Black Lace Dresses and Buttons

I'm pretty sure that Kate Middleton and I would be friends if we ever met. I mean, we both love art history and we both love black lace dresses. What more do we need to have in common? I've been smitten with the black lace dresses that Kate has worn, and I think I'd like something similar to wear for my anniversary date with J.

I found on on a blog entry from the What Kate Wore website that this is the Long Sleeve Amoret Dress by Temperley London which sells for about $4,000. That's a little out of my price range!

Kate Middleton in a black lace gown by Diane von Furstenberg

Black dress by Beulah London (for only $1,000 this time!)

I love the scalloped neckline and hemline of this black lace Dolce Gabbana dress.

This Erdem dress is navy blue, but is also is really great.

This Dolce Gabbana dress is more plum-colored than black, but I like the neckline and the long sleeves.

Here are some more affordable black dress options that I like:

Scallop Lace Dress

With This Ring Dress Black (Shabby Apple)

This is a maternity dress (eek!), but I wonder if a non-pregnant person could get away wearing it.

Milly Celia Lace Dress

And on a side note, I've been thinking a lot of about small buttons and how much I love them on dresses and shoes. Speaking of Kate Middleton, look at the back of this gorgeous greenish-blue Jenny Packham gown of lace and chiffon that she wore at the London Olympic Games gala:

Also, I think I need some Victorian boots that button up. I've always wanted Victorian button boots (ever since I watched Shirley Temple put them on, while using a button hook, in A Little Princess). These are the best options that I have found so far, but I'm going to keep looking.