Red Fish Blue Fish

I have a confession to make: not all of my dresses are vintage. Once in a great while, I'll come across something so adorable, so timeless, that I know it would fit right in my closet. Sometimes I get close enough and I already feel like I own it; paying for it and taking it home is a mere formality. Red Fish Blue Fish... was not one of these.

I was in a little artist's studio in Buenos Aires, and the artist was there, selling clothes she had designed and made herself. This ups the pressure a bit—as I was discussing with my friend whether or not I should buy it, I felt awkward, because I knew she could hear me debating whether her work—her art—was worth 240 pesos. (With the exchange rate at the time, this was $80, which was still pretty pricey, especially because I was earning pesos at the time.)

But look how cute!

The little fish are sewn on individually!

And they are swimming in little thready waves, inspiring wave-y, water-y dance moves.

Plus, the back of Red Fish Blue Fish has its own little surprises. The back is probably what put me over the edge.

I wasn't thinking about just how difficult it would be to actually get it on and off by myself. It involves contortions. missed buttons, and, ultimately, a different wardrobe choice.

Despite its questionable price (but it's somebody's art!), I have worn Red Fish Blue Fish in the wild exactly once since I bought it six years ago. Does that mean we are not to be?

Or should I treat it as an expensive souvenir of my time in Buenos Aires?

All photos by Claire Loeb!