Life Lately
Posted on July 18th, 2016
Things are just a little bit chaotic around here– but with all great things! Most notably, the Nightingale Nuptials are in just over six weeks. Wow!!!! But the action (and to do lists) don’t stop there. While I haven’t been blogging…
…I sent out my wedding invitations. We’ve been working with Nico & Lala every step of the way (remember our Save the Dates?), and the way they brought the elements all together in our invitations is breathtaking. I’ll share more later, but Nico & Lala posted a sneak peek on their Instagram in case you can’t wait!
…I celebrated at the most darling bridal shower with a gaggle of girls who have grown up like sisters to me (and their moms). We shared lunch and mimosas at the restaurant where Ian and I shared our first one-on-one date, which was really special. I know the wedding day will be a total whirlwind, so I loved having the chance to celebrate the future with those girls without other distractions.
…the sun burst through at the end of the rainiest Independence Day weekend for a gorgeous July 4th evening! Ian and I went home to St. Louis over the three day weekend in part for my bridal shower, but in part to enjoy a final holiday in my family house. When it comes to favorite holidays I have a tough time choosing between July 4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, but it was so special to have one last chance for summer memories in our old stomping grounds. The next time we’ll be in Missouri will be for the wedding!
…we selected paint colors for our new apartment and had our apartment painted. We moved at the end of June and couldn’t wait to start building a home here, and we’re on our way! Pink Panther didn’t quite make the cut, though 😉
…I’ve been cooking and eating ALL the produce. Pictured above: caprese salad with grilled peaches, grilled corn, and yellow tomatoes. Yummy!!!
…I’ve taken 1 million pictures of flowers.
…my mom visited Seattle! My wedding dress fitting brought her out here, but we turned it into the most amazing weekend. Including a long hike in the Snoqualmie Pass, pictured above!
…I’ve realized all of my stationery has an expiration date, so I’ve been making lots of list and sending lots of snail mail.
In summary: a move, a wedding, out of town visitors, and to do lists a mile long. I can’t promise I’ll be back here with y’all as much as I’d like, but I’ll do my best! And if you’re missing me too much in the meantime, Instagram is always there waiting for you.
You Can’t Go Home
Posted on June 30th, 2016
I’ve lived a whole bunch of places in the past six years. Between going to school in Nashville and Philadelphia and working in New York and Seattle, I’ve gotten to experience lots of different parts of the country. But no matter where my mailing address has been, one thing has remained the same: Saint Louis, Missouri is my home.
I was born in St. Louis. So was my dad. So were my grandparents. I fit all the stereotypes: I’m too friendly with strangers, I’m risk adverse, and I am biased enough to think the best of America is embodied by a summer night at Busch Stadium when the Cardinals are beating the Cubs. I knew my career (and my husband’s) would start out elsewhere, but I was always clear that we would ultimately end up in the middle of the country, surrounded by family, right where we belong.
Two years ago, that vision became much more hazy. It all happened so quickly (as these things always do), but suddenly, my dad had accepted the job of a lifetime in New York City, and the tectonic plates in my little world started to shift. My littlest brother was still in school, so my dad would commute from St. Louis to a pied a terre in the city every week while my mom stayed home until William left for college. Then they would take the plunge, sell our house, and become a full time New York family.
For two years I’ve had time to mentally prepare myself for what now becomes a reality. And I’m still pathetically unprepared and overwhelmed. The dust has settled, and as of this month, my parents have a swanky Tribecca apartment. As of this week, we no longer own a house in St. Louis. (My parents are allowed to lease our house from the new owners until the week after my wedding, though!!)
I love to make plans. I have a plan for this week, a financial plan, and a four-year professional plan. For two years, I’ve kept looking for the right plan to pop up and replace the long-term Midwestern dreams that had felt so certain.
The current update: ?????? I’ll try on a new plan like an off-the-rack dress, but so far, nothing fits quite right.
730 days was apparently not sufficient to process and re-calibrate. Today, I’m still a tiny bit sad and a tiny bit lost. But just because I do not know what the future holds does not keep it from coming, so I keep marching forward, too.
I’ll let you know where we’re going when we get there. In the meantime, my destination is in the journey.
Wedding Wednesday: Blackless Black Tie
Posted on June 30th, 2016
Let’s pretend I’m not trying to micromanage my guests’ attire choices for my wedding. Oh no. Not at all. But let’s say someone asked me for a few little suggestions. A little guidance, if you will. Just because I’m wearing white on August 27 doesn’t mean I haven’t thought about other fashion choices!
The attire for our wedding is black tie, so that automatically helps guests narrow their search. At the same time, our wedding is a summery affair with an outdoor ceremony– hardly a winter ball. I’m thinking about light fabrics, fun colors, and even prints! A mix of rentals and dresses to put in your permanent rotation.
