Red White & Blue Garden Party with the Crisscross Dress

Red White & Blue Garden Party with the Crisscross Dress by JCAUNCMom

Before my Mickey card expired I broke my shopping ban and found a few unexpectedly fun items at my B&M this weekend. One such item was the much-discussed, often disliked Crisscross Dress (size S; I could have done the XS but they didn't have it, and the fabric's kinda forgiving in either sizing direction.)

I know YMMV, but with my broad shoulders (and even with me being short-waisted), the dress is really cute and flattering on me all by itself.  IRL pics coming soon, cross my heart.  But my PS sealed the sale by pairing it (to me, surprisingly) with the Schoolboy Eyelet Blazer in crisp white. With the blazer sleeves gently pushed up, the two are really an adorable combo and both went home with me.  I'm going to have a tiny hook & eye put into the X-bodice of the dress to keep the neckline secured.

So I'm going to cycling class at 6:00 but stole 15 minutes to just play around online with this dress, and found some terrific ruby patent-leather shoes, bag, sunglasses and a wonderful necklace and bracelet (I'd wear one or the other, not both) from the new spring line at White House Black Market. Add a cute J. Crew summer straw hat and I'm ready for a July 4th garden party!

I also own the very low-vamped ("cleavage" ;-)) Salina patent ballet flats from '08 in the bright red color (not a ruby-red like these accessories), and I think they'd be quite cute with the dress (with or without the jacket), the WHBM bracelet and some simple silver hoop earrings.  A more casual, very retro '50's look wearing the cinch-waisted V-neck swingy dress and flats, n'est ce pas?