A Touch of the Macabre & A Pink Velvet Dress

March 26, 2018 / 53 Comments

I have a funny story about the styling of this dress. Although it was not really that funny at the time when it actually happened. But it is kind of funny now. In a grim sense of the word. Dark humor. Grotesquely funny. So bear with me as it may get a little gruesome. And just laugh along knowing that I am completely fine.

*This is a sponsored post. I was provided this dress and these boots for purposes of a blog post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

*Dress: Plus Sized Crushed Velvet Dress c/o Zaful.

I was asked to choose a few items from Zaful for review on my blog. If you have been following me for a while now, you probably have seen me style many items from Zaful. I have been collaborating with them for well over a year now and I have been super pleased with nearly every item that I have received. Many of the pieces that have been gifted to me from Zaful are actually on regular rotation in my wardrobe. However, this time I was not so satisfied with my choices.

*Scarf: Target. Similar here, here, and here. 

Sometime in the middle of this winter, I really got on a bit of pink kick and couldn’t quite get enough of it. And I am obsessed with all things velvet. So when I saw this pink crushed velvet dress, my decision was made that this would be the newest addition to my winter dress collection. But I needed to choose another item. Usually, I don’t even try to pick coordinating products and just figure I will share multiple posts featuring each gifted item separately. But then I spotted these floral embroidered boots and they seemed like a match made in heaven for my new pink dress.

*Boots: Floral Embroidery High Heeled Over the Knee Boots c/o Zaful. (These boots are sold out so the links may not work properly.) 

When my items finally arrived, I was so excited to try it all on together and see how my vision would come to life. I ran up to my bedroom and quickly undressed and slid into the pink velvet number. I grabbed the first pair of stockings I could find to try on with the boots (they happened to be white knee highs). I opened up the boot box and was met with the most horrific chemical odor that permeated my entire bedroom to the point that I had to open the windows, exposing myself to the bitter winter chill, so I wouldn’t die from potent chemical inhalation. Then I lifted out the right boot and examined it. It looked a little small even though I had ordered two sizes up. I slid my foot in and with a minor amount of force was able to get the boot on. Although it felt somewhat tight in the width, it was okay. I could manage.

*Sunglasses: Oliver Goldsmith from EyeCrave Optics.

So far, so good. I glanced in the mirror. I was liking the combination and my confidence was building. I slid my left foot into the other boot. It required the same amount of gentle force to get my foot all the way down into the foot bed…where I was immediately met with the most excruciating pain I have felt in a really long time. I abruptly yanked my foot out, loudly screaming all sorts of profanities, to witness blood spraying everywhere. (Well, it wasn’t really all that dramatic. Not spraying at all, in fact. But there was a lot of blood completely soaking my pure white stocking. However, I do enjoy adding a bit of exaggeration for the sake of story-telling.  But the yelling of profanities is in no way exaggerated.) I wasn’t quite sure exactly what had happened as I hopped down the hallway to the bathroom in one high heeled boot and a light pink velvet dress that I was trying not to stain, cursing all the while. It was definitely a scene to behold. Fortunately, there were no witnesses!

*Necklace: Vintage Inspired Black Stone Statement Necklace c/o Happiness Boutique.

*Black Boots: Unisa from TJ Maxx (Old).

As I sat on the edge of the bathtub washing away the copious amounts of blood that continued flowing from my foot, I was finally able to spot the deep gash on the tip of my pinkie toe. I bandaged it up and as I returned to my bedroom to investigate the source of my wound, I realized that my hallway looked very much like a crime scene of sorts as the light tan carpet was spattered with bright red blood stains trailing from the side of my bed straight down the length of the hallway to the puddles that had formed on the bathroom floor. (I warned you of the somewhat gruesome nature of this post.)  It was the making of a morbid dark comedy right their on my own hallway. In hindsight, I really should have photographed the scene.

*Coat: Target (Old).

Very cautiously, I slid my hand into the bed of the left boot and discovered a very sharp nail or tack or staple or something that was exposed and jutting up through the inside of the sole. Two sharp little mean prongs to be exact. That left me with a very nasty biting wound on my toe that throbbed for days. So the lessons I have learned from this experience:

  1. Do not blindingly jam your foot into a new shoe.
  2. A sliced toe produces a hell of a lot of blood.
  3. Keep your tetanus shots up to date because you just never know…

Keeping it a bit macabre in a pretty pink dress on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Ups.

