Told you I was going to dress as a disco ball for my birthday.
My birthday is New Year’s Eve. Yep, last day of the year, full-stop tax baby. Each year I gather my best pals and throw some sort of birthday + NYE combo fête, usually involving dinner somewhere and some sort of gathering after to ring in the new year with music and lots of champagne. And the outfit I wear is always pretty ridiculous– you wouldn’t expect anything less from me, would you?
This year, I decided to dress like a damn disco ball.
I just wanted to be shiny. (And nearly naked, apparently.)
I found my dress at Express, and it was so Paris-Hilton-circa-2001 (or Kendall-Jenner-circa-2016, take your pick) that I had to have it. Yes, it was really skimpy. No, I wasn’t 100% comfortable with that. But when I like something, I wear it– pretty simple. Also, a good spray tan hides a multitude of body insecurities. (Shoutout to Amanda with Recreating Rays for the killer spray tan!)
My boyfriend booked a suite at the Sheraton in OP for our post-dinner party, but it provided the perfect place to get ready. New Year’s Eve, one’s birthday, and a chain mail dress mean you have to bring it with the makeup. My pal + makeup artist, Loni, came over and hooked me up.
We went for a smokey eye, sculpted cheek (I think my words were: “Contour the hell outta my face, please”), and a nude lip (because she knows I’m terrible at reapplying lipstick throughout the night, so we needed something un-fussy).
The outfit was a pretty big deal, and it came in stages. I wore another dress over this dress (the Zara sequin blazer dress) and these sandals to dinner because we were in public and I really couldn’t be bothered to worry about a nipple slip at our local fancy steakhouse. (Ha!) More coverage at dinner was a good idea.
Being the horrible real-time documenter of events that I am, I didn’t get a snap me in the blazer dress (although I’m sure it’ll make an appearance on the blog soon– because it was just too good). Nice, Ashley.
After dinner, it was hotel time. And time for an outfit change– or outfit alteration, rather. I took off the blazer dress (putting the whole party on Nipple Watch) and swapped out the strappy silver sandals for iridescent crystal boots. My sister and brother-in-law provided old-school Polaroid cameras as a party favor, which proved genius.
Funny (traumatic) story about the boots: my initial plan was to DIY a pair of the YSL Niki boots. (Because I do not, in any universe, have $10k to spend on boots, no matter how insane and beautiful.) I found the perfect tutorial that included all the elements you needed to make the boots, and scored a pair of slouchy satin thigh high boots from ASOS to decorate. I spent eight hours one Sunday carefully gluing crystal paneling to the boots, fixing seams, and getting everything (on one boot) perfect. I waited for the glue to set, and then tried the boots on (for the first time with the crystals, obviously I had tried ’em on when I got them initially)… and the boots didn’t fit.
The glue had fused the slight bit of give the boot had, which meant they now didn’t make it above my calf (athletic calves, why do you hate me?). This meant the boot was unwearable, and meant I had just spent eight hours and a good chunk of money on a pretty piece of crystal-encrusted garbage. Awesome!
What I learned from this experience: I am not a DIY-er. I should just pay the money for the thing I want (not the $10k thing, obviously, but in general).
We had more bottles of champagne than we could count (and somehow I still managed to make it home with a half dozen unopened bottles!) and rang in 2018 at midnight.
Shortly thereafter, a kind (but very strange) old lady named Allison wandered into our suite and sat down at the table. No, she wasn’t lost– she had squabbled with her boyfriend (he had been flirting with another lady) at a party on the fourth floor and stormed back to her room, when she heard our music from across the hall. It sounded like we were having fun, so she invited herself inside. (Because hey, there’s no age limit on party crashing.)
After entertaining Allison for a bit with some champagne and personally calling her boyfriend to inform him he had royally messed up via voicemail, we guided Allison back to her room.
…but she didn’t stay gone.
Note: Dave didn’t actually slam the door in her face- he escorted her outside and when she started to argue with him about coming back to the party, he bid her goodnight and shut the door.
My Paris Hilton-inspired outfit inspired Cait to take a little poll via her Insta Stories: a game of Who Wore it Better?
I’ll take that victory, thank you very much.
My birthday was a big success! So thankful to everyone who came out to celebrate. I don’t know how I’ll top this outfit next year, but I’ve got a full calendar year to think about it.
Shop the look:
Linking up with Stylin in St. Louis, Curly Crafty Mom, Elegance & Mommyhood, Living on Cloud Nine, Adri Lately, Meet at the Barre, Threads for Thomas, Nancy’s Fashion Style, A Pocketful of Polka Dots, Shelbee on the Edge, More Pieces of Me + Sincerely Jenna Marie, Michelle’s Pa(i)ge + Northwest Blonde, and Pink Sole.
