"BELLE AT THE BALL" FEAT. AND OTHER STORIES

The term “Belle of the Ball” originated from the French term, belle “beautiful”— or the ‘most beautiful’ woman at a ball/ party/event, etc. It’s also the name of a 1951 waltz composed by LeRoy Anderson, an upbeat tune that really makes you feel like the belle of the ball in your own right. But I love this term not because of its literal sense, I love it more so because it’s an interesting metaphor for inner confidence. Being “belle,” is an attitude, a feeling, and a strike of confidence and happiness in oneself. That’s what makes you the belle of the ball— not in any superficial sense.

That being said, there are certain outfits, looks, clothes, makeup products that make me feel like the belle at the ball, and I’ll tell you one thing, a polka-dot dress is not one of them. That is until, &OtherStories gifted me this stunning satin slip dress. I really love the fit of this, and polka-dots is not a pattern I typically gravitate towards simply because I think I’ve just associated it with juvenility or youth. These dots, however, feel mature and more put together, and I was pleasantly surprised at how confident this dress made me feel even though it’s something that’s a bit out of my comfort zone. I, of course, had to add a little Alanna flair to the dress so I pinned on this white flower (that’s right, from this trusty flower clip pack from Amazon), and paired it with a small cream handbag and black chunky heeled sandals from Steve Madden. Although beyond my comfort zone at first, I felt like a belle at a ball!! (No, not the belle of the ball, that would have to go to Sean since it was his event, lol!)

“Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used.”

[Othello 2.3]

Cheers, xx - A.Martine