The Big Reveal

Before we get started on the big reveal of our Dare to Design winner, let me just say WOW!

WOW! to all of the wonderful, creative, worthy designs!

And WOW! to all the thousands (quite literally, thousands) of votes we received!

And WOW (not to mention thanks a million!) to all our faithful Shabby Apple-seeds who helped me count them.

Really, you guys are the bestest.

And your wish is my command.

The winner of our Dare to Design competition is...



(Drum roll please...)



(Keep scrolling...)



(Is the suspense killing you yet?...)



(OK, fine, I'll tell...)



This adorable ditty, The Lawn Frock, from Grosgrain Fabulous!

Congratulations to the fabulous designer!

And congratulations to all of you, who can own this dress come Spring. (And who is ready for Spring? I am. Already. It is going to be a l000ng winter.)

Thanks again to all our designers, and all our voters. I am giving you a cyber hug right now. And stick around because, as always, there is lots more fabulousness where that came from.

You know?

The Countdown

Just a friendly reminder that time to vote in our Dare to Design competition is slipping away as you read this.

Seriously, there's another minute gone. And another one! Hurry up and vote already! Because once the clock strikes midnight EST, your chance to vote will be gone forever.

(And if you try to vote past the deadline, you just might be gone forever. Catch my drift?)

The response to the contest has been overwhelming (like, literally) but I am sure there are more voters out there, so let your voice be heard!

And be sure to come back on December 10 when the winner is crowned.

And before then, natch, as I'll have lots of great stuff for you in between.

(Are you still reading this? I mean it! Go vote!)

The Final 15

I hope none of you have yet died of anticipation. If you are on the verge, stay with us! Walk away from the light! The results of the Dare To Design contest are here!



Not to continue risking your lives, but before I reveal our finalists let me just say that we were overwhelmed (quite literally) by the hundreds of entries we received, and whittling it down to a mere 15 was a near-impossible task. In fact, our judges went through all the designs four times, it was that hard to decide.



But, decide they did. And your long wait is overe. Here are the finalists!



1. From Superhero.

2. Gondola from LeBraun.

3. The Aalto Dress.

4. From Sail To The Moon.

5. From Megan Begley.

6. From Image Envy.

7. From Grosgrain Fabulous.

8. From Warty's Wilsons.

9. From Dare To Dream.

10. Cruisin', from Art I. Sticky.

11. From Beauty and The Geek.

12. From Lady Danburry.






13. From the Martin Fam.

14. The Kate Dress.

15. From Smart Mama.

(Be sure to follow the links to read more about our fantastic finalists' inspirations for these wonderful designs.)

Whew! I think you can see why our tireless judges had such a hard time narrowing the field. And now you get to walk a mile in their (fabulous) shoes, because it is your turn to narrow the field even more.

That's right, it's your turn to decide on the winner! Just pop into the comment section and leave us a little note with the number of your favorite design. (If all you say is, "I love the yellow one!!!!" I am not counting it. You've been warned.)



Since we were a little slower than expected in getting this up, I am giving you a little extra time to vote. (Aren't I so benevolent?) So, voting now closes on November 30 at midnight, EST. And we'll do our darndest to get the winner posted here on December 10.



Now, not to kill the happy mood of this joyous moment, but just a little reminder that you get one vote and one vote only. I am going to keep my eyes peeled for repeaters, and you will earn my scorn if you try any funny business. (My scorn, by the way, is something you most definitely do not want.) But, there is no rule against telling all your friends, family, co-workers, grocery store clerks, nail technicians, personal trainers, inappropriate crushes and everyone in between to hop on over here and cast a vote for your design.



And now, back to our happy place!



A big congratulations to all our contestants and all our finalists!



Let the wild voting rumpus start!

You Dare Devils, You!

I don't know why I should be surprised since you guys are the best in the whole world, but the response to our Dare To Design contest was simply stupendous!

