Frocks & Frou Frou: sweater dress

Saturday, November 29, 2008

The Trade-Off

Well, I caved today and bought the drape-neck cashmere dress that I've been hankering after from Pure Collection (www.purecollection.com)

It's exactly what I was looking for earlier this year when I went on the hunt for a sweaterdress (before I compromised, and bought the puff-sleeved black dress from Donna Morgan, which didn't quite meet my expections, and has since been retired) : long sleeves, draped neck, and a beautiful yarn that won't make my skin crawl. I ended up getting it in the chocolate (to go with the red boots, y'all) and with the 15% off discount that I found (SAFEB, in case anyone else wants to fall off the wagon with me) it came to 173 quid, which should be around AUD$406.

Because it's a total, ridiculous indulgence - both something I don't really need, AND something I'm unlikely to be able to wear for 6 months - I've decided to be a Good Little Girl and cross off a corresponding amount of items from my Lemming-List.

Now, it can't be things that I sort-of, maybe wanted, but things that I was pretty much definitely going to get, as soon as I talked myself around to it. Off the list with them. Because the cashmere dress is certainly not a necessity, and if I've decided I must have it, then I also have to make sacrifices.

So here we go:

1. PURE COLLECTION DRAPENECK CASHMERE SWEATER DRESS (AUD$406)=

1 x Custom-Made Holly Dress from myblackdress @ etsy (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15676472)

plus 1 x Yellow-Flowers Wallpaper Necklace from drawflowers @ etsy: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17213059

plus 1 x two-in-one dress from Garinvaplus on eBay:

http://stores.ebay.com/garinvaplus

plus 1 x pair of Manhattan Boots from Ayla Boots:

http://www.aylaboots.com

Now, I do so love to live vicariously, so please go ahead and indulge yourself!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

The Boots were made for Walking

Top: Sussan www.sussan.com.au

Dress: 8inkerman www.8inkerman.com

Leggings: MySize www.mysize.com.au

Boots: Boots For Broads www.bootsforbroads.com.au

Obi Belt: Yoshi Jones www.yoshijones.com

Man, it's fridgid today in Melbourne. I ventured out in the attempt to find a 30th birthday present for a friend (alas, no luck) and it took me three goes to find an outfit that worked that I wouldn't also perish of exposure in.

I often choose my day's wardrobe from a single item, then build up, and since I received my new red boots (red boots!) that one item is usually my shoes. er, boots.

But, because I'm a bit anal about this sort of thing, I have to wear things that match, and what I've discovered it, not much goes with red boots.

For starters you kind of have to go with a skirt, because the whole red boots over pants thing is just a smidge superhero (Superman, Spiderman, Captain America, Iron Man - dude, red boots are the footwear of choice for comic-book fodder)

Today I decided to haul my cashmere sweater dress out of storage, because its comfortable and snuggly, but I can't ever find a top to put under it that looks right, and while I look quite poochy in it unless I also wear a belt, I can never find a belt that works either. Coupled with the requirement that something ties it to the red boots the only thing I could do was wear it with my Yoshi Jones Obi and hope for the best.

I'm not entirely sold on it as an outfit, and I'm thinking I may have to invest in a new sweater dress for next winter (there's a few nice ones at Victoria's Secret www.victoriassecret.com that I've got my eye on ). One that will go perfectly with my red boots.

Hell, I might just indulge now, because it doesn't feel like it's going to warm up any time soon.

Do me a favour and keep your eyes peeled, huh?

Oh, also - I've had a few queries about the heel and style of the red boots - It's the "Jennifer" style at www.bootsforbroads.com.au they have a sturdy 5cm block heel, and after I installed a little gel innersole they are perfectly comfortable to wear all day.