Striped Ruffle Hem Dress

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Happy New Year! I hope you are all as excited as I am about the year ahead. I love new beginnings and the start of a new week, a new season, and especially a new year. It’s a great time to make new goals and to reflect on the past year. While doing some deeper reflecting, I started to think about my best purchases of 2017. I wanted to share one with you all today as well as my answer to a question I asked myself for a long time before purchasing and now that I’ve been asked: Are the Stuart Weitzman boots worth it?

I’ll get to that in a second, but for now, lets talk a little bit about this dress. I love classic black and white stripes and this dress immediately caught my eye. I love that it’s a wrap dress, the tie detail, and the ruffle hem. I also love that it had sleeves and was on the shorter side! It is slightly low cut, so I threw a black lacy bralette underneath. I liked the way the length of this dress looked with the OTK boots. I paired it with this patent burgundy bag that I absolutely love. It’s a rich color that is perfect for these colder months! I topped off the look with some simple, dainty jewelry (my current fav), and my round sunnies, which I think give any look a cool, laid back, retro vibe.

I’ve been back and forth on pulling the trigger on these OTK boots. The past several years, I’ve wanted them and bought a more budget friendly pair time and time again instead. Every year, like clockwork, I get rid of the pair from last year and start the search for another good replica. I’ve yet to find one that holds the test of time. I’ve found some that look VERY similar, but the fit is the hard part to replicate, as is of course the quality. I basically stalked the internet until I found these on major sale so I could justify it more. You all know I’m all about cost-per-wear (CPW) with my purchases and these have already proven to me that I’ll be getting my money’s worth. By now, I could have just bought this pair and had them for a few years. Especially because a good shoe cobbler can make any pair stand the test of time.

Do I think they are worth the splurge? I absolutely do. I thought I might get them in, try them on and wonder what all the fuss was. That is so not what happened! haha. I loved them and found myself wanting to wear them with every look. They are really comfortable, too. Even my photographer noticed a difference with these and said they just look better and fit better. My vote is to find them on sale like I did. Check back here regularly. I stalked this site until I found my size and then I waited for an additional % off when they were having a big sale. Also, look for them on eBay!

If they are still just too much of a splurge for you, I totally get it and never fear! There are still some amazing options available that will get you through the year and maybe one day you’ll be able to get them if you still want them! My favorite ‘dupe’ options are below.

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Keep eyeing my Instagram stories because I will continue to share any deals on the Weitzman OTK boots I find. I already want another pair because I just love them oh so much.

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I have the rest of this week off, so I’ll be enjoying the time to sleep in a little, get in some workouts with my favorite trainer, run some errands and reorganize some things around the house, and get caught up on blog work. I am brainstorming a lot of the content I want to share with you all this coming year. I have so many great ideas! If there is anything you all want to see, be sure to reach out and let me know. I love the suggestions some of you have already sent in! One thing I really want to get back to sharing is recipes. To be honest, I’ve struggled with photographing food to fit the style of my Instagram, which I know is something I probably care more about than you all. I like my feed to look a certain way, so that is something I’m going to work on to share with you all because I know you want it!

I usually do a Whole 30 in January and I’ll be starting that either this coming Sunday or Monday before I go back to work. I want to enjoy my time off and that may mean a little indulging here and there. I shared yesterday with you all on Instagram that I had toyed with the idea of doing another Master Cleanse over the weekend before my Whole 30 starts to really detox and get a jumpstart, but I’m not fully committed to that yet, so stay tuned. haha

I hope all of your weeks and your new years are off to a great start!! Oh, and if you want a chance to win $1,000 to Nordstrom, be sure to check out this photo on my Instagram feed! XO