So much so that our diligent judges are still going through all of your stunning designs to choose our 15 finalists. Can you hang with us a little bit longer? The results will be up soon.

In the meantime, pat yourselves on the back for being so great.

And keep checking back here. If our judges are to be believed (and they are, of course), there is a whole lot of awesomeness headed this way.

The Midnight Hour Is Close At Hand

Hey, what are you guys up to tonight?

Because you should be taking advantage of the last few hours of the Dare to Design contest! The contest closes at 11:59 p.m. EST, so put your creative hats on and send us your designs!

We will have our 15 favorite designs posted on the blog by November 10 and all I can say is, one of them could be YOURS!

(Need a reminder about all the contest rules, regulations and rewards? Click here.)

To say this is the chance of a lifetime is an understatement. And to say I can't wait to see what you come up with would be an understatement, too.

So, show us what you've got!

(Dare you.)

Winner's Circle (Present and Future!)

There is a lot of winning going on around here today.

For one thing, the winner of our 90 Words Per Minute secretary dress give-away was announced over at Cardigan Empire on Friday. Congratulations to Miss Ashley Elizabeth!

For a second thing, you can still get 10 percent off your Shabby Apple purchase when you enter the magical code: cardiganfriends10off.

And for a third thing, there is still a chance to win-- and I mean W-I-N-- with our Dare to Design contest. There are just a few weeks left to get in on this dreamy chance of a lifetime. And let's not forget how amazing the winning haul is.

For one thing, the winning design will become part of the Shabby Apple Spring line of dresses.

For a second thing, the winner also receives a 3 percent royalty of every dress sold of his or her design.

For a third thing, think about the bragging rights. I mean, just think about it!

To answer a few questions that have cropped up, there is no limit on the number of designs you can submit, so if you have more than one genius idea just aching to get out, go wild!

As for where to put your design, blogs are the preference, but I'll look into the option of linking on Facebook and get back to you.

And here is a refresher on the rest of the rules.

The dare still stands!

The Empire Strikes Back

A big welcome to all our visitors from Cardigan Empire! (And a big welcome to all our regulars as well, natch.)

The Empress of Cardigan Empire, the ever-stylish and graceful Reachel Bagley, has featured Shabby Apple and the 90 Words Per Minute Secretary dress on her darling blog. Isn't she a dear? She has some great ideas for transitioning this dress into fall, so check it out for sure.

And, that's not all! We'd like to give you a little reward for clicking on over here. So, here is a super-top-secret-special discount code just for you! Just type "cardiganfriends10off" at the Shabby Apple check-out for 10 percent off whatever fabulousness you chose.

You're welcome.

But wait! There's more! If you're thinking you might like a 90 Words Per Minute dress of your own, there's a chance to win one of those, too! If you become a follower of this here blog, and leave a comment on this post letting us know you did, you're entered to win a dress. To improve your odds, hop over to Cardigan Empire and leave a comment there about what Shabby Apple dress you think best suits you, and you'll be entered to win again. The lucky lady will be revealed on Friday, October 9th.

You're welcome again.

Dare to Dream? Dare to Design!

Boy, do I have some good news for you!

It's just a little contest whereby you could have a dress of your very own genius design featured as part of the Shabby Apple Spring line. And then earn a 3 percent royalty on all of your dress that sell. (Which, because you are all so genius, would be many.)

Do you dare learn more!

Then I give you...

To accept this fabulous dare, follow these simple steps.

1. Design a dress. And there is no need to worry if you are not a "designer." Whatever idea pops into your head is an idea we want to see.

2. Post a sketch, picture or computer drawing of your creation on your personal blog and tell us a little about it. Your post should include the tag "dress design for Shabby Apple dresses" and the words "Shabby Apple dresses" should link your readers right back here, to www.shabbyapple.com.

3. Also in your post, tell us about what inspired your design, and what colors and fabrics you think would be best for your dress.

4. Once your post is up and running, e-mail us as daretodesign@shabbyapple.com and let us know where to find you. (Be sure to include the direct link to your post, not just a link to your whole blog. Not that I don't love scrolling through pictures of family vacations, but...)

