Dressing Up for Sunday Brunch

Everyone loves a good brunch with friends, but for Washingtonians, it's a weekly occurrence. After a long hard work week, a Sunday brunch is just what you need to cap off a great weekend of social affairs. Whether you're going to a nearby restaurant after church, inviting friends over for a home cooked meal, or having a potluck with too many delicious foods to choose from, don't forget about your outfit!

There's practically nothing more appropriate for the occasion than a girly, floral dress. Find a great pair of sweater tights (it's still winter after all) and pull out your favorite detailed cardi (everyone should have one already). Put a lovely vintage locket around your neck and wear a pair of oxfords or cute flats. A statement clutch is all you need to make your brunch look a hit!

Get the Look:
1) Dress by Nadinoo - $168 - Anthropologie; 2) Sweater Tights by HUE - $20 - Bare Necessities; 3) Beaded Cardi - $70 - Topshop; 4) Oxfords (in olive) - $69.95 - DSW; 5) Jane Austen's Emma Clutch - $325 - Kate Spade; 6) Vintage Locket - $35 - vgvintage

As an added bonus, I wanted to share a recipe for French Toast that I cooked for all my friends a few weeks ago when we had brunch. My mom made it for my family on Christmas morning, and I've already had another friend snag the recipe for his recent brunch, so it's taste-tested and approved with flying colors. Enjoy!

FRENCH TOAST
1 one-pound loaf French bread, cut diagonally in 3/4- to 1-inch slices
6 eggs
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups half and half cream
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (use up to 1 tsp if you'd like)
3/4 cup butter
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
3 tbsp light corn syrup or pancake syrup

Directions: Grease a 9X13-inch baking dish. Arrange the slices of bread in the bottom. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, cream, vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour over bread slices, cover, and refrigerate overnight.

The next morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup; heat until bubbling. Pour over bread and egg mixture. Bake in preheated oven, uncovered, for 40 minutes. Serves 12.

Happy brunching!

xoxo,
Sarah

P.S. A quick note on the dress I chose for the look, it was designed by Nadia Izruna of Nadinoo. She's an independent designer based in London, and I had the honor of interviewing her a few years back for Dedicated Follower of Fashion and then again for N.E.E.T. Magazine. She was still getting her start and gaining notoriety back then, so I actually screamed when I saw her designs in Anthropologie. I always thought Nadinoo would fit in there, so it's wonderful to see the brand in stores!