a tale of 7 wedding dresses.

So... you might remember that back in February I ordered 7 wedding dresses.* 

You guys, I ordered 7 wedding dresses tonight. SEVEN. Fingers crossed I love one of 'em.

— Amanda Greer (@ajigreer) February 18, 2015

Some frequently asked questions: 

Why did you order them? Why not just buy one from a store?

I went wedding dress shopping and didn't find any I liked. They were all long, poofy, fancy, bedazzled, etc. I wanted a simple, short dress. Nothing too traditional or fancy. 

Why not have one made?

I do live in China where it's fairly easy to get a dress made. But I didn't know exactly what I wanted and I couldn't imagine what I'd look like in a dress just from looking at a photo. I didn't want to pay a large amount of money and not love the result. 

That must have been expensive. (Okay, so that's not a question, but a lot of people said it.)

Not really. None of the dresses cost that much, Shopbop and ASOS offered free shipping, BHLDN's shipping was $45, and we only ended up paying duty for the BHLDN dresses.

Can I see? 

I didn't show anyone except Melissa and Alanna (two of my bridesmaids) the dresses. I didn't want anyone's opinion to sway my decision. And you wouldn't take your co-workers or acquaintances wedding dress shopping with you, right? 

But now that I've chosen a dress, I thought you might like to see them!

Obviously, I can't tell you what I thought about the dresses after I got them and tried them on, because you'd know which dress I chose (I'm keeping it a secret from Tony), but I can tell you what I was thinking when I ordered them. 

TFNC Prom Midi Dress from ASOS / Short, check. Simple, check. Strapless, maybe? I liked the neckline and the waist. I didn't like the length but figured I could have it hemmed easily enough.  

ASOS Petite Bandeau Dress in Floral Lace / I thought it might be too flowery in person but figured I'd give it a try since shipping was free and I knew I'd probably be returning other dresses anyway.  

ASOS PETITE Dress in Floral Burnout / I didn't ever plan on wearing this as a wedding dress, but thought it might be okay to wear to the rehearsal or a wedding shower or just as a "normal, everyday" dress. 

Frock and Frill Embellished Top Skater Dress from ASOS / I liked that I wouldn't have to worry about my bra straps showing (always a concern, fellow well-endowed ladies, am I right?) or wearing a strapless bra. Wasn't sure about all that embellishment, though. Would it end up looking too blingy or fancy in person?

Joanna August Newbury Cap Sleeve Dress from Shopbop / I didn't think I wanted a long dress, but what if I did and I didn't even know it? I had to order one or two just to be sure. I liked that this one was simple and figured I could dress it up with jewelry. Note: I ordered according to the size chart and it was way too big. Melissa, Alanna, and I actually laughed. Size down.

Evangeline Dress from BHLDN / I loved the look of this dress! Long, yes, but simple and elegant. I could picture myself getting married in a park wearing this. Loved the sash with it but it was sold separately for $180, only $80 less than the dress. No, thank you; there must be other places to buy a sash. Note: I ordered according to the size chart and it was too big. Size down.

Prato Romper from BHLDN / This was the wild card. A wedding romper? Could I really get married in a romper? I actually saw it a couple weeks before I ordered all these dresses and couldn't stop thinking about it. It was pretty and fun. I imagined it being comfortable and perfect for a wedding picnic. I loved it! I wanted to wear a wedding romper! So I ordered it.

And there you have them! My 7 wedding dresses!* Want to try and guess which one I chose? 

P.S. Our Save the Dates, our Chinese wedding, and thoughts on wedding planning.

*Actually 6 wedding dresses and a romper. But that takes longer to say and requires further explanation, trust me. 

why I love my fanny pack.

Alternatively titled: "Why I've Spent a Ridiculous Amount of Time Looking for a Brown Leather Fanny Pack"

I bought this fanny pack when I was in Hong Kong. I love it. And now I want another one—I'm thinking brown leather—because I want options.

Why do I love my fanny pack? I couldn't have said it any better than Rachel Wilkerson Miller:

"When I step out in it, I feel insanely carefree. And I often find myself thinking, Is this how men feel every day? Because if so, holy shit.

I am constantly negotiating the things I will and will not do in my ongoing quest to be both accepted by society and also have a soul and fight the good feminist fight. And I've realized that while I will (or at least have) let a stranger pour hot wax on my vulva, I draw the line at carrying a big-ass shoulder bag.

As for how the fanny pack looks, well…any fucks I have to give about that actually won't fit in my awesomely tiny, hands-free bag, so I've had to let them go!"

Would you wear a fanny pack?

dressing like a grown-up: all dressed up.

Over the past couple of years, I've realized how fantastic dresses are. They're pretty and no-fuss; just throw one on and head out the door!

As I mentioned a while ago, I've had to start dressing like a grown-up. I'm loving it so far, especially because dresses have become a staple in my wardrobe. 

One of the new pieces I bought before starting the B.Ed. Programme was this dress, pictured above. It's become a favourite, making me feel feminine and breezy.

I also bought this t-shirt dress, which is so comfortable but looks dressy paired with heels.

A dress very similar to this one already has a place in my closet and I plan on introducing it to my "teacher" wardrobe.

I've realized I'm a fan of belted dresses, so this herringbone number caught my eye.

This "Teddie dress" is way out of my price range but I love the colour!

Finally, every girl should own a dress with a gorgeous print. These options from J. Crew and Banana Republic cost more than my student budget will allow, but I can dream, right?

(I found the Banana Republic dress via Design Mom). 

professional dress monday.

In the BEd Programme, Mondays are "Professional Dress" days. Today was the first of many. I promised a couple of people I'd share photos but before I do, please promise that you'll ignore the poor quality, the red eyes, and the awkward poses. Also, please promise to take my word that we looked much better in person.

Today was my favourite day so far! (It was only the first day of classes, but still, it was a great day!) 

I got to write on chart paper (using my best "teacher" printing), play a game with dice, and found out that I'll have to buy children's books for a "Book Box." 

I also had my first math class in five years... and it was FUN!

dressing like a grown-up: feet first.

The Bachelor of Education program that I'm enrolled in begins on Thursday, which means it's time that I start dressing like a grown-up, or more specifically, a teacher! As the kind of girl who has spent the last 10 or so years in jeans and t-shirts, this might be a bit of a challenge (but a fun one)!

I've been looking online and in magazines for inspiration and thought that I would share some of what I've found and liked here. Since I'm a big fan of shoes, I figured I'd start with footwear...

These TOMS (that I first spotted here) look comfy and classic. In fact, one of the reviews said they'd "be perfect to teach in."

I spotted these loafers at the mall yesterday; I love them in cognac.

A comfortable flat in a cute pattern is always a good choice.

Finally, these heels would be nice in either black or natural.

Edited to add: I want these in turquoise because they're beautiful. (Elise "loved" them a while ago and I just re-discovered that post).