Happy Wednesday, ladies!
What better way to celebrate the middle of the week than with a little shopping, right? You’ve gotta treat yourself somehow!
Now, I think I am the last person in the world to own a maxi dress, and I am really kicking myself for waiting this long. In fact, when I was raving to my sister about this particular Mint Julep Boutique Love You Always Maxi Dress last week, she reminded me a mere four years ago I once told her I thought that maxi dresses made people look like they were from colonial times.
But after giving my first maxi dress a try this month, I quickly saw the error of my ways. After wearing a long dress in a wedding last December and to the Taste of the South Gala a few weeks ago, I fell in love with how elegant and flattering long dresses could be. I’ve always had a mix of formal and casual cocktail-length dresses, so why not add the same variety of formality to my long dress collection, too?
This whole thing came about when The Mint Julep Boutique reached out to me a few weeks ago asking if I wanted to collaborate on a spring outfit post. Now let me be transparent—the Mint Girls*, as they call themselves, let me pick any item from their site for review. I jumped on the chance because I think they curate some of the best clothes out there that you can’t find elsewhere. Don’t get me wrong, I love places like Nordstrom, J Crew, and LOFT, but sometimes you just want to buy a dress and know five other girls at the event are going to have it, too. And when I need a unique piece, I find myself going back to their website time and time again. Plus, even though they are online-only boutique, they are so helpful. On each item description, they tell you if the fabric has any stretch and provide a sample sizing chart. You can also give them a call or shoot them an email and they can help direct you toward the right size.
That being said, I get pitched a lot of collaborations that I turn down because I don’t think they resonate with my brand or what you like about A Touch of Teal. Some recent rejections include—a jewelry shop that only sells jewelry with skulls, a company that wanted to send me a faux engagement ring, and a non-FDA approved teeth whitening kit. But I took this collaboration because I really do love, and trust the quality of, The Mint Julep Boutique’s products.
(*I first met the Mint Girls at the Southern Blog Society Conference last year.)
Since I was getting an item en gratis, I really wanted to move outside my comfort zone and decided a maxi dress was the perfect fashion frontier for me. I looked at several on their website—I loved this one, this one, this one, and this one—but ultimately settled on this Love You Always Maxi since the navy and white make it such a classic piece, while the skirt on the dress is only partially lined, adding a unique element.
The one thing I think that is hard about maxi dresses is what makes them maxi dresses: the length. I’m 5’4″, so I need a maxi dress on the shorter side, where as my best friend M, who’s 6’0″ would need one on the taller side. Luckily for me, with my favorite pair of high heel sandals, this particular maxi dress was the perfect length. I can’t wait to find more engagement parties, bridal showers, and brunches to wear it to this summer!
*** SHOP THIS POST ***
Mint Julep Boutique Love You Always Maxi c/o
J Crew Factory High Heel Sandals
Sideways Cross Bracelet
Forever 21 Ring Set
Target Crossbody—similar here, here, and here
Revlon Lipstick in Cherries in the Snow
Illesteva Leonard Sunglasses
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Photos by Monica Dutia
I LOVE this dress!!! It’s so cute! Maxi dresses are my favorite way to be comfortable and still look fashionable!
Thanks Brittany! I could not agree more :]
Oooooooh this dress is so pretty! I LOVE maxi dresses – it’s actually kind of absurd how many I own. I just keep buying them nonstop! But they seriously are so practical – I love wearing dresses to the office in summer, but sometimes it gets freezing in here! So maxi dresses help me look cute, but also give me juuuuust the right amount of coverage for warmth.
xx Lauren
Thanks so much, Lauren! I know this is my first of many. That is such a good idea to wear them to the office.
This is a really lovely look, so simple but really chic too! I do love a floaty skirt!
Lottie xx
http://lottielamour.co.uk
Thanks lady! xo
That maxi dress looks beautiful on you! What a pretty color!
Thanks, Cara! xo
Great dress! I love how it’s sheer at the bottom!
Thank you! xo
That maxi is so gorgeous! And I love your sunglasses and lipstick color. 🙂
xo Brie
http://www.sophistifunkblog.com
Thank you so much! xo
I LOVE Mint Julep Boutique! I have quite a few items from them that I wear all the time. And that maxi is so cute! I love them because you don’t have to worry about shaving your legs (the truth comes out!), but mine tend to drag on the ground because I’m only 5’3 and refuse to wear heels at work. Oh well! I love ’em anyways.
Can’t wait to check out some more of their Spring collection! 🙂
YAY! I am glad there is a fellow fan out there :] HAHA that is such a good reason to wear a maxi dress. This one dragged on the ground when I didn’t wear heels, but you know, us short girls gotta deal it.
This is so cute! I used to be OBSESSED with maxis and then found myself being burnt out from them. I think it’s just about time to break them out of hiding!
Xx Taylor
http://lightscameracatwalk.com
Thank you so much, lady! I am sure you can rock a maxi with the best of them.
First of all – I LOVE the transparency here. I don’t think everyone understands the amount of “no’s” that many of us have to give out in order to find those great brands and projects to work with.
Second – that maxi skirt is STUNNING!
Jackie
Something About That
Yes! I am so glad you relate :] It’s nice to get free stuff, I am only human, but I also understand I have a brand and I want to respect that!
Loving this dress! Mint Julep has the cutest stuff.
xoxo, Jenny
Thanks J!
In love with all of your accessories!
xo, Skylar
http://www.styledbyskylar.com
Thanks Skylar!
Love the sheerness, this is an adorable dress! Love that shade of blue too!
Thanks Melanie! x
I love this dress! Sometimes maxi dresses can still make you feel a bit warm but that super light material looks perfect for summertime! That bag is so cute too!
Thanks so much! Could note agree more! xo