5. Be sure your dress adheres to Shabby Apple design standards. That's sleeves, at least a knee-length hemline and no cleavage, please! Also make sure your design is appropriate for the Spring season.

6. If your dress is chosen, you'll be responsible for getting a sample and pattern made. But, no need to panic. We'll help you out with that part.

Here is the schedule.

The Dare to Design contest starts today! Right now!

Entries must be submitted by November 3, 2009 at 11:59p.m., Eastern Standard Time. And I just might stay up late to watch the entries come in, so no funny business. Deal?

Our 15 favorite designs will be posted on this here blog by November 10, 2009.

Then it will your turn, dear readers, to vote for your favorite design. (And in the interest of my continuing good will, let's keep it to one vote each. Deal?)

Voting will close November 24, 2009 and the winning design will be announced back here on December 10, 2009.

And now for the answer to your most burning question: What's in it for me?

Well, in two words, A LOT.

For one, your design will become part of the Shabby Apple Spring line of fabulous dresses. Hello, instant fame!

And on the fortune side of things, the winner will receive a 3 percent royalty on every dress sold of his or her design.

I quadruple-dog-dare you to do it. I know you want to. And I know you can.

Happy designing!

Frustration Station: Results Show!

Boy oh man do I hear you ladies!

Your comments on the Frustration Station post sound like a recording of what goes through my head every morning as I stand in my closet. What matches what? Why do all my pants fit funny? Do I own anything that doesn't need a tank top underneath? Could my boobs look any smaller?

(The answer to that one is, as it happens, no. No, they could not.)

There are all kinds of hurdles that make us want to throw in the towel and join a nudist colony, and I'll tackle some of your questions in upcoming posts. (I'm looking at you, ill-fitting jeans.)

But for now, I'd like announce the winner of our Frustration Station competition.

Ready?

Congratulations, Torri!

(Applause!)

Torri shared a frustration that many of you did namely, how to dress after baby. She wrote:

"My biggest frustration is that since I had a baby I feel like I don't know what size I am or how anything fits anymore because my body is different. :( I don't know what fits, so I don't like to go clothes shopping although I need clothes that fit!"

We'll start Torri off with a 90 Words Per Minute secretary dress (one that fits!) and go from there. Maybe she can even come back and share some tips with the rest of us. (Torri, just shoot an e-mail over to info@shabbyapple.com to claim your prize.)

Thanks for playing everyone!

And stay tuned for some tricks and tips for kicking some of those frustrations right to the curb.

Frustration Station

Our very own Ms. Athelia is posting over at Dare to Dream today, daring to share some (fortunate) life frustrations that led her to a little venture called Shabby Apple.

Have you heard of it?

It's a great reminder that sometimes even bad things turn out to be good.

And now we want to turn your frustrations into something good, too! Just hop into the comments section and tell us about your biggest fashion frustration. Is it trying to find the perfect pair of jeans? Struggling to look professional and not lose your style soul? Contemplating accessories for hours? Let it all out, ladies!

(And if you've managed to solve your frustration somehow, we'd certainly love to hear about that, too.)

Simply leaving a comment instantly qualifies you to win a 90 Words Per Minute secretary dress, plus some accessories and style advice catered specifically to you.

Nothing frustrating about that!

A Face Mothers and Everyone Else Can Love

It's official.

Shabby Baby has named a new Picture Perfect Princess.

Oh, what's that? You want to know who it is?

Very well.

Everyone say congratulations to Miss Emmeline Sanary Savage. That's Princess Emi to you.







Can't get enough? Not to worry. You'll be seeing more of this darling face around Shabby Apple soon.

Also, an enormous thank you to all of the other darling girls who entered. (And their mothers!) There were literally hundreds of participants and, frankly, we're very flattered. Not to mention overwhelmed by so much adorable.

Like my mom always says, you're all princesses to me.

