Sartorial Inspiration

I invariably start my day by drinking 'mate cocido' and catching up with my favorite blogs.  Yesterday morning, my religious visit to 'The Sartorialist' made me have an 'AHA' moment à la Oprah.  Here's what I saw...

By The Sartorialist

I love the dress, I love this look.  To me, she looks comfortable, well put together, and as I keep on telling you - that's sexy.  Scott Schuman says...

"I know a lot of girls would throw on a big cotton dress like this and call it done...almost a "fashion day-off." Alessandra, however, adds a dramatic necklace and a thoughtfully executed hairstyle and it elevates the entire look." 

Then, he goes on and on about the hair and doesn't mention a word about the gorgeous sandals she's wearing.  Go figure.  I think it's because I have 1 inch long hair, the hair do emphasis is kind of wasted on me.  But I get the point: you can dress up a simple garment and look great.  And if you have long hair, you better know what to do with it (or resort to the 1 inch look!)

Going back to my 'AHA' moment... 'I have a dress like that', I thought! 

Well, sort of.  It's not cotton, it's a fine knit.  It's not plain, it has horizontal stripes.  Hers has short sleeves, mine are long.  She's got hair, I don't.  She might be in her late 20s, I'm 40.  And on, and on.  Can I still be inspired?  Of course, I can!

This self-portrait business is tricky... I keep forgetting to smile!!

So... I added my yellow belt, just because yellow is the one colour missing on this dress and I like the way it works (plus it gives me a waist). 

I'm also wearing a thick green bracelet instead of the necklace (the dress has enough going on!)

My very own Tropéziennes sandals**, just call me Mrs. V. (Diana Vreeland, had a thing for these sandals and so do I!) 

**You guessed right, malheureusement, they're not les fameuses Rondini, but heck they do the trick and I don't ever want to be a brand snob. I also own them in black. The more the merrier. Seriously, these sandals are really a big part of my summer essentials.

And to finish things off... My vintage Ray Ban.  They happen to be among my favorite possessions, no question.

There you have it, I'm ready for anything!  And boy, is this outfit comfortable!



Come to think of it.... Would my H and M dress be inspired by Missoni?

 

Now, because I'm always writing about reinventing, I can easily see myself wearing this dress in early Spring and Fall.  All I have to do is add a particular scarf I already own, a pair of old beat up boots, my trusty jean jacket, and a big suede purse.  There's my idea of a versatile dress.  Perfect to go grocery shopping, volunteering at my kid's school or... Could I wear it during the summer? Yap.  I think so.  What else am I gonna wear for an evening walk by the sea?  There's enough sartorial inspiration here to have fun a few times, amigas!

What can you reinvent today? Care to share?