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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53 Comments

  • Nancy Baten

    March 26, 2018 at 10:49 am Reply

    hahahaha, oh I am sorry. I am not laughing because of your pain of course. But you can tell a horror in a funny way! No seriously, that is awfull. I have had the same chemical smell with a pair of boots. I just threw them away because it really was to much.

  • Maureen

    March 26, 2018 at 1:24 pm Reply

    I know we sometimes sacrifice comfort for style but never a toe! I am glad you are okay Shelbee. You look fabulous in your velvet dress and I can see why those boots who have been the perfect pair but the shoes you ended up choosing is just as gorgeous and less dangerous! Sorry I had to. Lol 😂 Love the faux fur stole. It really elevates an outfit. I hope you had a great weekend and having a super start to your Monday. Wishing you a fantastic week ahead!

    Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com

  • Daenel T.

    March 26, 2018 at 1:58 pm Reply

    Oh. My. Word. And I worry about spiders {it happened – crushed it with my foot and felt it ewwwwww}. Now I have to worry about this. I may wear flip flops forever.

    Love the dress… Pink velvet, yes!!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      March 26, 2018 at 3:38 pm Reply

      Daenel, I just laughed out loud that you may wear flip flops forever! And I do think that a spider in the boot would have traumatized me much more than the sharp metal! Thanks for sharing your story and for the lovely comment! Have a great week.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Amy Kennedy

    March 26, 2018 at 2:28 pm Reply

    Oh my stars! That must have been so painful! That is terrible! What a bummer! Gosh were your tetanus shots up to date? You do look very pretty in that pink, by the way.

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      March 26, 2018 at 3:35 pm Reply

      Amy, thanks so much! Actually, I don’t remember the last time I had a tetanus shot, so it probably is not up to date! But that was a few weeks ago and everything seems fine now. And yeah, it was a total bummer because the boots are so cute! Have a fantastic week, my friend.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Elle

    March 26, 2018 at 2:39 pm Reply

    Well it’s a fabulous dress even though it is a gruesome story. I hate when I purchase items that smell badly, And try to avoid buying from vendors that sell them. But sometimes it can’t be avoided. I am so sorry about that bloody mishap.
    Ouch, and double ouch! I am very glad you thought about the tetanus shot, I was going to remind you. Have a wonderful week ahead !
    ❤️❤️❤️
    Elle
    https://theellediaries.com/

  • Linda Cassidy

    March 26, 2018 at 2:54 pm Reply

    One of my ultimate fears, I always shake every thing before putting it on. Paranoid or what. But your story proves I am doing something right. Just shake shake shake that footwear first and gently try it on.
    Cute dress though

  • anne the spygirl

    March 26, 2018 at 3:01 pm Reply

    File this one under Blogger Trials and Tribulations!

    I have a pair of clogs with a similar problem. I purchased them while visiting Hong Kong, not discovering the nail issue until after a full day of clomping around in them — they had worn a large hole into the toe of favorite olive tights and penetrated the thick callus on my big toe. What did I do? I covered the nail with a bandaid and have continued to wear the shoes! Sometimes Fashion wins over Practicality.
    You’re right about the tetanus shot. You’ll be glad to know I am up to date on my immunizations.

    How about the chemical stench? Was that mystery solved?

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      March 26, 2018 at 3:28 pm Reply

      Oh my goodness, Anne! You are so funny! I don’t think a bandaid over these sharp prongs will do the trick! I tried to get some needle nosed pliers down in there to either pull them out or bend them down but with no success! And I have not been able to get rid of the stench! In fact, I took them out yesterday to photograph them and ugh…so gross! I suppose if I aired them out maybe the smell would dissipate. But I can’t wear them anyway, so what’s the point?! Thanks again for your help with that weird Facebook issue that is still causing me problems. I guess Facebook support is my next step. As if they will be any help!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • jacqui

    March 26, 2018 at 4:16 pm Reply

    So pretty, it’s worked well with the black accents, but will look equally as good with nudes in the summer! Nice one Shelbee. Jacqui Mummabstylish

  • Sheela Goh

    March 26, 2018 at 6:48 pm Reply

    Jesus Christ hahahaha I’m sorry, Shelbee!! Despite my hysterical laughing, I promise, sympathy is being sent to you by the oceanloads!! OMG did you tell Zaful???? And what a shame too because those boots are exquisite!!! You still look exquisite btw without them and in that dress worth of a candy crush moment xoxo

