Last of Summer in a Sweater Dress

I think it was at approximately 4:22 pm this Sunday, September 22nd, 2019, when I realized it was the very last (technical) day of summer. And I got HAPPY.

Am I the only one who sort of loathes summer? I am so so so so SO giddy that the season is turning. Fitting that I am simultaneously watching the Sex and the City episode where Carrie discovers Big is leaving New York and in the intro she talks about the need for a blanket and that moment before the first leaves turn colors… I have been feeling it in the air in the morning at school drop offs the last couple of weeks, and the other night before I closed the patio door and I heard the wind rustling in the trees, I could hear fall blustering in and there is just something different in late September air that is distinct and eery and makes you feel that on-high-alert-feeling when you feel cautious when you think something is going to happen but you aren’t entirely positive. Sort of like walking into a dark room, that’s what this time in September feels like to me.

Husband was planning to take the girls to his mom’s for dinner, and when I got the urge to get dressed for fall, two out of the three of them were happily napping and Rem was bouncing a ball while watching The Nightmare Before Christmas. I just got this amazing pale blue fringed sweater dress back from the dry cleaners on Friday and I knew it was the perfect last-day-of-summer-dress! The powdery blue says summer, the fact that it is technically a knot sweater dress says fall to me. I found this thrifting a week or so ago, and I immediately ran it to the cleaners to see if they could get some yellowing/staining out. They soaked it and most of it had come out, or faded almost entirely but the fringe did get a little matted. I worked on untangling the strings, but I will want to spend a little more time cleaning this up, may need some scissors.

The shoulder pads on it are a little too, TOO, but actually you can’t tell in these photos. It’s also SHEER, but it didn’t stop me from taking it home with me. A nude slip was all it needed, which I had. It is very low cut in the front so I had the perfect little tie tac pin to solve that little problem. I layered up some special necklaces, put big bold brassy gold earrings in, and plopped a blue tie dye hat (also thrifted) on my head. I went sans makeup EXCEPT, I swiped on the most amazing lippie from my friend- Nars “Star Woman.” It was the first time I tried it and I am in love with it! Warning: it is a bit messy and stain-y- but the COLOR! It also FEELS amazing when you slick it on- SO LUXE- I felt very Hollywood! Funny because later I realized it was the Emmy’s today.

I got all gussied up, ready to ring in the new season, and all I did was run to Walgreen’s to print some photos and had my first pumpkin spice latte of the season at Barnes and Noble where I sat and indulged myself with Blanc Magazine. A highlight was when I went back to pick up my photos the Walgreen’s light board read, “Candy corn has arrived!” It made me smile- they get it! I have most definitely already polished off a bag of the candy corn pumpkins. I have the pimple to remember it by. Are you a candy corn fan?

I am not sure the hat was the best sartorial choice, but I just needed a topper, ‘ya know?! I was having a great hair day, but there’s just something about a hat. I’m such a hat person. I love how casual this one is, so it toned down the glam factor a bit. I wore it with tan western-ish booties and grabbed my tiny beaded bag I thrifted as well. The only new thing on me was the shoes and the pimple. Haha.

Did I mention I am excited for fall?! I am excited for more than just the leaves changing colors, the pumpkins and mums adorning porches, the trick-or-treating….so much to look forward to and be happy about, especially with my girls, but I am also into some personal changes and turnover too. I am dead-heading some STUFF internally and hopefully sloughing off some ick. I hope this time it stays gone for good.

I spent the day cleaning the home and it felt SO GOOD. The girls and I pulled out the Halloween decor from the basement that we have collected the last couple of years, and I am excited to add little somethings to those boxes. I think finding one or two special interior decor pieces each season or holiday and adding it to a collection is the way to create lasting, impactful memories with your family. It worked for me and mine! Rem actually reminded me about a strand of ghost lights I had that I had completely forgotten about! I went down to the basement again and sure enough there was a small box and it had the lights and a couple pumpkins that light up, and Halloween books! We read a couple at lunch including Splat the Cat and the Perfect Pumpkin and a vintage one called The Candy Witch- so cute!

It was the perfect send off to summer. Being home bodies, cleaning out lighting some candles, oh and playing dodge ball in our empty front room, haha, and putting on a great red lipstick and a fun dress just to have a PSL and flip through a glossy.

…Glo

Wearing: Vintage dress thrifted from arc Thrift (but look at this very similar light blue sweater dress), hat also thrifted (but look a this blue tie dye bucket hat!), Marc Fisher booties from Nordstrom last year (similar here), and vintage beaded handbag (similar). Red lipstick is Nars!