16 November 2009 – Two Dresses Redux

Posted on | November 16, 2009 | 26 Comments

16 November 2009 – Two Dresses Redux, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Gray dress- Target, remixed
Black shirt dress – H&M
Gray tights – DM
Black rushed flats – Kenneth Cole, remixed
Earrings worn as necklace – TJMaxx, remixed
Vintage onyx and pearl ring – gift from mom, remixed

Endnotes:

I went into H&M this past weekend to get a pair of tights, when I spotted this black shirt dress on clearance for 15 Euros. Having just relayed my love of shirt dresses to you, I was still on a shirt dress high and decided I had to ’splurge’ and get this one. I’m glad I did because I can already envision all the ways this will remix with my current items.

Earrings necklace, originally uploaded by academichic.

For today, I created a monochromatic look by layering this black dress over my gray jersey dress. To keep with the monochrome, I turned these two onyx earrings into a necklace by stringing the first one on a silver chain and the second one onto the first earring for a cascading effect (A. inspired me to try this after seeing her repurpose earrings as necklace pendants several times).

Vintage Ring, originally uploaded by academichic.

My mother’s onyx and pearl ring and black flats with gray tights complete the monochromatic ensemble. While this may have been simple and subdued in color, I think it’s the details that make this outfit stand out; the ruching on the shoes, the jewelry, and the deep pockets on this dress (who doesn’t love a dress with pockets?).

Shoes, originally uploaded by academichic.

And while we’re on the subject of colors, thanks to some of you for pointing out that fuchsia is spelled *fuchsia* and not fuschia. I’d like to pretend that it was my subconscious Germanization of the spelling, but that would be a lie.

To recap, since fashion blogging, I have learned the correct spelling of the following words:

Polka-dot (not Polk-a-dot)
Corduroy (not Chorduroy)
Fuchsia (not Fuschia)

and I have also spent way to much time thinking about Gray vs. Grey.
S.

16 November 2009 – Two Dresses Redux , originally uploaded by academichic.

Category: Color Combinations, Dresses for Day, Layers Upon Layers, Our Best Flatware, Teaching Outfits
Tags: layered dresses > monochromatic > neutrals > shirt dress

Comments

26 Responses to “16 November 2009 – Two Dresses Redux”

Doctoressa
November 16th, 2009 @ 1:26 pm

I love those layers! What a great background you’ve chosen for this monochromatic look, too – my eye’s really drawn to the red horses. Are they tree decorations? Posters? They’re simply beautiful, whatever they are…
cinderella's folly
November 16th, 2009 @ 1:54 pm

I also spelled fuchsia wrong until last year, and I didn’t even notice it in your post because the correct spelling still looks wrong to me.

Love the black shirtdress over dress – I have a similar dress that is too short for work, so I’m going to look in my closet and see if I can follow your lead!
Liz
November 16th, 2009 @ 2:03 pm

This is super cute, I’d love to see with brights next time!
lizzypunch.blogspot.com
pj114
November 16th, 2009 @ 2:05 pm

Maybe time to add “ruching” to the list?
Erika
November 16th, 2009 @ 2:09 pm

S, I love this look (especially the beautiful ring). I was just about to put a very similar black dress away until next spring, but you’ve inspired me (once again) to be more creative.

Also, upon inspection, your shoes appear to me to be ruched, not rushed. :) Either way, they’re cute!
Sally
November 16th, 2009 @ 2:27 pm

Now THAT is shirtdress perfection.
ChristineB
November 16th, 2009 @ 3:12 pm

I have that dress as well (purchased in Canada). I love the full skirt – it’s so comfy. I look forward to seeing how you style it! This look makes me wish I had a grey dress to layer under mine.
Luinae
November 16th, 2009 @ 3:49 pm

That outfit is so chic, proving you don’t always need colour to look divine!

I now badly want a shirtdress.
Serena :: Style on a String
November 16th, 2009 @ 4:03 pm

I love that ring.

It’s absolutely delicate and divine.

Style on a String :: Because style has nothing to do with money.
catherine_sr
November 16th, 2009 @ 5:29 pm

What a great idea! You look beautiful, sleek and elegant. I love the gray tights, too!
FashionAddict
November 16th, 2009 @ 5:39 pm

This is AMAZING! It is so freakin chic, I’m definately going to have to do something like this…
huzzahvintage
November 16th, 2009 @ 7:03 pm

oooh, love this. I never think to layer my dresses…it just seems so wacky in theory!
Christina
November 16th, 2009 @ 7:08 pm

Hahaha definitely add “ruching” to the list.
Laurie
November 16th, 2009 @ 7:19 pm

I love the poof of the skirt, it reminds me of Tenniel’s classic illustration of Alice In Wonderland with her dress … and the shoes seem familiar as well! Cute choice for a woman young enough to still wear it (not me, at 43). But I admire it!
La Historiadora de Moda
November 16th, 2009 @ 7:20 pm

You look lovely! I’m also amazed by how the hemlines of the two dresses seem to match up perfectly.
jentine
November 16th, 2009 @ 7:32 pm

1. What’s up with grey vs. gray anyways?
2. You splurged! badass. love it.
3. The onyx and pearl ring is amazing!
Maggie May
November 16th, 2009 @ 8:46 pm

very classy, very French!
admin
November 16th, 2009 @ 10:41 pm

Thank you, ladies!

I also had both “rushing” and “ruching” at one point, and “ruching” shows up underlined in red by spell check so I went with the former. I guess I chose wrong! Ugh! One more to that list it is!

@Doctoressa – they’re little red wooden tree ornaments. I love German Xmas decorations and since I don’t have a tree to stick them on, I just stuck them to my wall.

@Laurie – me too! I had the same Alice vision when I put this on yesterday.

S.
A-C
November 17th, 2009 @ 7:13 am

I love the earrings-as-pendant look! Going to have to try it.
Chelsea
November 17th, 2009 @ 8:28 am

I love the re-purposed earrings as necklace idea! Also, layering the dresses works so well.
Birdette77
November 17th, 2009 @ 9:48 am

OMG I have that same dress and I never even thought of wearing it this way. LOVE IT!!!
You look great.
P.S- I discovered your site few weeks ago and I things it’s amazing!
M.E.J
November 17th, 2009 @ 1:02 pm

Nice look, S., as usual! (and beautiful jewelry)

It´s funny that you casually asked the question about dresses with pockets, since the dress I bought for my masters graduation (just 2 weeks ago) had pockets, and that was one of the things both my fiance and I loved about it.
Mine is not a shirt dress, but an A-line one. I’m proud of having worn it, because its shape supposedly doesn’t fit my proportions, but I decided to take the risk, belted it, and I was good to go.
When reading your post, I thought I just had to comment about my dress with pockets. :)
Clare
November 17th, 2009 @ 6:48 pm

what a great monochromatic look! I love the look of the fuller skirt, too.
Dottie
November 17th, 2009 @ 7:08 pm

I love a dress with pockets. That is a very special outfit. I know it would be one of those outfits I’d wear a lot because of how it would make me feel.
Kathryn
November 17th, 2009 @ 7:17 pm

I thought of you you this morning when I realized that I was wearing “grellow”! Grey tights and yellow shoes- perfection!
Nadine
November 18th, 2009 @ 10:33 am

That is a beautiful silhouette, and a very Tenniel look.