Welcome back to Seaux Fab by Cree divas!!!

Well to get right to it….February was Carnival season in New Orleans. Not only do New Orleanians go to parades but we also attend Mardi Gras balls. The balls are grand events where you wear formal attire which can be expensive if you attend multiple balls. So, the search was on for an affordable dress for moi!

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I’ll keep it real, I searched all over the internet for the perfect dress but wasn’t inspired by anything!  At least, not until I saw Kristen Bell’s custom Jenny Packham dress at the Golden Globe Awards. The shape was gorgeous and I had to figure out how to get a dress in the same family. 😀 Hence same family not the exact dress. I still need to dress for my shape.

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Listen, I saw this dress, and in minutes, I was on the phone with an awesome local designer (Kristine Pichon) with whom I have worked with in the past for other alterations. (By the way Kristine won New Orleans fashion week.)

Recreating Kristen Bell’s entire dress from head to toe, would actually be quite expensive!  Truth be told, the original design really didn’t work for my body type, based on the position of the band.  I know my body hunty, and I knew that band sat too high; and, would make me look like I was with child. 😕

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Seaux, what’s a curvy diva to do??? Wellllll, I went on Amazon to purchase a dress that Kristine could redesign.

Yes, Divas I said Amazon!!!!

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I wanted long sleeves, so I search for a lace dress that was plain in the front that could be altered in the front. We settled on an illusion mesh so I could feel comfortable and not be tugging on the dress all night. Kristine also added a wider band on the dress to cinch in the waist.

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Let me tell you, the outcome of the dress was amazing! I added a gold belt as my only accessory and decided to wear rhinestone sandals since I would be on my feet all night.

OK lets be real, the dress was long enough to cover my shoes so why spend a lot of money on shoes no one can see. 🙂 

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Seauxxxxx diva, in conclusion, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on formals; just be patient and start your search months in advance!

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“Lagniappe”

as we say in New Orleans, which means a little something extra (a bonus)

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Here’s a quick guide you can use when shopping for formals!
You need to remember the following:

1. Find a dress that will compliment you, and your body!
2. Be patient while searching for formals!
3. Check unconventional stores like Amazon, Ebay and Etsy for formals!
4. If you can’t find the dress you want, then find a great seamstress to work with you for an alternative!
5. Try separates as an alternatives!
   

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Thanks for visiting my blog; until we style again!

-xoxo
Cree

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P.S. See below…

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