What a fabulous dress for celebrating your birthday and the new year!
It was quite the get-up, right? 😉 Thanks, lady!
Happy belated birthday, and that looks so fun!
-Kate // http://www.classyandkate.com
Thanks so much, babe!
;D
Parabéns atrasado! Adorei o look!
Ótimo sábado!
Beijo! ^^
Thank you!
Happy belated birthday 🙂 You look so pretty and the truth is that you are 100 % better than Paris 🙂 Great outfit <3
Thank you so much!
Happy belated birthday! I love your disco outfit! And I had something similar happen to me before – where I was making a “pinata” halloween costume with glue and streamers and I couldn’t fit in the dress afterwards! It was awful haha don’t glue stretchy things because they will no longer be stretchy afterwards!
http://www.simplylovebirds.com
Ugh, that DIY seriously almost killed me! It was so depressing! I’m just going to stick to letting the experts handle it from here on out! 😉
Have a wonderful weekend!!
I am glad you enjoyed reading my recent post and thank you for the comments!!
Harija Ravi
Thanks!
You look like a total babe, Ashley! Happy belated birthday, it looks and sounds like it was a night to remember!
It was a super fun night, for sure! Thanks for swinging by, lady!
Cool pictures hope you had an amazing party!
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http://www.alessabernal.com/
Alessa Bernal
It was an awesome night, thank you!
You wore it better, Ashley!
Great outfit and happy birthday sweetie :)))
xoxo
http://www.bellezzefelici.blogspot.com
Thank you so much, Elena!
Thanks for the interesting post! Have a nice day)
You look smokin’! Love this dress on you and that choker!
<3 Shannon
Upbeat Soles
That dress is phenomenal!!!!! You looked amazing doll. I can’t believe that story about DIY-ing your boots, haha xx
http://www.thatnewdress.com
You look stunning babe.
I love the hair and makeup plus the outfit too.
Much Love, Jane | The Bandwagon Chic
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You definitely wore that better than Paris! Yasss girl! Slay it with the disco vibes. Can’t tell you how much I love this look and how gorgeous you looked too. BTW that DIY disaster looks like something that would have occurred to me too. If only we could all drop that kind of cash on those YSL bad boys
Sxx
daringcoco.com
These photos are all gorgeous, it looks like you had a wonderful time. And you look awesome at the same time, the makeup is gorgeous and I completely adore what you’re wearing!
Amy;
Little Moon Elephant
Gorgeous post. Gorgeous you. Loved it. Happy week. xoxo Cris
https://photosbycris.blogspot.com.au/2018/01/gamiss-in-rainbow-beach-and-noosa.html
I fall in love with this dress, You look beautiful
http://www.alessandrastyle.com
I would have been a bit self conscious that my boobs were gonna come out, but I commend you for rockin’ this disco ball dress like a pro. And yes, you totally wore it better than Paris. Must be quite fun to share a birthday with one of the biggest party days of the year.
oooh Happy birthday! I do hope that you had a wonderful one! You look great as per usual!
-Didier
http://www.didieryhc.com
You look so pretty, Happy belated bday!!
xx- Nina
http://www.ninalnguyen.com/2018/01/how-to-buy-designer-bags-for-discount.html
You do look like a disco ball in the best way!!! I want a wedding reception dress that is as shiny as this!
http://www.michellespaige.com
Awww HBD hon x You look so pretty
https://zunera-serena.com/how-i-keep-my-skin-moisturized-with-olay-whips-regenerist/
Girl, you look Hot, Hot, Hot!!! Love this amazing gold dress and how you styled it. Glad you shared about the boots because I can see myself trying out this kind of DIY and being surprised later.
Thanks so much for linking up with Fabulous Friday!
Jennie
A Pocketful of Polka Dots
You are seriously amazing. Your makeup is flawless and so are you in that dress! Just a stunning disco ball of sparkle!
http://www.mylittlenest.org
You’re killing it in your birthday/NYE dress! So sexy!
The party looks rocking!
I love shopping at Express!
http://www.fashionradi.com
Babe, you absolutely look stunning with that dress! You most definitely wore it better!
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
Sexy Sexy Sexy Babes! Happy Birthday my love. I love these books
OMG!! I love your dress <33
Disco ball or not you look hot
aprilbasi.com
Hello ,
I saw your tweet about animals and thought I will check your website. I like it!
I love pets. I have two beautiful thai cats called Tammy(female) and Yommo(male). Yommo is 1 year older than Tommy. He acts like a bigger brother for her. 🙂
I have even created an Instagram account for them ( https://www.instagram.com/tayo_home/ ) and probably soon they will have more followers than me (kinda funny).
I have subscribed to your newsletter. 🙂
Keep up the good work on your blog.
Regards
Wiki