Layne Ransom

It may still be roasting (at least it is in Texas), but autumn's right around the corner! For Fall 2025, I’m feeling warm nostalgia and dresses that evoke bygone eras given modern twists. Think vintage European-inspired details, golden hour sun, and the feeling of opening an old trunk in the attic and discovering your great-grandmother’s wedding dress.

Blue skies and clear waters hold so much of summer's magic. For these Summer 2025 picks, the vibes are rippling, organic textures, airy draping, and deep, cool blues. For sirens, sky nymphs, and ocean goddesses.

Ex-wedding blogger here! If you wanna stand out from the crowd (in a like, good way) on your wedding day, you're in the right place. (Cover photo dresses from left to right: Ross by Daughters of Simone, Silk Corset and Skirt Puff Sleeve Gown by OFFICESEVEN, and Aurora Moonlit Gown by Teuta Matoshi.)

Ex-wedding blogger here! Plus size wedding + formalwear recs from countless hours of ~research~ (online window shopping). I love drama, lace, fringe, color, and ethereal, unconventional pieces made with couture-level fit and attention to detail. Includes made-to-measure pieces and pieces with plus sizes on a standard size chart. Sections for both individual garments and designers/labels since a) some designers/labels do have some plus items, but aren't as fully size inclusive and b) it's fun to highlight the garments I'm really into! (Cover photo dresses from left to right: Madonna by Dame & Maiden, Daphne by Lucy Can't Dance, and Indie by E&W Couture.)

Flawless finishing touches for every wedding look. Veils, jewelry, gloves and more! (Cover photo items from left to right: formal gloves by Chap Dresses, the Crescent Moon Barrette by Epona Valley, and the To The Moon Veil by Rue de Seine.)

Gowns at or under $500 USD! Includes plus size options.

No holds barred Halloween wedding? Just want an elegant black dress? Somewhere in between? Whatever your level of non-traditional, find your goth and/or black gown or outfit (and accessories to match) here.

I love sharing recs for all kinds of weddings, ceremonies, elopements, you name it! But I have a soft spot for fairy tale weddings. A fairy tale wedding isn't just one aesthetic--it can be an intimate boho elopement in the forest, a chic modern garden party affair with corset dresses for the bride(s) and wedding party, or a truly royal, luxurious ceremony at a castle in a princess gown and tiara. Fairy tale weddings are about what enchantment and romance look and feel like to the betrotheds, and sharing that with their loved ones. Below are outfit, accessories, decor, makeup, venue, and overall ~mood~ recs for making your fairy tale wedding come true.

"Modest wedding dress" does NOT = "boring wedding dress!" There’s no reason a modest gown can’t be stunning, unique, and exactly what you’re looking for. Find the modest wedding gown or outfit of your dreams!

I'm an amateur aerialist with 5ish years' total experience and started as a 100% beginner in my 20s. There's one aerials question friends ask the most: “so, how did you get started?”TL;DR: I found a studio in my area that welcomes total beginners of all ages and sizes, got WAY better at showing myself kindness about challenges and making mistakes, and leaned into everything that made me daydream-y and excited about challenging myself physically and creatively. (Note: do NOT try to teach yourself or train aerials on your own as a beginner! Huge safety issue and responsible instructors won't recommend it. It's why I don't include equipment or rig recs on this list; a studio should provide those to you.)The part about giving yourself kindness—well, that's all you! But this list—with studios, training and performance wear, learning aids, and performances to get you inspired—compiles the kind of info I can pass along. Since my training's focused almost exclusively on lyra/aerial hoop this list is slanted that direction, but there are good things here regardless of what apparatus you're into! Let's help you get in the air for the first time (and hopefully me, currently on a long hiatus due to work stress and injury, in a good mindset to for when I get back in the air too.)

Legit options for high filtration masks! No fakes here. Good for protection from COVID and other airborne viruses, wildfire smoke, and environmental allergies. (Cover photos from left to right: KIND KN95, Be Healthy Limited Edition Tie-Dye KN94, Zimi Air ONE Spring Limited Edition in Yellow)

I've lived in different parts of central Austin for 10+ years and eaten a lot of great food—not just tacos and BBQ, either. Here are the places that have stood the test of time both in the city and for my taste buds.

Been living in Austin 10+ years! Love our green spaces and swimming holes, excellent food of so many kinds, and witchy, oddball events and attractions. Here are my favorite things to see, taste, and experience!

I've got two nose rings, three cats, and an embarrassing number of lofi videos in my YouTube saves. These are my recs for ATX-based kindred spirits who love cozying up with a good book, having a delicious treat, and generally feeling like a whimsical li'l witch when it's time for quality time.

Recs from a plus size woman (12-18) who wants better for us than cold shoulder cut-outs! Designers/labels and individual garments.

I love open world and fashion games, and I’m *obsessed* with the latest installment of Infold’s Nikki dress-up series, Infinity Nikki. Combine a lushly detailed Tears of the Kingdom or GTA-tier open world with a dress up game and that’s Infinity Nikki. It’s the video game I never knew I needed, yet feel like I’ve been waiting for my whole life! You can style Nikki an uh, infinity of ways in IN, but even the most edgy or casual pieces are a little eclectic or have a certain air of whimsy. So, if I were Infinity Nikki IRL running around and having adventures in sparkly, often-impractical, squeal-worthy clothes/shoes/bags/accessories with a certain air of whimsy, this is what I’d want to wear. **Note: I am aware of, participating in, and in full support of the girlcott!*

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a narrative-driven, choice-based game from DontNod (the creators of Life is Strange) about the friendship four teen girls find with one another in the summer of ‘95 and the unexplainable, mysterious events that connect them decades later. Swann, Autumn, Nora, and Kat, our titular characters coming of age in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, are fully realized, relatable characters that quickly won the hearts of players—and cosplayers! Each girl has a sense of style reflecting their unique selves that begs for emulation. So to get in on the fun, I’ve made a cosplay kit for each character with clothes and accessories to achieve the look of each girl. Add in a dash of longing nostalgia for Midwest summers, and you’re all set!

Need an easy way to make money on the couch? Survey apps are a great option! Apps that pay in both cash and/or gift cards included.

Renaissance and rococo-inspired romance with blushing pinks, butterflies, and ethereal, sometimes delicately surreal details. Here are my picks for Spring 2025!

I *love* winter wedding style + vibe options! From warm, cheery Christmastime to elegant, icy silvers and whites to New Year's Eve disco flashy fun! Here are gown and outfit options for these aesthetics (and more!) to help create your perfect winter wedding look.

Fall is a weighty yet whimsical season: the melancholy of falling leaves and children who play in them. Harvest means work, but also a feast! And of course, turning to the veil between the dead and living, a solemn occasion but with tricks and treats. For fall 2024, I’m feeling dresses that invoke majesty and grandeur with hints of playfulness and surprise, plus seasonally on theme, nature-inspired details. Here are my picks!

We’re all trying to survive under late stage capitalism!!