We talked about transition dressing (from yoga pants to working pants) yesterday and look at me now. It’s Tuesday and I’m in a dress and heels. Feels good, my friends. Although yoga pants feel better. I’ve gone to the dark side of comfort and it’s hard to get back. 
This dress. It took me a month but I talked myself into this dress. I tried it on in store a few weeks ago and loved it immediately. I mean this dress is my jam — long sleeves, cinches in the middle, short length but not too short. I love a good long sleeve short dress, you guys. They are hard to come by. Most dresses that are short want you to show everything you’ve got off. Not this one. This one is classy. I feel like Kate in this dress (princess Kate Middleton, you know the one. Not Kate from down your street; I don’t know her.)  Oh but back to talking myself into buying this dress. I thought about it and I needed good reason to purchase this dress. So I thought about it and finally came to the conclusion that this is going to be my birthday dress. I turn 30 next month (…) and this 29 year old can buy herself a pretty dress. I’m also going to wear it for the shop’s grand opening. And then probably again just on a random Tuesday because it’s my favorite dress ever. Long sleeves, short skirt, full heart, can’t lose. Something like that, right?
Oh yes, I’m still wearing these purple heels. I think that they may be my new red heels, you guys. (If you are a long time KE reader, do you remember the orange-red heels that I wore every third post? The best.) Who knew purple was the new red? 

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// Purple Pumps, FTW // 

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*This post was sponsored by Nordstrom and their pretty collection of pumps this fall. Thank you for supporting the brands that support this blog. 

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121 Responses

  1. You are hilarious. “Not Kate from down your street.” Hahaha, thanks for making my Tuesday better. And good choice on buying the dress; you look beautiful!

  2. The print on this dress is fantastic. I also love the shoulder detail. But yeah the best part is absolutely the long sleeves. Long sleeves are ideal.

    Katherine
    Prim & Pattern

  3. I love the color combination of the blue dress and the purple heels. The colors go very nice with your skin complexion. I like that the colors are subtle and not so overbearing. Love the look! Keep up the styling tips.

  4. Haha, I do remember those heels! From UO, yes? Is it creepy that I know that? Geez I’ve been reading your blog for too long lol 😉

    Whatever happened to those old favorite shoes of yours anyway? Actually, that question applies to a lot of your cute clothes from back then! I always had hoped you’d do a “shop my closet” type thing but once I heard your podcast about how busy/stressful it is running your own boutique, I understood why you didn’t haha

    http://www.rachellately.com | Austin Life + Style Blog

  5. I love long-sleeved dresses too. I have arm tattoos, so if I want them covered in a work environment I have to wear a sweater — or a long-sleeved dress! This one is the perfect combination of primness and sass, especially with those shoes.
    xx Abby a geek tragedy

  6. I am turning 30 next year and I am pretty much using that as my justification for everything. That’s a great dress. There is something immensely classy about a long-sleeve dress. I have noticed a lot of purple heels lately and this is just peaking my interest more!

  7. Polyester is not my favorite material. Kate would wear a dress like that for sure. I wonder what her new maternity wardrobe will be like this second time around. 🙂

  8. Whatever happened to those orange-red heels anyway? I’d LOVE to see those resurrected and remixed again. I know styles & people change and I know it’s pretty much forbidden from being spoken about here but…..I can’t tell you how much I miss your 30×30 remixes. Maybe you could do it again in honor of turning 30? I know, I know…BOO this girl!

    1. I actually want to jump on this bandwagon. I’d love to see a new 30 x 30 using some of your more recently purchased stuff.

    2. I would love to see it too!! You are so gorg and stylish, but I can’t afford your outfits anymore. It would be cool to see you remixing again!!

  9. Beautiful dress! And I third the request for a 30×30 remix for your birthday next month 🙂

  10. Such a great buy! The shape and color is so so lovely. And I love the purple heals. If purple is the new red, then 30 is the new “whatever is also currently awesome.” Love it! 🙂

  11. I’ve been reading KE since 2010! Love those orange-red heels and bought my own pair (in cream) because of your blog. I miss 30 for 30!

  12. I love the color combination of the blue dress and the purple heels. The colors go very nice with your skin complexion. I like that the colors are subtle and not so overbearing. Love the look! Keep up the styling tips.

