7 In Style

Impulse Purchase

sequin dress

Almost a year ago, I saw this dress on Pinterest (which I should be more active on, but can’t find the time).  I tracked it down on ASOS.  I stared at it.  I put it in my online shopping bag, but did not proceed all the way to Checkout.  I logged in a few weeks later.  It was still there.  It was still in my size.  I did this many times over many months.  I noted how high fashion it looked, in spite of the modest price.  Like the fabled magpie planning her nest, I admired all the shiny multicoloured sequins. I planned how I might style it and where I would wear it, and I reminisced with myself about how much I enjoyed multicoloured things in previous outfits.  I have too much black now!  Don’t I?  Why not more multicoloured pieces like this, like the ones I used to wear?  Where did my colour go?  Did New York steal it from me in the 1990’s and offer it to the goddess of Urban Minimalism?

I am a 45 year old woman who on some days, feels about 145.  I have a toddler, an inquisitive sticky little being who requires round-the-clock surveillance, and who would gleefully pull off those neon sequins on this dress.  What am I going to do with a dress like this?  London isn’t exactly tropical, so it isn’t something I’d get a lot of mileage out of.  It doesn’t look like it would pack very well for holidays.  I continued to stare at it longingly, but would always talk myself out of it.

THEN I saw one of my favourite bloggers wearing this dress.  That was it.  Someone had beat me to my own dress!  How was this even possible?  How dare she!  She had it first, but I would rather be late than never, so after more months of staring, I proceeded to Checkout. It arrived today, and I love it.

Realistically, how long can I wear this dress?  I don’t know.  If not now though, then when?  When I’m 75?  Probably not.  I may have more sense by then (doubtful, but maybe).  The dress reminds me of that anguished feeling of being young and broke, and wanting something that is both unaffordable and impractical, but which you are certain will change your life for the better if you had it.   There needs to be a word for that.  If there is a word for schadenfreude, there should be a word for that.

I will wear this dress, even I just twirl around in my bathroom when my son is safely asleep.  I hope you will see it on the blog at some point in the (not so freezing) future, because that means I will be wearing outside the safety of my bathroom!  For every stack of grey and navy and black wear-forever pieces that I buy, I need to temper it with something completely irrational. It keeps me in touch with my inner 20 year old (I remember she used to sew sequins on tank tops and crop tops);  that girl still gets a charge out of slightly bonkers clothing because it feels true to her personal Style.

Have you bought anything bonkers lately, or anything that feels particularly true to your Style?

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7 Comments

  • Reply
    Martha Hardcastle Guthrie
    December 2, 2014 at 2:57 PM

    I live in Dayton, Ohio and work for RTI International, conducting surveys for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. On Saturday, I wandered into a Family Dollar store in search of a restroom and . . . well, I need a little kitsch in my life. When I walked in the door, I saw a pair of palazzo pants in a blue print. It reminded me of a skirt I made many years ago in a seventh grade home economics class. It was polyester and kitschy. I kept walking back to it. Only $10. Did they have it in an XL? Yes.

    I can’t wait to wear it!I’ve tried it o and it looks pretty good. I am going to pull it off!

    • Reply
      Lisa
      December 2, 2014 at 8:12 PM

      Bravo Martha! I love things that keep us connected with our youthful enthusiasm for Style.

  • Reply
    Maggie
    December 2, 2014 at 6:10 PM

    I call this being my own Barbie. Sometimes you just have the outfit before you have the occasion. Nothing wrong with that.

    • Reply
      Lisa
      December 2, 2014 at 8:10 PM

      That’s a great way to think of it, Maggie. I like that!

  • Reply
    Sharon
    December 22, 2014 at 4:12 PM

    I know the occasion will come that will be perfect for you to wear this dress! In the meantime…you can continue to enjoy it in your own bathroom mirror. What’s wrong with that?

  • Reply
    Terri
    December 24, 2014 at 12:34 AM

    I have a dress like this, Lisa!! It’s a fitted spaghetti strap dress with a twisted bandeau bra sort of a bodice, and has a graduated sort of a hem — above the knee in front, then mid-calf in back — with a bit of curliness to the hem, not a flat hem…and it’s CHINESE RED. Chinese red chiffon (over a lining of red silk), with peach and light blue peonies that have sequined centers. I bought it 12 years ago in San Diego while shopping with my beloved aunt (before I had the kiddos) to wear to a banquet at my husband’s convention in Las Vegas, and bought a pair of pearlized beige BCBG mules to wear with it. I still fit into it, and I still get it out once a while in the evening, when I’ve had a glass of wine (or three) and want to wear it with a red lipstick (Chanel’s Sunset Infrarouge is perfect without being too matchy-matchy) and sashay around the room teasing my husband. EVERYONE needs a dress like this!!! (might have to dig it out tonight now that I’ve read this)

  • Reply
    visit now
    August 20, 2015 at 9:52 AM

    I understand just how you feel. Great post.

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