What I Wore: Radnor Hunt

Hello!  Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

I'm so excited to share this post today before the holiday begins, because I took my love of DIY and transferred it to fashion!  I was searching high and low for a cute dress to wear to the Radnor Hunt Steeplechase horse race - our local version of the Kentucky Derby with hats and fascinators, sweet dresses, pastels on men, fancy picnics and yummy cocktails ... oh and of course the horse race.  I went last year and wore a Lily Pulitzer dress that I'd had forever.  I knew I wanted something different this year.  Lo and behold, I found *exactly* what I had in mind.  The Vineyard Vines Horseshoe Gingham Carolyn dress:

The only issue?  Oh there were about 198 of them.  The price:  $198.  Ouch.  I loved it but it seemed completely silly and wasteful to spend that much money on a dress I would never really wear.  Still, I knew I could use it as inspiration.  I love the pop of coral and realized my new coral and cork wedges that I got for $29 at TJ Maxx would be great with the dress (like the Kentucky Derby, Radnor Hunt is on grass, so heels are a no-no and wedges or flats rule).  I searched and searched and found this: the Target Seersucker Strapless Dress by Merona. 

I loved it.  It retailed for $29, but I managed to snag it on sale for ... wait ... $25.  Twenty-five dollars.  I was dubious about the quality or the fit, but it arrived and holy moly cow.  It looked great.  It fit like a glove and even has a little built in bra-type contraption for extra support.  It was the perfect dress.  True to size and just sweet as can be.   But it needed something for sure.  I knew my coral wedges would be perfect.  I decided to add a coral sash like in the Vineyard Vines dress.  I just ordered a half yard of fabric, folded it over a bunch and fashioned a little cummerbund around the waist.  I tied it in the back with a simple square knot.  I wore a delicate gold necklace and fun white quatrefoil earrings, my hair in a bun and ... voila! Here's the final look:

Here's a quick comparison again ...

inspiration dress

my dress

I was thrilled with the end result.  The funny thing: there was a woman at the adjacent tent wearing the Vineyard Vines dress!  Frankly, I liked mine better: the Vineyard Vines sash is more pink than coral and the sash is pretty long in the back. I liked that my sash was coral and sturdy.  All told, the outfit cost me just $30 - $25 for the dress and $5 for the fabric.  Everything else I had in my closet already.  Yay and giddy yup.

Have a great long weekend! I'm planning to do a lot around the house: priming and painting a bunch of furniture, decorating and (gulp) a little gardening.  Welcome Summer!

See you swoon,