[sponsored post] eShakti Hummingbird Dress

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by eShakti.com.  However, all opinions and photos are my own! 

Recently, I was contacted by a representative of eShakti with the opportunity to choose and customize a garment from their stock, providing that I write a review of the garment on my blog.  First of all, um...free clothes? YES PLEASE. Secondly, I have never done a sponsored post before, so I will just be straightforward and no-nonsense about all of the linkage required:

Find eShakti on:

• the Web
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There! Now that that's taken care of, let's talk about the clothes! 

The thing I love about eShakti is that they have sizes ranging from 0-36W and each garment is made according to your specifications.  This is amazing for several reasons.  For one thing, there aren't a lot of great options out there for plus-sized (or, as I like to call it, "normal-sized") women.  Or, if there are options, they are this stock, shapeless or shape-specific type of thing that doesn't fit all curvy bodies the same way.  eShakti provides options for customized measurements, hem length, sleeve length, neckline and pockets (though, why anyone would choose to remove pockets from a dress is beyond my comprehension!).  

I chose this dress:

Stock image from eShakti confirmation email

A boat neckline is not the most flattering on me, so I had it customized with a sweetheart neckline. I kept the cap sleeves, and chose "below the knee" for length.  I wanted a dress that would work in the later summer months in Texas, but still be appropriate for the crisp, autumn months with the addition of fall staples (tights, cardigans, booties, etc.).  

The dress arrived promptly, and I'm wearing it today!

 (Check out that morning light! So yummy!)

The dress ended up being the perfect length. So many dresses on me these days are somewhere in between "way too short for a working mom in her early 30s" and "ugh why do I keep tripping on this?!" So the "just below knee" length works perfect.  I also love how the overlay is just a bit longer than the skirt of the dress.

The neckline ended up being a little more ornate than I was envisioning, but I don't own any other dresses with a similar neckline, so it stands out among dresses I usually wear.  I can't decide if it makes me look more or less top-heavy, but I do like it.  So that's a plus!

The embroidery is beautiful on the skirt. I absolutely love the colors for fall, and they work really well with my skin tone.  I have to admit, I don't love the sash at all. I almost thought it was a mistake when I found it in the garment box, because it just doesn't seem to work naturally with the dress. There are no belt loops, so the sash slips around a lot.  I might try this dress with a belt of my own some time.  Maybe a braided brown one or a black leather sash belt I already own.

I styled this dress very simply.  Nude heels (I got them from a secondhand shop - Plato's Closet - but the label says they're Rue 21), plastic feather earrings to go with the bird motif (PUT A BIRD ON IT!), also from Plato's closet, and my black & gold reversible braided headband from Target.

The cap sleeves are perfect.  Sometimes, especially on curvier girls, cap sleeves can be the devil, and squeeze the tops of the arms really badly.  This dress is made in such a way that the sleeves have that perfect flare at the top, but scoop way back under the arms.  Plenty of room!

Every eShakti dress also comes with pockets, as I mentioned (love!) and bra strap stays (little snaps that hold your bra strap in place! genius!).  

The only cons:

• It's hand-wash only. Note to self: don't spill anything on this dress and try to change out of it before dealing with the toddler.
• The sash - not my favorite, but not a deal-breaker.
• Wrinkles easily (but also irons out easily with low heat iron. Also! The overlay irons easily without getting weird as netting/mesh sometimes does.).
• The side zipper is a real struggle, especially zipping it over the waistline, where the seam is.

That's it!  Overall, I love this dress.  It's a great quality, well-made, and I love the quirky design.  eShakti has some of the cutest prints and patterns. It was really hard to choose just one dress, and I think I'll have to go do some shopping before the weather really cools down...

If you'd like to do the same, please feel free to use a coupon code that eShakti was kind enough to provide readers of this blog! Enter code "theoperawife" (minus the quotes, not case-sensitive) at checkout to receive 10% off your order.  Coupon code only valid until 10/16/14. 

• Code has to be entered in the ‘promotional code’ box.   It is not case-sensitive.  
• Code can be used any number of times until the validity period. 
• It can be clubbed with any other promotional offer, gift coupon or gift card in the same order unless explicitly specified otherwise in the offer conditions.
• This discount code is not applicable on clearance / sale, gift cards & overstock categories.
• Not applicable on previous purchases.  

