Blue Pill

One thing that I love about Seventies fashion in particular is the affection for... let's call it maximalism.

In general, I think Americans take a maximalist view of life: if a little is good, a lot must be better.

Tangerine Scream

Remember the time I was talking about my best shopping day ever? The time I went to Another Man's Treasure and came home with Raspberry Ripple, Trompe l'Oeil and Natural History?

And thus concludes the story of the best shopping day ever. Movie rights, anyone? (See below for casting ideas.)

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!

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.

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.

Electric Avenue

Electric Avenue has a lot of things going for it.

Lapels! I can never get enough of lapels, as you might guess of someone who loves 1970s style. And the v-neck is cute, though I seem to remember pairing Electric Avenue with a pink crew neck sweater back when I got it, circa 1999.

But let's pull back a little...

Enter the Dragon

It is a sad paradox, if not the sad paradox, of shopping, that the more money you spend on an article of clothing, the less likely you are to get a lot of wear out of it. The fragile embroidery, the delicate fabric, the intricate stitching: all the elements that justify a higher price turn into reasons to not wear your new lovely garment.


Además, in the age of Facebook, we're all mini-celebs being hounded by paparazzi, except the paparazzi are our nearest and dearest. It's hard to wear the same fancy dress to multiple parties, knowing that everyone you've ever met will see pictures from all of them. Counterpoint: I am reminded of the fashion icon (name escaping me) who claimed she made sure to be photographed in her dresses at least twice, to prove she owned them. I don't worry about this too much.

I own this dress. Take my word for it.

Anyway, in case you're interested, I have hacked through this particular Gordian knot. The solution: embrace formality. If you like to dress up, 'fess up! There is absolutely nothing wrong with being the dressiest person in the room; in fact, if I could express the wrongness in negative numbers, I would.

Case in point: my aunt received a literary prize the other day. Forgive my bragging, but I can't stop kvelling! Not a suuuuper fancy occasion (daytime ceremony), but I had a new dress that I was already worrying wouldn't amortize well.

In a bizarre oversight, I have no photos of me at the ceremony, but it made me feel great to be wearing my newest, nicest duds; it was my way (which is certainly not the only way) of marking the momentousness of the occasion.