We Aim To Slay

It’s been some time, but I finally reunited with my Dazzle Boutique family to model some of the new items they have in stock! Early on in September, the Dazzle Team celebrated their grand opening to debut their new location in Watertown, CT, and this was my first time shooting there!

If you’ve read my previous Dazzle Boutique posts, you know that Dazzle specializes in pageant, prom, and mother of the bride or groom gowns. But in the last several years, they have been adding quite the collection to their boutique department!

These offerings include a range of styles, such as jeans, sweaters and sweatshirts, tops, dresses, shoes, purses, jewelry, and novelty gifts.

On my most recent visit I styled eleven looks from the boutique section – ranging in all sorts of styles!

This dress was the first item I found while looking through the shop! As soon as I pulled it from the rack I knew I had to pair it with these boots! I didn’t pair this look with any accessories because I was wearing my hair down – but if I had my hair slicked back, I would have found a pair of clear rhinestone or crystal earrings (also available at Dazzle!)

Initially, I thought of this look as “The Era Tours by day, the Renaissance Tour by night,” but as I imagined all of the other ways to wear a suit jacket dress, I see this being a super fun piece to style for holidays or any sort of elegant evening event.

This look is perfect for work – it offers a professional silhouette in luxurious fabrics, all while being stylish and comfortable! I have really been enjoying trouser style pants for work, they offer such an elegant silhouette while still allowing range of motion. Not shown, are the absolutely adorable booties – essentially the ankle boot version of the boots shown above!

I was going for an edgier look here, but you could easily transition the top and pants combo for work by pairing them a cardigan or a blazer. Of all of the pairs of pants I tried, I ended up liking these the best – they felt as though these were suede, and they were (in my opinion) the most versatile pair of pants that I pulled. If I was going back for any one piece, it would most likely be these pants!

Wearing cardigans as a shirt is a trend being made popular by people significantly younger than me, but I have to say, this sweater has made me a convert! As we move through Autumn and Winter, styles like this add a fun versatility to your look – you can wear the sweater as a stand alone top or, pair it with a white tank or t-shirt for the warmer weather we have been experiencing.

I paired this top with the black pants because I wanted the purple color to really pop, but this could just as easily be worn with a skirt or jeans!

Maroon is one of my wardrobe staple colors – and there’s nothing I like more than a garment that can be dressed up or down. Paired with these sparkly Diverse Style by Sydni Dion booties, the dress works as the stand out piece, perfect for a casual date night, or a family holiday. I can also see this dress being great for work – worn with tights and a denim jacket.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get any of the details for this little bucket bag purse, but it offers this fun chain strap as well as a shorter nylon strap for more convenient use!

When I pulled this combo jacket-and-sweater from the rack, I thought it looked so cool. But I didn’t end up styling or photographing it in a way that best highlighted how truly versatile it is; the golden buttons on the lapels actually snap closed, and I think it would be perfect with a pair of jeans, a white t-shirt, and sneakers.

I’m a party dress kind of gal, and you can never go wrong with a little black dress! This one features flapper-style fringe throughout the dress and black sequins to help reflect back lights. As a stand alone piece, the dress has a youthfulness that I really love, and paired with a leather jacket, it could hold its own as a “Jenny Humphrey during season three of Gossip Girl” staple!

I loved the fit of this sweater – it’s fitted on the arms and boxier around the torso, making it a piece I would reach for to celebrate any Autumnal holiday! And it’s so cozy, you could easily wear this to work, to run errands, or to spend a casual weekend with your loved ones!

I saw this amazing leather jacket during the grand opening celebrations and I knew I was going to have to come back to play around with it, but I’m not sure how I would actually style it in real life. The rhinestone fringe stretches up both arms and across the back – making it a true stand-out piece – but that also makes it difficult for me to style. I’d want the jacket to be my standout piece, so I think I’d wear it over a simple slip dress and use the shoes and other accessories to dress it up or down.

This sweater was one of the newest items in stock and it was the most delicious, snuggly fabric – like wearing a blanket all day long! It features a hood which isn’t something I go for (because my hair overpowers head-accessories), but adds a casual-ness that makes this sweater super fun for hanging out with friends!

Out of all the looks that I styled this most closely resembles the wardrobe staples I wear everyday, in both color and aesthetic. A plain black tank top is a must in any wardrobe – you can quite literally wear it with anything, dressed up or down. And the same goes for a solid pair of jeans – you can wear them anytime and anywhere! But this maroon velvet duster is on another level! There’s something about a duster that dresses up the most casual of outfits, and this one was speaking directly to the Stevie Nicks-obsessed part of my heart!

I had the best time shopping around Dazzle’s new location and I can’t wait to go back!

If you’re located in the New England region, Dazzle is conveniently located on Main Street in Watertown, off of Route 8. For those looking to explore their offerings from the comforts of their homes, you can visit www.dazzleboutiques.com where you can also book your appointment to try on formal wear. Dazzle is closed on Sunday’s and Monday’s, but is open noon to 7 pm on Tuesday’s and Thursdays, 11 am to 5 pm on Wednesday’s and Friday’s, and 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday’s.

Let me know in the comments section what pieces you loved, what looks you would wear, and what sorts of looks and styles I should highlight on my next Dazzle Boutique visit!

That’s all for today, my loves, but I’ll be back next week to discuss one of my favorite skincare secrets! Until then, remember to SLAY!