You Need A Dress
Tina, here.
My mother wore what she called day dresses. Spring, summer, winter, fall, she was in a dress except for on the coldest of days. She also wore lipstick even if she was just cleaning or preparing dinner. (I'm pretty sure I've mentioned she wore the Clinique "gift with purchase" lipsticks she didn't really like around the house, and saved the ones she loved for going out. Yes, I get my frugalness from her.) She was a lady. If you knew her, she was a true gentlewoman.
Another true lady, a gentlewoman, Jackie Kennedy, in a beautiful shift with a sheer panel and white gloves. Looks modern even today. Wait. Why is there a shirtless man behind her? Photo credit Wikipedia Commons
So let's wear more dresses. They are like the one pot dish. One and done. They show your legs. They can hide your knees, if that's what you want (but be sure we tell you how). They are cool in summer. They are easy to move around in, and they are just so feminine. They can be casual, too. If you haven't worn dresses for some time, let's give it a go this spring, what do you say? Change is good. It keeps you young and agile.
* I secured the perfect dress for Style Vault insiders, with an exclusive discount just for you. Find out more here.
Big surprise, guess what I think is perhaps the most useful spring/summer dress a woman can own? A little white dress. Or off-white. Before you dismiss me, let me count the reasons why:
1. You think white makes you look bigger. No. The wrong white makes you look bigger, and does exaggerate it - that I'll give you. But the wrong black or pink or blue can also unflatter. The right white favors your shape, as does the right black, pink or blue.
Here's Exhibit A, a white dress I would not necessarily recommend. Not because it's white. But because I can find you a better shape. Photo credit Curvalicious
And Exhibit B, a white dress that flatters. It skims her curves beautifully, without either being a boxy square or a tight glove. Photo credit Curvalicious
2. You think you'll get white dirty and automatically spill down the front just because it's white. Why do you allow this kind of negative thinking in your life? Stinkin' thinking, that is. You change your mind and you can change the world. All in a white dress. So let's think like this, White is the new black and I wear it like a boss.
Best stain remover I have ever used, by Roux Maison. You can get it here.
3. You think white is see-through. Not all white. White or off-white made of the right fabric and/or lined with the right, well, lining is not see-through. White is difficult to line - it must be lined with a creamy fabric rather than white. Just like I teach you to wear an ivory cami under a white blouse - it's for the same reason, white shows under white. But the right white fabric doesn't even need to be lined. Take a good thick white denim. No lining needed.
I'm not much for the half-slip lining trend out there right now. It just presents the slip as an in your face part of the outfit rather than as the undergarment that it is. But if I were handed this Chanel white dress, with fringe no less, I would find a way to make peace with the lining. Photo credit lolobu
Now here are some fab women in fab white and ivory dresses showing you that you, too, can wear one well.
I love black and white for spring. For a cool spring day, throw on a black leather jacket or a black cardi over your white dress.
And my other fave way to wear a dress, white or not, in the spring, is with a denim jacket.
White on off-white. So clean and pretty. Add a loose layer over a fitted white or ivory dress to raise your comfort level with the whole thing.
If it rains on the day you were planning to wear your white dress, not to worry. Grab your rain boots, a rain jacket (or even better a trenchcoat - and my perfect trench happens to be inside February's Style Vault) and a fab hat. Take that, rain!
"Anna Wintour (photographed by Ed Kavishe of Fashion Wire Press) often insists on being seated apart from other fashion editors at shows." Probably because her white can't be sullied by the other mere novice fashion editors, commoners that they are. Photo credit Wikipedia
White is a big trend for Spring 2015, or haven't you heard. Well, it is.
A white swing dress is universally flattering, and fun to twirl in. This one is sold out, but guess what dolls, I've found one for you...Photo credit Refinery29
In our all-new March Style Vault, which launched yesterday, I have tracked down the perfect white dress from one of my favorite stores. And I secured a special discount for Style Vault Insiders. Plus, Over $600 in savings inside this month's Vault, which of course more than makes up for the $7.99 monthly membership.
Thanks for reading and be sure to check out our personalized Nashville wardrobe consulting services for men and women. Visit this link to find a 20% off discount code for our services thru March 8, 2015. Experience the luxury of having us in your home and shopping the stores for you, then putting it all together. We’re in our 8th year of making the world a better place, one good outfit at a time.
Best,
Tina
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