Be My Valentine

Scene: Manayunk, Pennsylvania

February, February - the month of love, right? How about, simply, the month of love yourself? With Valentine's Day just around the corner, my RSS feed has been inundated with articles and blog posts from this fashion authority and that, on how to style the perfect look for date night. But why date night... again? Is it just me, or does the whole concept just feel overdone and overrated? I feel like I've recieved more 'advice' than I know what to do with... or maybe that's just the Bridget Jones in me, trying to get a word in.

What I thought was more fitting, was to share a fun, feminine look that any woman would feel confident in, and it also just so happens to be sweetly appropriate for a day date ('cause those do exist!), be it to a local coffee shop (Volo on Main Street is a favorite!) or downtown to the Barnes or Museum of Art.

The lovely Flora frock (also available in GREY in the web shop) is definitely an investment piece for spring, and a darling choice for an afternoon outing - be it solo, with your best girlfriends or with your beau! Made with a lightweight fabric that lends an airy, romantic feel to the garment, the Flora Dress is one of those pieces that will get you through those tricky transitional months, and well on your way to the glorious summer season.

Granted, it's still frigid outside, so a cozy jacket is very much in order! I've paired it with the Betony jacket, which I like to consider a much-needed closet basic. As both a solid and a neutral, it complements the dress without competing with its pattern. Instead, it stands out with a unique layering effect and button detailing. For extra warmth, a neutral scarf in black or grey and gloves, would complete this ensemble.

I adore accessorizing. It adds that extra layer of polish (and pizzazz) that you can't achieve from your attire alone. There's a fine line between 'overdone' and 'just right'... so it's important to find that happy medium, and stick with it. I've paired pieces that accentuated my look, without overpowering it.

I paired a skinny gold belt (you can opt for something a little chunkier if that is your preference!) and a darling Saddle Bag in burgundy to play up the canary yellow of the dress and the pink hues in the floral print. Both pieces handmade by Athens-based designer Vice Versa, and are available in a variety of colors in our online shop!

For jewelry, I selected pieces from LILA's own collection, handmade in Athens. The necklace is fashion with tiger eye beads, Swarovski crystal pave beads and gold plated sterling silver accents; the Tiger Eye bracelet set also features a playful Eiffel Tower charm (for those of us who still have Paris on the brain! **sigh**). The studs in popping lime are fashioned with Swarovski crystals and come in a range of equally spring-inspired colors. So fun, right?

Black booties wrap up the ensemble. I wanted to keep this aspect of the look relatively low-key, so I compromised with the color, but had a bit of fun with the rhinestones. On first glance, the boots appear subtle, but in the light - gosh, do they sparkle! What do you think of this outfit - would you style it for your afternoon outing or day date?