You have a few fun events coming up. You know the kind. The kind that are too Fun to wear clericals to, or your go-to black suit. You don’t have anything to wear: your usual pickings are professional, safe long skirts and such. You need something a step way up from your own vacation togs (things like long cotton skirts, sundresses, that sort of thing). You can’t remember the last time you fit into your Little Black Dress, and that seems so dull anyway. You’d like to, you know, have some FUN. It’s a wedding. Or it’s a big garden party. It’s a graduation. People there will know you’re a minister but you don’t need to work, so you can lighten up.
You find a dress. It’s affordable, it’s a great color on you. It makes you smile. But… you know… it’s a little too cute. Cutesy, in fact.
As I said in the post about being the visionary of your own look and knowing how to assess garments, darlings, you have to squint your eyes and use your imagination and possibly your seam-rippers!
All the cheap chains and pearls in the Developed World aren’t going to make that dress look sophisticated. Take it to your tailor and have them remove the little button placket, and add belt loops. There. You’ve just broadened the horizons of the dress immeasurably. You can wear a slim black belt with it, a fitted black jacket, and a pair of fierce shoes:
You’re all ready to step out in fun style.
No one accessories like our FLOTUS. See how Madame Michelle works the black belt and the dress? Fab.
I love those shoes! Where are they from? I’m pretty sure I need them….yesterday. [I do, too, and I can’t find them!! *sob* – that’s what comes from grabbing images off Google when you have a fever. – PB]
Brilliant idea! As a short and small woman with a young face, it’s easy to look cutesy in certain colors or patterns, so I love the idea of going with “harder” or slightly edgier accessories to tone down the “awww” factor. 🙂
Love, love, love it! Reminds me of the dress-a-day project. Can’t remember the exact blog address, but woman buys mu-mus and such from LA thrift stores and remakes them into classy blouses and dresses everyday for a year.
OkY, I’m clueless — why is this “too” cute? I’d wear it as is with a pair fo fabulous strappy sandals and maybe a patterned shawl, and an architectural earring/necklace or modern pin/bracelet.
[Well, it might not be too cute for you. You just have to try out different accessories with it. It depends on your age, it depends on the event… for me, the button placket might look kind of cheap in person, and it really does bring the dress down into definite informal territory. I would not style this with a geometric jewelry without lots of thought and care – it’s such a traditional dress – very 50’s, and it needs simple, classic styling. Be careful not to over-style. That’s a lot of dress right there — patterned and vivid color is really all you need. – PB]
For myself, I’d lose all the bling and that tacky button thing. Bring on the white cardigan, maybe a white belt, post earrings, and a *single* strand of pearls.
Those shoes are nice, but not for me. PB, what do you recommend for those of us whose ankles and knees don’t permit such high heels? [Um, lemme look. – PB]
Don’t forget to wear a more supportive bra than the model in the photo — [Oooh, good catch. – PB]