Having an event coming up has tuned me into current fashion styles. I’m set on wearing my funeral dress (no, it’s not a funeral function – people in my family die in the dead of winter so technically you can go naked if you keep your black coat on). I like to keep an open mind in case I see something with more spring flare to it. (That’s in color, not in ruffles. This girl don’t do ruffles!)
Yikes! No, SUPER YIKES! The prints are eye dazzling (and reminiscent of my Mom’s drapes). Some are ok but some are over the top. Way over the top. Retail store inventory doesn’t look any different from the stretchy clothing I looked at with friends last week.
I like classic. I like colorful but not over the top. The hem has to be closer to my knees than my butt. I like some sort of sleeve (not to cover my floppy arms but because I get cold!). Not a fan of those short jacket-y things unless it’s an integral part of the outfit. No ruffles, no waist pleats (seriously who looks good in those?). Not much to ask for is it?
There are some really beautiful new colors out this year. I love the soft pink. It’s not a girly pink but not exactly the dull blush of old. Everything with this color had other colors that overwhelmed it.
Navy blue is in! Love that color. The thing about navy is that I like to match the shoes to it. My new shoes (yes, I bought them) are black. They are available in a nude blush (makes my tiny feet look like elephant trunks) but I don’t like them as much.
The navy dress wasn’t available in my size. It had pink roses (yep that pretty pink) sprawled all over. Not quite like drapes but….well, it’s a drapes sort of year.
I have this theory. Drapes have gotten simpler in both style and color. Manufacturers needed to sell all that left over busy floral and geometric fabric. They opened their warehouses (and served wine – lots of wine). Poof! Lots of sales.
I blame it on the wine.
Since I’m taking my coat off, I’m back to my funeral dress.
Sounds like a Gone With The Wind moment.
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Pretty much!
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Stick to the classics, they are a win/win in the fashion world. Happy you bought the shoes, not that too much arm twisting was necessary.
Aside from the bold prints, what the hell is up with the open shoulders … for all shapes, sizes and ages?
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I was intrigued with the open shoulders but didn’t try any on. I did try one of those very cute tee-shirt type dresses (not for the wedding) that has a knot at the waist. I’m not overweight and it accented every bump and ripple. Can’t wear unless you are under 20. I also tried on a cap sleeve and discovered over the winter my arms got old and floppy. How did that happen.
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Oh, the shirt of sins…horrible! My 23 year old skinny daughter had bumps… awful.
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Who designs these things?
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Spring dresses remind me of Easters past. My mom wasn’t much of a church goer, but she was religious about our Easter clothes. She made us cotton dresses and matching dusters. (Do you remember dusters?) Funny how easy it was to find suitable fabric and patterns for young girls. I remember that pink and navy blue were popular. Dotted Swiss was nice too. Ruffles were no problem for our girlish figures. We finished the outfit off with a straw hat and white shoes.
I have a list at least as long as yours of all my requirements for a dress for my granddaughter’s college graduation. I hope I find something I like by June.
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We also did a new Easter outfit. Couldn’t wait to wear it. I loved dotted Swiss and seersucker. The prints were so garish back then (or I wasn’t as conservative about them). My mom sewed clothes for me until I was a teenager, then I sewed my own. Now I wouldn’t even think about it. I remember my first pair of bone patent leather shoes. It was for Easter. Oh yes, matching hats. Always.
Good luck with your dress shopping. I sense a blog post in there.
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The shoes will make everything alright! If the shoes fail, there is always wine or a margarita! You will look great!
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Once I walk in there, I will forget everything about me. It’s close family so it will be fun.
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Oh dear! Now I’m worried. I have a wedding this summer and I need to begin thinking about what I will wear. I haven’t shopped for a thing since I retired last July. Thank you for the warning. Your references to drapery materials has me quite concerned!
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But you may like big cabbage roses on your butt! 🙂
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Ha! You will hit the right tone with the funeral dress but don’t bring a coat. This hilarious story kept reminding me of how smashing Scarlet O’Hara looked in drapes. Check out the fabric stores for velveteen in springtime green. 🙂
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And that reminds me of the Velveteen Rabbit!
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I think you are right about the funeral dress. You will feel good in it. You won’t feel good in one of those loud prints. I like navy, but not in shoes, purses, etc. Just in clothes. But then I have so much black that I am forced to wear navy with black ;).
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I like navy with patent leather but the new shoes aren’t patent.
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Gosh, I haven’t seen patent leather in a long time!
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Shiny! I love shiny!
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You and that little crow in Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH :).
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I’m so glad that you bought the shoes!
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I’m weak, very weak but I kept the receipt. If I don’t wear, they’ll go back.
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I can’t do black – with my coloring, I look like the guest of honor at the funeral. Navy is my “neutral” – I usually wear navy, silver (not bright silver), or nude shoes with it, but I’ve gotten a bit bolder lately and wear contrasting shoes now and then. I really dislike the girlie stuff out now: over-the-top florals, ruffles, gathers, etc. I’ve always been a more classic (solids, and if I feel really crazy, stripes) dresser.
The big question for me these days, if I wear a dress for a more formal occasion (which is hardly ever), hose or no hose?
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For me it’s definitely hose. I find it more comfortable with dress shoes. The other reason is that I’m sparkling white at this time of year. Haven’t done any of the self-tanner so people would be startled by my glowing paleness.
