maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge

Ditsy Florals for a Ditzy Gal & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up #220

maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge

I know it is the very end of April and you are probably thinking I should be less layered up. But let’s face it, it will not be warm enough here for true spring fashions until June at the earliest. In fact, just this morning my weather app was predicting snow flurries again this weekend…when the calendar flips to May. So bear with me for a few weeks longer and I will start to show a little more skin…it will be very pale pasty white skin, but a little exposure to the sun will do my translucent epidermis a world of good!

Until then, however, I have been combining some of my spring pieces with the necessary layers for my personal comfort. Prairie dress styles are trending big this season and they work perfectly with floral prints. I found this black and white ditsy floral print maxi dress at Old Navy a few months back and I couldn’t resist the whimsical print or the $7 price tag. In fact, I liked it so much that I bought it in another print as well.

It is a wonderfully comfortable dress that feels much more like I am wearing sleepwear rather than actual clothing, but it is not the most flattering style with all of its billowy fabric and high neckline. But do I care about that? Not really. Because sometimes it is perfectly acceptable to choose comfort over the most flattering things in our closets. This was very much a throw-together outfit that consists of nothing more than the dress with a long sleeve black tee layered underneath and a red bomber jacket on top with my new favorite lug sole boots. And once it gets warm enough, this dress will be even easier to style with nothing more than a pair of a sandals and some jewelry.

maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge

Now let’s have a miniature vocabulary lesson about ditsy patterns and what that means exactly. We often hear of ditsy prints as ditsy florals. Actually, up until this point right now, I had always thought ditsy prints were simply teeny tiny floral patterns. Although certain teeny tiny floral patterns can fall under the category of ditsy prints, these patterns are not at all limited to just florals.

A ditsy print by definition is a small scale patterned design that usually features a scattered or random ordering of the print in contrast to a more defined pattern like stripes or checks. For some ditsy prints, the scale can be so small that the fabric will appear like a solid color from a distance. Florals are probably the most common element in ditsy prints but they can also feature scattered dots or other shapes.

maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge

And now you may be wondering why I am a ditzy girl…so let me tell you that story.

On Saturday morning as I was exiting the bathroom after my shower, I stubbed my toe on the bathroom door frame which sent my back foot sliding on the wet floor as I crashed face first into the hallway! No big deal really. I am ditzy and rather clumsy and find random bruises on strange parts of my body all the time from colliding with bannisters, furniture, and walls (and sometimes the floor).

Unfortunately for me, the result of this particular ditzy moment was a broken toe. Yep, the middle one on my right foot is mangled and bruised and hurts like hell. So right now I am actually feeling much gratitude for the cold spring weather that has been tormenting me. Because I can keep the ugly thing hidden inside of my boots until it heals. Plus securely fitted boots are what I need right now for the extra support for my tiny little broken toe bone.

It will be fine in a week or two, but I do have to say that it irritated me to no end when I realized it was broken. I literally break a toe bone on an annual basis. It is the most ridiculous thing ever! I think I am currently sitting at about a 50-50 chance of broken toe if I stub it. Once it heals, I will be needing a new pedicure as well because the force of the stubbing action took the polish right off that toe and it is much too tender right now even for a nail polish brush. I think I might have bad toe karma. Is that a thing? I also step in chewing gum much more frequently than any person should ever have to endure. So maybe I just have bad foot karma!

maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge
maxi dress, prairie dress, ditsy floral, fashion over 40, red bomber jacket, Shelbee on the Edge

Have you ever broken a toe? I have never broken any other bones except for my tailbone. And I have to say that I will take all the broken toe bones over any severe break of a major bone. That might just make me faint with the queasiness factor!

