Two Dilettantes

indian summer

noreply@blogger.com (Patrice and Ashley) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:10:00 +0000

blazer: h&m// jeans: marc by marc jacobs// shoes:aldo// scarf: hand-knit

a compilation of late 2011 events...

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:02:00 +0000

capFABB meetup at madewell

yes, we've fallen off the blog-earth, but that doesn't mean we spent our last two months of the year doing nothing at all. here's a little compliation of a couple of the events we attended late last year. better late than never, right?

celebrating at the launch of Accoutre with our bud Eliot! check out their awesome bowties-- maybe you'll recognize one of the models ;)

here's to a great 2012 (hopefully one filled with far more blog posts!)

So fall, So good

noreply@blogger.com (Patrice) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:14:00 +0000

What a pretty month October has been... not just because it's my birthday month, but this has really been a great transition into fall :-). This skirt is one of my favorites because I love the color and the black band makes it so easy to wear with a cute silk top tucked in.

shirt and sunglasses: marc by marc jacobs// skirt:bcbgmaxazria// shoes: nine west

"Dressed": The Documentary

noreply@blogger.com (Patrice and Ashley) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:07:00 +0000

So last week we went to a movie premiere hosted by Brand Link DC. It was tons of fun! The movie was a documentary about the hardships of starting a fashion line in the industry, and followed the career of Nary Manivong, while he attempted to launch his fashion line during New York Fashion Week. The film was very realistic, yet inspiring.

After the showing of the movie, there was a Q&A with Nary and the director of the film. It was a really nice surprise. They were both so honest and down to earth...

ashley: jumper:h&m// shoes: f21 patrice: jacket: robert rodriguez// shirt: nanette lepore// pants: h&m// shoes:christian louboutin

a day like no other...

noreply@blogger.com (Patrice) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:48:00 +0000

Greetings fashion lovers! The day you have been waiting for is here.... the wedding dress pics! Planning a wedding is extremely time-consuming and exhausting (though totally worth it), and I haven't had much time to blog in the last few months. BUT, I am pleased to announce that my hiatus is officially over! I am back and better than ever just in time to help Ashley bring you all the hottest looks for fall :-)

Here are a few pics from the wedding, mostly focusing on the dress!! This was truly one of the most wonderful days of my life, and was a true blessing. Special shout out to all of my friends and family who were there to share it with us <3

dress and veil: vera wang white// shoes: badgley mischka// husband's tux: hugo boss red// his shoes: converse

first comes love...

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 01:05:00 +0000

...then comes patrice's wedding!! that's right-- a dilettante wedding!

it was a beautiful ceremony out in the 'burbs. patrice looked so beautiful and her groom was super dapper! you'll have to wait for her post to see her dress in all its glory-- no spoilers here folks.

i wore a maxi dress i scored on sale from asos with some plain ol flat sandals (you couldn't see them anyway). i think i may have been the most comfortable woman in the place. please excuse the side-boob action.

but before we get into that, i have an important public service announcement:

two dilettantes is now on twitter!!! follow us! it's where da party at! @twodilettantes

i wish i had gotten a picture of the back of the dress, but i was too busy having fun! you'll have to look at the product picture from asos and pretend it's me.

dress: asos // earrings: vintage from a clothes swap // sandals: forever 21

dc fashion and beauty blogger meetup

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:20:00 +0000

yesterday i had the pleasure of joining other dc-area bloggers for a meetup at the violet boutique in adams morgan. it was an incredibly cute boutique and very reasonably priced. if you're ever in the area, definitely stop in! also got to wear my comfy printed pants -- because bloggers love printed pants, and i wanted to fit in.

tee: forever 21 // pants: zara // belt: h&m // necklace: vintage

why hello there lovelies!

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:45:00 +0000

have you followed two dilettantes on bloglovin' yet?

show us some love by following us (and all your other favorite blogs, of course)

click it or ticket.

new post on the way this evening! :)

THOSE shoes

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:02:00 +0000

i just can't stop loving these Valentino studded shoes. every iteration, every color they just keep getting better and better... drool.

will the real sugar daddies please stand up? lol

img/src: google images, elle.com, nordstrom, luisa via roma

no gray area

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 21:30:00 +0000

with two weeks left until the start of summer, i've been trying to add bright colors to my wardrobe. funny this is: i always seem to fall back into wearing black and white. am i the only one?! am i weird?! anyway... since i now know this about myself, i've been hunting down some great black and white pieces that still manage to be interesting and great for summer.