Outfit of the Day

I haven't done one of these in a LONG time!  For one thing, I just ran out of ideas after a while and started wearing some of the same things over and over. 

Also, I had a teething baby that started waking up in the middle of the night several nights in a row (I know, I'll cry you a river.  But when you aren't used to it for months, it's a bit of an adjustment) for feedings and cuddles.  In the mornings, I was lucky if I had on two matching shoes.

Also also, we were iced in for about 5 days in a row.  I wore...the same pajamas all 5 days.  Yup. 

So here's a mix of some of my favorite outfits from the past few weeks when I remembered and/or felt cute enough to take a photo:

.......I think I need more bright colors in my wardrobe.  Especially my fall/winter wardrobe. 

Top Left: Shirt from Stitch Fix, blazer from my closet (probably thrifted), pendant necklace from Plato's Closet, jeans from....Kohl's, maybe?

Top Right: Scarf from Target, jumper is Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker, shirt and leggings...I've had forever.  You can't see it but I'm wearing my black TOMs in both the top pics.

Bottom Left and Middle: Faux Leather peplum top is Jennifer Lopez for Kohl's. Black slacks have been seen on the blog several times!  Necklace is from a local boutique, gift from my best friend.

Bottom Right: Dress is from Plato's Closet, leggings I've had forever, leopard print belt is from my mom's closet!

I've most definitely slacked off recently in my clothing choices lately...worn more jeans and long-sleeved shirts with TOMs more often than I'd like to admit.  But November and December can be quite hectic! 

Here's to some possibility for brave new fashion choices (and brighter colors) in 2014!!

Outfits of the Day

Last week's/today's outfits!  (Obviously, anyone who can count and knows the number of days in a week knows that there is an outfit or two missing...but sometimes I can't find time to go and awkwardly take a selfie in the break room bathroom.) (Or I just really dressed like crap that day.)

Left to Right:

Cardigan: Old Navy party cardi.  Thrifted.

Tank: Old Navy (there's a really pretty floral embellishment on the side, covered by the cardigan)

Pants and shoes: same as seen here.

Black and Grey top: Old Navy (sensing an Old Navy trend...)

Skirt: Stitch Fix.  Worn with same tights and shoes as seen here.

Leopard print dress: Phillip Lim for Target.

Purple long-sleeved shirt: Old Navy. 

Scarf and necklace: Gifted and Thrifted

Jeans: MATERNITY SKINNY JEANS, YO.  No shame here!


***


As the weather goes up and down here in North Texas, it gets really difficult to dress appropriately. Mornings require a heavy coat that leaves you sweating when you leave at 5pm.  I'm anxious for the weather to even out a bit. 

Outfit of the Day

Playing some catch up today!  Last week was a bit crazy.  I had my Big Monthly Meeting on Wednesday, and that always takes up a huge portion of my time and energy.  I also got the wind knocked out of my sails on Friday with a monster migraine, so there are a few outfits missing.  I'm actually wearing the red dress and tights in the top left photo TODAY. 

I wore a lot of black this past week!  I think I need to work on integrating some more colors into my wardrobe.  The red dress and that bright blue blouse are a start, but I do wear a LOT of black. 

Also shown in this collage are two things I LOVE about fall fashion: boots and patterned nights! 

Most of the things in this collage are repeats.  The red dress was last seen here.  The blue top was seen here, and the skirt is from my first Stitch Fix.  You've seen (and will see) the black cardigan MANY times.  The slacks and black draped neck top in the top right picture are both from Kohl's.  The leopard print flats are from Target and the shiny black shoes are another favorite you've seen before. 

One thing I've found that I need is MOAR CARDIGANS.  I love them so much, but I'm not very adventurous with them re: mixing and matching yet.  I'm going to work on that. I love this black cardigan with my whole heart but I need to start wearing other ones and mixing up my look a little.

Outfit of the Day

I wasn't sure I'd start off this week doing Outfit of the Day every day...and I'm still not sure that I'll do it every day this week, but I did like how much these blog posts kept me accountable. As the week progressed and my general fatigue increased (why do 4-month-olds need so much attention anyway??) (also ALCS and World Series baseball games go late into the night sometimes!), I felt more and more inclined to just throw my hair up in a half ponytail and put on jeans (or yoga pants) and a long-sleeved shirt.

