I have been waiting and waiting for my favorite dress from the Miss Candyfloss Viva Rita collection, the lovely checked Virtue-Violette, to be released, because I really wanted to wear it on my birthday. I was getting nervous, but as luck would have it, it was released this week, and somehow, even with international shipping, it arrived on Thursday, the day before my birthday, so I was able to wear it yesterday on our birthday trip to Ste. Genevieve, MO!

I love everything about this dress. It is my very favorite style of dress from Miss Candyfloss, with functional buttons all the way down the front, which makes it perfect for wearing unbuttoned from the waist with shorts underneath (I’m planning on wearing it that way very soon!). The colors in the checked pattern, which are blues and a gorgeous purple/pink, are my favorites. And between the lightweight fabric, the swing skirt, and the sleeveless bodice, it’s nice and cool for summer!

I accessorized with a stack of Splendette Duchess bangles, a Meteor Jewelry Company necklace, silver hoop earrings from Elizabeth Claire Taylor, and an Erstwilder brooch, plus a pair of blue hair flowers:

Here’s a closer look at my brooch. It’s not specifically a birthday cake, but as soon as I saw it earlier this year, I knew I wanted it to wear for birthdays, and it looks gorgeous with this dress!

I found a great vintage sign that made the perfect backdrop for my look, too!

This beautiful dress made me feel like a princess on my birthday!

I still have a few pieces to share from this collection, but this was my last purchase for the season, which is always a little bittersweet to me, because I hate when things are over…but it will be time to look forward to the autumn/winter collection before you know it!