After an emotional day, it's easy to throw on a pair of boyfriend jeans, but let's face it: Denim is the mashed potatoes of fashion. A go-to? Absolutely. But like mashed taters, jeans are obvious, lack elegance and you can pretty much pair them with anything. Sometimes after a rough day you just need to feel....pretty.
The day these photos were taken Jonathan and I had a fight. Not just a little tiff, but a full on, don't talk for hours misunderstanding. I'm aware it is a faux pas to discuss personal matters on the world wide webs (personal matters that have any sort of negative connotation anyway, because after all we are all leading picturesque drama-free lives) People come here to escape, and it could be considered classless to air your dirty laundry on the internet. Which is why I won't go into any detail except to share these two things: 1. The happy ending (not that kind, you pervs!) 2. My style revelation.
Thankfully after 7 years together, we've figured out when to walk away and when to come back level headed and discuss rationally, egos aside, what the ef is going on. Truths get told, vulnerabilities are revealed and what's left is a simple fact: we love each other endlessly through it all. We are our number 1 priority, and each of us would not be who we are without the other. There is nothing more satisfying than coming to this place after a disagreement with someone you love. It's peaceful and safe.
You and/or they were being a dick/were scared/were insecure/were being selfish/or what-have-you, and you still love each other. In fact you love each other more, because between the two of you, you've created enough trust to share your fears and show even the weakest sides of yourselves.
After our resolution, we went for a walk in the park and then had an impromptu date night. I wanted to feel pretty...fast. Denim wasn't going to cut it, but I was in no mood for a fuss. I immediately went for this dress. I love the simple things in fashion that are just so elegant and comfortable. In them, you feel amazing just sitting on a porch barefoot or they can be thrown on with a messy pony tail and a few accessories and BOOM! Instant classic beauty vibe a la Grace Kelly.
Colorful vintage dresses, kaftans, pearls, a swipe of red lipstick...these things are to fashion what a great pasta dish is to cooking. It's not just comfort that counts with a great cotton vintage dress, although it is always there. Like pasta, with these things there is always an opportunity for complexity, but they maintain their simplicity, their comfort and their inevitable elegance.
What easy, elegant pieces do you have in your closet?
yes, it is a faux pas, but i understand what you mean about walking about until ppl have calmed down. the older i get, the more i realize how much time our brains need to process stuff, and to decide how we feel about things (and to calm down) so we can continue the discussion rationally.
ReplyDeleteaside from all that, damn! what an awesome dress! That symmetrical photo where you are centred between those two windows is amazing!! lovely red lippy too :D
love the dress,you look beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteI love this dress so much! I'm so glad you were able to handle things well with your loved one. It's so important to know when to walk away. Also, I like that you share your personal life here. It adds to your blog and makes me happy I'm following. =]
ReplyDeleteKate from Clear the Way
I SERIOUSLY WANT YOUR DRESS!!!!!!! O_O It's impeccable!!! I think I stopped breathing for a while when I saw it *_*
ReplyDeleteGlad you sorted out everything with hubby. I've lived with mine for 3 years now, and whenever we fight (which is always for a stupid reason) we tend to go all crazy :D
Love all the textures in these shots. a bit like textures in a relationship, thing are complicated and simple also.
ReplyDeleteSimona Lake&Moon
Loved hearing your honesty here! Definitely why I love reading your blog... everything is not rosy all the time and everyone fights! Love the dress and those shoes.
ReplyDeletea little bit of real life is okay. i do it, too. we are human after all and that's what i enjoy reading...real human experiences. and, that dress is fabulous! seriously, gorgeous.
ReplyDeletexo
n
this dress is a dream on you! and love that you are wearing red lips - they make everything POP!
ReplyDeletexxx
Lady à la Mode
I adore the fact that you are being real.. and way to go on sticking through things and talking it out... taking care of each others heart is the only thing that matters! You look gorgeous.. and totally diggin the Grace Kelly vibe...
