Shabby Apple $50 Gift Card Giveaway

Oooh, so fun! Shabby Apple contacted me and wanted to know if I'd be interested in doing a $50 gift card giveaway on my blog. ABSOLUTELY!

I love vintage style dresses and chances are good that you do too! :)

Check out their inspired vintage clothing and leave a comment below (before noon central on Sunday, May 5) with the name of your favorite Shabby Apple item to enter to win! Edited to add: You need to leave a valid email address so that you can be contacted if you win.

Edited to add: There have been some highly suspicious entries so far. You must be a real person and use a real name or leave your email address to be entered to win. I am very suspicious of names that are plays on things like "Very Cool" and "Really Amazing."

US Residents are eligible only and one entry per person, please.

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eShakti Dress Review

I will be honest--I've been interested in eShakti for years but had read some really bad reviews, so I had always been nervous to try them out. Over the past year though, I have seen their dresses pop up all over blogs I love and I began to think maybe things had changed. When they contacted me to review a dress, I was thrilled that I got the chance to try them out!

(Spoiler alert: I love my dress! Be sure to stay tuned for a coupon code at the bottom of the post!!)

eShakti is so unique because they make vintage inspired dresses in sizes 0-36 and you can customize EVERYTHING. You can order your exact measurements, you can change the length of the dress, the sleeves, the neckline, and much more. It's so cool that you can create it the way you want it!

There's also a bridesmaid dress section so that as a bride, you can pick a color or style of dress, and your bridesmaids can get them customized the way they want! If you have a bridesmaid who feels more comfortable with sleeves, or with v-neck, etc, they can all order what they want! And they're way more affordable than most bridesmaid dresses.

I loved my eShakti experience. It was incredibly hard to narrow it down and choose a dress. They have SO many amazing choices and they add new dresses practically every day. You have to act quick if you have your heart set on a particular dress because it might not be available the next day! That happened to me a few times - I dragged my feet and lost out on dresses that I liked. BUT, I found a dress I loved and snapped it up. (The style is available here, but in different colors.)


I'm really into navy these days and kelly green is always a favorite. I picked this dress out (it feels like it's designed to match an Emily Henderson room!)

It's very flattering and the skirt is so full - it feels very "twirly" and fun. I love the green accent around the faux belt and I always love collars on dresses! 

I didn't opt for customization because I'm not a perfectionist and the thought of messing up measurements scared me.

The weather has been too gross for me to wear it out yet but I hope to wear it on Easter if the weather cooperates. For now, here's a lame photo of my dress hanging on a hanger.


I loved eShakti so much that I bought another dress from them! It hasn't arrived yet, but I'm excited for it. I love chambray!

BUT, when I went to the site today, I found this dress that I wish I had gotten instead of the above one. I tell ya - you gotta check the inventory EVERY day!

So, here's where the amazing deal comes in. If you register as a new customer, you get an automatic $25 credit. Stack that with coupon code OWLREALLY (20% off through 4/15/13) and you'll get a great deal! My $60 dress ended up being $37.91 shipped! Pretty good deal!

All in all, I am a new eShakti fan and check the site daily for new dresses. They add such amazing styles every day. It's become a sort of ritual for my friend Dayna and I to send links back and forth of the new dresses we love.

Start shopping!

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Dress Week: Favorite ModCloth Dresses

Browsing ModCloth is a really, really fun way to pass time! I scoped out some of my favorite ModCloth dresses and organized them below. Check them out! (If you're reading in Google Reader, you will need to click through to see them.)

(I'm trying a new affiliate program, so if you click through and buy something, I might make a small percentage back. Just wanted to let you know!)

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Dress Week: Top 20 Vintage Dresses Under $20

Growing up, THE EASTER DRESS was a really big deal for most girls, so the week leading up to Easter, we're celebrating dresses! Each day, I'll be here with some favorite dresses and even an eShakti review - all coming up this week - capped with a vintage family photo Friday of Easters' past!

First up: my top 20 dresses under $20 on Etsy!

1. Colorful Floral Summer Play Dress


2. Vintage 80s Adorable Grunge Mini Rose Dress


3. Floral Button-Down Shirt-Dress


4. Vintage Floral Hippie Mod Dress


5. Vintage 60s Sleeveless Ivory Lace Tunic


6. Orange Shift Dress MOD Knit Vintage Dress with Belt


7. Vintage 60s Yellow Textured Sleeveless Mod Mini Dress


8. Bubblegum Girl Pink & Purple Dress Mod


9. vintage 1960s mod shift yellow polka dot dress


10. Vintage 80s cute baby doll DOLLY square print mini dress S


11. vintage 1980s blue and white dress


12. cute geometric pattern 60s retro pink


13. vintage 1980s lady carol of NY petites striped dress


14. Vintage Fun 60's/70's Neon Housecoat/House dress


15. 1960's green/gold poly knit sleeveless maxidress


16. Vintage 70's Deep V Bohemian WIld Flower Paisley Print Belted Slip Dress


17. Vintage 70s mod hot pink pleated short DRESS


18. Vintage 80s Slouchy Boho Floral Dress


19. 1970's Pink and Grey Floral Cotton Day dress With Pink Piping


20. Floral Zipper Dress


Chcek them out and stay tuned for more dresses this week!

