Personally, I’ve never identified as a trend-setter or a trend-follower. I sort of always have done my own thing (which, unless you’ve only happened upon me, you know to be a serious bent toward 1950’s Dior New Look, with a twist of sky high heels and a heap of glitter). This has afforded me the luxury of being somewhat impassive when it comes to the new “It Girl” accessory or must have handbag.
Admittedly, I can definitely take this to the extreme. Once something becomes popular and coveted by a majority, I almost like it less. It’s like that guy you knew in college who always says things like, “I loved that band, until they went mainstream” (actually, I married that guy). But, I do hate the idea of acquiring something that is popular, because I love cultivating a style that is uniquely mine.
Well, a couple of few years ago, a certain dress blew up the internet. It showed up everywhere – on bloggers, on celebrities on the red carpet. And I (true to form) managed to stay fully indifferent. But, it doesn’t surprise me at all that, the minute the frenzy died down and no one was scrambling for that certain piece, was the exact minute it came on my radar.
Ladies and Gents: Meet the infamous Strawberry Midi Dress by Lirika Matoshi.
This stunner of a dress was definitely an investment, but worth every penny. Because it caused such a fashion stir, I know there are MANY dupes out there. But, I’m glad I went for the original because it is truly spectacular. Made of layers and layers of soft pink tulle netting, with an overlayer of ruffle-edged tulle that is speckled with what appears to be hand-stenciled glitter strawberries. The puff sleeves add a bit of fairy tale glamour, with a defined waist that can be cinched tighter with the waist ties.
I went with the size M (I’m 36″ bust/28″ waist, which fits squarely in their M size range). It ended up being pretty perfect, if a smidge short waisted (which is a common problem for me). My cup also runneth over, so even though many a lovely lady can wear this sans brassiere, the open neckline was a little too plunging for me. But, I found the perfect cami at Boden which actually looked like it was made for the dress and meant I could wear a bra with it. But, if you’re feeling bolder than I, I love the femininity of the open bodice and ruffled edges.
What really got me about this dress was the tiny details that make all the difference (and I would guess are absent from the multiple attempts to copy the design and sell at a lower price point). The abundant five layers of tulle in the skirt under the strawberry overlay. The ruffles inside the puff sleeve that makes them fairy tale full. The perfect invisible zipper. As a sewist, I know the effort of convincing so many yards of tulle through a sewing machine, and this was made with love and perfection. Even though there is a minor issue with glitter fallout, I kind of feel like that adds to the magic. And I like the idea of leaving a trail of glitter in my wake….
If strawberries aren’t your jam (see what I did there?), they do have a few other fruity versions of this dress on their website – in lemon, cherry, blueberry, and watermelon. There’s also a darker version of the strawberries if pink feels too girlie. I was personally eyeing up that cherry one and went back and forth between it and my strawberry version, but decided to stick with the OG for now. This is most certainly an investment piece, but you just can’t top the quality. I was lucky enough to snag my dress in the sales, so if it’s too far outside the budget, definitely keep an eye on their website and IG.
I always welcome a little bit of fairy tale glamour into my week. Life of a Professor and a Scientist at the start of a new semester can be a little grueling (and the students all still look a little terrified of me). But, clothing has always been the way I find my way back to myself. Back to the good. To serve as a reminder that we are worthy of the beautiful things. That This Too Shall Pass.
So, I’m off to educate. If you need me, just follow the trail of glitter…
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Cami: Boden, in light beige
Dress: Lirika Matoshi
Necklace: Betsey Johnson (similar)
Bracelet: Kate Spade (similar)
Handbag: gift (similar)
Shoes: Miss L Fire, gift (similar here & here)
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Any items marked with a “c/o” (courtesy of) a retailer mean I was provided with an item for free in exchange for a review and/or feature on my blog. I always provide my honest opinion of any item I’m reviewing, regardless of whether it was sent to me as a courtesy item or if I purchased it myself. In addition, this post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links or ads on this site, I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase at no cost to you, which helps with the day-to-day running costs of my blog.