What I Wore: Navy with Black

I love a good shirtdress, and when this shirtdress from the Girl With Curves clothing line arrived in my latest Dia & Co box, I was psyched. After trying the dress on, I was ecstatic.  This is a fantastic dress for many reasons.

Dress: Girl With Curves c/o Dia & Co (1X) | Earrings: Jenny Bird | Bag: Allyn Tote c/o Dagne Dover | Boots: Ros Hommerson (similar)

I heard about this collection from Tanesha Awasthi, the woman behind the blog Girl With Curves, but I hadn't tried it nor had anyone I knew. The Girl With Curves clothing line is available in sizes 12-32 exclusively through Dia & Co. Dia & Co is a plus size clothing subscription service where you receive a curated box of clothing and accessories each month. Shipping is free both ways, and you only pay for what you wish to keep.  With this link, you can choose a Girl With Curves box, and when you apply you can ask for specific items from this line in your box.  This link describes the entire Fall 2017 collection and shows it on a variety of heights and shapes of women.

This is the kind of dress I love having in my closet because it's so versatile. It's similar to the Simply Vera Vera Wang for Kohl's dress I featured on the blog last year and have worn many times IRL. The chiffon overlay is appropriate for the office, but can glam up for a night out or even a day wedding.  Switch up the look by changing the self belt for one in leather, a printed oblong scarf, or a beaded ribbon.  This dress has a separate slip inside that is tank style, not spaghetti straps, so it covers your bra and stays in place. The high-low hemline isn't too trendy, and adds drama when you walk and move around. And hello pockets! To winterize it, pair with fleece tights, tall boots, and a Thermaskin tank underneath. Come spring, style with ankle boots or pumps. And that old rule of not pairing navy with black is no longer valid; in fact the combination can look quite chic!

This is not the first time I've featured Vigilante Coffee in Hyattsville, Maryland on the blog.  It was previously seen in this blog post, this blog post, and this blog post.  It's a favorite of the whole family (Emerson adores their chocolate croissants and that they offer ice cream).  Often indie coffee shops and roasteries can feel intimidating; Vigilante is a sunny, welcoming place with super friendly staff who are thrilled to share their knowledge and help you find the right drink or snack. Not only do they roast their own coffee right there in the middle of all the tables, but they offer classes to help you understand coffee, and brew or order the perfect cup.