stop pretending you're ever going to wear them again, and donate to a girl who will.

wishlist wednesday: florals? for spring?

In the words of Miranda Priestly, this shit is "groundbreaking."

It's understood that we're not anywhere near uncharted fashion territory, but we have certainly curated some very cool pieces. A solid helping of stripes, florals, florals and stripes, a bunny (don't act so surprised), a semi-see-through bag, crochet sneaks, and $300 lucite earrings thrown in for good measure. We would be the happiest of happy campers if this hodge podge of lovely ended up in our closets.

k :: dress :: metallic shorts :: sequin tank :: floral tank :: cork shoesies

b :: perforated bag :: bunny sweater :: earrings :: sneaks :: skirt :: pants

a dose of dose.

This probably isn't breaking news to any of you Chicagoans, but there is now a great way to inject some variety into your weekend on one Sunday each month, and they call themselves Dose. It's a marketplace with various sellers hawking (not to be confused with 'hocking') their merchandise, be it housewares, fashion, food, or miscellaneous, and it's difficult to walk out empty-handed (yesterday's damage: jasmine tea and French macarons, on the tame side because we were so overwhelmed by the amount of goodness). The line-up changes every month, meaning you can justify going every month. Works for us, since there aren't many things we love more than a good justification!

Vendors of note include Babushka Bakery, Mineralogy Jewelry, Dinner Party Shop, Zora Jewelry, and Industrial Evolution. There was also complimentary beer on hand, but it was 10:45 in the morning and we are no longer those carefree and perpetually tipsy girls in Boulder, Colorado. Cue sad face :( We concluded the morning by taking a short stroll along the river (it was 65! and sunny! in March!), and upon B's arrival home Penny insisted she get some relaxing outdoor time as well, so the little princess claimed a deck chair. And ate a small spider.

And so begins another week.

mr. alexis.

Meet Alexis. No, not on the left.. on the right. Don't you know who that is on the left? What's wrong with you?! Sorry, that was rude.. Okay, Iris Apfel (who should probably get her own dedicated post somewhere down the line) is on the left and Alexis Bittar is on the right.

He is a connossieur of the pretty and the lighthearted, and I am completely unable to figure out how we aren't yet best friends forever.

If you were curious, the way to my gaudy, child-of-the-1980s heart is a) bright colors, b) sparkles, and c) metallics. Together.
The inspirations for his new collection are the sad and the fabulous, whereas the stuff he creates is just plain fabulous.

Little Edie and Big Edie of Grey Gardens, the original "GG."

Miss Havisham, another glam recluse. 

Georgia O'Keefe, painter of the Southwest.. among other things.

Speaking of fabulous, this is what we have to look forward to for Summer 2012!

AB does AbFab

I recommend beginning the penny-pinching at this very second so you can start to acquire as many of these mood-elevating and eye-catching beauties as humanly possible. And my birthday is in October, so you have some time to save for that as well.

all other images via pinterest

wishlist wednesday

b: 1. Equipment Silk Shirt   2. J.Crew Toothpick Jean   3. Nixon Chrono Watch   4. Chloé Marcie Bag   5. Lanvin Flats
k: 1. Matthew Williamson Blouse  2. Eddie Borgo Ring  3. CURRENT/ELLIOT Leather Skinny  4. Stella McCartney Clutch  5. Alexander McQueen Heel

The perfect outfit. It's the one you've carefully curated and lusted after ever since.
Ours are chock full of must-haves, amazing prints and fabrics, texture and accents we love.
What makes your perfect outfit complete?

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