Red Roses and Golden Acorns

This has to be one of my most favorite fall dresses, I couldn't wait any longer to wear it! The tale of this dress began here, when I first debuted it back in spring 2014 after having hemmed it way too short. Luckily I was able to sew back on some length from the leftover fabric and wore it last fall (seen here). Grabbing that first link from March of 2014, all I have to say is: yikes, those photos are scary! Grainy and all kinds of awful! So glad I convinced my mom to be my photographer soon after that! Also I think those photos of this same dress at its shorter length just serve to prove my constant point to everyone in my life that I don't look good in anything shorter than below the knee length! Proportionally longer hemlines are just essential on my frame. The difference in how flattering the same exact dress is almost startling to me! Just goes to show how a relatively simple thing can make a huge difference.

This time I styled the dress without the orange sash and with lighter stockings, the same shoes reappeared again though! I'd love a pair of dark rust orange 20's leather t-straps, but alas I have never seen such a thing! I also tossed on my big faux fur shawl. I actually have two similar shawls, this dark brown one and another in light beige-ish champagne. For a long time I never knew where I could go to get nicer (aka actually soft and pretty) faux furs, but it turns out my favorite fabric shop (Colorado Fabrics, for those who may be local) has a whole section of them tucked in an out of the way corner. I made a nice collar out of a faux silver fox last year that has seen a lot of wear and I'd love to make another such collar this year as a DIY post for you all. I love the glamorous and luxurious look and feel of fur, but of course only go faux these days. I talked a bit more about my relationship with fur in this post.

The ring I am wearing in these photos is something you won't see me sporting often, as I am quite terrified of losing it! It was my grandmother's (my dad's mom) and I had never even seen it until after both she and my grandpa had past away. My birthstone is ruby so my dad thought it should go to me. The stone apparently isn't actually a ruby, though it is a very strong red color. When I had it sized at the jeweler I asked if it was a ruby and he said no, and I asked if it was glass and he said no, and then he said he didn't know what it was! I am still in the dark! The delicate gold setting is definitely art deco and I wonder when my grandmother got it as she was born in 1929. I wish I had seen it before she'd past away so I could have asked her for the story. I often wish I had talked about fashion a lot more with my grandma when she was alive. I am sure that is a common thought amongst granddaughters the world over. It is one of the only pieces of "real" jewelry I own, and I treasure it so much because it belonged to her.

Anyways, the best thing about the day I shot these photos was that it actually felt properly fall outside for the first time this year. It was actually chilly and grey, I needed my cozy shawl! I am so excited that real sweater weather has finally arrived! Bring on the wool!

Dress: Made by me
Faux Fur Shawl: Made by me
Necklace and Earrings: Forever 21
Bracelets: Vintage
Ring: Inherited from my grandmother
Hair Comb: Vintage
Shoes: Urban Outfitters (painted gold by me)