Our newest e-roommate, Ashley, invited us over to Little Miss Momma today for a guest post!
Go check it out. And, make sure you take a peek at her amazing pillows while you are there.
I didn't go out to restaurants much when I was a kid. But, I have such vivid memories of my rich friends
(rather, they seemed rich to me) talking about going to The Olive Garden for dinner and I would always think, "Whoa. You guys go out to dinner? In a garden? And, someone makes your food and brings it to you?" and then I would envision how fancy this Olive Garden place must be. I imagined vines, water fountains, a waiter in a bow tie, a violinist in a tux, breadsticks that melt in your mouth, fancy goblets, and limos out in the parking lot.
Well, all of my wildest dreams came true this weekend when I got a gift card to this magical place and actually visited The Olive Garden! And by all of my wildest dreams came true, what I really mean is, all of my "The Olive Garden is so fancy" dreams came crashing down when I pulled in to the parking lot and there wasn't a single limo. The dreams came crashing down again as I walked in and saw all the southern folks in overalls and bright orange University of Tennessee t-shirts. No bow ties? No tuxedos?
As I looked around at everyone in jeans, overalls, t-shirts, and corduroy, I looked down at myself and felt real stupid when I saw this:
Shirt: TJ Maxx Dress: TJ Maxx Shoes: TJ Maxx Necklace: Thrift store
(If you remember... this skirt is actually a dress)
I thought maybe adding the striped cotton top might make it a little bit less fancy looking.
So, roommates, although you will never be able to convince me to wear overalls or a bright orange Tennessee shirt out to dinner, you could convince me that this outfit was inappropriate for my date night.
So tell me..
1. Is black lace and red lipstick way too fancy for a giftcard date to The Olive Garden?
2. If so, can you think of any sort of occasion I could wear my fancy nancy lacey skirt?
57 comments:
I say go for it! If you like your outfit it doesn't really matter as long as you feel comfortable. I will admit I don't like to feel overdressed but I have started wearing nice, fancy outfits even if I'm just going to the pub for dinner. Otherwise I would never wear half of my clothes!
But of course it's not too fancy! Because really, who needs much of a reason to get all fancied up?
Loving your skirt-which-is-actually-a-dress!! I'd never have known that, had you not said so. A nice look with nautical stripes and lace which are both fantastic in their own right.
:) I think it is adorable! And I often find myself over dressed. I love the skirt/dress!
Haha, this made me giggle a little because your description of Olive Garden sounds a lot like the one I go to in good old Bama. But maybe on Sundays that outfit may have fit in more because everyone's just coming from Church.
But I don't the outfit is too fancy for an Olive Garden date - but maybe could be played down with flats or a lighter shade of lipstick. I would probably wear this outfit at a business social maybe. But really, it's how you feel and even if people think you're overdressed, they're probably just jealous because you look way better than they do. :)
ahhah this is great. i LOVED the olive garden when i was a kid--esp the bread sticks. you look SO cute in that outfit i'd wear it anyways :) xoxo jillian:: cornflake dreams
i say you can get as fancy as you want on date night! i love to sport skirts/dresses + red lipstick, it just makes everything more fancy ... even if no one else is fancy, lol! go for it!
Not too fancy! :) I think it's great and I would totally wear that to The Olive Garden.
I dress up all the time for dates, even if they
re just to a little diner! If it makes you feel good, why not? No one else really cares anyway!
I think you should wear the lace skirt! My sister and I were having a conversation about this same subject over the weekend. We decided to stop letting our beautiful dressy clothes collect dust in our closets.