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Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

Outfit Details: Dress and Tee-Old Navy / Jacket-Torrid / Boots-Steve Madden (DSW) / Earrings-Shelbee’s Shoppe

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

74 Comments

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thanks so much, Claire! I know your green dress! I love your green dress! And I immediately thought of your green dress when I saw this one! I wish I could find a green one! Have a fabulous day, my friend.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Suzy

    OUCH Shelbee!!!! That hurts like hell. I know from experience, after having stubbed my little toe on the bathroom doorframe a few years ago. I hadn’t realised I broke it until the bruising came up!!! It’s such an easy thing to do though. I’m like you, I’m often covered in bruises from bumping into things, especially tables and the edge of the sofa. So I usually get bruises in the same place which, after a few years, results in little thread veins I guess!
    I’m loving your dress! It’s super pretty! And it looks fab with those chunky boots!
    Hugs
    Suzy xx

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Suzy, thanks so much! I am glad to know that I am not the only clumsy person covered in bruises! Haha. A few weeks I slammed my forearm into the railing going up the stairs. I was walking and simply moved my arm in such a way to scratch my other arm and subsequently slammed it so hard into the railing that I thought I broke it! I had a huge hard lump for weeks and it still is a little sore. Somehow, it never bruised though. Very strange. I need padded walls in my house!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thank you, Kathrine! I can’t wait for it to get warm enough to just toss one of these dresses on without any layers. It’s like pajama dressing at its best! My toe is already feeling much better but the bruise keeps growing!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Nancy

    Oh my goodness, a broken toe sounds so painfull. Gerben had it once. And you definitely have bad foot karma. On the other hand you have all the luck in finding such lovely dress for that price!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thanks, Nancy! It really does hurt for such a little bone! It is feeling much better already except the bruising seems to have grown and now the whole top of my foot is black and blue! It is very ugly to see. Haha. So now I am thankful that it is too cold for bare toes!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Pamela

    I, who never do florals, have also bought a ditsy flowy dress this Winter, blissfully comfortable. But then I had to have it taken in down the sides and lose the pockets because too much fabric always makes me feel so wide – that’s what happens when you’re vertically challenged. Anyway good result this end and lucky you that dress will be a keeper!

    I know the agony of foot problems hope you’re running around more comfortably very soon.
    Pamela x
    http://www.style-yourself-confident.com

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Pamela, thanks so much! I definitely bought this dress way too big and could probably use a little nipping and tucking to make it fit better. But I will probably most likely just wear it around the house. I wear all of my clothes just around the house these days, what the heck am I talking about?! Ha. My toe is already feeling much better, but the bruising looks like the whole darn thing could fall off! Have a fabulous day, my friend!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Kellyann Rohr

    I have heard a broken toe is super painful. I am so sorry to hear about yours, ugh. Amazing how something so small, like a little toe can cause so much pain! Hope it heals quickly!
    xo,
    Kellyann

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Oh my gosh, Michele! This is the best response ever! Haha. I broke a toe when I was 18 years old at swimming nationals…and I swam my race despite the fact that I couldn’t push off the walls! I didn’t do so well performance wise but I made it to the end just like you made it to first base. A 12 year old out swam me that day, sbut he was a very talented 12 year old!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thanks so much, Jill! Apparently, my toes are sensitive with very weak bones! Haha. I have broken my toes on elevator doors, cardboard boxes, door frames and wall corners. I even broke some of those tiny foot bones once just from walking! I am feeling much better now but the bruising is ridiculously ugly!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thanks so much, Mireille! Oooh foot massages are my favorite thing ever! Jeff gives me one most nights of the week but he hasn’t been able to since I broke the darn toe! Well, he massaged the left foot the other night but it isn’t the same to get a lopsided foot massage! Enjoy your pedicure, my friend!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Ellie

    Love the dress paired with the bomber jacket and boots. The weather has been all kinds of crazy here too. We now have to run the AC over here right after needing to turn on the heat! Hope it warms up over there too!

    I’m sorry to hear about the toe, not sure I ever had a broken toe, but definitely stubbed my big toe and it hurt for quite some time. We recently decided to take our living room sofa table to the basement because my daughter would constantly run her toes into it and she’s had a broken big toe before (not good when you depend on your toes for dance). Then what does she do … she kicks her small toe on the bathroom doorframe. Her toe nail is currently turned black but she can dance so it must not be broken. Maybe it’s time to wear some closed toe slippers around the house!!

