This past weekend I took a quick trip up the mountains of North Carolina to visit the Biltmore Estate with my aunts, cousins, and some family friends. It’s the largest privately owned house in the US, and the architecture is absolutely breathtaking. Every Christmas, the estate gets a Christmas makeover with different themed decorated trees in every room, so we headed over to take in the home. I’ve been to visit Biltmore probably 6 or so times, and you may have seen it in scenes of Macaulay Culkin’s Richie Rich.
(Source)
Even though we were in the mountains in December, it was a surprisingly warm day. I kept it simple and sweet by just going with a top that I liked and doing my hair. I didn’t want to have to carry around coats, scarves, jewelry, etc. but I still felt very “dressed up” with the top I chose.
I got this top from Kohl’s, and it is actually a dress. T-shirt/sheath style dresses never ever fit my hips correctly, and this dress was the same. They always fit fine up top, but are too tight against my hips. Since this dress was short on me anyway, I just pulled it down to my hips and stopped there.
I really love the high neckline and the sleeves without lining. I am always going to be weak for lace designs that have scallop details (see one of my other favorite laces here), and I’ll admit that I wore this top about 3 times in a span of 10 days. When you like something, you like something. What can I say? 🙂
(Kohl’s top/dress, City Chic jeans, Old Navy flats)
Simple outfit, but one I love. Biltmore didn’t disappoint. I added a leather jacket later in the day after stupidly eating ice cream while sitting in the cold (it was yummy though!), and having a longer top ended up being perfect since the tour has a lot of climbing up stairs, etc.
What do you do to celebrate holidays/winter time? Any cool local places that have interesting traditions?
Love this look! See, I would never think this was a dress – it works as a nice, dressy top 🙂 I’ve heard alot about Biltmore and would love to go there sometime … local right to where I live – literally right around the block! – is the house where Stonewall Jackson had his headquarters when he was in these parts. It’s now called the Miller-Kite house, after those who helped re$tore it. Anyway, usually around the 2d weekend in December, they have an open house … you get to see all the exhibits, meet reenactors, and there’s always some local author with a table. And then there are the homemade goody’s from the house’s supporters – yum! And someone playing live music -did I mention that???
Very cute top!
How cool that you got to see the Biltmore. I’m hoping to visit Asheville in 2014. 2013 is already booked up with travel plans.
I hope you have a great holiday with your family.
I have a friend from Greensboro that took an old friend and his family to Biltmore a couple of weeks ago. They got a private tour. Had to pay extra. I have not been there in a long time. I would love to go on Christmas. I would have never thought of a dress for a top, ingenius. I love the color.
So gorgeous, I love that colour on you. Your hair looks super cute like that too.
You look adorable! I love that shirt – it’s really cute. The Biltmore is so beautiful…
You look fantastic! I love the dress/top, you did a great job of making it work, and I’d never have known it wasn’t a top if you hadn’t said 🙂 I’m also happy to see you enjoyed my hometown! Going home tomorrow for the holidays, fingers crossed that it’s still warm 🙂