**After Dark**

“I’ve seen the world, lit it up, as my stage now.  Channeling angels in a new age now.  Hot summer days, rock and roll, the way you play for me at your show.  And all the ways, I got to know, your pretty face and electric soul.” – Lana Del Ray, “Young and Beautiful”

So, it happened.  You are now in the deep end of things.  That point when you know you have found what you’ve been looking for your entire life.  That person that makes you wonder how you made it this far without.  Everyday is a fairytale and you wish that every moment could be frozen in time.  Ok… enough of the Nicholas Sparks vibes lol!  We all know how great it feels to be in love (with the RIGHT person I have to add.) Everything is off the wall amazing during this time and you literally can’t wait to share every second with this person!  If you find yourself madly in love with someone during Valentines Day, I say “go big, or go home!”

As you continue to get to know me better you will come to realize that I have a slight obsession with peacocks (spec. male!)  I honestly believe them to be the most magical and mesmerizing creatures on the planet.  As a child, I remember my aunt owning this stunning black velvet clutch with a peacock embroidered on it.  I used to beg her for it as a kid and of coarse her answer would always be no, haha!  She wore it on her wedding day and I remember dreaming of doing the same! Needless to say she passed it down to me which I can remember being one of the most emotional moments of my life.  I had it completely restored and can’t wait to pass it down to one of my nieces as well ❤

Which brings us to this look!  Saw this dress scroll across my face while I was on Skype one day and right away got an idea in my head.  I am a hopeless romantic and have a very old soul.  I often think I was meant to be born in a different era.  One where dressing up was the norm, not the unexpected.  I love the parts of Detroit that contain real history and make you feel like you are a part of something great.  Cliff Bells is one of those places for me.  It’s one of the last standing places in the city that give you real Detroit feels.  Fantastic food mixed with a bit of this little thing they call jazz makes this place a perfect venue for Valentines Day or even just a special date night.  It is truly as Detroit as you can get ❤

I remember an episode of Sex and the City when Carrie and Big go to a Jazz club called the “Monkey Bar’ where she wore this oversized tulle dress with a cardigan and pumps.  My inspo for this look came partially from that as well.

Instead of wearing it as a dress, I decided to give the bottom half the most attention.  I put a leather bustier over the top part of the dress and added a fitted blazer so that it didn’t give off prom vibes.  Simple stud earrings, some eye catching shoes and my most meaningful bag tied it all in together!  If you want to replicate the look, shop here:

Dress – here

Bustier – here (Similar)

Blazer – here (Similar)

Pumps – here and here (My seamstress made my ankle bows out of taffeta.  I wanted to be able to wear them with a few different styles so she made me ones separate from the shoe 😉 ).  I’ll say it again… having a good seamstress is life changing!

Bag option – here

**Side note.  Don’t always feel so confined to whats “trending” and what’s “in style.”  Sometimes just do whatever the hell you want!  Whether that means dressing up ripped jeans or wearing a full tulle skirt to dinner.  Life is too short to worry about what anyone else thinks of you 😉

If you have any other questions about this look, please feel free to send me a message!  Happy shopping 😉