l: alice + olivia tee, shopbop // r: floral embellished tee, topshop

l: polka dot shorts, forever 21 // r: tie-dye romper, macy*s

l: monochrome dress, asos // r: alice by temperley dress, the outnet

80's purple sunnies

l to r: alice+ olivia, shopbop // marrimeko for converse, converse // jeffrey campbell, need supply co // jean michel cazbat, neiman marcus // minimarket, the outnet

transitional wedges

noreply@blogger.com (Patrice) — Sun, 15 May 2011 21:39:00 +0000

Hi there dilettantes!! Since spring is fully here, I am newly inspired to jump into some fun colors and enjoy the weather! My favorite shoe trend so far for spring is the fun wedges I've been seeing all around. We all know wedges are the most comfortable way to wear heels, especially if you wanna last for an entire day. Well here are a few samples of how to wear them in style.

anthropologie

aldo shoes

paisean faisean

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:36:00 +0000

last month i had a momentary stroke of luck and won tickets to the Paisean Faisean fashion show. the show featured collections from irish designers and a mini concert from singer Julie Feeney. lots of unique and creative designs in the cool space at fathom creative.

my favorite of the night was Katarzyna Wypych (in collaboration with Orla O'Connor and Deirdre Williams). her collection was made up of huge knits in shades of teal and cream-- statement pieces for sure, and at the same time very flattering.

also of note was jewelry designer Yvonne Beale

...and the flowy dresses from designer Eilis Boyle

shout out to BYT for the free tickets :)

2d fashion month faves (f/w 2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:16:00 +0000

hello friends!! long time, huh?

did you all get to watch any of the live streams of the fw2011 shows? i love that houses are doing this now-- it feels like i'm there! (well, kinda, not really) there were so many beautiful fall collections that it was hard to narrow it down to a reasonable number, but here were the ones that i really adored!

how beautiful was this collection?! hands down my favorite of the month!

burberry continues their streak of killing the outwear game. the spotted fur was out of this world awesome. not to mention they achieved the perfect flare on all their pants.

i'm a total sucker for color blocking, pattern mixing and red pants, so dkny = wear-to-work perfection.

such pretty, pretty digital prints. the mixture of the soft, feminine prints and the highly structured tailoring is a juxtaposition that works so well.

the stuff of my man repellent dreams! comfy looking pants, big patterns, color blocking, and umm.... is that crushed velvet?!

which collections did you absolutely love? chat with us in the comments!

all images via style.com

caped crusader

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 19:01:00 +0000

superheroes, costumed children, posh grandmas-- capes are often found draped on the coolest people in the land. as a member of short girl league, i find capes a little harder to pull off, but luckily, i found this fun one at target for $13... and the fur collar is detachable, to boot-- i use it on everything! low risk, high return!

cape: target // bracelet: h&m // boots: jeffrey campbell

trend to try: full skirts

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:43:00 +0000

i've seen a lot of full skirts around, and i'm loving their transitional appeal. you can wear them now with tights, boots and a sweater, or in the spring with sandals and tanks. not to mention the a-line shape is flattering on most everyone. hellooooo little waist! i just got a cute one from h&m so i've been scouring the internets to get a little inspiration...

jane of sea of shoes // liz of late afternoon

jazzi of jazzi mcg // louis vuitton f/w 2010 via style.com

and for my fellow ballers on budgets... here's some affordable ways to try the trend on your own:

1. reelin' and rockin' skirt // modcloth, $35

2. staring at stars constellation linen skirt // UO, $54

3. elasticized waist long skirt // yes style, $23

4. tulle skirt // yes style, $27

5. stripe midi skirt // ASOS, $48

6. leather skirt with pockets // zara, on sale! $130

7. sheer lace skirt // pixie market, $59

winter white partay

noreply@blogger.com (Patrice) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 16:32:00 +0000

Hey all, do you miss my face? Well I miss sharing with you guys! Soooo I had the most challenging style dilemma last weekend. My bestie's mom was having a retirement party, and get this, it was a white party... in December! Now, I don't feel strongly about the "not wearing white after Labor Day" fashion faux pais, but frankly, finding something that is white and warm enough to wear in freezing temperatures is a challenge! So this is how I made it work for me, Enjoy!

dress: h&m//coat: zara// tights: hue// shoes: christian louboutin// bag: dkny

happy new year!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:24:00 +0000

hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!