ReplyDeleteHope
hchdesigns.blogspot.com
I think the stronger couples know when to walk away and when to come back :)) you look absolutely stunning! And the piece that always makes me feel better or pieces I should say is a silk blouse with cutoffs :)
ReplyDeleteBrooke @ what2wear
Oh, my dear Ashley- I wish I lived closer as I truly believe we would be pals!!! LOVED this post- and I agree with you about everything here. spot on. And love your classics- I LOVE cotton dresses (vintage & non-vintage alike), a red/bold lip, & for me- classic pumps. You look fantastic in this dress- loving the mixed prints. XO!
ReplyDeleteCourtney
http://cupcakeobsessions.blogspot.com
My easy pieces are always dresses. No need to worry about matching a top with a bottom!
ReplyDeleteI always have to resist the urge to turn my blog into LiveJournal. People love drama, but it just doesn't seem to be the style for blogs. Like you said, we gotta keep up appearances! Plus, isn't it better to focus on the positive and perfect aspects of your life anyway? No one wants to hear about my messed up feet and I don't want to think about them!
Thanks for sharing. Walking away is always so hard to dooo. But I do feel like it helps resolve the issues much quicker. Anyways, stunning dress. That print is perfect.
ReplyDeletehttp://halielandry.blogspot.com/
OMG that is the worst! Whenever I fight with my boo I just feel like the world is ending...but like you said, it always boils down to lovin' each other at the end of the day. This dress is a PERFECT post-fight dress. You look SO pretty, just effortlessly pretty as a peach. I am the same way...when shit gets bad get me into a vintage cotton dress!
ReplyDeletexoxo Britt
This post totally gave me deja vu- a few days ago my boyfriend and I got into a big argument only to begin crying on each others' shoulders and saying how much we love each other. Afterwards we went on a long bike ride and discussed our future and how excited we are to make more memories together. We've been dating for over two years and I definitely think it can be easy to get into a fight with someone you know so well. But it's important to always see things from the other person's perspective, take a breath, and ask yourself why you're even fighting in the first place! I'm glad you two made up and ended up feeling closer than ever! You seem like a very sweet couple!
ReplyDeleteXo, Hannah
sweetsweetnoir.net
I love how your outfit choices have stories behind them and I love how open you are-so refreshing!
ReplyDeletewww.monadot.net
Great post! It's always nice to read people going through similar things. Me and my boyfriend have been together for 8 years now and luckily don't fight a lot. But sometimes you just need a fight to clear the air and realize how much you love each other!
ReplyDeleteThat dress is very pretty! If I want to feel pretty and don't have a lot of time to pick something, I always go for a dress as well.
xoxo Iris
A DASH OF FASH
This is such a cute dress, I love it!
ReplyDeleteVictoria,
'The Wind of Inspiration' blog
This dress is completely lovely, meat not mash! ;) I know exactly what you mean with the arguments too, luckily me and my boyfriend don't argue too often anymore but we know how to fix it if we do :)
ReplyDeleteMaria xxx
These photo's are so beautiful and the story behind it even more :) I think the best relationships are the ones where you can have a fight and then you both just realize you were having it for a stupid reason (or can't even remember what it's about) and just have a laugh about it afterwards. I think it's true we don't like to share our dirty laundry on the internet but sometimes we just need to breathe (we're not perfect robot's after all). Stunning dress! I think it's an instant hit, you look amazing
ReplyDeleteamazing dress!
ReplyDeleteYou look really really beautiful here. I hope Jonathan was behind the camera, because that would make these all the more special.
ReplyDeleteIt's so reassuring that you shared that you go through ups & downs. When I eventually enter a relationship (let's just pretend for a second that I'm not a 23 year old w/ the emotional maturity of one 20 years younger), I hope to be as awesome as you two.
The animal print shoes are blowing my mind. Blowing. My. Mind.
Thanks for this post. made my night.
-Gab