Channeling Carrie Bradshaw for Awards Night

Perhaps the one positive aspect of pregnancy's frequent awakenings is the built-in time for outfit planning. While I wait for the sandman to re-enter at 2am, I lay there and think about fashion. (Um, surely I'm not the only person who does this?) The style wheels in my head turned vigorously as I assembled an outfit for Saint Louis Fashion Week's Kickoff Party. As a proud nominee for a St. Louis Fashion Blog Award, my look needed to be eclectic, statement-making, feminine, vintage-y, and of course affordable. Except for the "affordable" part, I realized during one of my middle-of-the-night, waxing-fashion-poetic sessions that those terms also describe one of my style icons, Carrie Bradshaw.

One of my all-time favorite Carrie outfits was her New Year's Eve ensemble in the first "Sex and The City" movie: the cream cami, pearls, fur coat, and silky PJ pants. I've also longed to recreate the sweater and knee sock combo she wore in another scene. Hmmm. . . During daylight hours, I turned to a tried-and-true source of unique fashion: the Goodwill. Armed with fun finds but no viable Fashion Week outfits, I was about to leave when I spied a cream silk shift dress. Very "Carmen Bradshaw." To offset the nightgown-ish look, I paired it with black knee socks and booties. I added a gold necklace from my grandmother, vintage butterfly purse, and modernizing jean jacket. (St. Louis is still far too hot to consider a fur coat!)

The outfit received rave reviews at the party! And even though I didn't win, I was genuinely happy for the talented ladies that did (see them here). So, maybe now I can get a good night's sleep. . .at least until the next Fashion Week event (purchase tickets here). My sleep cycle would love some suggestions - how do you come up with outfits for special events?