So Fresh So Floral: Rent The Runway Free Dress Rental

Hello Readers!

Last Friday, I received something very exciting in the mail. But before I tell you what that was, I should tell you a bit more of the story.

Last spring (March 2011) I needed to find a dress to wear to my cousin's (Joe) wedding. I had dresses in my wardrobe, but nothing to wear (so to say). All of the dresses I owned were dresses I had already worn to previous events, but I wanted something new. After a random Google search, I found a website named Rent The Runway, where customers could rent designer gowns (way beyond my price range) to wear to events like weddings for a fraction of the dress' actual cost. A perfect solution for my dilemma.

Since then, I've told friends and family members about Rent The Runway (RTR), but I haven't used their services (although I do check their website on a weekly basis to see what's new). A month or so ago I completed a survey about RTR with the incentive of receiving a FREE surprise dress rental on a weekend TBA. I chose 2 possible weekends and 5 dresses for each weekend, and waited for the email to inform me that my dress (a surprise until I opened the box) was in the mail.

My surprise dress was AMAZING! The RTR stylists did a tremendous job choosing a dress that I loved wearing and a dress that was long enough for long legs! Ready to find out which dress it was?

The So Fresh So Floral Maxi by Shoshanna (Rental, $100; Retail $615)
There really is so much to love about this dress, but the colors are probably my favorite. Shoshanna makes dresses with impeccable patterns and oh-so-alluring colors, patterns and colors I've only admired from afar until this free surprise dress rental from RTR (thank you, stylists!)

I would have loved to wear this dress to a wedding, but since I had no weddings that weekend (or other "special" events) I decided to make a special event of the dress by wearing it to church on Sunday as well as Sunday dinner at my grandparents' house. And I LOVED wearing it! At church I paired it with a cardigan from Zara and a sparkly belt from Anthropologie. My experience with this dress (thanks to RTR) was thoroughly splendid. In the midst of an arduous search for a job, this lovely blue and purple dress showed up on my doorstep to lift my spirits and boost my confidence.

Here are a few pictures of me in this lovely dress! Enjoy!

I love this dress!

The church-appropriate version of the dress (with cardigan)

So Fresh!

The weather was (finally) perfect for a breezy maxi dress!

I look like I'm swimming the butterfly! Subconscious tribute to the Summer Olympics? 

I couldn't stop smiling! 

"The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind. . . "

Thank you, Leslie, for taking these pictures!

Retail Details:
Blue and Purple So Fresh So Floral Maxi Dress: Shoshanna (free surprise dress rental)
Grey and Rhinestone Belt: Anthropologie
Dark Silver 'Chirp' Pumps: Seychelles via Nordstrom Rack

Oh Hey, It's a Giveaway!!! (Heart Brooch by Vane & Joya)

Happy Valentine's Day Readers!

Today, I am proud to present the very first eclectic and elegant giveaway for this blog! Here it is!

This lovely brooch, purchased from the Anthropologie store at the St. Louis Galleria, is absolutely delightful. In honor of this week's holiday, Valentine's Day, I selected this gold-tone heart shaped locket brooch, featuring a solid perfume located in the interior of the brooch.

And what an aroma! This perfume has three layers of notes: the top notes are orange blossom and honeysuckle (these are the first you smell, usually), the middle notes are jasmine, lily of the valley, and honey, and the drydown notes (usually the last scents you notice) are a delightful arrangement of sweet musk accord. It's difficult to articulate scents, but this perfume has the sweet and floral air of what I would imagine a vintage perfume to carry.

SO. . . how do you win this fragrant treasure? Here's how:

-if you do not already have a blogger account, please set one up. That way, I can contact you if you are the winner!

-between now and Friday at 4:00 PM CST/5:00 EST leave a comment after this post with the name of favorite romantic movie. This can be a comedy, a romance, a drama- a movie that you think is romantic.

-on Friday, after the deadline, I will print out a copy of the comments left on this post, cut them into little strips of paper, and put them in a hat. Then I will randomly draw a name from that hat to select a winner.

-on Saturday morning I will repost the winning comment and attempt to contact the winner for their mailing address, and then send their prize early next week.

I look forward to hearing about your favorite romantic movies readers! Good luck!

what lovely and lively details!

orange blossom, honeysuckle, jasmine, lily of the valley, honey, sweet musk accord- yum!

Giveaway Tomorrow!!!

Readers,

The time is near. Tomorrow, and the rest of the week I will be running a giveaway. I still won't say what this lovely giveaway is, but it is something special from my favorite store, and the item has something to do with Valentine's Day.

Back when I was in undergrad, at Greenville College, I would often find myself watching Oprah. It wasn't a daily ritual, but if I was flipping through the channels and her show was on, I would watch it. There was an episode (or a type of episode), however, that I couldn't miss- when Oprah would give away her favorite things to the audience. Wouldn't that be great to be in the audience the day that she gave away her favorite car, or favorite jewelry? I think there was one favorite things episode where she gave away some sort of spa retreat too- that would also be a great favorite thing to receive.

Anyways. . . I am not Oprah, and I cannot give away all of my favorite things to all of you, but can give away one of my favorite things to one of you.

Tomorrow I will reveal this giveaway and the contest details. Keep your eyes peeled readers!