Today would have been the perfect day for that.

I woke up at 7:10 (I should have been out the door by 7:30) and still needed to shower. I hadn't planned what I was going to wear today. I could have blown out my hair, but I decided that just a few minutes with my smiling baby trumped that, so I left with wet hair (at 7:40...oops) wearing an outfit that I threw together after staring at my closet for a few minutes with slightly crazed eyes.

I'm not always a planner by nature but, when it comes to my clothes, I usually think ahead the night before about what I might want to wear.  Luckily, today didn't end up a total disaster.  I think sequins cover a multitude of sins, but that's just my personal philosophy.

Pants: Kohls (last seen here)

Camisole: Old Navy

Sequined shrug: Kohls (I think)

Shoes: Nine West

One thing I noticed in my crazed search for something to wear this morning is that I own very few structured, professional blouses/tops. This cami is old and soft and comfortable, but, as you can see, it hangs funny and would be better suited with a pair of pajama pants than with work slacks. It clings to the waist of the pants, and does nothing to flatter that area of my body.

However, the length of the cami paired with the cropped sweater gives the illusion of a longer torso.  Since I'm very short-waisted, this is a good thing.

As for the hair...here's a closer look:

My hair is getting LONG, and besides the fact that it takes forever to dry, it's falling out thanks to more lovely postpartum symptoms that nobody ever warns you about til it's too late and you're wondering if you could make a wig with what you find in the shower.

Here's my New Mom hair tip: ALWAYS have the following in your purse or at work: a small can of hairspray, a fold up brush (with a mirror! they sell them at Walmart), and a sleeve of bobby pins.  I did this in the bathroom at work in about 10 minutes. 

There are a bazillion hair tutorials online and on Pinterest, but let me sum this one up for you very easily:

1. Make two braided pigtails
2. Fold one up over your head and pin til it feels secure.
3. Fold the other one around the back of your head and pin the ends up into the start of the first braid. Pin until secure.
4. Spray all over with hairspray.

Today was another classic example of "hurried Mom" syndrome, but I'm learning little tips and tricks that help me get out the door feeling slightly put together and not quite so messy and frumpy. 

Happy Monday!

Outfit of the Day

Well I managed to post every outfit I wore this week!  I won't do this every day of every week, but I'm going to try to keep this series in mind when I'm getting dressed in the mornings. Even today, on casual Friday at work, I wanted to try to be a little less "ordinary" than my usual jeans & a school shirt.  This keeps me accountable and it keeps me constantly aware of what I'm wearing.

I know this will make me sound like a broken record, but I really do feel better all day long when I take the time to dress in something that makes me feel good. It's easy in the moment to just throw on any clothes but, by around midday, I always feel frumpy and haphazard and gross. 

Thanks for playing along with me this week!

Shirt: UNT bookstore

Cardigan: Same from Mom's closet that I wore on Tuesday

Jeans: ummm....Levi's? I'm not a big designer jeans gal...whatever fits, I buy and then RUN out the door before I can be further traumatized by the process.

Shoes: TOMS Classics black canvas

Butterfly earrings: Gifted

Outfit of the Day

Today I committed a two cardinal fashion sins:

1. Frump frump frump. Flowy shirt with loose-fitting pants. Yuck. Should've worn a more fitted top OR a skinnier pant with this top.

2. BAD shoes. Bad. Very bad. So bad I didn't even take a picture. They are busted up slingback black flats that are not flattering anymore in the least. But, they're comfortable, so I got lazy.

Today was a typical "mom"  morning for me. I woke up late (after being up for an hour between 4 and 5am listening to my poor baby cough and fall asleep between coughing fits...heartbreaking!), and had to get Z and myself out the door QUICKLY so I could drop him off at daycare and get to my doctor's appointment. Naturally, they were running about 45 minutes behind, but how could I have known that? Sigh.

So, I grabbed the closest things I could find out of my closet and threw my hair up in a bun sponge. Normally it looks a little better, but today was just a yucky day. I feel frumpy and sloppy.  Better luck tomorrow!