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Can’t go wrong with black. 🙂
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Black isn’t real available right now. Probably because it’s prom gown time!
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😳
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Around here the only store that sold clothes for women my age went out of business, so I’m stuck with Walmart, and if they have any dresses at all, they are made of that thin knit junk. I’m not as skinny as I used to be (That’s code for I’ve gotten fat.), and if I wear one of those I look like fifty pounds of potatoes stuffed in a spandex bag. Not an attractive sight!
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I weight 110 lbs. I tried one of those on and it wasn’t attractive on my. You have to have a very athletic build to pull it off.
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How about pinning a pinkish rose onto your funeral dress? Unfortunately that is the best I can do as I have absolutely no sense of fashion – or taste in drapes for that matter.
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I’ll stick with pearls!
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That is a most excellent theory! I’m on board with it!
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Thanks!
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I think I marched down more than one aisle as a bridesmaid humming “The Sound of Music.” Custom-made dresses were the worst, probably because the bride went for cheap, floral fabric. (You have a point on curtain fabric — all of mine are a single color. Not a print in sight.)
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I tried a very pretty blouse on yesterday. It was black background with soft roses but I kept thinking of a Victorian parlor. I passed on it.
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You take a simple subject and make it complicated, with hilarity throughout. I ALWAYS look forward to your posts.
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Awww! Thanks! This wedding is giving me a lot of blog inspiration.
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LOL!! I like your wine theory!
I bet my shoe size is smaller! I am glad you bought the shoes, I hate shoe shopping. Try finding a shoe in a size 3!
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Isn’t that a children’s shoe size? Whoa!
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LOL! Exactly my point. I could have all the Elsa from Frozen Disney Princesses shoes that I want!
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That’s cool! I’d wear those to the wedding! You can also get multi-color sneakers with flashing lights! You are my idol!
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Oh yes can’t forget the flashing lights! So glad to be your idol. 🙂
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Haha!
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Maybe you can get a bright scarf to transform winter funeral dress into spring wedding attire?
My closet is full of solids ~ black, white, navy, pink, purple, red, orange, yellow, green, khaki, ivory, etc. I have a few print skirts and a few print tops, but not many. Mix & Match = ME!
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No scarf. I’m not big on scarves. They get in my way. It’s a print (jewel tones and muted). It’s a perfectly good dress. I was just feeling like a lighter color springy thing. A few trips into stores and it will go away. I won’t buy anything I don’t love because I don’t need it. Much of my stuff is solid except for tee-shirts and some other tops. Definitely solid on bottom. I have one pair of floral drapey pants that I wear during the summer. Love them. They have a nice black background. Sort of a tropical feel to the fabric. Margarita anyone?
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You can always bring your spring color to the black dress with jewelry. Get a bold necklace and/or bracelet in your favorite color. I don’t do belts but that would be another option if you do. How about a fascinator?
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I had to look up fascinator! 🙂 If I go funeral dress, I will dress it up with pearls. It’s not black but a muted jewel print. No belts here either. I just need to suppress the urge to buy or find something I truly love more than my funeral dress (which I do love but it has a more fall feel).
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You’re onto something with the drapes. Think Carol Burnett and the Gone With The Wind outfit. Be bold! – Marty
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I love that scene! Especially with the curtain rods still in!
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You are too funny. I can’t wait to see what you definitely end up wearing!
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We don’t have many weddings in our family!
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Hey – at least you got out and gave it a go Kate! Congrats on the new shoes. Sometimes that’s enough change to bring into our aging wardrobe 😎
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That’s what I’m thinking. We had a spot of warm weather (literally just a day or two) and I got spring fever and the resulting desire to wear spring colors!
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Yep, peplums only look good on the tall and rail thin or little girls (who can do perky cute without thinking) I think you answered my question about why I’ve been seeing so many wallpaper and drape patterns recently…better for house retro, not for clothing.
(Did that color used to be called “dusty rose”? Richer colors are better than many brights…and linger longer across fashion trends and seasons?)
Basic classic works. (“they only see your smile anyway” – that’s what mom used to say when I hated my dress…)
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I looked on line for a picture and it was called different things — dusty rose, mauve, etc. I’ve always like that color as long as it didn’t get too beige-y. With the infrequency that I would wear it, I’m looking for a style/color that will last. Your Mom was a classic. They always had these pat sayings for when we weren’t happy.
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philmouse is right about that color. It was called dusty rose and was one of the colors in our wedding. Hadn’t thought of that in years, but there you have it. Everything old is new again!
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I liked it the last three times it was a new color. 🙂 I like most pink tones but the muted ones wear best.
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You’re lucky. I look dreadful in pink of any shade. I begrudgingly wear “blush” but can’t wait for the blues to make a return. [Color, not mental health prob.]
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I so agree I love the navy blue and I also love the orange&khaki colors … and I bug mark since one week for some must haves :o)
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If you find what you like, buy it! It may not be here next year. Navy isn’t always in. I’m not so much a gray fan and that’s been big.
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I think your theory on the drapes and wine is spot on. Many of the patterns do look like someone snatched down a curtain and re-sewed it.
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A lot of the dresses had that same stiffness too. I’m sure I’m onto something here.
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I’d stick with the funeral dress too, Kate. You can’t go wrong with classic. Some of the styles out this season could trigger a migraine…yuck!
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I know. I saw an Old Navy ad full of dresses and I went bug-eyed with the patterns.
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