Dagenham

Dagenham is a fairly recent addition to the collection; I got it during a recent trip to London, at a shop in the East End called Paper Dress Vintage. 

Charlie Chevron Brown Chevron Garden Chevron Party

Chevrons just for the sake of chevrons are not appealing to me (which is why I loathe Missoni (exaggeration)). 

Saying “chevrons” just for the sake of saying “chevrons,” however — that is very appealing to me. 

Peony Cache-Cache

My memory of this one isn't super-precise, either... I think I bought it in Buenos Aires?

My grandmother, who has been immortalized in these pages before, never talked about her clothes. I find this rule impossible to follow in my own life — obviously — but I do enjoy the aura of mystery in conveys, or rather would convey if I didn't treat every dress like an encapsulation of my own life story, complete with insecurities and indiscretions.

Fractal Candy

The simplest shift dress can go from ordinaire to extraordinaire with a judicious use of pattern. And by "judicious" I mean "as much as humanly possible."

So much pattern!

Weakness

I was worried that working on Dressopotamia would encourage me in my most expensive vice (if you have to ask what that would be, may I gently but firmly direct you to the titre, the photographies and the raison d'être of the blog you are currently resting your eyeballs upon).

Wanderful

First, I want to announce the results of the second Dressopotamia Giveaway! The randomly selected new proud owner of Disco Mondrian is... Ellen! Ellen, I believe I have your email address from the Dressopotamia subscription list, but if that is a different Ellen, let me know and we will work it out. Wear it in good health!

In contrast to Disco Mondrian, Wanderful will never, ever leave my closet. I don't remember where I bought it, but I was in college, so I know it was many, many years ago. And it's still going strong!

Lucky Twin

One of my motivations for starting this blog is that I was pretty sure that my ambivalent feelings around some of my dresses would crystallize into, "I am going to give this away." I was pretty sure, for example, that Day and Nightie, Red Fish, Blue Fish and Audrey One would not make the cut. But I have new hope — one of these days, I am going to make alterations to Day and Nightie! One of these days, I am going to wear Red Fish, Blue Fish to another party! One of these days, I am going to take Audrey One and... actually, I am probably going to give that one away. You can have it if you promise to keep the epaulets intact.

I was also pretty sure that Lucky Twin was going to end up as a giveaway.

Winter Blossoms

I like to think of my closet as having an ebb and flow to it... some dresses flow in, like the lovely Winter Blossoms.

And, finally, some are flowing out. Disco Mondrian is still up for grabs, but some people have wondered what became of our first Dressopotamia Giveaway. Little Moebius was on the verge of going homeless until one brave soul stepped up and left a comment on Facebook...

Trompe l'Oeil

Every once in a while, I venture from the relative comfort of my air-conditioned den to sample a tiny tiny bit of what New York City has to offer.

As long as it doesn't cost too much. (I'm looking at you, American Museum of Natural History, and your $40 bat walks in Central Park!)

Natural History

Versatility is important.

The last time I wore Natural History, to host book club, one of the attendees said, "You could wear that to a nightclub or an office meeting." Let's be clear: a sedate nightclub, a rowdy office meeting. But still.

Disco Mondrian (Dressopotamia Giveaway!)

Time for another Dressopotamia giveaway!

Flower Shower

Modern-day prints can, of course, have a retro feel.

Flimsy Whimsy

Aren't collars just so dramatic?

I am stalking a collared dress in the vintage shop across from my office. Unfortunately it costs $300, so my creepy love will have to remain unrequited.

Lily Pads

Brace yourself for another non-vintage dress.

Green Champagne

Does your wardrobe ever make you contemplate your own mortality?

Green Champagne offers me a peek into the abyss, and I’m not just saying that because it reminds me of a huge wall covered with the script for Waiting for Godot.

Batusi

Frankly, I thought The Dark Knight was overrated — I tend to tune out during car chases — and too long. But I am still plunking my money down for the next one, because I am desperate for an entertaining blockbuster that my husband will agree to see with me.

Candyland

Candyland was a total impulse buy, as so many are.

I was hanging out with my sisters (to whom I take this opportunity to send kisses) in San Francisco, and Candyland basically attacked me out of nowhere, jumping on my back and refusing to get off until I agreed to take it home with me.

Lilac Baby

I can't remember exactly when and how Lilac Baby came into my life.

It was probably in Argentina? (In case you haven't picked up on this yet, my time in Buenos Aires included a lot of vintage buying sprees.) There's a lot to like about it, and a lot that is frankly a little meh.

Arsenic

I recently read Deborah Blum's The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York. It's a fascinating read on what could be a dry topic, and it makes me wonder just how many poisonous things we are blithely ingesting, totally unawares. Like, seriously, should I stop buying canned tomatoes?

One thing I learned was that people used to use arsenic for just about anything. Rat poison, sure. But also wallpaper paste, wallpaper itself, medicine and all sorts of green dyes — it was everywhere.

Red, Beige and Blue

Happy Independence Day!

Notice the themed outfit.

Sacapuntas

My mother's mother was the quintessential grandmother. She was a sweet woman who never swore, doted on all her grandchildren, took letter-writing very seriously and hostessing even more seriously. (She wasn't the sort to follow you around with an ashtray — that would be intrusive. But when we had grapefruit at the breakfast table, she would get up early to loosen all the segments in her guests' fruit.) She was born in Iowa in 1909. She was religious, but never ostentatious about it. She was what you picture when you picture a grandmother, and I don't think I'm biased here.

So I was really surprised to find this kicky little number among her things.

Excuse me for a second; this wig is all wrong. Yes, the spiraling black curls echo the pencil-sharpening-curlicues of the print...

Caryatid

Very exciting news:

Super-awesome fashion illustrator (and super-awesome all-around human being) Jennifer Lilya was kind enough to contribute her fabulous take on Caryatid! I strongly suggest you check out (and like) her Facebook page. She is always posting chic yet adorable drawings, and though I aspire to a kind of half-assed originality, I must confess that I lifted the idea of naming my dresses from her (her gift for witty wordplay is second only to her gift for art).

Her work will also be on display at the Fashion Illustration Exhibition at the Brooklyn Public Library; you can sign up to receive the details via email as they develop.