Shirt: Polka Dot Pleated Top - LC by Lauren Conrad at Kohls

Pants: Black Apt 9 Curvy Fit Trousers in Petite at Kohls

Earrings: Can't remember, but I love them! They're so airy and light, and they match this blouse perfectly!

Shoes: Too awful to photograph. A pair of heels would've made me feel MUCH better today!

Outfit of the Day

This morning, as I was getting dressed, I thought to myself, "Why am I doing this outfit of the day thing this week, again? Remind me, self, because I really just want to wear yoga pants." I know that nobody is holding me accountable or anything, and I know that I don't HAVE to do it every day.  But I always always feel better when I take a little time to put an outfit together, even I'm running a few minutes late because Z spit up at the last minute or because I can't find something weather-appropriate (that's clean) for him to wear.

So I put on my new dress and shoes and headed out the door feeling prepared to face another day in the offices of higher education!

Today's look is simple, which is nice for a new mom.  This dress is also a blank slate.  SO MANY OPTIONS for shoes, tights, jewelry, belts, scarves, cardigans, etc.  But since it's going to be a chilly 80 degrees in North Texas today, I went for an easy, simple look.

Dress: Elle Pintuck Fit and Flare dress in Red Lacquer for Kohls

Shoes: Mossimo Valmai pointed toe loafers from Target

Necklace: Secondhand from Plato's Closet

Outfit of the Day

Today's outfit mostly consists of items either thrifted or gifted! So it will be hard to tell you where to find the items, but I can try to help with brands, at least!

This dress is one of my very favorites. I wear it all spring/summer, and then just add tights and a cardigan once temperatures start to drop! I love the ruffle detail in the front and the crocheted lace back. You can be daring and just wear a bra underneath and let it show, or certainly be more modest and wear a cami so that the back is more covered.

Dress: Bailey Blue, thrifted, found at Plato's Closet

Belt: thrifted, found at Plato's Closet

Cardigan: Mom's closet (no really, my mom's closet) (I think she's always wanted it back) (Nope)

Patterned tights: Gifted

Shoes: Aerosoles (I believe the style is "Vivian," but I can't find a direct link anywhere online)

Earrings: Vintage.

Glasses: Zenni Optical 

Outfit of the Day

I'm gonna start trying something new on my blog so that I'm not just posting twice a month for Z's monthly updates followed by my own Mind & Body update.

Yesterday, my mom took me clothes shopping since I literally have no fall clothes/pants that aren't maternity clothing. It was a belated birthday present, and I appreciate it SO much.  I'm really trying to re-vamp my wardrobe, but cautiously and selectively. I tend to dress very young (too young sometimes -- like it or not, I'm in my 30s now and it's time to grow up) and wear very cheap clothes because I could always just buy something new when the cheap article of clothing fell apart. Well, with a baby in the house, my disposable income for clothing is going to probably disappear in favor of his needs (which is fine).  So, I'm trying to spend a little more money and get some nicer basics that I can mix & match throughout the seasons.

Also, I'm trying to step outside my comfort zone and try some new things. I'm still always going to be more of a "classic" style (slacks and nice dresses and pearls) but, here and there, I'd like to try think outside the box and find new ways to flatter my (post-baby, fuller) figure and still feel confident and look age- and work-appropriate.

(Quick side-note: I've been following Gabi's blog for great styling ideas for fuller figures, and she's a huge inspiration for the whole "stepping outside the box" thing.)

(Also, inspired by Drea, I've got a StitchFix coming to me on October 28th, and I can't wait to see what my stylist sends me!)

So, without further ado, here's today's Outfit of the Day!

This is a very standard "Me" outfit.  Safe, professional, comfortable. The ornamentation on the shirt (it ties in the back neckline) led me to pick pretty basic jewelry (no necklace needed), and these gold earrings from Target are light and comfortable. I'm more of a silver jewelry gal, but the gold looked nice with the taupe pants and shoes, I thought.

Shirt: LC by Lauren Conrad Floral Mixed Media top in Blue

Pants: Apt. 9 Curvy Trouser Pants in petite

Shoes: Mootsie's Tootsies Bettebruce slingback pumps in Taupe

Earrings: Target