  13. Haha, I do remember those heels! From UO, yes? Is it creepy that I know that? Geez I've been reading your blog for too long lol 😉

    Whatever happened to those old favorite shoes of yours anyway? Actually, that question applies to a lot of your cute clothes from back then! I always had hoped you'd do a "shop my closet" type thing but once I heard your podcast about how busy/stressful it is running your own boutique, I understood why you didn't haha

    http://www.rachellately.com | Austin Life + Style Blog

  14. I love long-sleeved dresses too. I have arm tattoos, so if I want them covered in a work environment I have to wear a sweater — or a long-sleeved dress! This one is the perfect combination of primness and sass, especially with those shoes.
    xx Abby a geek tragedy

  15. I am turning 30 next year and I am pretty much using that as my justification for everything. That's a great dress. There is something immensely classy about a long-sleeve dress. I have noticed a lot of purple heels lately and this is just peaking my interest more!

  16. Polyester is not my favorite material. Kate would wear a dress like that for sure. I wonder what her new maternity wardrobe will be like this second time around. 🙂

  17. Whatever happened to those orange-red heels anyway? I'd LOVE to see those resurrected and remixed again. I know styles & people change and I know it's pretty much forbidden from being spoken about here but…..I can't tell you how much I miss your 30×30 remixes. Maybe you could do it again in honor of turning 30? I know, I know…BOO this girl!

  18. I actually want to jump on this bandwagon. I'd love to see a new 30 x 30 using some of your more recently purchased stuff.

  19. Beautiful dress! And I third the request for a 30×30 remix for your birthday next month 🙂

  20. Such a great buy! The shape and color is so so lovely. And I love the purple heals. If purple is the new red, then 30 is the new "whatever is also currently awesome." Love it! 🙂

  21. I've been reading KE since 2010! Love those orange-red heels and bought my own pair (in cream) because of your blog. I miss 30 for 30!

  22. My first thought was Kate Middleton before I even read the title! This is an amazing piece on you. I always enjoy your posts. You have the best sense of humor!

  23. I would love to see it too!! You are so gorg and stylish, but I can't afford your outfits anymore. It would be cool to see you remixing again!!

  24. You look stunning in that dress!!! And it's so well deserved! You go girl! And Happy (almost) Birthday!

  25. My first thought was Kate Middleton before I even read the title! This is an amazing piece on you. I always enjoy your posts. You have the best sense of humor!

  26. Fabulous, fabulous dress, Kendi! I love everything about it. The cut, color and fit. It looks great on you. Enjoy it!

  27. Kendi, I can’t tell you how excited I am to come visit your new shop when I’m in town for Christmas! I’m actually wearing my last Bloom purchase (a blush colored sheath dress with a sheer neckline) for my rehearsal dinner in two weeks!
    Also, love your dress, suits you perfectly. I think you made the right choice!
    Meredith

  28. Aaaarrgghhh must buy purple heels! Must give in! (in case you didn’t realise, I am saying that in a dalek voice, and all of my steely determination to avoid spending money on shoes has been worn down by your evil purple heel posts)

  29. Fabulous, fabulous dress, Kendi! I love everything about it. The cut, color and fit. It looks great on you. Enjoy it!

  30. Kendi, I can't tell you how excited I am to come visit your new shop when I'm in town for Christmas! I'm actually wearing my last Bloom purchase (a blush colored sheath dress with a sheer neckline) for my rehearsal dinner in two weeks!
    Also, love your dress, suits you perfectly. I think you made the right choice!
    Meredith

  31. Aaaarrgghhh must buy purple heels! Must give in! (in case you didn't realise, I am saying that in a dalek voice, and all of my steely determination to avoid spending money on shoes has been worn down by your evil purple heel posts)

  32. I loooooove this dress. The bold blue color is so flattering! I really like that it’s so sophisticated and grown up but I can also imagine throwing on sky high heels, adding a smokey eye, and going out 🙂

    http://www.LoveNiki.com

  33. I loooooove this dress. The bold blue color is so flattering! I really like that it's so sophisticated and grown up but I can also imagine throwing on sky high heels, adding a smokey eye, and going out 🙂

  34. Every time I click to see where I can buy something you are wearing that I’m smitten with, I notice our budgets are galaxies apart. 🙁 Moms with kids who want to be stylish don’t get to wear $295 dresses. Dang.

  35. Every time I click to see where I can buy something you are wearing that I'm smitten with, I notice our budgets are galaxies apart. 🙁 Moms with kids who want to be stylish don't get to wear $295 dresses. Dang.

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