You look great - go for it :)
I love it! I always dress up for date night! It's just fun :) Who cares what everyone else thinks! ~ Andi
I thin kthe outfit looks great! And I cracked up at your story... my husband and I love when we get Red Lobster gift cards. Typically, we celebrate birthdays/anniversaries/new jobs there, so I get cute and dressed up for the evening. It NEVER fails, we always look way overdressed compared to the guy in his cut of shirt and shorts! We laugh every time!
you look so cute! love that dress-turned-skirt. and such a funny story. i love to get dressed up for a date night with the hubbster, too. i think it is special for him if i put in a little more effort to look nice. but i often look overdressed, too. and i will never, ever wear a orange tennessee shirt. ;)
Aww, I know that feeling and hate it too. You looked great, though. I wouldn't worry too much regarding comparing yourself to people in overalls. You were on a date night, so let it be an excuse to dress up a little! And perhaps the overall wear-ers were underdressed for going out in public. :)
Audrey @ Putting Me Together
Wait, was this your first time ever at the Olive Garden?! Too funny. You are so cute. I LOVE that lace skirt/dress.
amy day to day
My girlfriends and I LOVE to dress up for a dinner out! And we're always slightly overdressed, haha. Sometimes it's just fun to dress up even if it isn't necessary - so I say go for it!
I certainly hate that feeling of being the only one in a skirt, but I would always rather be overdressed than under dressed! I think that dress/skirt is so fun, I could see it being way cute with flats. And ps- i love your blog layout, super classy :)
Hehehe, whatever girl, you look awesome! You should just strut in there and be proud of the fact that you are the classiest gal in that whole Olive Garden :) I love your whole look!
There is never a situation that is too fancy for red lipstick. Also, I would MUCH rather see someone in a lace skirt at a restaurant than overalls....just sayin. I think you look lovely.
xox
no WAY! i think you look totally adorable! i don't believe in dressing down on date nights! sometimes i even go to the cracker barrel wearing an outfit like yours. you look beautiful, and i love that you have such a great sense of style!
Great ensemble. The skirt and shoes are so hot. work it girl
That dress as a skirt is awesome! No it's not too fancy for the Olive Garden, or the grocery store, or for a walk in the park. It's too pretty!
And I had the same feeling about Olive Garden growing up until I went for my first time. Our fanciest dinner locale as a kid was Bob Evans!
over dressed is always better than under dressed!!! i love the fancy nancy skirt.
Absolutely ADORABLE!!! I laughed so hard the entire time I was reading this post. I sorta had the same (or at least similar) idea of eating out as a child. My parents NEVER took us to dinner! My mom was so cheap, she'd wait until 29 cent Hamburger Wednesdays at McDonald's to get us something special. Isn't that ridiculous! Anyhow, I think you are totally allowed to dress up on a date to the Olive Garden, even when everyone else looks like trash. The only thing I'd change with your outfit is your shoes. I think the top does dress down the skirt enough, but the shoes dressed it right back up again. I LOVE the t-straps though! You look hot! =)
I love that you wore that to the olive garden! We rarely go out to eat like that...our date night is Fazoli's with our boys. :) I think the overall wearers were a bit underdressed. ;)
My friends and I alwayyys dress up for Olive Garden even though no one else is ever very fancy! So much more fun that way!!
BEAUTIFUL!!!! You can *almost* never be too dressed up!!!
Why not fancy it up at the Olive Garden! Love it!
New follower...found you on Little Miss Momma!
You look great for a night at the Olive Garden! I say at a sit down restaurant, you can't be too dressed up. Unless you are in a wedding dress perhaps...
You look beautiful. Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, as long as you are feeling good.
No amount of dressing up is going to make the food at the Olive Garden taste any less like barf. But you do look adorable.
In your defense, I think Olive Garden was a bit nicer back in the day. It's getting closer to an Italian Denny's every minute. Around here date nights are few and far between so I say when you get one, wear whatever your little heart desires! and enjoy! You're the cutest!
I love that you always dress up for your dates, I think I'm going to try to do it more often:)
hun, go for it!! I think it's sad that the public doesn't dress up to go out like they used to in the 40s/50's/60's. I actually work at the Olive Garden and I see people come in high heels and dresses all the time. In fact just yesterday there was a girl in a full out audrey hepburn black dress and heels! wear what you want to wear :)
The House of Shoes
I would totally rock this outfit for a date night to Olive Garden! It's so pretty and has an European feel. I love it! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!
Dang girl. You are HOT! I love this outfit!
