Embarrassed Zebra

I posted earlier—much earlier—about the importance of finding the right shoes. Much as I hate to admit it (because my tootsies much prefer ratty sneakers), adorable, albeit uncomfortable, shoes can make all the difference to an ensemble. (In other words: if you are wearing the perfect outfit, you've got on the right shoes. I usually prove this logic in converse, and sometimes in Converses.)

But another item of clothing can also play a crucial role in the way an outfit comes—or doesn't come—together.

I will give you a hint: it is four letters long, and has another meaning.

Photo by Janet Turley

I'll give you another hint: there is another four-letter long word, also an article of clothing, that also has another meaning, and that other meaning is the same as the other meaning of the original word I was talking about.

Does that make sense? Will Shortz made it sound so clear when it was the NPR Sunday Puzzle challenge a few months ago.

I'll give you a third hint: it's a belt!

(Can you guess the other four-letter article of clothing? Here's a hint: I am not wearing any in these photos, or, I think, in any photos on Dressopotamia.)

Photo by Janet Turley

(A: Sock. Get it?)

I came across Embarrassed Zebra on a recent trip to London, at Paper Dress Vintage, the same cute shop where I found Dagenham.

I'm on their email list now, and I eat my heart out when I see the new stuff they've got coming in. Do you think there's an alternate universe in which I own ALL the vintage? To the point where it won't fit in any closet, and I have to store my clothes in a giant cave? And I turn all the gaily colored polyester into a vast nest, and hoard it, and sleep in it, and eventually turn into a cross between Little Edie Beale and Smaug, the dragon from The Hobbit?

Gosh, I hope so.

Anyway, back in this universe, in which my wardrobe is constrained by the laws of physics and I don't live in a giant cave, I was drawn to Embarrassed Zebra by its unusual print.

It is très unusual for me... I don't own anything else that is black and white and red all over. I was also frappée by the juxtaposition of the organic hibiscus print in black and white, intersected by the geometric stripes in vivid red.

Anyone can mix red flowers and black stripes, but it takes a little daring to go the other way around. Other points in Embarrassed Zebra's favor included a collar (you know how I feel about collars)

and adorable matchy-matchy buttons.

The only issue with it on the hanger was the presence of belt loops, combined with the absence of belt. This doesn't even necessarily have to be a problem—I follow my own path when it comes to using belt loops, and I would link here to other times I've done that, except I hid the belt loops so cleverly that you probably didn't even realize that I did it, so that particular scrap of genius will go forever unremarked upon—except that Embarrassed Zebra needs a belt.

Exhibit A.

Exhibit B.

So I bought a belt at Another Man's Treasure, and everyone lived happily ever after. The End.


Most photos by Claire Loeb!