<3 two dilettantes

Christopher Kane Galaxy Print Dress

[via Net-A-Porter, via Google Images]

baby's got the bends

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 20:55:00 +0000

i love this jewelry line from blogger, brook&lyn. all the necklaces use one-of-a-kind agate and are finished with rope, and leather and silver hardware. the body necklaces are so unique-- pretty statement pieces. have a look-see...

all images from brook&lyn

attainable winter coat round up

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 22:39:00 +0000

it's finally cold around here! personally, i love winter because i get to wear a coat, and i'm not sure if you know this but coats=awesome. check out some of the ones i've been scoping out lately.

BB Dakota Bostwick Coat

As a proud owner of this baby I have to say it's high on cute, but low on warm. perfect for layering, though.

$118 from Fred Flare

ASOS Belted Military Coat

the military style is so cool-tough, and the green color makes you stand out in a sea of black.... i'd probably swap out that belt for a darker one, but otherwise a+ from me!

$172 from ASOS

Zara Leather Trench Coat

to put it simply... THIS IS MY DREAM COAT.

$319 from Zara

Shearling Tie-Waist Leather Coat

just a fancier (but cheaper) iteration of my dream coat. hot stuff. yes style wins so hard on the coat front, always.

$255 from YesStyle.com

Puffy Jacket with Fur-Trimmed Hood

a super casual puffer coat is a must. fortunately, in addition to being super casual, this one's also super cheap! bam!

$24.80 from Forever 21

i'm always looking for more cute coats! seen any good ones? drop me a link in the comments section!

a thanksgiving haiku...

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 19:35:00 +0000

belly full of food

pants are not fitting the same

see you all next week

hope everyone had an excellent thanksgiving! :)

alexander mcqueen ss2011

lottie dottie

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 01:46:00 +0000

long time no see, huh? :)

i almost wore this outfit to an after-work party this week. even though i ended up in a different outift, i did get to take one picture! this polka dot dress is so soft and comfy. i'm pretty sure it'll be one of my go-to dresses as it gets colder.

dress: modcloth// pleather jacket: f21// tights: target// boots: vintage

monday inspiration: fall luxe

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:17:00 +0000

a little jump start for the week...

via fashion gone rogue

via jak and jil

happy birthday nail polish by deborah lippmann

via knight cat

via luxirare

fashion:district

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 18:24:00 +0000

last week i went to an event called 'fashion:district'-- cool clothes, great event and awesome venue. the show and pop-up shop featured some very cool local designers and boutiques: ARTAYA, De*Nada Design, Derringer Friday, Durkl, Ginger Root Design, Mercedes Bien Vintage, Rue 14, Toucan and Treasury. despite my low photography skill-level i managed to get a couple of good shots. it's always nice to be reminded that the district does, in fact, have a fashion scene :)

and here's what i wore:

dress, belt: forever 21 // jacket: h&m // purse: deux lux // boots: yesstyle

HumpDay Hues

noreply@blogger.com (Patrice) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 21:38:00 +0000

I figure you might need a little fashion push to get you through the week, so I have just the thing you need. My favorite fall shoe acquisition so far.... I found this studded suede peep toe Prada beauty at the Neiman Marcus last call store. They had all their sandals an additional 40%, and after some swindling (and a little begging), I convinced the clerk that even though these shoes are suede, a peep toe automatically makes them a sandal. Would you believe I got an extra 40% off! So yes, new Pradas on a budget ;-)

What I wore with the fab shoes

Ashley asked me not to post any of the pics she took, but this one is so adorable I couldn't resist!

dress: bcbgmaxazria// clutch: marcbymarcjacobs// shoes: prada

designer spotlight: Romona Keveza

noreply@blogger.com (Patrice) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:58:00 +0000

So in my excursions to find the perfect wedding dress, I came across the most amazing designer: Romona Keveza! I have no idea how I haven't discovered her before, but now that I have, I'm completely in love! She has some of the most breathtaking bridal and evening wear that I've ever encountered. Honestly, it's just frickin amazing! She's a little out of my price range, so I probably won't end up wearing her on the big day, but oh how I'd like to!

This to me is the PERFECT reception dress. One shoulder + feather skirt + killer shoe = Out of this world reception outfit!

I should also mention that this train comes off and this dress becomes a cute little cocktail dress.

And her evening wear is just as awesome as her bridal. The color, cut and fit of this dress is just impeccable. I would dress like this everyday if I could by the way... lol

All photos courtesy of romonakeveza.com