1 January 2010

Posted on | January 1, 2010 | 23 Comments

1 January 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Vintage shift dress – was my grandmother’s
Black shirt dress – H&M
Brown belt – F21
Purple tights – grocery store
Boots – thrifted in Romania

Endnotes:

I found this vintage shift dress in my grandmother’s closet and since she no longer wears it, I claimed it for myself. She’s had this dress for longer than she can remember and I have faint memories of her wearing it from when I was little. I never paid much attention to it before, but seeing it now, I kind of fell in love with it. It’s got a great boat neck cut, white gum drop buttons that run down the entire left side of it, and Asian inspired artwork that runs along the hemline of it.

Dress layers, originally uploaded by academichic.

Admittedly, the teal, lime, and orange color scheme is a little loud and a little intimidating, but the details and cut make it so fabulous that I’m sure to wear it by itself come summer. For now, I mitigated some of its brightness by layering it under my black shirt dress and adding other neutrals such as a dark brown belt and dark brown boots. This entire ensemble is a somewhat strange conglomeration of disparate items, but over all I think it works. It feels quirky and fun and that’s not a bad way to start of the year, right? How would you wear this vintage shift dress, what would you pair it with? Do inspire me! S.

1 January 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Comments

23 Responses to “1 January 2010”

Katie
January 1st, 2010 @ 7:10 am

I love, love, love the bright dress under the black dress. It looks wonderful. The purple tights, though, kinda seem to send it over the edge for me. I’m trying to figure out how to wear tights myself and I’m being very conservative matching colors. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how to wear tights at some point!
Liz
January 1st, 2010 @ 7:11 am

That dress is really cute! I love how colourful it is!!!
As for how to wear it…I would try to enhance the colour-effect by pairing it with monochrome items (maybe black shirt&tights?)rather than trying to mitigate it.

Happy New Year!

PS:I love your braided hairdos!
La Historiadora de Moda
January 1st, 2010 @ 7:38 am

I love the way you styled it here. I’d be interested to see it with your white bolero, dark tights, and grey wedges. I’d also be interested to see it with a purple cardi and your beautiful orange pashmina.

Happy New Year, S.! I hope you had a wonderful skype date last night.
Claudia
January 1st, 2010 @ 7:56 am

Those boots: I WANT!!!

I am picturing the dress come spring with your white sweater (from Romanian Santa)and maybe your yellow ballet flats.

I have been a regular reader, but this is my first post. Happy New Year S., I think you are really beautiful and love your style!
Vanessa
January 1st, 2010 @ 10:40 am

Love that colorful dress under the black one! It’s a great look.
T.
January 1st, 2010 @ 12:14 pm

I think the purple tights work because you are wearing boots. If we saw more of the purple, that would be too shocking, but that little peek of purple is a fun touch.
Rebekah
January 1st, 2010 @ 12:56 pm

Your grandmother must be such a jazzy lady, she has so many striking things in her wardrobe. Fun family!
nalani
January 1st, 2010 @ 1:38 pm

The dress is fab! Under a cardigan or the right pullover and belted w/ either could be a great look, too. The visual of the dress can carry off a lot of interest.
rachel
January 1st, 2010 @ 2:18 pm

i love how you’re wearing it here! the layering under the shirt-dress looks great :)
A.B.
January 1st, 2010 @ 2:26 pm

I do like it layered under the black shirt dress – but maybe you could show off a bit more of the dress’s pattern and color by wearing it under a cardigan or sweater, belted perhaps?
I love love love all your layering – its inspiring me to be more adventurous in putting together layered looks.

Happy New Year!
Kate
January 1st, 2010 @ 3:42 pm

Ah! Peek-a-boo patterns under more conservative outfits – love love LOVE this idea. Thankyou for the inspiration :)
jentine
January 1st, 2010 @ 8:32 pm

Yeah! Another piece stolen from your grandmother! I love the vintage aesthetic of this dress! Come summer I would pair it with my highest and most architectural black heels. Nothing modernizes a decidedly vintage piece more than something decidely modern.
Emily
January 1st, 2010 @ 8:38 pm

I just love the vintage dress, and you’ve styled it fabulously! I think I might also pair it with rust-colored wedges or boots and/or a cardigan in a similar rusty orangish-brown, which might tone down some of the brightness while complementing the orange of the pattern. (I could picture this looking nice with the purple tights too!)

Happy new year!
jo
January 1st, 2010 @ 9:38 pm

I have loved seeing some of the fashions you have found in your grandmother’s closet and incorporated into your wardrobe. I would love to see what such a sytlish grandmother looks like. Pictures?

I look forward to following this blog in 2010.
admin
January 2nd, 2010 @ 12:25 am

Thank you everyone for such great ideas, I can’t wait to play with this dress more and to show more of it in future outfits. I think 2010 will be more of a year of vintage and thrifted pieces for me, I’m really loving things with more history and age to them.

@Jo – I once posted a couple of pics of my grandmother a while ago. Here’s an old one of her when she was in her 20s, she’s the one with the embroidered “V” on her lapel:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/academichic/3987439251/in/set-72157622461917377/

And this is her in Budapest in the 70s wearing the trench I no own:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/academichic/3988194582/in/set-72157622461917377/

Me in trench (later shortened by her):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/academichic/3987438047/in/set-72157612580944904/

Enjoy! I will have to dig up some more some time to share :)
Claudia
January 2nd, 2010 @ 6:59 am

Great idea with the re-worked trench! I have been so inspired by your wonderful eye for color, design, balance and creativity.

Your grandmother is lovely, too!
mazie
January 2nd, 2010 @ 7:09 am

Happy New Year. De-lurking here to let you know that even tho’ I’m far too old to adopt most of the ideas on this blog (I have used some!), I love to read it. As a grandmother myself, I can imagine how happy you’ve made your grandmother by enjoying some of her favorite things. You look adorable in them (as in all of your posts). I envy her—I have only grandsons so far! Keep up the good work and treasure this special time with your family.
Miss Neira
January 2nd, 2010 @ 2:42 pm

Love the tights! and that dress is amazing, love that its vintage!
Betty Scandretti
January 2nd, 2010 @ 10:42 pm

Your grandmother’s dress is beautiful! I only wish I had some of my grandmother’s clothes (or her figure – I doubt I could do them justice)…
Franca
January 2nd, 2010 @ 11:36 pm

What a great way of toning down a shouty dress!
EmilyKennedy
January 3rd, 2010 @ 7:49 pm

The shift dress is AWESOME! I would throw a v-neck or crew-neck sweater over it for winter. I think that could be pretty cute, and it’s going to be great for summer.
krage
January 4th, 2010 @ 1:58 pm

How lucky to be able to have a special connection with your grandmother, and to be able to steal some fashion favorites from! My grandmother is a very petite 4’8 so its not an option for me, but I do love the vintage pieces you have been mixing in!
sartoriography
January 8th, 2010 @ 7:30 pm

I love love love this dress! The colors are bright, yes, but they work well together. I think you were right to calm them with a darker color. I might try brown instead of black- perhaps a cardigan or sweater coat? I love combinations of purple turquoise, and/or orange and you’ve got it all here. Brown would really enrich that palate, I think. GREAT dress!