Vintage Floral Jumpsuit

Earlier in the month I attended the annual garden party fundraiser for the Belle Isle Conservancy, located at one of my favorite spots on Belle Isle - the conservatory gardens and greenhouse. The purpose of the event was to raise money for projects to benefit the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, an amazingly beautiful place in the warmer weather, but my favorite secret hideaway once the winter months come.

In my opinion, garden parties should be fun and full of whimsy, so when deciding on what to wear, I knew I wanted my outfit to mimic that tone. And nothing says fun and whimsical like a vintage, floral, wide leg, cropped, jumpsuit.

Let's be honest. This jumpsuit is a little ridiculous. It reminds me of the curtains in my grandma's house that she's had since the 60s. Maybe that's partly why I love this. Maybe it's also because I love a good bargain and this jumpsuit was purchased in a vintage bundle at an estate sale where I got 5 pieces for twenty dollars (check out the skirt I scored from the same bundle here). But mainly, I love this ridiculous piece of clothing because it's whimsically unique. And that's exactly the type of outfit to wear to a garden party.

jumpsuit: detroit clothing circle

clutch: stella and dot (similar)

shoes: old target

cuff: nomad collective

Spring Looks

I'm a blue jeans kind of girl. It's what I feel most comfortable in. But there is something about spring that brings out my feminine side and has me reaching for long, flowy dresses.

A couple weeks ago, I teamed up with photographer Remy Roman to shoot a little spring look book on Belle Isle. When styling the shoot, I wanted looks that were bright and springy, but still felt like me (so nothing too girly and no florals). I accomplished that by adding a little edge to the green midi skirt with gladiator heels and a slightly racy black lace top and keeping the white dress pretty simple, letting the accessories (and the surrounding blooms) shine.

My denim will still be an outfit regular (especially my cutoffs this summer), but moving forward I may need to add some slightly more feminine pieces to the rotation.

outfit 1:

skirt: old asos

top: old target

shoes: c/o cynthia vincent

clutch: clare v. 

necklace: stella and dot

cuff: old (similar here)

outfit 2:

dress: revolve

clutch: fashionable

shoes: modern vintage

bracelet: torchlight jewelry 

necklace: pound jewelry via styleshack

Designer Spotlight: Ann Normandy Designs

When I first decided to shift the tone of The Closet Confessional, I was pretty nervous (read about that shift here). Nervous about a lot of perceptions, but ultimately, I was worried about losing connection. Which in hindsight is pretty ridiculous. Because acknowledging and sharing on a deeper level tends to lead to a deeper connection. Sure, there would be people that would disengage. But the people that stayed would stay for something I authentically believed in.

And in the 6 weeks since I shifted this blog, I have connected not only with my readers, but with other creatives with similar beliefs. One of those creatives is designer Kim Collins of Ann Normandy Designs.

Kim reached out to me the day I announced my departure from fast fashion (thank you universe!) and we immediately connected ands started brainstorming collaborations. Ann Normandy Designs is a 9 piece collection, handmade with reclaimed handwoven french linen. The one-of-a-kind pieces are made from antique fabric that was literally started from seed. Talk about slow fashion.

For this post, I borrowed two of her pieces - the white sleeveless shift dress and the short sleeved dress in this incredible indigo color (one of the only non-white items she creates). Both dresses have pockets (total bonus) and are extremely versatile. Either dress could easily go from the beach (pair it with sandals and a straw tote) to dinner with friends (swap out your sandals and tote for heels and a clutch). The versatility and quality of her designs are what make the collection worthy of the investment and pieces that will literally last a lifetime.

According to her website, “After worldwide research of antique and new textiles, Ann Normandy has selected the finest fabrics, small-batch dyed, to ensure that each piece meets our standard of ageless beauty. Constructed with time-honored techniques in the United States. Steeped in a tradition of design and artisan craft, an Ann Normandy garment will be treasured for years to come.”

In short, her designs are meant to last.