Fancy Nancy is just fun to say! That skirt is KILLER. LOVE IT!
xo,
Sarah
Get UP & Go
You look fabulous, and even if the place isn't fancy, it doesn't mean you have to dress down to fit in. :)
xoxo,
Addie
The Cat Hag
Love your childhood vision of Olive Garden - too funny! But even if the real version doesn't quite live up to it, that outfit is still a good choice :)
I think that outfit is perfectly fine for olive garden!! People should dress up more when they go out haha I haven't quite understood why people stopped haha
www.pastelsandpirouettes.com
I LOVE your outfit. I am sure everyone at olive garden was thinking the same thing.
Aww, who cares, you can wear whatever you want to the Olive Garden! :D I love your fancy lace skirt and red lips! =)
star-crossed smile
It's a cute outfit and I am used to seeing a little bit of everyone at Olive Garden so I wouldn't worry about it :)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your fancy nancy lacy skirt and if I could pull it off I would totally wear it to the Olive Garden!! I say you got it so work it! Who cares if anyone thinks you're overdressed!
hellsbells. Are y'all my blogging soulmates? I mean for theloveofgod, you're wearing a dress as a skirt today just like me. You funny guuurrrls..yall got jokes....And I lurve that. However, Tennessee? I'm a gator, so we will have to find a middle ground. Welp. I am officially obsessed and following your bloggity.
love your guts. obv.
xo.
Angie
thehotnessyourmommawarnedyouabout.blogspot.com
I believe there is no such thing as overdressed. If the cost of 'fitting in' is wearing overalls, then I'll take my individualism any day!
Chic on the Cheap
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for commenting on my blog. I LOVE yours! You guys are too funny and fun! I loved reading your About Section. And are you for real? You've neva eva been to Olive Garden before your debut in this fancy nancy getup?? And I think it's totally appropriate, btw. I bet heads were turning left and right in a good way. :)
Notes She Wrote
Hahaha, I totally remember having the same thoughts about restaurants and the Olive Garden when I was a kid. I love My Edit's rule of "if you don't have anywhere fancy to go, go fancy somewhere instead" and think you rocked it :)
Well it looks like a unanimous YES! Wear the skirt/dress! Just like heals, a lady should look like a lady at any point in which she wishes. Red lipstick, heals and a lacy skirt, heck, wear it to a football game! ;)
Glad you stopped by my little HappyWife blog! I like yours too!
The weekend is almost here! Hope yours is wonderful!
AmberDawn aka HappyWife
thanks for commenting on my blog! So glad to discover yours - I'm kind of a little in love! So hilarious and inspiring :)
there's no such thing as too fancy in my book ;) I love black lace and red lipstick! But then again people (those not in the know about fashion, obvs) often question my dress choices because I dress kind of crazy sometimes. And I like it.
This is a GREAT outfit and I think its just perfect for The Olive Garden. Just because other people go out of the house too casual doesn't mean everyone has to. :-)
xoxo
Stacey Kay
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I can't believe that skirt is a dress -- too clever. As for Olive Garden..I think you can make it as fancy as you want, so go for it! As long as you can loosen your waistband enough to scarf down six more breadsticks, you're good to go, girl.
x Hilary
http://thecleverlife.etsy.com
http://oneclutteredlife.blogspot.com
so elegant! x
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Miss Kwong: From Catwalk to Classroom...
I was just as fancy on my giftcard date to The Olive Garden last night so nope! Also, wear that skirt whenever you darn well please! That's what I do with my fancy skirt. What are people going to say? You're too dressed up? Give them a knowing smirk and say, "I look FABULOUS!"
i think it looks great for an olive garden date! i always dress nice for a date and sorry that the other people didn't rise to the occasion :) better to be overdressed than under-dressed i think! you look beautiful! :)
Not too fancy. Unless you're wearing a cocktail dress at a McDonald's, there's no such thing as too fancy. I applaud your efforts to bring up the sartorial sense of Olive Garden.
www.academiasartorial.blogspot.com
Absolutely not! I love that--I think its the best mood booster to dress up every day...and maybe you'll inspire a few of those orange t-shirt-ed patrons to done their own lace skirts and Parisian stripes <3
Just love you and your blog,
Sara Sophia
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