Embellished Blouson Gown– A little sparkle on this perfect party dress
Flower Maxi– I love the colors, I love the print, I love the neckline. Yes please!!
Yellow High/Low– Yellow is having a moment! The high/low hemline is a great way to stay cool in the August sun while looking dressy.
Inesse Dress– This green color is a wonderful choice. You can wear it in the winter and fall, but it’s definitely appropriate for late August, too.
Sienna Maxi– I think it’s fun to pick a dress you know fits the bride’s style– and anyone who knows me knows I love a little Lilly!
Floral Lace Ballgown– Pricey. Stunning.
Bolari Lace Dress– On the edge of black tie and cocktail, you’ll definitely have plenty of future opportunities to wear this. Under $200!
Printed Jacquard Gown– I love this dress so much I’m considering returning my wedding dress and just going with this.
Blue Sky Gown– Such a unique color and a flattering fit.
Citrus Cherry Twist Gown– 100% of reviewers who submitted photos look AMAZING in this. You will too.
Navy Estella Dress- My bridesmaids are wearing navy, but even so a guest would stand out without competing. The structural details are fantastic.
Stripe Maxi– See above and say no more.
Rosetta Silk Maxi– A perfect pop of pink with a romantic ruffly neckline!
Clutch // Earrings // Bracelet // Shoes
I can’t wait to see my beautiful girlfriends in beautiful dresses! And for the men, may I suggest:
That was easy.
Blithely Tickled Pink
Posted on June 28th, 2016
It’s girly, it’s cliche, but I kind of love pink. I don’t want to go full-on Elle Woods, but there’s something about a little pink that makes me happy. Usually, I just let it out in small doses– my dusty rose wallet, my pale pink manicure, or my statement necklace layered over a navy shift. But sometimes, especially for festive occasions, I really wear pink.
Katherine Todd, the force behind Blithe, sent me this pink dress for the wedding we attended in Ohio this past weekend. Between being back in the Midwest, experiencing my first real taste of summer 2016, celebrating the wedding of two people I love, and showing my true colors, I was really in my element.
This is definitely a dress that could be worn to a luncheon with a simple necklace and espadrilles, or to an evening party, so I added this fun multi-strand costume necklace to dress the look up. I’ve also been loving these strappy sandals for parties this summer; they’re much more affordable than their designer counterpart, and since I wear them relatively infrequently, this price tag makes much more sense. I didn’t need a clutch because the dress had pockets– major bonus!
So much about Blithe resonates with me, like their branding and darling name (love that tag!!), their sundress focus (honestly, same), American manufacturing focus, and #girlboss entrepreneurship. You can find Blithe online, at Belk, and at several other smaller retailers across the South and East Coast– and hopefully more places soon, too, because I need more Blithe in my life!
And for that matter… maybe more pink, too.
First Day of Summer
Posted on June 20th, 2016
It’s the first day of my favorite season, and it is also National Wear Your Lilly Day, so my various newsfeeds were inundated with girls living life in color. Unfortunately, at this point in my life I have limited opportunities for the fun, bright, resort chic prints we all know and love, so these days I’m admiring from a distance (with envy!) and building out my closet in a different way.
I’m always on the lookout for pieces I know I can wear just about anywhere, anytime. They’re often cotton, look good with or without a cardigan, can be styled with a variety of different accessories or shoes, and are a neutral color palette. I love the comfort and fun of casual Lilly Pulitzer dresses, but they rarely meet that set of criteria. Until! The Essie dress!
I took these photos during a toasty St. Louis weekend (we don’t generally have this flavor of summer in Seattle), so I broke out my sun hat, too, but it’s easy to see how this dress could be office-approved with a cardigan and wedges, and could even be worn into the fall with flats or boots and a loose cashmere sweater. Grab one before July 4th, throw on a red cardigan, and you’ll be ready to go!
And if you do have a little more print-wearing-leeway, this dress comes in two fantastic prints, too. I love those Fansea colors!
Wedding Wednesday: Groomsmen Attire
Posted on June 15th, 2016
Unlike at many weddings, I won’t be the only person at my wedding wearing white. At our August black tie wedding, the men in the wedding party will be donning ivory dinner jackets.
Ian and I graduated from a prep school with an unusual tradition: instead of cap & gown at graduation, the girls wear white full length gowns, and then boys wear summer tuxes. As if this wasn’t mass wedding enough, the girls are also escorted down the aisle by a boy while carrying matching bouquets. Don’t believe me?
Yup.
The white dinner jacket, while by itself a classic century-old summer choice, holds a lot of significance for us and offered a wonderful opportunity to give a nod to our shared roots. And I happen to think it’s a gorgeous look!
At the risk of letting my inner Bridezilla show, it has been a bit difficult finding the right shade of off-white and the right lapels… but I could not be more excited to see my groom and our guys decked out in their summer finest. Bryan Rafenelli, Chelsea Clinton’s wedding planner, said in a New York Times interview, “I haven’t yet seen a guy in a white dinner jacket who didn’t look cool.”