Because of the antiquity and rarity of the fabrics used, the price point for her handmade collection is not for everyone. Kim acknowledges this and created a solution by selling her patterns. If you can’t afford the price point but you like the collection and like the design, you can order the pattern and create your own designer piece. And if you can’t sew, Kim encourages you to hire a local seamstress to create the garment for you.

Kim doesn’t just support sustainable fashion with her collection, but supports her local industry as well. And in order to experience that first hand, I’ll be working with Kim to go through the process of creating a garment from scratch, teaming up with Ann Normandy designs and the Detroit Garment Group’s sewing program, Detroit Sewn. So stay tuned for a behind the scenes look of that expereince.

And in the meantime, learn more about Ann Normandy Designs here!

“The grace of her silhouette, an elegant neckline, the clothing a woman chooses should celebrate her unique features not compete for attention.” -Ann Normandy Designs

dresses (both): ann normandy designs

belt: ann taylor loft

bag: fashionABLE

earrings: silpada

sunglasses: pitaya

hat: old, similar

cuff: torchlight jewelry

photography by remy roman

Outfit Post: Romping Around Belle Isle

Between trips to Virginia and the recent heat wave in Detroit, it's been a challenge finding outfits to stay cool. Rompers and jumpsuits are my secret weapon to both staying on trend and battling high temps. I love that this Zara romper is loose and effortless and looks just as good with a casual pair of flats (or in this case, some kick ass gladiators) as it does paired with a blazer and heels.

I'd also like to do a quick shout out to my photographer for these photos, Meghan from MeliaBelle Photography. Earlier this summer I teamed up with Meghan for a fashion shoot on Belle Isle (if you follow me on Instagram, you've seen a sneak peek here, here and here). We had a total blast shooting these - along with help from our hair and makeup team, B's Makeup Artistry - and I look forward to sharing more with you guys soon!

romper: zara (similar here)

sandals: madden girl

ring: stella and dot rebel ring

necklace: similar here

arm band: pitaya (similar here)

Outfit Post: Jungle Fever

This winter is really starting to take a toll on my ability to get suitable outfit posts. Between the limited daylight hours, the snow, and the bone chilling temps, it's nearly impossible to get a decent shot. To solve this issue (and survive the remainder of the winter), I've decided it's time to get creative with my locations.

First up, the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle.

This is one of my favorite (not so secret) secret Detroit spots, particularly in the colder months. Not only is this place the perfect backdrop for a romantic Valentine's date, but its jungle-like temps offer a balmy reprieve from the winter snow.

So grab a date, grab a friend, or just grab a book and go warm up from the sleet and snow.

climb at your own risk - you will get yelled at

tee: express

jacket: theory via tj maxx (similar here)

pants: forever21 (old, similar here)

heels: bcbg via dsw

clutch: target (old, similar here)

earrings: kendra scott

_____

Thanks to my girl, Angela Wolf for joining me in this mini date and taking these photos.

Outfit Post: Belle Isle Picnic

The best part of a picnic-on-Belle-Isle-outfit-post is that you actually get to have a picnic on Belle Isle. Basically it was my sly way of conning the hubby into a romantic date. Win win. (Totally unrelated, but I think my next "outfit post" will involve dinner, drinks, and dancing...)

But the joke was on me. After expressing zero interest in having an actual picnic, B surprised me with a car full of picnic supplies: wine, sunflowers, snacks, and a cozy blanket. He's a keeper.

And to make these photos even more adorable, I stole a second dog (Stole. Dog sat. Same thing). Because the only thing cuter than a waterfront picnic with a puppy, is a waterfront picnic with two puppies.

The things you didn’t see in this post? The swarms of bugs (including the dreaded fish flies), one dog peeing on my purse, and another dog rolling in poop.

This is real life, people. Romance at its finest.

striped top: h&m (similar here)

sweater: h&m (similar here)

shorts: j.crew

sunglasses: ray ban

rings: forever21 and h&m

blanket: nest detroit