Etsy Fashion: Key Pieces For your Spring Wardrobe

Every time I purchase fast fashions or suggest doing so to others, I feel the need to balance things out. I sew a few pieces for myself or buy at a thrift store. Another way I can even the score, so to speak, is by taking the time to create shopping guides that support small businesses. 

Here is a list of eight etsy shops where you'll be sure to find a few key pieces for your spring wardrobe:

1. Our Little Daisy:

$70.30 CAD

$79.74 CAD

$51.71 CAD

2. Three Little Ducks:

$115 USD

$180 USD

$120 USD

3. Dresstore 2000 (I must admit that I am dubious regarding just how "small business" this one is, due to the price of the cape and other garments they offer but, given that they have listed less than 150 items, I decided to go through with this.)

$58.00 USD

$65.89 USD

$49.99 USD

4. Laura Galic (Etsy is a big, big place now and this shop definitely makes my top 50 list!)

$179.90 USD

$229.90 USD

$120.00 USD (While I do think this dress should probably have been lined, due to how transparent the fabric is, one can easily wear it with a slip)

P.S. I fully intend to buy the above coat and jacket.

5. Raluca Martinescu (Also from Romania, like Laura Galic, this shop is very small but has so much potential):

$24.00 USD (top)

$24.00 USD (skirt)

$23.00 USD (blouse):

6. Daria Karaseva:

$130.00 USD (blazer)

$210.oo USD (I have seen this type of overlapping sketched out before-- I have sketched some myself-- but this is the first time I see that someone has gone through the trouble of making pants like these and I think they're fantastic!)

Classic, side-draped pants $110.00 USD

7. Ella Lai:

$99.00 USD

$119.00 USD

$99.00 USD (pants):

8. Jekyll und Kleid

$165.00 USD

$154.00 USD

$159.00 USD

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The Bad-Ass Girl's Guide to Wearing Floral Dresses for Spring 2013

I've re-read this title several times and I still can't believe I, of all people, am writing anything that bears these words! That is why, if you're someone that usually says they wouldn't be caught dead in floral prints, you can trust me on this one. If I'm writing this, you can wear a floral dress. 

I cringe at the thought of this one particular outfit I wore sometimes during grade nine. It was a dark blue skirt and blouse set with large, light blue flowers printed all over it. The blouse had cap sleeves and the skirt was long and a-line. It was made from that horrendous poly blend fabric that most nineties floral outfits consisted of and, when I remember it, I can't believe some girls were jealous that I had it. You can imagine the palm-to-forehead moment I had when I saw that florals are back in full force. 

That said, if you read any of my Roots installments, you know that I'm trying to break out of my subculture heavy mold and so here we are. If you're a bad-ass and you're not sure about floral prints, read on. I dare you. ;-)

Look number one:

The Hi Lo Freak of Nature Dress in Desert Rose Print from asos.com. $93.

Their styling isn't bad but I would wear this dress with biker boots, a cropped leather or denim vest or a cropped and sleek leather jacket, some black leather bracelets, my favourite Dior red and maybe a smidgen of Guerlain Khôl. I would also omit the fringes on the purse or on the boots. Or on both, really.

 Look number two:

Trollied Dolly Lauren's Retro On The Go Dress at modcloth. $85.

In this one, 1950's retro meets the slightest touch of bohemia thanks to the dress' silhouette and the bangles. I would opt for either of these shoes but definitely stick to classic pinup make-up and maybe even go a step further by wearing a red hair scarf or leather head band. 

Look number three:

NW3 Silk Dress in Flower Print. $287. asos.com

This dress makes me think of small towns and a casual lunch at a vineyard, somewhere on the countryside. It could easily be worn with what you see here but also with a black blazer, black ballet flats, a gold necklace or two and some slim, brown leather bracelets or gold bangles. I'm digging her hair like this but would also recommend a high bun with small braids leading up to it or even a small crown of slim braids. 

Look number four:

The Warehouse Floral Body-Conscious Dress once more from asos.com. Now on sale for $30.52.

This one made me hesitate the most and not just because the print reminds me of the one that made up the aforementioned skirt suit from my high school days. It's just so... nineties. After much deliberation, I decided that it should be part of this set because I can see it being a hit with a lot of people, despite my own original misgivings. 

The two jackets I can see this with are definitely the ones I put in the collage. A nice boyfriend blazer with the sleeves pushed up completely changes this dress. It could also be worn with tall, black biker boots and/or a black pork pie hat. If you want to wear shoes instead of boots with this, I don't recommend the socks and heels shown on the model but maybe a pointy, black ballet flat or basic black pump instead.

Look number five:

The Bailey Floral Dress from Gypsy Warrior. Currently on sale for $24.00.

This dress comes without a collage because I really feel that it stands alone. I wouldn't wear a crown of roses on my head but almost all of the style elements mentioned in above collages work with this piece and make sense for spring. It can also be worn just like this, with a skinny belt, some simple jewelry and a pair of flats, on a hot summer day. 

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