Oscars style feat. ASOS little red dress (at Boston Public Library)

Off-Shoulder Midi Dress c/o ASOS (3 colors, wearing a US 4/UK6 with DIY alterations) Valentino rockstud heels (4 colors, wearing sz 35), DIY clutch, H&M stole (similar), vintage ring
Today’s post is my entry in a fun little contest, for which I was asked to style an Oscars-themed outfit using an ASOS brand dress. I’m happy that a large international retailer like ASOS doesn’t forget about its shorter customers–I appreciate their petite-friendly options and am excited to be part of this feature. If you have a moment, I’d love your support through a vote here (unfortunately link doesn’t work on mobile phones) where you’ll also be entered to win a $500 gift card (contest ended). Thank you to all who have already voted or spread the word. You guys are the best!

When I think of celebrities at the Oscars, I picture gorgeous, elaborate gowns, and dramatic silhouettes. As most of us won’t be sashaying down the red carpet anytime soon, I wanted to find a dress suitable for the life of an everyday woman (and affordable!), but still nothing short of stunning for a special occasion. I ended up choosing a fitted little red dress that enhances even negligible curves, and styled it with a mix of accessories ranging from DIY to Valentino. This look was inspired by old Hollywood glamour and is true to my classics-loving style.

In addition to an outfit, I also wanted to share with you guys one of the most historical buildings in this city that I love. These photos were taken in the older half of the Boston Public Library, which was built in the 1800s. This room above has two levels of tall bookshelves, complete with little spiral staircases and ladders - it felt like I had strolled right into Belle's library!

Another favorite room of mine is the recently-restored reading room, where locals have been studying under the majestic arched ceilings (shown in 1st photo) for over a hundred years. Oak bookcases filled with rare collections line all of the reading room walls:

I didn't have the right bag for this ensemble, so made one to keep with the bold red and soft taupe color scheme:

For anyone who's interested, I'll be doing a review on the sizing and fit for this dress in a later post. I tried my luck outside ASOS' petites section, and was pleased to find that this dress in regular sizing ran small. I ended up sizing up to a US 4 (for reference, I typically take XXS/00 or H&M sz 2) and performing some at-home alterations, but in hindsight, a US 2 may work better for someone my size if you don't mind a snug fit (which this dress is intended to be). Both sizes need a hem job if you're on the shorter side.

Readers - I hope you enjoyed these photos taken by Nick. Thanks for letting me share a piece of Boston history with you, and I appreciate all of your votes!