Wishing and Hoping...

Congratulations to Debra, winner of our dream date in a dream dress contest! 

Debra dreams of wearing this black tuxedo dress to dinner and dancing, preferably on a secluded beach with mood lighting and a moody atmosphere. Sounds pretty good to me! (And these red shoes give the whole thing just the right pop!)

You can read more about Debra's dream here, and don't forget about our friends over at Mama Manifesto either! 

Sweet dreams...

Remember, Remember...

... There are only a few more hours to share your dream date for a chance to win your dream dress. Click here for more details. 

May the best dream win!

Dress Dreaming

Happy Friday, friends! Just a little reminder that we have a contest going on over at Mama Manifesto, but not for very much longer, so you better act fast! The contest ends Monday night. And I don't think you're going to want to miss it.

To sum up.

Check out this post.

Then come back to Shabby Apple and pick your dream dress.

Hop over to your own little weblog and tell us your dream destination for your dream dress. Be sure to leave a link to your blog in the comments section of the contest post so we know where to find you. And be sure to link to our site from your blog so people know where to find us. (Fair is fair, right?)

Once the contest is over (Monday the 23rd at 10 p.m. PST), I'll pop over to your blogs and pick a winner! The winner gets the dress of her dreams. (I wish I could help with the destination of your dreams, too, but unless it involves my basement, I probably can't.)

Like I said, I don't think you'll want to miss it.

So don't!

(That was easy.)

Manifest(o) Destiny

Are you ready for another contest? Because we've got one for you.

The lovely ladies over at Mama Manifesto have graciously reviewed Shabby Apple's brown wrap dress, Martha's Vineyard, and they are now graciously hosting a contest wherein you, dear reader, can win the dress of your dreams.

Here is how it works:

Head to Mama Manifesto and read the post.

Come back to Shabby Apple and pick out your dream dress.

Next, hop on your own blog (or a friend's) and tell us where you dream of wearing your dream dress. A sleek black dress for dinner in Paris? A light, summery dress for a South American beach day? The sky is the limit. Just make sure you link back to Shabby Apple for your entry to count.

Now, head back to Mama Manifesto and leave a comment with your blog address.

The contest will close on Monday, February 23 at 10 p.m. PST , at which point I will read all your dreams and make one of them come true.

That' right, a dreamy dress will be yours.

Doesn't get much better than this, does it?

So what are you waiting for?

Voice of the People

The results of the bridesmaid dress contest are in. The people have spoken!

Before I make the big reveal, let me say how excited I was to read your comments and see how many of you have been hoping for Shabby Apple bridesmaid dresses for your very own special day! We here at Shabby Apple are certainly happy to oblige. No need to resort to denim skirts and red Keds. We have you covered.

We also have a surprise twist! (I know what you are thinking. Oh, goody! I love surprise twists!) The voting was so close, and all the designs were so impressive, we decided to name four winners instead of three. That's right. Four winners. Four fabulous dresses for you to choose from. Four friends/sisters/sisters-in-law/nieces/old college roommates who are going to bless your name forevermore because they got to wear flattering, non-frumpy dresses to your wedding. 

Are you dying to know? 

Well, here you go then!

First Place (by a landslide, I might add): Number 7!

Second Place: Number 9!

Third Place: Number 11!

And Fourth place: Number 5!

Let's hear it for all our contestants!

Now, another round of applause for our winners!

And, brides-to-be, keep your eyes here. There is more to come.

The Short and Shorts of It

Putting away summer clothes can always be a little traumatic, and it is always right about now, in the dead of winter, when I am piled high with sweaters and leg warmers and coats and hats, that I start dreaming about the easy-breezy style of shorts, a T-shirt and a comfy pair of sandals. Wishful thinking, right?

Maybe not.

Trendsetting stars have been seen pairing the short shorts of summer with tights and other winter accessories to keep them going throughout the winter. Behold!

{image from People.com}

Not an idea that would have come readily to my mind, but it might be growing on me.

