Lately when I try to make things easier they get harder. It’s not really a knack that endears me to me, but it does make for extra delight when plans trundle past intended mileposts instead of making sharp U-turns into oncoming traffic.
So let me keep this short and fairly sweet….
First, I met some fabric. Then, I met a woman intrigued by my desire to merge a simple wool jersey dress with a dramatic collar. I mentioned “1940s” and “draped” and “rouched.” From there the Affable Experimenter came up with an interpretation that reminds me of the gorgeous Persian buttercup (aka ranunculus asiaticus):
After much patient experimentation, a local dressmaker succeeded in topping a wool jersey dress with a ranunculus-like neckline
Although I certainly see a connection to the soft swoops of fabric so prevalent in vintage clothing. And to dimensional dresses worn by not-so-vintage sirens.
With the help of my creative collaborator, I’d say I ended up with a dress that’s 1 part 40s Vogue : 1 part Katy Perry
While my Contrarian Classicist side influenced the design from start to finish, adding a few shiny accessories makes it simple to get buy-off from my Minimalist Magpie side. When the dress is worn on its own, all it takes is a little patent:
Long sleeves and a staid length meet up with patent platform peeptoe heels…
and also pair with highly walkable boots that have their own take on platform + patent (via a tough-to-see shiny heel)
But adding a matching jersey tube that lightly cinches the waist and upper hip area makes the perfect backdrop for an off-the-clock chain belt:
A removable tube of matching wool jersey lets me create more waist definition (and provides a handy backdrop for a chain belt once I’m off the clock)
As with most of my custom projects, the Affable Experimenter and I had to do some problem-solving here and there; overall, though, the whole process was so smooth I may be in withdrawal from “complicated.” Could that be why the highly impractical cape below seems so appealing?
A 1955 cover line touts bulk against slimness—and makes it mighty tempting to add another charcoal item to my closet
Filed under: appearance, officewear, style over 40 | Tagged: accessories, business creative, buying local, Contrarian Classicist, made-to-measure/alterations, Minimalist Magpie, The Affable Experimenter, vintage |
Building a Colorful Life 
LOVE that neckline, just gorgeous!! I’d want to wear that Vogue cape too, though it would probably swallow me….
Hi Pseu—
Glad you share my love! I’d like to think you and I could both wear the cape if its details were scaled down for our heights. I’ve seen you carry off bolder things!
Oh My My, You are a 50’s GIRL!!! The dress looks divine and uptown for sure and where did you get those pumps??? I want a pair just like them!!!! And you could pull off the cape with gloves and then move to New York!!!!!!!!! We have to go shopping for shoes!!!!
Hi “Someone” aka Ms Gilded Lily (your exclamation marks gave you away!)—
Thank you much! I felt deceptively classy in it, ha. The shoes are a comfort brand: Sofft, and these are the Ramona IIRC.
I really love the neckline – interesting, but not so much it would be tricky to eat soup 🙂 Whatever the detail is at the hem, I like that too.
You should offer guided tours of your closet – I’d pay for a peek!
Pauline—
Ha: exactly! As a big scarf wearer, I’m always flipping the ends out of the way before daring soup. Glad you like the hem detail too. I resisted the urge to overcomplicate with several smaller bands at the bottom but it was a little tough.
And hey, I thought these wardrobe posts WERE a guided tour of my closet (and my psyche)….
Since my actual closet is a tiny old-house one, I’m afraid you’d wouldn’t be riveted to your screen with excitement. [The underbed storage, now, woohoooooo.]