I know it's winter, but I'm all about those fall vibes.  Since I can't keep it September through November all the time, I must carry their essence with me when I can.  Kiyonna's Carmella Maxi Dress in the Vintage Vineyard print made me immediately think of walks through autumn woods before sunset.

Kiyonna sent me this flowy, ethereal dress that I could not wait to style for these colder months.  In this post, I will be sharing a review of the dress and an idea for a fun Valentine's date night you can take yourself on or share with your partner!

The Carmella Maxi Dress comes in this warm Vintage Vineyard print and a cooler toned version called Twilight Blue.  Vintage Vineyard is still available in Kiyonna's full range of sizes 0X to 5X, which translates to 10/12 to 30/32, while the blue is available in 0X to 3X.

I'm wearing a 3X in the Carmella, which feels true to size.  The overlay fabric is a non-stretch polyester with subtle sparkling threads woven into the print.  It's quite lovely and a little more noticeable in person versus in pictures, though the sparkles are still pretty subtle.  The beige lining is a more stretchy poly, which also didn't require me to wear an extra slip underneath for coverage.  While the fabric is dry clean only and the description says not to steam, I did a light steam on the places that needed it out of the package.  The overlay material doesn't seem easy to wrinkle though, which is a huge plus.

The overall length of the dress is 61.25", so this is a great option for the taller folkx out there!  I wore 2-inch heeled boots with this look and the dress was still almost to the ground.  Personally, I love this, because I'm 5'9" and sometimes find it hard to find a maxi that goes all the way to the ground.  I also felt the area under the empire waist was more generously cut to accommodate larger figures.  It all just skimmed over my body nicely and felt very comfortable to wear.

Other features I love in this dress:

• V-neckline
• Longer flutter sleeves
• Elasticized empire waist

In thinking on how to style this look to add warmth, I chose my burgundy moto jacket and brown heeled boots.  With the longer length of the dress, you could definitely add leggings or tights underneath without having to worry about what color you are wearing.  Layering to keep your core warm could be as simple as adding a tank underneath, but the dress itself is roomy enough for a thicker underlayer, depending on your style.

I'm quite excited about this whole ensemble and look forward to wearing it again!

Here's my budget-friendly date night idea that's still rich in fun!

• Grab a coffee and head to your local scenic park for an evening stroll, or grab a bench and read a book as you sip, watching the sun set beyond the horizon.
• Order take-out, or pop into your favorite restaurant. 
• I'm loving bento boxes from my local Japanese steakhouse.
• Eat dinner by candlelight, while listening to a podcast, or watching a television show or movie.
• I must recommend the Hailey Hates Everything podcast 😉 & love watching UK-based detective/crime shows.
  
• If you go with candlelight and conversation, I find the Table Topics cubes to be a fun little way to converse or get things going.  Whether you are single, with a partner, or hanging with your friends, there is a variety of topic themes to choose from.
• Shake it up after dinner by putting on your favorite tunes and dancing joyously, or pick a fun board game or multiplayer video game to cap off the night!