Southern Peach

It's not very often that I go sans-cardi on the blog... or really in real life. Between feeling the need to cover up my tattoos a decent amount when living in Franklin (very stuffy/conservative ~small town) and not always being the biggest fan of my arms, cardigans were an easy and stylish alternative. The Nashville heat can sometimes make it hard to enjoy them comfortably, but I think most Tennesseans know to spend ample time indoors during the summer! Haha However, something the past few weeks has made me just say "Screw it!" and just rock the sleeveless/tights-less dress. It's not the most revolutionary thing, of course, but still a salute to loving myself as-is. There are so many more pertinent things to worry about -- like how I can't manage to shave my legs without nicking myself, as demonstrated in these photos! Or how I can't use my curling wand without burning the sweet bejeezus out of my hand. Those are kind of a big deal.
This dress is one of my all time favorites. It's from Dorothy Perkins. A sweet friend picked it up for me sometime last summer and sent it over from the UK. (DP has US shipping, but this was way cheaper) I love the illustrated fruit motif. The wedges are a much more recent purchase from last month via Ideeli. I picked them up for 50% off so I snagged them in red, too. They're so so comfortable and I've seriously worn them to death already. And this handbag is the Michael Kors Gansevoort bag Mike surprised me with when I graduated college. 
I didn't know it was a holiday weekend until last night when talking to my mom on the phone. I thought that was next weekend. No big deal less the fact that the bar is going to probably be so so dead. Everyone packs up and heads to the river (I don't blame them!). It's supposed to be like 97* all weekend so I'd rather be at the river, too! Instead, we're loading up our little family and heading down to my parents' house for the weekend. Grilling out, reading on the deck, hammock naps and pool time. I can't complain! I hope you're weekend is equally as enjoyable!

Dorothy Perkins dress

46 comments:

  1. I love this dress and those wedges are super cute!!

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  2. It's great to see your tattoos! I love showing my back piece off (minus all the people wanting to touch on me like I'm a petting zoo animal......)

    Beautiful dress! Dorothy Perkins has some of the best dresses.

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  3. i love dorothy perkins, they always have cute dresses! you look great xx

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  4. You have lovely arms! You shouldn't be afraid to show off your body! You are beautiful :)
    LOVE the shoes.

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  5. Your perfect the way you are! You shouldn't hide your tattoos, they are a part of you :) and there kickass!
    -Tia
    sewcalmama.blogspot.com

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  6. Love those tattoos, girl! Go on with your beautiful self! Also, I have to admit that I am a bit jealous that you will be poolside!! :) Have a fabulous weekend!

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  7. This is such a cute look, the dress suits you perfectly! I also like your graduation gift bag, a classic piece :)

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  8. Your weekend sounds so nice and relaxing!
    And don't be afraid to show off your arms, they're just fine! And I looooove seeing your tattoos! They're so awesome and colorful! They're like a whole new accessory hehe.
    I have a couple things from Dorothy Perkins as well! Every time I go visit my family in England, one of the first things I do is make my cousins take me into town and go shopping! They have stores called River Island and Next that have such cuuuute clothes! A bit pricey though lol

    :)

    daydream frenzy

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  9. This dress is sooo pretty. Ahhhh, you're making me want shin tattoos!

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  10. The dress and bag match perfectly, I love it! DP is one of my favourites stores, their dresses always fit really well and they have loads of cute prints and stuff :) And I totally love seeing your tattoos, they're so awesome :)

    Much love,
    Gill
    Cirque Du Gillian
    xxx

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  11. Aw, I think your arms are beautiful! As you know, Tennessee summers still require a cardigan - indoors, I mean! What is up with people here cranking the a/c to practically freezing?? Can't we have a happy medium? Ha!

    Also, I love that dress. Wish I could find me some fabric like that!

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  12. That is a fantastic dress! And if I were you I'd be showing off those arm tats every chance I got! You look great :)

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  13. You need to display your arms and tightless legs more often... you look amazing.

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  14. This dress is SO cute! And I completely know what you mean about the tights-less sleeveless situation-- I wear black tights and dresses every single day, but when I got my first tattoo about a week and a half ago, suddenly I couldn't wear tights and I had to bare my ultra-white legs to the world (no, really, the artist who did my tattoo said, "This is perfect, the color on your skin will look just like it would on paper."). It's kind of liberating though! I'm usually a below-the-knee length kind of girl, but I'm playing with flirtier lengths, too. I'm still working on getting up the nerve to show my arms though.

    Have a great weekend!
    xo Julie

    JulieRoseSews.com

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  15. This dress looks fantastic on you, and you look stunning with or without cardigans! I wish we could have some of Tennessee's heat this weekend--up here in Minnesota, we're hovering at a cozy 45F. Have a great holiday weekend!

