We had to buy a semi formal dress last year for her first singing competition. She was so brave and did a rock solid job with it, but finding an appropriate dress that didn’t make her look old beyond her years and her chest size, was difficult, to say the least.

So, while we could begin searching the local malls, I’d like to know more about good places to find fun, pretty, and age appropriate dresses for this year’s formal dance and any other performances that I don’t know about yet.

Any suggestions? leave a comment below 

When I was first introduced to Patricia, I was taken back to a time in my life when I was surrounded by unique, luxurious, hand beaded creations for wearing. I was in the belly dance community and back then, everyone pretty much hand beaded their own outfits. Months worth of intricate, tiny beading sessions took place just to make one belt. 

So, when I saw these pieces of artwork I could immediately appreciate how much time and effort it takes to make her jewelry. 

 Per her artfire store, 

This is a large work of wearable sculpture with lots of bead netting, a centerpiece of Russian Peyote-stitch and a dangling polymer clay bead that has been highly polished and draped with asymmetric fringe. The 2-cuts used in the netting and Peyote are very old, (from about the 1930s or 1940s I was told but cannot verify). Apparently, they came from a stash found in a warehouse in Rhode Island, The bugle beads and Swarovski bicones are contemporary as are the Czech beads (one lampwork and one textured druk) used for the bead and loop fastening and the larger 6/0 beads.

You can find more of Patricia’s wearable art at PatriciaCVener

However, if you were to dress this way, your own Santa might bring you extra gifts this year.

Okay, even if you don’t want to dress like that, they have great shoes!