And what do you think? 

Would you wear this trend?

Also, don't forget! Voting for your favorite bridesmaid dress ends tonight! Hop to it already!

3, 2, 1... Vote!

Hello, friends! Just a reminder to vote for your favorite bridesmaid dress design. Voting closes on Thursday, January 29th and the three winners will be announced soon thereafter!

I know you want to.

It is your civic duty, after all.

Always a Bridesmaid

The only time I was ever involved in a wedding party, it was for my aunt and uncle's Chuck-Wagon Wedding and I was a flower girl. They got married on horseback and I wore a denim skirt, a cowboy hat and red Keds. It was awesome.

Unfortunately, cowboy chic doesn't work for very many nuptials, and I think we've all probably witnessed some pretty bad attempts at bridesmaid fashion. (Raise your hand if you have a shiny, teal, puffy-sleeved dress in your closet. I thought so.) Finding the perfect dresses for your bridesmaids can be almost as difficult as finding the perfect dress for yourself.

Which brings me to the following wonderful news. Shabby Apple, that friend that always has your best interests at heart, is introducing a line of hip and flattering bridesmaid dresses! (Applause.) And, it gets better! We want you to help us choose! That's right. This isn't a one-way street, people. Your input matters.

Below you will find a total of 11 designs, from two incredibly talented Shabby Apple designers. (I'll just warn you now to hang on to your socks, or else they will get knocked off.) Each design has been assigned a number. Here's what we need you to do: vote for your favorite one. That's all. Just vote. Just one time. (Please, please, pretty please, just one time!) The three designs with the most votes will get the green light, and that eternal bridesmaid dress dilemma will be solved forevermore.

So, without further ado, the contestants are:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6. (left), 7. (center), 8. (right).

9. (left), 10. (center), 11. (right)

So, to sum up.

1. Shabby Apple is going to introduce a line of bridemaid dresses.

2. We want you to help.

3. Hop into the comments section and vote for your favorite design, using the number it has been assigned.

4. Only vote one time, for one design, unless you want me to die of an anxiety attack.

5. Check back here to find out who the winners are!

6. Buy Shabby Apple dresses, bridesmaid and otherwise.

Voting will end TWO WEEKS from today, at midnight MST on January 29th, so get on it. After all, bridesmaid bliss awaits.

Coming Soon...

Just wanted to let you in on a little something soon to come on the much-beloved Shabby Apple blog. It's a bridesmaid dress design contest! Can you stand it?

Keep your eyes here because in the next few days I'll have the first batch of designs up and ready for you to peruse. You know what to do, right? Check out the options and vote for what you'd like to see in the Shabby Apple bridesmaid line. And please, friends, let's all remember to play fair this time. OK?

So, go grab your Diet Coke and your popcorn, and we'll see you back here soon!

{like what you see? visit the new york times for more.}

And The Winner Is...

The votes have been counted and counted again. And again. All the entries were worthy and wonderful and did Shabby Apple proud. The contest was won by a nose. (That's why all the counting.) And so, after all that counting, I am pleased (and confident) to announce that the winner is...





(Is the suspense killing you?)





... Time Square Countdown!

Congratulations to Mrs. Jones and her beautiful creation, which will now be part of the Shabby Apple vignette section. Forever and ever. Mrs. Jones will also be the proud owner of the Times Square vignette. If only that lame-o ex-boyfriend could see you now!



(Mrs. Jones, leave your e-mail address in the comments section below and we'll hook you up. Congrats again!)



And, to everyone else who found us through this contest, stick around! There is plenty of fashion advice, product introductions and alarming wit, not to mention many more contests to come. You won't be sorry!

Recount

It is way past my bedtime (and I mean way past) and I am still counting votes. The contest is down to two super-duper close finalists, and I think I need to call in reinforcements to quadruple-check my numbers. (Does any of this sound familiar? Sorry, Ted Stevens.)

