Off the Shoulder Ruffles

by Laura Perkins

Top: Zara (actually a dress!)  ||  Jeans: AG Skinny Ripped Jeans   ||    Sandals: Target (old) 

Top: Zara (actually a dress!)  ||  Jeans: AG Skinny Ripped Jeans   

Top: Zara (actually a dress!)  ||  Jeans: AG Skinny Ripped Jeans   ||    Sandals: Target (old)  ||  Clutch: J.Crew (old, now available at J.Crew Factory)

Okay, if you girls don't own an off-the-shoulder top or dress, you seriously need one! They have been a summer essential for me and are just so flattering. I'm excited to tell you that this blouse is actually a non-maternity DRESS from Zara that I bought to wear as a top! Haha! Back in the spring, I had been on the hunt for an off-the-shoulder top with oversized ruffles (which was hard to find that would fit this bump) but when I saw this one, I fell in love. The dress looked pretty short so I knew I could make it work as a tunic. The little light blue and white pinstripes are so cute. And the ruffles just make it really fun and flirty. I'll definitely be wearing this after the baby is born! With my red lipstick and basket clutch, some girl told me I looked like a modern day Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz! Hah! I'll take it! :)

Fancy in France

by Laura Perkins

Sharing two of my favorite maternity dresses from our recent France trip for our dear friends' wedding. 

Dress: ASOS (Maternity) || Heels:  Marion Parke

Dress: ASOS (Maternity)

Dress: ASOS (Maternity) 

Dress: ASOS (Maternity) || Heels:  Marion Parke

Dress: ASOS (Maternity) || Heels:  Marion Parke

This first dress is perfect for a rehearsal dinner, cocktail party or even a dressy day at the office. The stretch material makes it super comfortable and easy to wear. It has such a fun pattern with the watercolor flowers and black & white graphic designs. My favorite part is probably the side knot in the front. It's a really cute detail and the way it gathers is very flattering. This is not a dress I would have normally picked off the rack but I say when you're pregnant, try new styles and patterns! Experiment! You might surprise yourself. 

And then there was this dress.....

Dress: ASOS Maternity

Dress: ASOS Maternity

Dress: ASOS Maternity

Dress: ASOS Maternity

Dress: ASOS Maternity

Dress: ASOS Maternity

Dress: ASOS Maternity

I felt like such a princess in this gown! When we found out we were going to France for our friends' wedding and that it was black tie - I wasn't sure what to wear, but I knew I wanted it to be special. I wanted something my daughter could look back at years down the road and say, "That's when my mom was pregnant with me. My first time in France!" I don't think I've ever worn this color before but when I saw it online, I just fell in love. The sequin and pearl Art Deco design made me feel like I was in a Gatsby dress. And I thought the quality looked so much more expensive than it actually was. I'm not sure that I'll ever have a chance to wear it again but I'm holding onto this one. And would be happy to let any of my pregnant friends borrow it! I was pretty proud of myself being 31.5 weeks pregnant here (in France! and flew back hours before my cut off date to fly at 32 weeks) but also because I danced until 2am (in heels!) with the rest of the crew. I didn't let the bump slow me down! :)

Vintage Florals

by Laura Perkins

My sister-in-law and I are only 1 month apart!

My brother, sister-in-law, two nieces Helen and Lily, and my husband.

Me and my hubby

One of my dear friends and I are only 4 days apart! :) These little girls are bound to be besties.

One of my dear friends and I are only 4 days apart! :) These little girls are bound to be besties.

When I first laid my eyes on this off-the-shoulder floral dress, I was in love. I have been obsessed with vintage floral patterns lately and have actually been wanting to incorporate that style into my nursery, so I knew this dress would be perfect for my baby showers. I loved it so much that I ended up wearing it for both my FL and NYC showers. I'm almost a little embarrassed to tell you it's from ASOS again, haha! But it's true! :) And only $57! Shop here.

A lot of people have been asking me how I made this floral E letter for the nursery so I thought I'd share my very easy DIY tips. And trust me, I am not a DIY person but when I saw this idea on Pinterest, I thought - Hey, I can do this! It's actually a lot easier than you'd think! I just went to Michaels and bought a variety of fake flowers in the color scheme I wanted. I used this gold letter E that my friend bought me for my shower (also sold at Michaels). The key is you want the letter to either be a box or be concave (not flat). I was told you could use a hot glue gun or tacky glue to secure the flowers. I went with tacky glue because it was cheaper. The flower buds were super easy to pull off the stems (no cutting involved) and then I just arranged them in the order I wanted. I took a picture for reference and then glued down small sections at a time. And ta-da! That's it! I absolutely love it and I have to say, I'm pretty proud of myself! Haha. I can't wait to make it a statement piece in my nursery.

Navy and Ruffles

by Laura Perkins

Dress: ASOS  ||  Cuff: Stella and Dot

Dress: ASOS  ||  Cuff: Stella and Dot

Dress: ASOS  ||  Cuff: Stella and Dot  ||  Heels: Marion Parke

I have had a few dressy business occasions for work and this fun yet conservative dress has been my go-to...also doubling as a great cocktail dress. Another super affordable find from ASOS! (my pregnancy obsession). And it's currently on sale for $43.50!! I love the asymmetrical ruffles which really add a cute, feminine detail that's also very flattering. I like that it's a thicker material which makes it a little dressier and professional. These pictures were taken on our France trip (at 31 weeks) at the most amazing chateau in Poitiers for our friends, Chris and Carly's, wedding. I added some statement jewelry and wore this dress for the rehearsal dinner. Styling Note - Don't ever be afraid to pair navy with black. It actually goes so well together.