Finding dresses for your bridal party can be stressful. There are so many things to take into consideration like pleasing everyone and finding something to flatter all the body types. Last summer one of my best friends, Shelby, got married in a beautiful spot in Northern California. She asked me to be her Maid of Honor so I was with her every step of the Bridesmaid Dress hunting process. She knew from the start she wanted us to wear pretty purple dresses so we set out to find the perfect one.
We started at a local Bridal Boutique where they had just about every color dress you could imagine. It was a bit difficult because the sample dresses were in random colors so we’d find one we liked but then have to imagine how it would look in purple since it was always a different color.
One issue with getting a dress from a bridal shop was time. The dresses had to be ordered at least six months in advance so they could arrive and then be altered to fit each girl. Also, the dresses in those shops are usually priced around $200-$300 and then another $100 for alterations which is not ideal for a dress that you likely will never wear again.
After we hit a few bridal boutiques we decided to check out some department stores. Our first stop was Nordstrom and to our surprise they had a new bridal shop in their dress department! Stocked with plenty of cute bridesmaid dresses, accessories, lingerie, shoes and even wedding gowns! We started going through the racks and eventually decided on the purple Donna Morgan chiffon number.
Not only was our dress affordable, ($158) all five of the bridesmaids loved it and I plan on shortening mine and wearing it again.
I found some similar dresses that would also be cute for bridesmaids.
It was such a beautiful day and we all had so much fun dancing in our dresses.
I’m calling this look broken down chic because I was wearing it when we got a flat tire last week. It was a busy day for AAA so we made the most of it and snapped some pics.
If you ever get stranded anywhere with car troubles, being in a nice neighborhood by the ocean is ideal.
forever 21 dress (similar) and necklace, BP cardigan, aldo wedges
Spring is one of the prettiest times in Los Angeles because everything is in bloom and all the green is even greener. I love wearing green and it’s even better up against a vivid green back drop.
This top has a vintage boho feel so I put on my trusty bell bottoms and slid my mom’s vintage bangle up my arm.
urban outfitters top, forever 21 jeans, vintage bangle
If your summer is anything like mine it’s packed with graduations and showers and Birthday parties. It’s such a fun time of year but can sometimes be overwhelming when trying to find the perfect dress for every special occasion. I put together a summer dress collage to give you some inspiration for your next event.
Remember months back when Target collaborated with Missoni and introduced most of the country to the vibrant zig zags fashionistas had coveted for decades? How could you forget?? The website crashed, angry housewives brawled in the aisles, and most people left with more scratches than merchandise. I had to work that day so I sent my mom to her nearest Target in Orange County as soon as the doors opened. Unfortunately there was already a huge crowd and she was unable to obtain the majority of my ridiculous wish list.
While I did get a few things, I began to notice other stores were riding the coat tails of the Missoni craze and I happily climbed on board. This dress is the perfect example.
gucci sunglasses, forever 21 dress, brass plum bracelet, aldo shoes
ABOUT ASHLEY
I'm Ashley, a professional stylist, wife, and (almost) mom, sharing my love of fashion, beauty, home decor, travel, and life in sunny Southern California!
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