There She Goes: Phoenix

The fickle Minneapolis winter is devouring my soul. On any day, it could be 15 degrees and snowing, or 60 and sunny. My hopes for relief from the frigid morning commute, raised by signs of warming and melt, are dashed with every lazy snow flurry. “I just want to be warm,” is steadily becoming my catchphrase.

Bleak though my current situation may be, there was a beacon of hope. The upcoming wedding of two friends in Phoenix, Arizona. Let me just repeat those glorious words  for you; Phoenix, Arizona.. land of warm. Much like the mythical phoenix, I would leave my old, cold self in Minneapolis, and be reborn in the blazing sun of Phoenix. Too much? Little heavy handed there? Sorry… not sorry. This is what consecutive months of below freezing temps does to my brain. Deal with it, but please keep reading. It’s picture time.

 

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It’s good to get away…

Absorb a some culture…

Navigate outside of your comfort zone…

stars

Sink into the city vibe…

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Soak up the sunshine…

And get real cozy with the locals…

Fozzy

 

Sites of my joyous thawcation:

Phoenix Art Museum: You Who are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies 2005 by Yayoi Kusama

-Superstition Mountains in the Tonto National Forest

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

The Chuckbox in Tempe

The Clarendon Hotel and Spa

…and an exceedingly creepy The Last Supper staged with disturbing dolls in the basement of Hanny’s pub, I feel the most was made of my brief adventure to prevent my heart from freezing into a solid ice block.

I would highly suggest all of these locales for someone looking to get away from Minneapolis, or anywhere really…but my experience is limited to escaping Minneapolis, which I hope to do soon… permanently.

Goodness it is HAUTE outside

It has been oppressively hot in Seattle the past few days…anything above 85 degrees Farenheit is generally considered whole-heartedly unbareable in Seattle. Yes we are warm weather wussies, myself desiccatedly (is that a word? Am I just making up words now?) included. ANYWAY…

So, what do we do when it is too damn hot for clothing but society forces us out in public to buy a watermelon?…PUT ON A SUNDRESS. As close to wearing nothing at all as possible, these impossibly light weight dresses are the best bet to beat the heat.

According to Wikipedia, Lilly Pulitzer popularized the sundress with her bright, printed shift dresses in the 1970’s.

Lilly Pulitzer vintage ad
Lilly Pulitzer vintage ad
Lilly Pulitzer vintage ad via Fashiontent
Lilly Pulitzer vintage ad via Fashiontent

But it’s gone in every direction under the sun since then. Here are the C.W.S. (Classic $$$, Wildcard ???, Steal !!!)

Lilly Pulitzer Capricia Dress
Lilly Pulitzer Capricia Dress

Updated shift silhouette with a large eyelet embroidery. Bright, prep colors that I could actually see myself wearing without feeling like I need a tennis racket and a WASP husband.

Free People ONE Imperial Palm Pintuck Dress
Free People ONE Imperial Palm Pintuck Dress

Closest thing to nothing at all this Free People frock with the lace-up side details is a Wild Card in my book. Anything that requires enough bravery to laugh off the occassional side boob slip is a little w i l d for this introvert. *Must wear bandeau bra underneath…cute, lacey, flirty

forever21B
Forever 21 Floral Print Racerback Dress

$16 is a friendly price to pay for a shift with this lively floral and if you’re frightened of wearing black, a recent study has shown that wearing black is not any warmer light colors since absorbs the light from the sun but also any heat coming off you body. Where white clothing reflects everything, including your own heat back at you. Yay science and clothing.

Classic – Lilly Pulitzer – Capricia Dress – $298

Wild Card – FP ONE Imperial Palm Pintuck Dress- $118

Steal – Forever 21 Floral Print Racerback Dress – $15.80

I’d be wearing these with every one of these dresses;

Jeffrey Campbell – Puffer Green – $99Jeffrey Campbell

These if I can’t get the dreamy green sandals;

Jeffrey Campbell – Magma – $79.95

because I have a punk rocker's <3
Jeffrey Campbell Magma via Amazon