A Silk Leopard Dress Moment in Florida

You may recall that Freddy and I went to Seattle back in January for my friend’s wedding and we had a great time! One of our most favorite spots to go to while we were there was Starbucks Reserve. We went there two mornings in a row because after our first experience we just had to go back! In case you were wondering, I’m still dreaming of that Nutella croissant! After our 2nd visit we decided to take a different route on the walk back to our hotel and we walked by a cute shop called Scotch & Soda. As I looked at the name I thought it looked familiar, and then I realized that we had carried this brand at Nordstrom wayyy back when I was interning for them almost 10 years ago! Their window display caught my eye so we decided to go in and check it out.

I felt a European vibe as soon as I walked in, from the clothes to the decor, and I almost felt like I was in someone’s cozy loft/apartment that was so beautifully curated. After talking with one of the sales people, I learned that Scotch & Soda is from Amsterdam, so those European vibes I was feeling totally made sense! As we perused through the boutique, I came across this gorgeous, silk leopard dress hanging on the sale rack. It stood out to me not only because of it’s bold print, but it was so out of my comfort zone (because I definitely don’t have a bold personality) and I felt a nudge to try it on. I know that leopard print has had a major comeback recently, and while I never felt compelled to jump on that trend train, something about this dress struck me as a classic piece that I could wear for years to come. The second I put it on I felt a boost of confidence, almost like I was shedding my old skin and stepping into a new identity. That sounds a bit dramatic considering it’s just a dress, but that’s one of the things I love most about fashion, and why I’ve loved it since I was a middle school girl watching What Not To Wear on TLC. The clothes we wear can be a beautiful expression of how we’re feeling, or in my case, how I want to feel. I don’t wake up feeling super confident every single day, but putting something on that makes me feel beautiful, strong, empowered and a little bit sassy is sometimes just what I need to believe that I can do hard things. That I can get back up when the raging storms of life try to knock me down. That I can pursue the dreams that God has placed on my heart for a reason. We all have our own version of a “leopard dress”—maybe for you it’s an amazing pair of jeans that hug every curve just right or the perfect pair of heels that make you feel like you can conquer whatever comes your way.

I didn’t get a chance to wear the dress (check out the skirt version here!) in Seattle (it was way too cold!) but I took it with me to Florida and we shot these pictures in beautiful Coral Gables beneath the Banyan trees. We had so much fun that day exploring so many places in South Florida—you can read our 4-day travel guide here! It’s fun to go outside our comfort zone sometimes and get dressed up in pretty clothes, but remember this: no matter what you wear, you are beautiful inside and out, just as you are, the way your Creator made you! Have a wonderful weekend, friends!