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      March 26, 2018 at 6:55 pm Reply

      Sheela, I am so glad that it made you laugh hysterically! That was the point! If I can’t laugh at myself, I am doomed in this life, for sure! I laughed hysterically after I cleaned up all the blood. And I did tell Zaful and they just kind of blew me off completely. Oh well. At least I didn’t pay money for the dangerous boots! I love that compliment, too, a “candy crush moment”! Thanks so much! Love you!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Gigi Kiersten

    March 26, 2018 at 7:57 pm Reply

    Ouch, Shelbee! Seriously, I hope that you are okay. As for your outfit, I love the faux fur color and the velvet dress. It’s such a luxe look and it’s something I can totally see you wearing this to go out to a fancy dinner. Thanks again for sharing another awesome post!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      March 27, 2018 at 12:41 am Reply

      Thanks so much, Gigi! I am totally fine. Like I said, I do have a tendency to exaggerate for the sake of making a more interesting story! But all is well. My toe is fine. And I have a pretty pink velvet dress to show for it. And a pair of boots that I can’t wear!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Roxanne

    March 26, 2018 at 10:32 pm Reply

    Oh my gosh, how HORRIBLE! I love a good blood and guts story but MY GOD! I’m kind of with Sheela though, I’m sitting here chuckling as I’m imagining you hopping down the hallway, but it could happen to anyone! I hope you told Zaful and that they fixed it! Sheesh!

    Anyway, I love the way you styled the dress – fabulous embroidered boots of foot death or not.
    –Roxanne
    http://glassofglam.com

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      March 27, 2018 at 12:40 am Reply

      Roxanne, thanks so much! I am glad that you and Sheela were cracking up..that was my intention. It was quite the scene and made me laugh quite hard as well…after I cleaned up all the blood! Zaful actually seemed a little annoyed with me for working with multiple colleagues so therefore there was nothing they could or would do for me. I have no idea what that even means, but whatevs! It cost me nothing…well except maybe almost my pinkie toe! Ha.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Kellyann Rohr

    March 26, 2018 at 11:06 pm Reply

    Um, ouch!!! That sounds terrible, especially since you probably have to wear close toed shoes since it’s so cold. It’s not fun when you have a cut toe in a close toed shoe – I’m speaking from experience here! Bless your heart Shelbee. The dress looks beautiful though and the boots are awfully pretty!
    xo,
    Kellyann

  • Lisa Richardson

    March 27, 2018 at 2:41 am Reply

    Oh good grief! Who would have ever thought to check before slipping them on. I do wish you had photographed the hall and I had quite the mental image playing out in my head. Great story Shelbee…and the dress looks cute on😉

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      March 27, 2018 at 10:20 am Reply

      Lisa, thanks so much for reading! Oh, it was a scene! Why did I not think to photograph it? That would have been really fun to share. So another lesson learned in addition to checking new shoes before jamming in my foot…when crazy stuff like that happens, take photos! Have a fabulous day, my friend.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Helen C.

    March 27, 2018 at 7:43 pm Reply

    Thanks for not sharing the photos, hehe! I think we all have at least one similar experience unfortunately! The dress is so lovely though. If I lived nearby, I´d love to go shopping with you!

  • Marilee Gramith

    March 29, 2018 at 6:19 am Reply

    Well this could put you right off including any footwear from Zaful going forward eh??
    Good thing you have a good sense of humor and saw the “story value” in this experience.
    Poor pinkie toe!!!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      March 29, 2018 at 9:27 am Reply

      Jude, thanks for the fun comment! I definitely try to see the bright side in every thing…and when there is apparently not much a bright side, I had least try to find the humor in it all! And you are right, I am totally put off from buying footwear from any of these sites again!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      April 1, 2018 at 10:36 am Reply

      Thanks, Molly! But those rad boots, which actually came from a Chinese website, sliced my toe open! So you can still get similar ones in the UK except you really wouldn’t want to…they are dangerous! Hahaha. Thanks for stopping by, my friend. I hope your weekend is fabulous!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      April 1, 2018 at 10:30 am Reply

      Jess, thanks so much for the compliment! I do love pink lately. And I did tell Zaful and they just got really annoyed with me and said there was nothing they could or would do. And I think that has maybe ended my days of collaboration with them because I have not heard a word from my contact person since this all happened. Oops. Oh well.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

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