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  16. you look beautiful! i just realized i'd never seen your sleeves since you usually have cardigans on!
    and i know what you mean..i don't usually wear skirts so when i do it feels very liberating and balls-y! haha! have a great day kaelah!

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  17. I love this post! It's always great to hear honest thoughts about overcoming body consciousness, and I think you look fantastic. The dress is darling, too.

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  18. I know how you feel about not wanting to share your arms but yours are really lovely, I refuse to share my arms and it makes hot days almost unbearable. Anywho, I love this dress and I love this bag, what a great fiance you have. I had totally forgotten it was a holiday weekend myself, I hate when they spring up on you out of nowhere (especially when you have plans to shop... that is going to be difficult working on holiday hours).

    <3Honeysuckelle

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  19. I love this post more than usual :) I think you look super lovely! Especially your arms, irrespective of the awesome ink you have! Mine are still all sad and bare still. x

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  20. Cute dress! And yes, who cares? Wear (or don't wear) what you want and don't worry what people think. That is my mantra!

    Amy

    fashionandbeautyfinds.blogspot.com

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  21. You look amazing! Beautiful dress :) I'm still too self conscious to go out without my arms covered, but that might have to change soon as it is so hot! x

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  22. I love this dress, bag, and the bare-arms look. It's so wonderfully summery!

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  23. Love the whimsical print of your dress. Very spring/summery.

    http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com

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  24. Love the dress! I thin you look so cute with your neekid arms, the juxtaposition of your girly dress and your tatoos is quite lovely!

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  25. At first I thought your tattoos were a cardigan. hehe

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  26. Ahhh you look so great without a cardigan! I love pretty girls with arm tattoos :)

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  27. That dress is beautiful! Wish I'd picked one up when it was in stock.

    This post made me laugh a little because I am permanently becardiganed too! Cardigans are my absolute staple- I wear them everyday (Though I don't think I often wear them on my blog. I take them off for photos).

    Anyway, I think you look stunning with or without them. Your tattoos are beautiful- It's lovely to see them in all their glory.

    Becky
    xx

    http://www.beckybedbug.com

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  28. this dress is gorgeous you go ahead and show off those awesome arms

    www.deejayspeaks.blogspot.com

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  29. I just bought a dress from DP (and a blouse, because if the order was $75, you get free shipping!) and I am so so in love with it. Planning on wearing it to every.single.wedding this summer.

    It's here, if you're interested:http://us.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=34072&storeId=13065&productId=5482956&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=339720&parent_categoryId=339496&pageSize=200

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  30. You look beautiful! It's nice to see your tattoos! Even if Tennessee is conservative, the people of the internet surely aren't, haha.

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  31. I love getting to see all your tattoos! The dress looks really pretty on you, too. :D

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  32. I love the look of this post! I actually had to look twice because I thought that your arm tattoos were a sweater, ha! Have a great weekend!
    Hammock naps sound so relaxing :)

    Chelsea
    www.mypinkscribbles.blogspot.com

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  33. awesome tattoos!
    and i am in love with those wedges, they're fantastic!
    xo, cheyenne

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  34. what a lovely dress! awesome tattoos :)

    I have an ongoing giveaway on my blog, hope you can join! xx Miss Beatrix (http://missbeatrix.blogspot.com)

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  35. Your arm tattoos are AMAZING. I'd love to see a detail shot of them. I never used to care about my upper arms, but once I started blogging I got a bit weird about them and now don't like to expose them. It's very hard to put photos of yourself up there on the internet for everyone to see and I feel like it just makes you notice all the parts you don't like about yourself more, so good on you for sharing these pics. You're a stone cold fox!

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  36. Pretty lady! I think you look fantastic either way, but it is nice to see ya doing a little cutting loose:)

    -Mandy Q

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  37. Love your tattoos & you are one pretty lady! Can;e believe that you're wearing a Dotty P number!

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  38. i always wear cardigans with dresses too, even in the sweltering nashville heat! i need to be brave and go without too. what is the point spending all the money and time on those pretty tattoos and then not letting anyone see them!

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  39. i'm the same way about my arms! my derby friends and i joke that some of us are on "team sleeves!" haha
    you look lovely! maybe i will deal with my arms this summer... ;-)

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  40. Super super cute! I love your hair. :)

    nannybyday.wordpress.com

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  41. This dress is gorgeous! Such beautiful colours

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  42. I so wanted this dress last summer! It looks fab on you, its so nice to see UK fashion on a style blog! Obviously I just haven't managed to find any British ones yet! Also, you're gorgeous + you shouldn't be at all worried about your arms. They're works of art?! Who doesn't like art?

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  43. What a gorgeous dress!! You look fantastic! :)

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HEY! Thanks for dropping by. xo KB