Don’t look now, guys. The #NightingaleNuptials might end up being cool.
That Belle
Posted on June 14th, 2016
Belle is the most popular favorite Disney princess pick, and I am fully on that bandwagon. She is intelligent, selfless, puts family first, and knows it’s on the inside that counts when it comes to love. But her style isn’t exactly aspirational– the housekeeper uniform hasn’t come back in vogue quite yet. Her gown is a showstopper, but I’m going to take a hard pass on those pick ups, and it takes a little chutzpah to pull off that shade of yellow.
But yellow gowns seem to be a popular choice this year! We’ve seen a few throughout the spring season– including from female world idol Amal Clooney– but they were practically in the majority at the Tony Awards on Sunday.
Alicia Vikander // Jessica Chastain // Amal Clooney
Aerin Lauder // Danai Gurira // Lucy Liu
Renee Elise Goldsberry // Jessie Mueller // Heather Headley
Alicia Vikander kicked off the trend at the Oscars– and who could forget? She’s probably the most Belle incarnate, and I do credit her for single-handedly kicking off the trend. I love that women of a whole range of skin tones and body types are going gold, and they all look great doing it.
Looking to bring a ray of sunshine to your next formal event? These three would look sooooo good with your summer tan!
Lauren Ralph Lauren // Marchesa Notte // Terani Couture
Because you can be a princess, too.
Join the Palm Party
Posted on June 13th, 2016
To punctuate our Palm Party posts, I thought I’d provide a few options in case you want to take part! The pervasiveness of the palm print means that retailers of every ilk seem to have options at every price point and with every type of item. My #1 pick is still the $60 palm dress I featured in last week’s post, but in case you still haven’t gotten your fix, may I suggest…
Katie Kime shift // Printed pillow // Topshop romper // Phone case // Leggings
Highball glass // Gray Malin print // Skirt
Strappy one piece // Romper // Maxi // Trapeze dress // Wrap dress
And a bonus option, not pictured… for obvious price sensitivity reasons 
For once, I’m encouraging you to be trendy! Whether you’re in Florida or Minnesota, get in a summery, sunny state of mind. All your fronds are doing it.
Wedding Wednesday: Rehearsal Dinner Palm Party
Posted on June 8th, 2016
I wasn’t kidding in yesterday’s post about the “palm party” thing. We are deep in the throes of planning a palm party of our own!
There was never any question about our wedding reception venue, but we had the opportunity to shop around for rehearsal dinner locations. We felt it was a good chance to show off a piece of old St. Louis removed from the suburban enclave in which most of wedding events are taking place, so we picked a historic location in the city– a gorgeous old greenhouse that is almost 150 years old. The interior perimeter of the green house is lined in palm trees, so using the palm leaf motif to inspire our event is a natural fit!
Given the present palm leaf print prominence (say that 10 times fast), there is tons of inspiration to draw on when we’re considering elements for our own dinner. Since St. Louis is majorly landlocked we’re trying to stay more botanical than tropical getaway, so we’ll be weaving in a touch of garden party, too.
I’ve been keeping track of ideas on this Pinterest board, and you can find all the sources and details about all the gorgeous events above there. In some ways, the rehearsal dinner is my favorite part of a wedding (note: I’ll probably say this about all the parts). So many weddings are big and crazy and chaotic, but the rehearsal dinner is intimate, the speeches let the bride & groom’s personalities shine through, and there’s still so much anticipation for what’s to come. I’m hoping we can create an event that’s fun and festive with a different vibe and aesthetic from our main wedding events as we welcome our loved ones to our home.
Basically, an event our guests are frond of. (Definitely filing this pun away for use. Sorry in advance, wedding guests!)
Printed Palm Perfection
Posted on June 7th, 2016
It’s rare that a print becomes a trend, and often the ones that do are a bit of a head scratcher. (Chevron, anyone?) But there is one motif that is white hot right now, and I couldn’t be happier about it. The rest of this week on A Cultured Pearl will be all about palm leaf pride.
This Topshop slip dress makes it so easy to dip your toe into the palm leaf (aka banana leaf) waters– it’s only $60! I’ve worn it twice in the past two weeks. It’s an easy, breezy silhouette and fabric that’s easy to slip on with sandals for running errands or with wedges and some jewelry for al fresco dining. And the sixteen year old in me loves that I’ve found a legitimate way to wear pink & green!
The expression in the second photo reflects my very real concern that our old childhood swing wouldn’t support my grown up weight. But crisis/hilarious anecdote averted!
If palm leaf isn’t speaking to you, Topshop generously made the same dress in six solids. I think I’ll be circling back for black, too!
More on this palm leaf party tomorrow! But in the meantime, shop my look below:
