What I Actually Wore #0001

Serial #: 0001
Date: 25/09/2008
Weather: sunny, 24°C
Time Allowed: 5 mins

Knowing that today’s temperature was forecast at 24° and time being a factor, I speedily decided this morning that a dress was in order. Fortunately my wardrobe is organised (by item, colour etc) so I was able to quickly grab this dress from the rail. It is completely sheer so a full slip is imperative. I don’t have many transparent dresses, so I hang the dark blue slip with it, which makes it easy to find rather than wrestling through a lingerie drawer every time I want it. [On a side note, the dress originally came with a slip sewn in, but it was very poor quality and developed runs after a few wears. I unpicked the stitching and discarded it. Although I originally intended to dye a plain white slip, I was lucky enough to find a blue vintage one with pretty design details.]

I bought the dress from a quaint vintage boutique on Greville St (the last survivor) last summer on a whim. It was inexpensive, and the colour looks great on me, although I was dubious about the style – bit girlier than I ordinarily go for. The dress had also come with its own matching patent vinyl belt, which I immediately discarded. I have since found a cobalt blue leather belt (thanks David Jones stock-take sale!), but this morning chose to wear it with a tan leather belt and suede sling-backs as I didn’t want to go overboard with cobalt – I also own two different pairs of cobalt suede shoes! (I deliberately did not wear the belt over the cardigan, as the latter is too short for that look to work.)

TIP: Hang your full slips with the dresses you normally wear them with to save time in the morning.

I briefly toyed with the idea of wearing my beautiful, oatmeal-coloured linen coat that my sister had made for me from a Montana Vogue pattern. I decided I would be far too warm in it, and with about 30 seconds to contemplate the options I grabbed this cardigan as it was nearest to hand.

Bit too much blue, I thought in the rush to leave, but at least I hadn’t also gone for the blue belt and shoes – that would have been ridiculous!

I’ll call it a forties-inspired look. I generally don’t like to mimic any particular era, but the outfit has the virtue of not being black at least, on such a lovely spring day!

Items

Dress: Lovelygirl
Cardigan: Cotton-on
Belt: Country Road
Shoes: Urban Soul
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Earrings: hand-made by myself from Indian beads and sterling silver
Sunglasses: Roc