So, hopefully we'll have a winner announced by Friday morning. Rest assured that all sneaky double votes will be eliminated (and don't try that again, OK?) and for those of you who had trouble with the comments section and e-mailed in your votes, not to worry. They have been counted as well.

Can you stand the suspense a little longer? I hope so, because you'll have to. But, we probably won't have to call in the Supreme Court on this one, so that's good news.

The Final Five

{Editor's note: I was in such a hurry to get our finalists up on time, and there were so many great submissions to go through, that I left out the stories that accompany each vignette. They have now been added, for your reading pleasure! If you want to go back and change your vote, go into the comments section, delete your original comment, and put up a new one. And please remember, one vote per person! Good luck, everyone!}

Have any of you ever watched that wonder of science fiction television, "Battlestar Galactica"? I only ask because in the third season there is a race to reveal "The Final Five," those five characters masquerading as people, but who are really robots bent on destroying humankind. I am not suggesting that any of you are robots disguised as humans, but I am suggesting that our own revelation of The Final Five is just as exciting!

Before I make the big announcement, though, let me give everyone an enormous pat on the back. Every submission was creative and wonderful. I loved reading about your stories and your lives, and it was a near-impossible task to narrow down so many entries to The Final Five. I did my best.

So...

Drum roll please...

Here they are!

Springtime and Snowing

The Story: "Yep, I live in Cheyenne, WY, where the wind blows 365 days a year and spring comes in with a blizzard! Here's how I would dress to celebrate it's arrival."



{ Editor's note: Due to some technology glitches, the shoes were inadvertently left off the next vignette, Venetian Stroll. It also includes the Power shoes in red. My bad. I am not so good with these new-fangled computer things.}

Venetian Stroll

The Story: "Who doesn't want to go on a Mediterranean Cruise? (Especially young mothers who deserve it, right?) I personally haven't ever been on a cruise, but I've been extended the possibility of going on this cruise next year, and would love, love, love to get this dress to make the experience a real dream! How fun would it be to sport this as you stroll around Venice, browsing at all the little shops? Fantastica!"

Times Square Countdown

The Story: "The story behind this ensemble started with an 18-month relationship with a former boyfriend that was terminated via e-mail. Yes, you read that right. I was dumped via e-mail. I moved to New York shortly thereafter to do a Pilates apprenticeship and lived there for four months. I didn't turn to prescription drugs, junk food, heavy partying and alcohol, or romantic comedies (not that romantic comedies aren't a good launching point for recuperating your self-esteem after a lousy break-up. I turned to fine clothing, shoes and accessories-- things that enhanced and empowered me. Had Shabby Apple been an option then, this is EXACTLY what I would have bought. This vignette describes my search in getting little pieces of my soul back. You put on a dress like this and you KNOW you're worth an in-person break-up."

Executive Decision

The Story: "I'm a very important person. People envy my profession. It is both time consuming and world changing. At times it's exhausting but always rewarding. Salary.com says I am worth $138,095. And you better believe I earn every last penny! I am a mother of two beautiful baby girls. I am forced to make Executive Decisions from sun up to sun down. Mac 'n'  Cheese or Turkey Sandwiches. Dora the Explorer or Little Einsteins. Play at the Park or Read at the Library. Bath Time or Snuggle Time. Go Grocery Shopping or Window Shopping. Hugs or Kisses. Laundry or Blogging. Homemade Dinner or Take Out. Clean up House or Play House. To me this dress screams Domestic Empowerment! Who says you can't vacuum in high heels?"

A Day At The Races

The Story: "This is my favorite vignette I put together. It reminds me of something I would have worn to those olden day horse races with a big brimmed hat and gloves."

And now, the next part of your job begins! Hop down to the comments section below and cast a vote for your favorite vignette. Bring your friends and family and ask them to vote for your favorite, too. (One vote per person, please!) Voting will close on Wednesday, November 19th, at 10p.m. MST. I'll announce the lucky lady the following morning.

So, what are you waiting for?

Vote!