    Thanks for the linkup as well as explanation about the word “ditsy.
    Ellibelle’s Corner

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Ellie, thanks so much for this wonderful comment. I think we sometimes don’t realize how much we need our feet and toes to be comfortably in working order for so many things! I am glad that your daughter is still able to dance after her toe mishap. I generally do wear closed toe slippers in the house, but I was just out of the shower when this one happened! Hopefully, we all have the most beautiful summer ahead in exchange for this erratic spring!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • jess jannenga

    Oh gosh, that sounds painful with your toe! I remember hitting mine on the bed and it turning purple, that hurt.
    Love the small florals here on you, and I have been loving long dresses, midi and maxis, the red jacket is a great touch! We are in the 80s this week, a bit warm for April here, but we have had a Spring so far.
    jess xx
    http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thanks, Jess! The discoloration definitely makes it look worse than it is! The pain is mostly gone now unless I put pressure on it (or bump into walls)! It sounds like you are having a beautiful spring. It has been so cold and rainy here with still some snow flurries popping in the forecast. The next 10 days here the temperatures should remain pretty steady between the high 30’s and low 60s with rain most days. So still a little chilly for me!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • BArbara

    Hey,

    I commented on your flower pin last week but it didn’t post so i felt miffed about that minute lost in cyberspace, hah. Might’ve been i didn’t check my phone to see if i hit send thought😊🌻. I feel for You re: your toe. I sprained my ankle the other day, just while i was trying to get into the Spring ‘sporty’ mode, ugh.

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Barbara, thanks so much! Oh no, I am sorry your comment went missing! I try to check the spam comments because sometimes valid ones end up in there for no particular reason but lately I have been getting hundreds of spam comments a day and so I have just been deleting without going through them one by one like I usually would. So if it did end up in there, I apologize because I definitely deleted it then. And I am sorry about your ankle! That is definitely worse than a broken toe! I am walking around just fine now. But my foot is pretty ugly all black and blue. I hope yours heals quickly so you spring about once again!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Vanessa, thank you so very much for your kind words! I really appreciate that.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

      I am going to add the translation of your comment below…please feel free to correct it if it is incorrect (I used Google translate)…”Your posts are great, I’m following your blog and enjoying it a lot !! Congratulations!”

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Nora, thanks so much! I hope all the discoloration goes away by sandal season, for sure! Although it isn’t sandal season here until at least June so I should be good…as long as I don’t break another toe before then!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Ashley

    It can be sooooo tough to dress this time of year- you’re definitely ready for spring stuff (and tired of winter layers!) but the weather just won’t fully cooperate. Sending you warmer vibes, babe! And loving that pretty praire dress on you!

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

  • Darlene

    You know I enjoy your description of ditzy! Both the fabric pattern and you! Lol! So sorry about the toe. Yikes. I broke my little toe a long time ago and had to wear flip-flops for a couple of months. It seemed to take forever to heal! You look cute in your ditzy floral, my friend. Love the red jacket with it! Have a great week!

    xx Darlene

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thanks so much, Darlene! I absolutely thought of you when I launched into my ditsy lesson! I even stalked out your blog because I thought you had written a post about ditsy prints and I was going to link it. But I think it was the druzy print one that I was thinking of. I hope you are well! Have a fabulous week.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Christina Morley

    Awww! Thank you for the feature! I wasn’t sure if I was going to manage to get my weekly blog hop posted today since I’m away visiting my in-laws. I’m so glad that I did! Wishing you a lovely day.

  • Anita Ojeda

    You make me laugh, Shelbee! I thought I was the only translucent toe-stubbing-furniture-bumping middle-aged blogger out there. It’s good to know I’m not alone ;). Thanks for the history on ditsy prints–I had no idea that was even a thing. I just called it ‘calico.’ I love the historic-looking homes in your photo shoot :).

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Anita, thanks so much! You just made me laugh out loud! You are definitely not alone as a translucent toe-stubbing-furniture-bumping middle-aged blogger! I stand proudly in your clumsy company! Haha. I remember the first time I learned of ditsy florals. I fell in love the with the term (probably because it describes me) and then I fell in love with the whimsy of the teeny tiny prints that it referred to and I’ve been a fan ever since. I took these photos in the little neighborhood that sits right at the entrance to our local park where I take many of my photos. It is a really beautiful location and the houses are so interesting and beautiful.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Mica

    So sorry to hear about your broken toe! i’m so lucky, I haven’t broken a bone yet which is strange given how clumsy I am, haha! I hope it heals fast for you 🙂

    Thanks so much for the feature too! it’s funny becuase I just linked up my recent post which is another blue and yellow kimono outfit – been having a yellow moment recently, and you know I love my kimonos, ha!

