Ah, the classic yellow summer dress. My absolute favourite.
Admittedly I do have quite a few yellow dresses, all in different styles and variations: it’s safe to say a yellow dress is the one I’d choose for my desert island bucket list. No question.
(If you’d like to see my other yellow dresses, check out this post, this post and this post.)
I actually bought this dress last year right at the end of the summer sales and sadly never got a chance to wear it – I was worried the same might happen again this year as the summer hasn’t been anywhere near as good as last year. Thankfully – or should I say incredibly – the UK did us proud this August bank holiday weekend where the sunshine was concerned. Normally rain and cold are guaranteed, but we had three glorious days of sun and heat.
It was officially the hottest August bank holiday weekend on record. About time we had a good one!
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As we were having a family BBQ I thought I’d celebrate the sunshine (which had gone down by the time we took these photos) and wear said yellow dress. If you think the style is vaguely familiar you might recognise it as a yellow version of the red/pink ombre dress I wore last year on my birthday. Same style, different colour. When you find a style you love that’s really “you”, ALWAYS get it in another colourway (or three!) if you can. You won’t regret it.
So of course dresses – being the easy-peasy items to style that they are – only require some accessorisation. I went with shades of pink and red (much like I did back in July) as we aaaall know I can’t stop at just one bright colour. The fabulous Swedish Hinza bag (mine is the small version in Tropical Pink, there are loads of colours and a larger size available) is made from recyclable green polyethylene plastic from sugar cane and I bought it from the Eden Project last time I was there.
I may well get myself another couple in other colours and the bigger size; I love the fact that it stands upright, is really sturdy and is still the original design from the 1950s. Top marks to Hinza of Sweden.
And lastly (but not leastly) – the gold locket. This is an incredibly special piece of jewellery as I had it made to order as part of my birthday present from Keith and my parents. It features a beautiful picture of Riley and his name engraved in wood with a heart symbol underneath. As you can probably imagine I cried when I opened it – despite knowing what it was! – but it’s so special and I love wearing it all the time. As cheesy as it sounds I feel like he’s close to my heart which I find so comforting.
I ordered it from notonthehighstreet.com from the Maria Allen Boutique: the service was SO good, she answered all my questions and was very careful to make it exactly as per my instructions. I was looking at vintage lockets on Etsy but it’s so hard to find an old one that still has the discs to hold the photos in place – buying one from an independent retailer was the next best option. I can’t recommend them highly enough if you want anything personalised (not sponsored btw)!
What’s your desert island item of clothing? And have you had any special pieces of jewellery or similar made to commemorate your beloved pets…? Comment below!
P.S. Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – and if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured in my bi-monthly Women Who Wear What They Like post!
Dress: Debenhams (you might like this one, this one or this one)
Heels: Marks & Spencer (I like these – reduced to £10!)
Bag: Hinza (loads of colour choices – also larger sizes – here)
Sunglasses: Oliver Bonas (love these)
Headband: Asos
Locket: notonthehighstreet.com
Necklaces (set of 2 discs): Asos
OTHER YELLOW DRESSES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
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Such a gorgeous dress Catherine! I love the colour and the fifties style. Your necklace is beautiful and a lovely way to remember Riley.
Emma xxx
Author
Thanks Emma – the 50s style shirt dress is my favourite style dress too, I think…!
What a lovely way to remember Riley. it’s a beautiful necklace. I love the style of your dress and of course the colour. I am trying to be more adventurous colour wise. I think when you’ve always played it safe it’s hard to be bolder.
Alison
xx
Author
Thanks Alison – I played it safe for MANY years, it’s never too late to start discovering your more adventurous side (in terms of colour) if that’s what you want to do!!
Love that necklace – how sweet is that. Then the dress, it’s fabulous, so chic and elegant it’s timeless. There’s so much you can put with it and I’m sure we’ll see it one the blog plenty in the future. Nice one Catherine. x Jacqui
Would love you to join the #chicandstylish #LINKUP xx :-))
Author
Thanks Jacqui! I just can’t resist a yellow dress.
I have all the link ups on my To Do list, I’ll get round to it as soon as (and IF) I can…!
Love how you styled this Catherine!! This hue of yellow has a high concentration in my closet 🙂
Xx
Joi
Author
Thank you Joi – yes this yellow looks amazing on you I think…!
That locket broke my heart but in a good way! How do you look so beautiful in yellow Catherine?
I look awful in that colour, but im not givin in!
Ps just linked up to you too because I have been forgetting and I dont want you to ban me!!!!
love as always Ash xxxx
Author
Hehe you won’t be banned Ashley because you link up what you’ve been wearing, not flippin recipes and other non-outfit nonsense…!! 😉
Thank you my lovely, the locket is so precious to me <3 xx
Gorgeous dress! Love the locket.
Author
Thank you and thank you Amy x
You look fabulous in this yellow dress. I am in love with your medaillion necklace to remember.
