Printed Peplum Dress

This dress has a lot going on, but it is one of my favorites because of its pattern and unique style.  I purchased this floral print eyelet peplum dress on one of my work trips to Shanghai--it was actually custom made to my measurements at the South Bund Fabric Market.  Getting clothing custom made at one of Shanghai's fabric markets is both easy and difficult at the same time.  I say easy because the fabric markets are multi-level malls of booths, so there are plenty of people willing to take your measurements and your order.  Once you have selected your booth, you can get measured and have your order written up in just a few minutes.  The turnaround time can be 48 hours up to a week depending on how busy they are and how you negotiate.  The process can be difficult, however, because the quality of products varies from booth to booth and selecting one can seem overwhelming.  It helps to know what you are looking for: taking product photos with you or choosing a style that the booth already has displayed eliminates confusion about what you want the end result to look like.  I was fortunate to have a colleague who had already gone through the trial and error process, and this particular style was on display at one of the booths she recommended.  It made the process very simple, and this resulting dress is perfect for the office, a wedding, and more.  In today's outfit, I styled this floral eyelet peplum dress with a navy skinny belt, navy suede bow pumps, aviator sunglasses, and my GiGi New York monogrammed navy Uber Clutch for an afternoon of wine tasting in Napa Valley a few weekends ago.

Dress: custom made in Shanghai
Pumps: Halogen via Nordstrom (old), currently loving the Louise et Cie "Nadia Pump" in dark blue, $138.95 at Nordstrom here
Belt: Banana Republic (old), similar "Skinny Patent Belt" in navy, $17 (on sale!) at American Apparel here
Sunglasses: Michael Michael Kors "Sicily 59mm Metal Aviator Sunglasses" in dune, $99 at Nordstrom here
Watch: Marc by Marc Jacobs "Henry" in gold, $250 at Nordstrom here
Rings: H&M and Nordstrom Rack (no longer available), check out the
Clutch c/o GiGi New York: monogrammed navy "Uber Clutch," $165 + $15 monogramming here

Every fashionista needs a go-to dress that fits perfectly, has a flattering shape, and makes you feel like a million bucks.  A printed peplum piece fits that bill, and can be styled for both casual and upscale events.  Check out my picks below for printed peplum dresses currently available in stores, and priced in an affordable range between $49 and $188:

How would you style a printed peplum dress this fall?  Thank you for visiting my blog today, and I hope you have a great week!