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Favorite Finds 2012: Danavee's Dress!

Wellll, January is almost over so I probably shouldn't still be talking about 2012, but I asked my friend Danavee from This Vintage Grove to tell us about her favorite find of the year and I finally had a chance to post it!

If you haven't checked out her blog yet, you are missing out! Danavee (DV as I call her in my head) is an elementary school teacher with awesome style and a great sense of humor! She never takes herself too seriously, which is one of my absolute favorite qualities in a person! We've been blog friends for about a year and I'm so happy to know her- we chat about anything from our jobs to the Bachelor to how hard re-selling can be!

Danavee totally lucked out and found a gorgeous dress that looks so, so beautiful on her! She tells us about it below! 


Where did you find it?
I found it at a thrift store (which is right behind the antique mall my booth is at)!

What were your first thoughts when you saw it?
I saw a hint of polka dots crammed between tons of dresses. When I pulled it from the rack I couldn't decide if I should turn a cartwheel or dance or cry. I put in on over my clothes right there in the aisle.

So, have you worn it?? 
I haven't worn it yet as we haven't really had the right occasion for me to break it out. However, when I did put it on, it was like it was made for me. I couldn't believe I found a vintage dress in my size!

How does the dress make you feel?
It makes me happy. Right now, it hangs from a decorative hook on my door like a piece of art!

DV (she doesn't really know I call her that), that dress was made for you!! What a find! Read more about the dress on her blog right here!

If you'd like to participate in the Favorite Finds series (it doesn't have to be a 2012 find), just email me and we'll chat it up! Maybe even about the Bachelor! :)

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The Best Brown Leather Vintage Purses Under $20 on Etsy

When Fall strikes, I always get the itch to find a new brown leather purse. Maybe I'll treat myself to one of these - the 18 best brown leather vintage purses under $20 on Etsy! Just click the image to visit the listing!

Happy shopping!

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Friday Fun: Huxtable Hotness

Thanks everyone for your sweet comments about Ollie and being an aunt! Sadly, we didn't get to see him because Staci went back to the hospital to have her foot checked out because it's still swollen. I haven't heard the verdict yet so I'm keeping her in my prayers. It must be stressful to be a new mom and have to deal with medical issues!

Today's Friday Fun post takes us back in time and features one of my favorite TV shows ever. I just discovered a highly entertaining website called Huxtable Hotness, in which the author watches every episode of The Cosby Show and dissects each character's wardrobe.

image source

The members of the Huxtable family made pretty distinct clothing choices and it's fun to look back at them and think about the impact they had on the series. You knew you could always expect to see Cliff's sweaters and college sweatshirts, Clair's classy lawyer outfits, Denise's funky, artistic ensembles, and Theo's trendy teenager look. (Sorry Rudy and Vanessa, your clothes don't really stand out!)

It's also fun to see if any of the 80s clothes could be worn today. Interestingly enough, some of them could. :)

Check out Huxtable Hotness if you're looking to waste a LOT of time and be entertained. :)

P.S. Happy Birthday to Andy!!! I love you and I'm so excited to celebrate with you today!

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Bloggers at the Dress Barn!

Recently, Lisa from My Pretty Baby Cried She Was a Bird emailed a few of us local vintage bloggers because she had been invited to a bloggers' night out at our brand new Dress Barn. None of us really knew what to expect, but we were super excited for the opportunity to all meet! I had met Rae, Rae had met Eartha, and Rae and Lisa had seen each other at estate sales but never met. It was so, so fun to all hang out!

The Dress Barn ladies were super sweet and the new store at Opry Mills (our outlet mall that just re-opened after the flood of May 2010) is beautiful! We had a lot of fun hanging out in the dressing room!

Dressing room shot! Me, Rae, Eartha, and Lisa.

With their purchases! Eartha bought a really cute handbag, Rae got an awesome tiki-style dress, and both Lisa and I picked up some new shades.

Here's Rae with her fun new dress!

We also got to meet Adrienne of What Lola Wants! It was so fun to hang out and be girly!

Lisa recapped our time together here and is giving away a $25 gift card to Dress Barn! Eartha, Rae and Adrienne also wrote about our blogger meet-up!

Have you had a chance to meet any of your blog friends? It's a blast!!

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