Author
thanks so much Tina…! x
Lovely dress, that shape suits you so well.
What a lovely way to remember and celebrate Riley’s life, lockets never really date either- I have my late mum’s Victorian one and mine from my 30th birthday- though they don’t get worn enough really.
When our first born cat died my husband engraved a beautiful stone with his name and we planted a shrub and put a few pretty pebbles around his grave. Then when we moved we took the stone and a cutting from the shrub and re created a little area in the garden for him. Sadly in the next house my second born cat died, he was very old when we got him and but lived until he was 17….another stone and another name engraved – this was a lovely piece of slate from our favourite walk in the Lakes. Now years later in our new home we have a little area with the boys stones and have re homed another fur boy…..my third born ha ha !!! Sorry for the long story…..but you did ask ! Glad you enjoyed our lovely Bank Holiday, it was such a bonus after all the rain we’ve had.
Author
Aww Karen no I’m glad you shared this – I love hearing about people’s dogs and cats and how they remember them when they’ve gone. I can’t believe how much it’s affected me 🙁
Thank you for the lovely comment- and yes lockets don’t date, do they? I was looking at Victorian and Edwardian ones and this was the nearest I could get to that sort of style. I’m so pleased with it <3
Catherine, I think has to be one of my ALL TIME favourite outfits on you! You look absolutely stunning – the whole ensemble is just utter perfection on you. The shape, the colour, the added headband. Everything. I absolutely LOVE it!!
Hugs
Suzy xx
Author
Oh wow Suzy THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! Day made 😀
As I was scrolling through the pics Catherine, the moment I saw the locket, I just knew who was inside. I’m so sorry for your loss. Our Rani, a golden retriever, has a few years, but aging has begun for her. I, no we, will all be devastated as you are when she does go. I’m so happy for all the Riley memories you carry.
Yellow for me is sooooo tough. Hence I linked my yellow pants post called “On Vacay.” But, in looking at your dresses, I might be able to pull off the ASOS buttercup yellow one–except for the frilly arms. Those pretty details might make my lumberjacks look all the bigger; although one never knows! The other one I love is from & Other Stories. Wrap dress work for me! Your’s is gorgeous, and you are so lucky to be able to wear yellow! I think all yellow wearers out to all of us non able yellow wearers to wear it way more often! So there!!
Thanks for the link up!
Annie from Kremb de la Kremb
Author
Aww thanks lovely Annie… give Rani lots of kisses and hugs from me. We can’t wait to give another furry boy or girl a home 🙂
I think there’s probably a shade of yellow to suit everyone (a bit like red!) – a pale lemon looks awful on me!!
Joyful summer colours, Catherine. And your locket is beautiful.
Author
Thanks so much Melanie 🙂 xx
The power of a good yellow dress! Love it. I bought a yellow dress a few months ago but haven’t worn it yet.
Author
Thanks Marie! You sound like me with my desperation to fit in a wear before the summer ends!
A bright yellow dress with red accents always reminds me of my favorite Oscars look of all time, when Michelle Williams wore the yellow Vera Wang with a bright red lip. Love both these colors together, and on you!
Cheryl Shops
Author
Oh gosh YES to Michelle Williams in that Oscars outfit… one of my favourites too, Cheryl!!
Thanks hon xx
Oh, that locket is just so touching as a reminder of Riley. So sweet. Your mustard dress is gorgeous–and a favorite color of mine! Glad your holiday weekend was nice and warm. We are finally having true warm summer days here!
xx Darlene
Author
Aww thanks Darlene – gotta love a bit of yellow in the summer 😉
Oh my word, Catherine, your dress made me smile so big at its beautiful sunshiny shade. And then I smiled even bigger at the pink and red accessories! It is all so cheerful. And then I teared up at your necklace! I am on an emotional pendulum over here with this post. I absolutely adore this outfit. You look so beautiful!
Shelbee
Author
Thank you so much lovely Shelbee!!! x
Very classy!! I love your color palette!
Author
aww thanks Mireille 😀
I love the colour! And the headband. The locket is beautiful. How clever that the tiny bit of wood is carved. A lovely keepsake xx
Author
Thank you Laurie – I love the fact that his name is included… I couldn’t have done that myself with a vintage locket so I’m really happy x
I love the locket and the pic of Riley. Gorgeous dress and you suit yellow.
Author
Hilda thank you!! x
What a fantastic piece of jewelry! Very precious.
Author
thank you Nancy, I absolutely love it x
Pure sunshine pretty lady!
Author
aww thanks lovely Andrea x
Pretty outfit. I really love that bag. The color’s great.
Author
thank you Julie – the bag was such a find! I’m so desperate to get an orange one!! 😉
Beautiful outfit Catherine. I love bright colours 🙂 Such a special locket and I am sorry to hear about Riley, I still remember how sad it was when my first dog died 🙁 Thanks for hosting.
Author
Thank you Claire Justine – it’s been a very sad few weeks but I’m so glad I got this locket at last 🙂