I cannot stop clicking over to Moda Operandi to check out this stunning cocktail dress by Carolina Herrera (shown above, while bodega flower shopping, as ya do). It’s pure magic. The lines, the fabric, the print, the nipped waist, the proportion of those dramatic black bows. Perfection. I have already made up my mind, some 20 or 30 years before the event, that I will wear a Carolina Herrera outfit to mini’s future nuptials. I mean, it’s a bucket list thing.
I was similarly stopped in my tracks by this gown from the hot label Markarian (take note! — everyone is very into this label right now!):
Drool.
In the meantime, a couple of other ways to get that dramatic bow shouldered panache for a little less:
THIS PREEN (LOVE THE COLOR CONTRAST)
THIS ATHENA PROCOPIOU (VACATION READY + ON SALE — USE CODE EXTRA20 FOR EXTRA 20% OFF)
A COQUETTISH CINQ A SEPT LOVELY IN AN UNUSUAL (READ: COOL) COLOR (ALSO LOVE THIS LINGERIE-INSPIRED ONE BY THE SAME LABEL ON SUPER SALE)
AN ELEVATED LBD ($103!)
RIGHT-ON-TREND LOVESHACKYFANCY (AHEM, #PRAIRIECHIC)
PLAID HAPPINESS (UNDER $100)
FUN STATEMENT TOP BY AN UP-AND-COMING DESIGNER
CECILIE BAHNSEN VOLUME + VELVET
Finally, my favorite find: a lookalike of that famous bow-shouldered Dolce + Gabanna tile-print dress, but for $129: SHOP TO IT. And imagine yourself boating around the Mediterranean.
P.S. Does anyone else watch the man-soap Yellowstone with grumpy-gruff Kevin Costner? It’s bad-good. But it’s convinced me that Mr. Magpie needs this in the dark green for his fall wardrobe. Actually, I wouldn’t hate it if he just wore Costner’s entire wardrobe, oversized belt buckle included.
P.P.S. I had a productive shopping afternoon last Friday, as you may have seen on my Instastories a few days ago. First, I went to the Alexandre Birman store on Madison Ave to try on those booties I’ve been droning on about. While drooling over them (they are RIDIC — and incidentally, J. Crew has a pair of mules with a similar gunmetal-glitter-chainmail kind of vibe that you should investigate), Ramona Singer from RHONY walked in! AH!!! I was geeking out in a muted, discreet kind of way, and I immediately texted my sister and my BFF to alert them to the fact that she has really good skin. (Maybe we should look into her skincare line?) Then, I visited J. Crew and oh my goodness, their stuff is really good right now. I love this cableknit in the snow white and soft pink — it fits like a dream (chunky but trim?) and the colors are amazing. I also love this bow-front blouse (the slightly puffed sleeve!), this cropped leopard coat, and this balloon-sleeved turtleneck sweater in the mustard.
P.P.P.S. Are you unbridled or tethered and tied?
I have that Iris & Ink dress in navy — it’s adorable but wrinkles sooooo easily! Just a note of warning for anyone who’s interested in it — make sure you have a steamer handy 😉
Love that Carolina Herrera dress and the Markarian option as well. And that Cecilie Bahnsen … oh my. So good. You have a great eye for shoulder-bow pieces!
Oo good caveat on the Iris & Ink!
All of these dresses are SO up my alley 🙂