[Dress: ASOS (new, but sold out) // Shoes: Paul & Betty c/o Sarenza // Bag: New Look (ancient) // Petticoat: eBay]
Not the best photo location, I’m afraid (We’ve noticed recently that even if it’s been sunny all day, it’s almost guaranteed to start raining as soon as we get into the car to go somewhere, so we decided to just play it safe and grab some photos before we got into the car this time. Ha! Take that, weather! THAT spoiled your fun, didn’t it?), but this is one of my favourite dresses at the moment, so I decided to show you it anyway. You can thank me any time.
This dress is actually super-simple, but that, I think, is its power. Well, that and the petticoat I’m wearing underneath. For yes, people, I finally cracked and bought a petticoat. Well, I’d only been intending to buy one for, what, two years? Three? But every time I went to do it, there would be something else more important fun to buy, which meant that the petticoat kept being pushed back to next month. I mean, shoes or petticoat: which would YOU choose?
You totally chose petticoat, didn’t you? Because you are eminently more sensible, and probably not quite as shoe-obsessed as I am. It’s OK, I don’t blame you. Honestly, I should’ve picked the petticoat too, because it makes such a difference to all of those full-skirted dresses and skirts I like to wear. This dress, for instance, is perfectly nice without the petticoat- as I said, I’m a big fan of “simple” clothing, and the pale blue colour was calling to me – but with it, it’s even better, and makes me feel like a 50s débutante, about to go and drink champagne on the front lawn with Freddie and the twins. Or whatever it is that 50s debutantes did.
(I’ve no idea who “Freddie” is, by the way. There’s always a “Freddie”, though, isn’t there, in novels featuring 50s debutantes…)
I found my petticoat on eBay, and because I know absolutely nothing at all about them, and wasn’t sure how much use I’d get out of it, I just went for the cheapest one I could find. I’ve already worn it quite a few times, though, so I suspect it will be the first of many. Like, maybe I could get a hot pink one. Or… do they make them with polka dots, do you think?
Kaitlyn
08/20/2012I have been looking at petticoats for ages too – any chance you can show yours, I know next to nothing either but wondered what yours looked like?
Thanks.
Call me M
08/20/2012The dress looks great on you, but I loved your shoes! I was waiting for you to wear them since you bought them! They are so cute! I like that your outfit has a 50’s vibe. 🙂
P.S. I would have chosen the shoes as well! hehe
Erika
08/20/2012I have a petticoat on my watch list in my ebay account, but also, it gets pushed aside every month. (I think what I am really looking for is something a little less puffy and more with a showy edge to kind of come out under some of my skirts that are a bit too short.) It’s good that YOU finally got one though – it will just make all of those beautiful skirts of yours even a bit more beautiful looking!
Catherine
08/20/2012I would love to buy a petticoat! This dress is the perfect excuse to wear one – and yes, I’m sure they make them with polka dots!!
Jennifer Malcriada
08/20/2012Ha–Freddie! My whole life my mom would refer to whatever boyfriend I had at the moment as Freddie, she used to say “They’re all Freddies to me” : )
Ophelia
08/20/2012I totally had a Diane Kruger (http://www.shoeperwoman.com/?s=diane+kruger&x=0&y=0) flashback. It’s like a “how to wear” a full skirted babyblue dress edgy vs. preppy. Hard choice indeed…
Alice
08/20/2012A couple of years ago I found a petticoat in Primark for £2 and I think it is one of my best purchases, it’s a bit shorter than I would like, and has a lipstick stain on it that I cannot get off but it makes such a huge difference to dresses – I totally love it. You look fantastic, that shade of blue is lovely on you xo
Becky | life.style.flash.
08/20/2012Petticoats like totally work on you, girl! 😉
I keep meaning to invest too and also planned to buy a cheapy from eBay – would you recommend or should I invest?
Amber
08/20/2012It’s really hard to say – the one I have is fine for my needs, but it’s the only one I’ve ever owned, so I have nothing to compare it to: I guess it all depends what you’re looking for, how often you’re going to wear it, etc!
nosopoisonousivy
08/21/2012ha trust you to want one in polka dots. It does gives the dress extra style points so well done for getting them instead of shoes.
xoxo
Ivy
Jessa
08/21/2012I am completely smitten with your dress! So pretty and the hue is absolute perfection with you skin and hair color. Beautiful!
Love & Lollies… Jessa
Caked Vintage Blog
Julie
08/22/2012Oh my gosh, you’re darling! Love, love that petticoat effect, and I totally laughed out loud when you mentioned Freddie and “the twins”! So classic!
Suzanne
08/23/2012The pale blue and the bright red with polk-a-dots? Divine!
This will be making an appearance in my Friday Top Five tomorrow.
Bisous
Suzanne
http://bisous.typepad.com/bisous/
Rebecca
08/24/2012Hi Amber, I’m glad to have found your blog thru Suzanne’s Top 5! Love your feminine style esp. that dress with a retro vibe & those shoes are FAB!!
Rebecca
http://www.redtagchiclosangeles.com
katherine
08/24/2012i really probably should invest in a petticoat too, but i am the same way – i end up spending my money on shoes or a new dress. but it does make all the different. and i ADORE this dress on you – probably with or without the petticoat
<3 katherine
of corgis and cocktails // current giveaway
Belated Bloomer
08/25/2012Very VERY cute dress and shoes! I really love how you styled the entire look! 🙂
http://thebelatedbloomer.blogspot.com
Kathleen Lisson
08/31/2012I can see why that dress is already sold out – great find!
Anonymous
08/31/2012Beautiful dress!
char
09/21/2012I am now spending my whole morning trying to track down this beautiful dress!! :)x