Decadantly Draping!! My Kiyonna Divine Draped Maxi Dress Review

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Today I am reviewing the Kiyonna Divine Draped Maxi Dress in Emerald Bay.  I am continuing my year of taking wardrobe chances by stepping out of my pinup box.  Pinup styles of the 1940's and 1950's are my favorite to wear but I have an affinity for free flowing flower child fashion as well.  I have always loved Maxi Dresses,they always give me a pretty, hippie vibe.  The Divine Draped Maxi Dress from Kiyonna is a gorgeous style for summer festivals or a fall party.  This style features a fitted bodice with halter neck tie feature, elbow length sleeves that can be styled on or off shoulder, a gathered waist and draping hi-lo hem.

Outfit Details:
Dress: Divine Draped Maxi Dress in Emerald Bay, Size 1X, courtesy of Kiyonna
Earrings: F-ineapple Frosted Pineapple Earrings by Ceci Punch Designs.
Flower Crown: Wal-Mart.

 The Kiyonna Divine Draped Maxi Dress is luxurious and comfortable.  The halter tie around the neck is a feminine and unique accent that adds a fun flair.  I love how this dress flows around my body, I have to admit, I was a little worried about how it would fit around my mid-section but the gathering makes it so flattering it easily hides the tummy issues I am constantly camouflaging. The soft rayon spandex blend material is lovely and flowing with a nice bit of stretch to hug your curves.

 The Emerald Bay color is a lovely deep emerald green that is perfect for summertime but it is a shade that will transition easily into your fall wardrobe.  I paired my Divine Draped Maxi Dress with frosty pineapple earrings, a pretty contrasting pink flower crown and matching pink kitten heels for a free wheeling, hippie style.  I looked and felt like a summer fairy or an art nouveau goddess floating about in this dress!  I also envision wearing it with a ballet flats and pumpkin accessories this fall.

I always worry when buying a maxi dress because at 5'3" I am quite short so most maxi dresses have to be hemmed before I can wear them.  The Divine Draped Maxi Dress is a hi-lo hem, the front of the dress hit a few inches above my ankle and the back was just short of touching the ground without heels on.  I found the length to be just right for me but if you are shorter you may need to have the dress hemmed.

The Divine Draped Maxi Dress is so comfortable and beautiful I find myself reaching for it again and again.  I cannot say enough about Kiyonna, I am blown away at the quality, fit and beauty of every style I have tried!

Spring Fever! Kiyonna Mademoiselle Lace Dress in Azalea Pink-Review

Spring has finally here in Michigan and I am guilty of having Spring Fever!!  The sun is shining, the snow has melted revealing green grass, and the first flowers are peeking their little heads up to say "Hi!".  After the dreariness of winter, it's such a pleasure to be outside watching the world come alive once more and enjoying the fresh crisp air.

  I apologize for the long blog hiatus.  My husband Kevin, was hospitalized and has been diagnosed with a long term illness.  I have had to take some time off to take care of my family and adjust to the new circumstances in our lives.  I am happy to report that everything is going well and we are glad to be back to the swing of things!!

Today, I am reviewing the delightful Kiyonna Mademoiselle Lace Dress in Azalea Pink.  This romantic lace dress is lovely for spring and is the perfect dress for all of your Easter events.  I tend toward floral and print dresses so this pop of azalea pink is a bright spot of solid color in my closet.  The pictures show the dress a brighter pink than it is in person, the actual color is more of a pretty coral pink.  I love the floral and paisley lace pattern on this dress, it is a classic wardrobe piece that will never go out of style.  A beautiful lace dress is a staple piece, it can be dressed up with different accessories for a look that fits every mood.  The Mademoiselle Lace Dress is gorgeous and I would love to own it in many different colors so I can wear this style year round!

Dress: Kiyonna Mademoiselle Lace Dress, Azalea Pink, Size 1X

Hair Flower: Vintage Box 1947 Gerbera Daisy in Pink

Earrings: Ceci Punch Designs Mystic Drop Earrings in Ivory

Lipstick: Besame Cosmetics Red Velvet (1946)

Hair Products: Beauty and Pin-Ups

This design was inspired by Kiyonna's best-selling Linden Lace Top and boasts some of the same fabulous features. The bodice is scalloped, cut into a deep V that is very flattering to the bust, tapering into the waistband that flares into a swinging A-line skirt.  I would recommend sizing up on this dress if you are on the busty side.  I am a 42DD and the bodice fits well but there is a fair amount of cleavage.  If you want to avoid too much cleavage sizing up would fix this issue.  The sleeves are hit me just below the elbow disguising my hated upper arm pudge.  At 5'3", the Mademoiselle Lace Dress comes to mid calf length on me.  I love the scalloped edges on the bodice, sleeves and bottom hem, they lend a beautiful touch of movement.

 Enjoying some time in the fresh spring air!

The Kiyonna Mademoiselle Lace Dress is a very graceful silhouette that will flatter every figure type.  I am wearing a size 1x and it fits like a glove, just the right amount of stretch to hug my curves without highlighting problem areas.  This is a stretch material with a decent amount of cling so I would recommend wearing shapewear to smooth the silhouette.  Kiyonna consistently designs the most lovely dresses for the plus size fashionista!  Their fit, attention to detail, quality materials and on-trend colors keep me coming back for more.  Thank you Kiyonna!!

Wardrobe fun with Gwynnie Bee!

