“There is never a wrong time for a polka dot” – Marc Jacobs
I love basing an entire look around one particular item. When we celebrated my second niece’s upcoming arrival at the Ballantyne Hotel a few weekends ago, I knew that this Polka Dot Tiered Dress from Loft would be the perfect option. The dress is one of my favorites from the brand this season, and you can easily dress the lookup with a pair of heeled sandals like I did, or wear it with a pair of flat sandals for a more casual look.
I went with my favorite Midi Loren Tote from Alexandra de Curtis for a little something pink, after all, we were celebrating my second niece’s upcoming arrival with afternoon tea, so pink is a requirement in my opinion. This bag is the perfect size to carry everything you need (including a small water bottle and my iPad that would serve as Cecileia’s entertainment for the tea). The design and craftsmanship of this bag make this bag a worthy addition to your handbag collection, and I recently shared an inside look into the brand with founder Alexandra de Curtis.
The Perfect Block Sandals in Black Suede (Sarah Flint) were another new addition to my shoe collection this year, and they add a touch of classic elegance, to a more playful print like my polka-dot dress, I’ve also paired them with a Zebra Print Dress earlier in the season.
Classic Monogram Tray (LO Home) // Kiki Earrings (The Tiny Tassel)
If you’ve been following along here for a while, you’ll already recognize the Kiki Earrings from The Tiny Tassel. I love how fun these earrings are, and they are part of the curated collection from the shop owner, Mimi Shrimpton. I also added a pop of color with my hot pink bangle from Talbots and a bright lip (Tuscan Wine by TreStique).
Afternoon Tea at the Ballantyne Hotel is one of our favorite Charlotte-based traditions, and this cozy spot in the hotel lobby is one of the most beautiful spots in the hotel. While they used to serve afternoon tea daily, during the current times they are limited afternoon tea to weekends from 1-4 pm. If it’s your first time experiencing afternoon tea at the Ballantyne, I highly recommend going to one of their themed teas where they pull out all of the stops.
For our afternoon tea, the white chocolate peach scones were absolutely amazing and I could have been quite happy with just scones and my chamomile tea (and maybe some of the egg salad sandwiches topped with slivers of pickles.
“The bows, the polka dots, the color, the playfulness — you don’t have to overdo it. You just have to be able to style it in the right way.” — Christian Siriano
Get 15% off your order from Alexandra de Curtis with the code: CHRISTA15 and get $50 off your first shoe order from Sarah Flint with the code: SARAHFLINT-BACHRISTA
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