    Thanks for the link up 🙂

    Hope that you are having a nice week 🙂

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Mica, thanks so much! My toe is feeling much better already, but the bruising I think will last a while longer. You are lucky to have never broken a bone! I am glad that I have never broken a major bone. I am loving your kimonos and yellow is such a lovely color on you! Keep on sharing them! I just put a kimono outfit on the blog today.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Rena

    Oh, ouch. There was a time I seemed to bang up my toes quite regularly, too. As for broken bones, the 3rd year anniversary of a trip-n-fall down a teeny, tiny step that landed me in the ER with a broken foot and dislocated shoulder is coming up soon. My husband still cautions me any time I around steps or stairs. Anyway, I adore your dress, ditsy floral and all. I think that I have the same dress but in another pattern. “nightgown” dresses are so comfortable.

    Rena
    http://www.finewhateverblog.com

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thank you, Rena! Nightgown dresses is the perfect way to describe these! Oh, I remember your wicked fall from a few years back. I’ll take my frequently broken toes over something like that any day! Yes, please do be careful near those stairs, my friend! I hope you are having a lovely week!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Anne M Bray

    Hello from the Queen of Ditsy! Ditsy prints, that is. You know, my day job: underwear prints. You might be interested to know that Costco Japan is particularly fond of ditsy prints for their panties. Taiwan prefers romantic florals. Canada, modern textured prints.

    I’ll be linking a lazy version (not step-by-step) of the skirt-into-dress DIY. As soon as I write it!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thanks so much, Katie! My toe is feeling much better already, but the ugly bruising will probably stick around for a while longer. I enjoy wearing light layers this time of year as well. But some days, I still need heavy layers! I hope you are having a wonderful week.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Chrissy Rowden

    Oh my goodness Shelbee! I’m sorry you broke your toe. I’ve seriously stubbed mine where it remained swollen for days and it hurt so bad! Hoping you heal up quickly. P.s. thank you for the lesson on a ditsy print. I had never heard of that before!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thanks so much, Chrissy! My toe is feeling so much better but it is ugly to look at, that’s for sure! I am glad that you learned something new from my ditsy post! I hope you are having an amazing week, my friend! We need to chat again soon!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom

    I have broken a pinky toe before and it hurt so bad! My daughter broke her pinky toe a couple of years ago and had to miss a dance competition for it… it hurts that much! I don’t think I would have understood her pain if I hadn’t of done the same thing in years past. Lol. I love the tiny pattern of this dress and I get cold easily, so I say wear all those layers till it warms up there!!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thanks so much, Carrie! Broken toes really can cause some damage to our activities, can’t they? I feel so bad for your daughter that she had to miss a dance competition for her broken toe. I remember breaking a toe when I was at swimming nationals in high school. I was able to swim my race but it was a pitiful display because I could only push off the walls with one foot. My history of breaking toes goes back that far! Haha. I hope you are having a wonderful week.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thanks so much, Cheryl! I did manage to refresh my toenail polish yesterday so I was happy about that! But the toe is still bruised and needs to be taped to minimize pain. So now I am not so bothered by the delay in sandal weather! I hope you are having a wonderful week, my friend.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thanks, Jacqui! I imagine myself wearing these dresses around the house all summer long! I think I can even get away with no bra if I am just hanging at home and there is nothing better than that!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Sheila (of Ephemera)

    I cannot tell you how many times I’ve busted toes – I am the Queen of Stubbed Toes, having broken several walking into furniture. Tape your toe to your other toes, that always works for me!

    Love that “ditsy” is any small irregular pattern! I did not know that, but had an idea of the small scale, and my mind went right to floral.

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thank you, Sheila! It was an interesting little tidbit to learn about ditsy prints for me, too! I have had my toes taped since the smashing incident! I was able to paint my toes the other day so I was happy about that. And today is the first day I feel okay without the tape. But that could change later in the day!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Lucy Bertoldi

    Love that ditsy pattern on you- and loved the explanation you gave on this! As for your toe Karma- poor you! I know a thing or two about broke toes…having done ballet for over a decade OUCH! And, I know you can’t wait for a pedi…but don’t be surprised if the nail just falls off (sorry!).

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      Thanks so much, Lucy! Oh yes, I know dancers can relate to all kinds of foot issues and pain! I did just paint my toe nails the other day and the nail is still completely in tact, thankfully. The way I slammed it was weird because the top of my foot is much more bruised and sore than the toe is now.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

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