It has been a while since I posted!  I have been taking a bit of a break to spend time with my family and friends, plus the winter in Michigan has made traveling a bit of a chore, so I took a much needed rest using this time to make plans.  I have tons of new blogs and photos coming your way, so be ready, I have such an exciting year planned!  My Husband, Kevin and I are starting off next week with a long needed getaway for Valentine's Day in lovely Allegan, Michigan at the Delano Mansion Inn Bed and Breakfast, a glorious home built in 1863.   I am looking forward to writing all about our experiences, I am going to have too much fun expanding my blog to include adventures in all of the lovely Michigan towns I am lucky to visit.  I want to showcase the natural beauty, great places, fabulous food and amazing atmosphere of my beloved home state!

I have not been entirely lazy during my break.  I have been having fun enjoying a free trial of Gwynnie Bee. Gwynnie Bee is a clothing rental subscription service for women sizes 10-32.  Gwynnie Bee is great for the fashionista in you, it is amazing having endless fashion at your fingertips, plus the subscription includes free shipping and free exchanges.  I have tried several brands from Gwynnie Bee that I have not purchased yet simply because I wanted the chance to try their clothing on before buying.  Gwynnie Bee gives you the opportunity to not only try garments and wear them, but if you really love something you have the option to keep it at a discounted rate, which I consider a really great option.  I might not always have an occasion to dress up but that does not stop me from wanting to, so I had a ton of fun trying all of these gorgeous styles even if the most pressing thing to do that day was run to the grocery store!  I think that this was a great solution to the winter blahs for me, giving me a bit of sunshine even on dreary days, it is important to do little things to keep yourself looking and feeling refreshed!  I highly suggest Gwynnie Bee as a great way to keep your closet fresh and try something new or different without breaking the bank.  I am sure that you will fall in love, I certainly have!!!

Hell Bunny Rosina Dress in Size:3XL

 Dress: Hell Bunny from Gwynnie Bee.  Earrings: Mystic Teardrops from Ceci Punch Designs

I loved the Rosina Dress!!  The cute 1940's style with a flattering gathered bust panels, ruched waist and sweet button accents!  The fit was really fabulous and this skirt was to die for!  I have worn many Hell Bunny dresses in the past, the reason I keep coming back to Hell Bunny is because they are one of the best quality and most affordable brands of vintage styled garments available.  I loved the flow of the dress and everyone loved it!

City Chic Black Spliced Skater Dress With Cherry Red Trim Size:L

 Dress: City Chic from Gwynnie Bee.  Earrings: Ceci Punch Designs

The Pixie, since 1948!

I had a Ranch Chicken Grinder with a Chocolate Cherry Milkshake, YUMMY!!!

I absolutely fell in love with this gorgeous Black Spliced Skater Dress with Cherry Red Trim from City Chic.  The style suited me to a "T", made of soft high quality material that flows and flatters!  I had a lot of fun on a day date with Kevin at the Pixie Restaurant in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.  I cannot believe we had never been to this fabulous retro diner that has been serving up food and fun since 1948.  The food was amazing and the atmosphere was perfect for a vintage lover like me.  I cannot wait to go back and shoot more fun photos here!!

Be still my heart!!!!

I loved this City Chic dress so much I had to add it to my closet, I am completely won over!  I have wanted to try City Chic for a few years but the fact that there are not stores local to me to try on their garments had kept me from taking the plunge, Gwynnie Bee is the perfect opportunity to have fun with your wardrobe by trying new brands and even new styles without risk.


Cherry Velvet Dita Holiday Dress in Black and Dark Red Size:1X

 Dress: Cherry Velvet from Gwynnie Bee.  Earrings: Roses by Premier Jewelry

The reviews for this Cherry Velvet Dita Dress on Gwynnie Bee were less than inspiring, but I had been dying to try Cherry Velvet and this style looked so lovely that I could not resist.  I found it to be pretty and flattering to my hourglass shape.  The material was not what I was expecting being a shimmery taffeta it swished in a fascinating manner as I walked.  I think this would be a lovely dress for an occasion where you wanted something with a lovely vintage feel but a bit more classy than just a swing dress!

Cherry Velvet Tatyana Dress in Shoe Print Size 0X

 Dress: Cherry Velvet from Gwynnie Bee.  Earrings: Ceci Punch Designs

Photobombing Pomeranian Teddy was too cute to be cropped out ;-)

This dress is exactly why I wanted to try Gwynnie Bee.  I want to be able to take risks with my wardrobe and try new things without the actual risk of buying something with the chance that it will not fit or flatter well. Cherry Velvet is another brand that I just needed to try on before I bought, but both of the Cherry Velvet dresses I tried were lovely and fit me perfectly.  I always use measurements when I am choosing a garment size in any brand, each style can fit your body differently, this is why in the Tatyana Dress I am wearing a 0X but the Dita Dress was size 1X.  This is a perfect case for how handy it is to know what your measurements are, if you are ordering styles online you can purchase something that will fit well.  This dress was fun and completely out of my comfort zone with its criss-cross neckline, peekaboo shoulders and bright bold shoe print, but I had a riot rocking a completely different me for a day and I received a ton of compliments!  I will be adding Cherry Velvet styles to my closet!!!

I have been loving Gwynnie Bee!!  I will be posting more photos and reviews from the next batch of Gwynnie Bee goodies I get!!  Until then, go check Gwynnie Bee out, try their free trial and if you are like me you will be won over  because the fashion possibilities are endless!!!!