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The Foxfield Report

By: Jen Shoop

Despite Mother Nature’s initial crotchety behavior (rain and mid-50-degree weather), the Foxfield Races were — as always — fabulous and mimosa-filled.

Though the sun eventually made a tardy (unfashionably late) appearance, the ladies had to cover up with cardigans, rain coats, and anoraks for the majority of the day.  I saw a number of girls sporting Wellies and, while I initially grumbled with jealousy (my toes were freezing and mud-coated), I wound up deciding that they just made everyone look even frumpier, given that hair was already frizzy, wet, or matted and makeup was washed off or washed out.  Thanks, rain.

As for fashion — there was the requisite parade of cheery Lilly Pulitzer sundresses (every shape, pattern, and style imaginable), pearls (below by Mikimoto), and Longchamps bags (probably more ubiquitous this year given the rain).

The Franco dress by Lilly Pulitzer (pictured above — check out variations here) was particularly popular this time around; it comes in a range of fabrics, patterns, and color combinations.  I wore the style last year in pink seersucker and saw only a handful of girls in it then — this year, it was all over the place.

Precious.  I wore it with a huge pink flower cocktail ring and this adorable “Caliente” embroidered straw clutch (also by Lilly):

My favorite Lilly dress this year?  The “Daphne.”  Love the interesting neckline and soft, feminine shape.

It’d be ideal for showcasing a pair of killer flower studs, like these by Kate Spades ($75, Cusp):

Or — and this is for those of you who have asked me where to find the quatrefoil/clover earrings I bragged about snagging at Sassanova — these lovely enamel earrings by KEP Designs ($45 for the smaller ones; $55 for the larger ones):

I own them in navy and this soft opal color, and just picked up a necklace to match last weekend.  Spend some time browsing the entire KEP Designs website — I’m in love with their styles, especially their chunky, layered, beaded necklaces and these beach-chic starfish studs (if I haven’t yet mentioned it, I’m a bit of a hoarder when it comes to starfish accessories — I have rings, pendants, and even clutches featuring the starfish).

But back to the races — what did TheFashionMagpie wear?  This magenta hibiscus print Shoshanna dress (still available at BlueFly).  I snapped it up last year, had it tailored to my size (Shoshanna dresses run big — this dress was literally hanging off of me in a size 0 but I liked the print so much, I just had it taken in substantially), and had it set aside in my closet for months.

The palette is unique — a lot of yellow (you know I’m big into that happy hue) — and the neckline is adorable.  Just had to have it.  I wore it with a big pink flower ring and large white flower studs I’ve had for years — and unfortunately had to cover up with a J. Crew “Jackie” cardigan in white and my green anorak.  Bummer.

But the FashionMagpie Foxfield Award 2010 goes to the wearer of this adorable Milly leaf-print dress:

The sweetheart neckline was flattering, the print fresh and spring-like, and the material (woven linen) achieved the perfect formal-informal balance.  (If it were in silk, it’d have looked out of place/too formal).  Bravo, you!  I got home and immediately considered picking it up at Shopbop.  I’d pair it with my Louboutin raffia wedges (mine are no longer available, but the Loub-ster has some variation on the neutral wedge available every season — or check out the neutral wedges featured in my “Neutral Territory” post):

or these heavenly Fendi peep toes (ugh, die over them):

($695 at Net-A-Porter.)  Alternately, consider pairing it with some white Jack Rogers for a fresh spring look.

(Magpie deal: Ms. Southern Belle alerted me to the fact that Shoes.com just recently received a shipment of Jack Rogers in a variety of sizes and colors, and that you can get 20% off plus free shipping with the coupon code MOMSAVE20.)

Another award-winning magpie?  The lovely little lady who asked for my advice as to what jewelry she should wear with her adorable Trina Turk sundress.  She wound up wearing a glass-bead necklace and looked amazing — mad props for the neon pink mani/pedi!

For future races/sundress-appropriate events this year, I have a few other recommendations up my sleeve.  First, love this straw Lilly brand clutch — it’d look adorable with a pink printed dress or the Lilly eyelet dress below:

For those wishing to steer clear of Lilly altogether (there is, after all, a high risk of seeing someone else in the same thing), I’m into this slightly off-beat Anthropologie polka dot dress:

I’d amp up the femininity of the dress with pink or white Jack Rogers and the KEP Designs flower earrings in petal pink or cut off/tuck in the thin straps and substitute a bold white or pink necklace — maybe even one of this soft-blue KEP Designs necklaces:

If you’re on the leggy side and can pull off a shift without feeling shapeless, I have two dresses I’d die to wear.  (I’m petite and need waist definition or I look overwhelmed.)  I’ve been saving this lilac lovely for a future post on one of my new favorite colors — soft violet — but I’ll share it here:

It’s by — what a surprise! — “See by Chloe” (I’m just all about the Chloe label this season…), and it’s available at Shopbop for $375.  I’d again play up its lady-like quality by adding some white Jack Rogers and maybe a white straw clutch, like this one at Lori’s Shoes (an affordable $46!):

(I’d probably remove or tuck in the gold chain — it’d look more appropriate without it.)  Alternately, check out this Adam Lippes dress in textured yellow linen:

I’m totally in love with the cut out neckline and — you know my affinity for yellow.  I might pair it with the white clutch above or the pink Lilly clutch I mentioned earlier as well as a fistful of bright, mismatched bangles in similar thicknesses and styles (i.e. all of them with some sort of gold accenting, or maybe a bunch of thin gold bangles and one with yellow enamel, like this one by Kenneth Jay Lane, available at PiperLime):As bubbly and smile-inducing as a mimosa itself!

Until next year…

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