A Love Story with April Cornell

A love story decades in the making…

If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know how much I love April Cornell clothing. Today, I’m going to take you for a trip down Memory Lane. This particular Memory Lane begins and ends with April Cornell.

And, so it begins…

Nigel has a nephew who attended a university in Washington, DC. He and our daughter were fast friends despite the difference in their ages…about 8-10 years. After B graduated, he remained in Washington. Our daughter would occasionally visit him. If you’ve never been to the US capital, I encourage you to go! It’s so full of history and wonderful museums. Many things changed after 9/11, but it is still a fabulous place to visit. But, I digress…

The story continues…

While B worked, our daughter would see the sites. One of the great things about Washington, DC is the Metro, or subway service. You can easily get from one side of the city to another with very little bother. M would go to a museum, visit a park, or shop! Well, she is her momma’s daughter! One of the malls she discovered was the Pentagon City mall located in Arlington, Virginia. If I’m not mistaken, there is a Metro stop either in the mall or very close to it. I think she’d been there at least once before, one fateful day, she called me.

This unique store…

I’m going to have to paraphrase what she told me, but it went something like this: “Mom, I just went in this really unique store. And, it is so totally you! You would love everything in here.” She went on to tell me about the clothing, jewelry, and other bits and bobs. I agreed it sounded like a really nice place and filed the name away in my little brain compartment devoted to shopping. In hindsight, I wonder why she didn’t buy me anything! Interestingly, she has absolutely no recollection of this!

A summer or two later…

One summer after that phone call, Nigel and I were in Washington, DC. As I recall, we (meaning I) decided to go to the mall at Pentagon City after a day of sightseeing. (Both the Fashion Mall at Keystone and the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City are Simon properties…that explains the originality in their names, right?) The Fashion Centre is a multi-level light and airy space. I remember just enjoying the ambiance of the place. Palms and other greenery filled the atrium. And, then I remembered the store M had told me about. I probably sought out one of those directory signs and convinced Nigel we had to find this store. I doubt he cared because he probably just wanted to cool off and relax (have you been to Washington, DC in the summer…heat and humidity, baby, heat and humidity).

Love at first sight…

As hard as I’ve tried, I cannot find a photo of the outside of the April Cornell store at Pentagon City. But, from the moment I entered the store, I knew I’d found my place! I remember running my fingers over the finely woven fabrics, holding up a layer to see the designs underneath. I strongly remember a dress with an ivory background and a toile print in rust done in voile or some other sheer fabric. I was in love, completely, totally in love! I don’t remember how much the dress cost, but, gosh, I wanted it so badly. I wasn’t, however, convinced I could actually pull off the vibe the dress was giving. I left the store, but I have never left that memory behind. Eventually, I learned there was an April Cornell store in Indianapolis! One year, Nigel surprised me by buying me three dresses for my birthday!

An announcement!

If you follow me on Instagram (you can…right here), you already know what my announcement is and why this is rather anticlimactic! If you don’t, well, here it is!! I am a Brand Ambassador for April Cornell! I am thrilled to be part of this as there haven’t been brand ambassadors for a while now! I received this dress and another item (you’ll have to wait for that one)! I am not required to write a review or even a blog post. I do have to provide two Instagram posts. Of course, I’m going to review the dress and write a blog post. I think the only other retailer I mention a lot is J Jill! My first, my fiftieth, and many in between posts have featured April Cornell clothing! I would guess my last will, too!

The Calico Tea Dress!

The Calico Tea dress is 100% cotton cambric which is a woven fabric rather than a knit. The print contains shades of blue and white. April Cornell excels at prints, and this dress is no exception! Pintucks, crocheted lace, and mother of pearl buttons adorn the bodice of the dress. The sleeves are a bit longer than a cap sleeve. You can adjust the waistline a bit with a button on/off belt. Many times, I will move the buttons up on the bodice to fit my body better. This dress is a slip on kind of dress so no zippers or working buttons! One thing you need to remember is I’m only 5’1″ tall so this dress doesn’t fall quite the same way on me as it does on the model who is 5’6″. I think, on most people, this dress would have more of an empire waist. On me, it’s kind of at an in-between place…a little lower than empire but a little higher than natural.

My honest review…

I have to tell you the dress was too big for me when I received it and took the first photos. You could see, in those first shots (taken at Newfields), I wasn’t comfortable in the dress. After a couple of washings and dryings, I have shrunk it to the point it fits! I don’t really recommend doing that, but sometimes, you have to give it a try! I really like this dress, but it’s not my usual style. That gives me the opportunity to play with it a bit more! The skirt is really voluminous even with the shrinking. I think, as I wash and wear it, the fabric will soften and drape even better. I love the fabric, the details, and the length. The Calico Tea dress is such a wonderfully casual dress, but I wouldn’t hesitate to wear it to church, a bridal or baby shower, or even out to brunch (hahaha…like that ever happens here). I definitely would recommend this dress to anyone who wants an easy to wear (did I mention no zippers) summer frock!

The Lewk!

The first photos in this gallery are from the first photo shoot at Newfields. I bought these espadrilles last summer thinking they were the perfect neutral sandal. They may be, but every time I wear them with a dress, I feel like a spotlight is shining on them. Does that make sense? They just seem to be wrong in some way. See the gallery above with the side by side. Now, tell me I’m wrong about these wedges! These wedges are so very comfortable. Those straps are the softest leather imaginable. I can and have walked in them for hours without any discomfort. I will admit they were a major splurge for me, but I think I’m going to reserve them for pants and maxis! The other photos are my trusty Jambu sandals. You’ve seen them a lot, most recently here. I don’t know why, but they always seem the perfect match for my April Cornell clothing! I think the pearl earrings and necklace are real, but I don’t remember! Nigel bought them for me eons ago when I mentioned I didn’t have any pearls!

Affiliate links and such:

Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. I recently became a Brand Ambassador for Sarah Flint shoes. You can use SARAHFLINT-BAMARSHA for $50 off your first pair. As of right now, I also have an affiliate code for Kantha Bae! Use MarshaintheMiddle in the promo code box for $5 off any order (excluding Bestie restocks)! In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post.

Wrap it up, Marsha!

I am beyond thrilled to be a Brand Ambassador for April Cornell! It is exciting and rewarding to be recognized by a brand you’ve loved for decades! If you ever have the chance to visit a retail location (Burlington and Asheville in the US), do yourself a favor and go! The stores themselves are an experience. If you’re lucky, April may be there! There are also stores located in Canada, but I’ve not visited them. My guess is they are as vibrant and artistic as the stores in the States. So, can we talk? Is there a brand you’ve loved for years? Would you travel hours just to visit a store? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk! I promise to respond as soon as possible. Thank you to my subscribers. You keep me going! Honest!

Where you can find me:

Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, My Bijou LIfe, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, Being a Wordsmith, and Mummabstylish. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I’m also a co-host on the Weekend Traffic Jam (here). And, of course, you can now find me here on the last Friday of the month! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. Please make sure you visit! I hope you’ll join us this month for Ageless Style! and link up your favorite flower look, garden, or other post!

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