Frock On: Style Question Wednesday a.k.a. Do You (Party) Dress?

From blogs I’ve been reading lately, around the Mothership and other concentric orbits, it seems quite a few of us (including our “clean sweep” WMM) are going through a bit of a closet and retail cycle re-think.  Delving into our shopping habits, the things that make us feel our best, the way we plan our wardrobes , needs versus wants (in the relative sense).  All the what, how, why ,when and where we purchase wearable things, including letting go of some mis-spent, sized or styled regrets and things that are no longer us.

 

Chic simple, e.e. cummings  Janet over at The Gardener’s Cottage  took a big step into vegan shoes while xoxo took time out from Work for Shoes to post the best kind of capsule wardrobes, travelling ones. 

 So, the zeitgeist, Forevuary blues, one too many final sales, or maybe this is a regular activity, and I just sat up and noticed last week?  Regardless, if this clothing clarification process speaks to you, any progress reports, new insights, closet conundrums resolved you care to put out there?

Since the season will be starting to change soon (fingers crossed where I am) and at the days are definitely getting longer again I’ll soon be thinking about my only enduring (semi-annual) closet challenge.  Every year-end around the holidays, the media fluffs and spins about party dressing like it’s the only time anyone ever cleans up or makes an effort anymore.  (True?)

But come spring and summer, when we must still cover off milestone parties, weddings, fundraisers, reunions and all those other gatherings and occasions, which, at least in naturally colder climes, are much preferable to celebrate in warmer times, the style press goes oddly mum.  They’ve probably all gone off on summer holiday (actually, they’re working on holiday issues already.)

 

Before consulting the OCGOBALGAAO blog oracle, there are a few details I suppose I should clarify:
1. I do have a selection of dresses of the plain LBD/ LND workhorse and cocktail safe variety.
2. In my case dresses are a built-in challenge due to top-bottom disparity and (lack of) height.  I don’t think I’ve ever had an adult one that didn’t involve a nip-tuck trip to the tailor.
3. I rather disagree with the dress-shoes-bag you’re done philosophy that frocks are that much easier/ faster than separates.  Yes, it’s nice not to have to worry about tucking or belts, but dresses usually still need an “in-case” sweater/ jacket/ coat and accessories.  And many nicer dresses demand special underpinnings, that aren’t inexpensive themselves, and/or occasion bags and shoes.

My recurring groomed but doomed challenge is day to fancier dresses (I’m okay with evening clothes). 

-          Because they tend to come in colours and prints, I find them recognizable and memorable for things like seeing an overlapping social group, showing up in holiday photos etc. or just being the person in the kelly green dress.  I also tend to associate the dress with a certain occasion, like one good friend’s wedding and therefore not  particularly want to wear it for another bride (even if none of the guests are the same). 

-          No matter how much I love them (in the store or on others) my practical side doesn’t like buying things to wear once at all; and my inner calculator shudders at the, often not insignificant, CPW.  But waiting to buy dresses on sale can also be very tricky, not as many substitute options, sizes can sell out quickly.  Good natural fabrics in summer weights, like silk and cupro, can be hard to find or pricey too.  And I also  hesitate to pull the trigger in case I tire of the brighter or more patterned than usual three-months-only closet anomaly

-          It’s difficult to change up the look of a true summer dress the way you can in winter with tights, jackets, boots or even a sweater over top.

I swear summer party dresses make me fickle in a way other clothes simply don’t.  I have exactly three I would class as favourites.  And two of them were given to me by someone with innate dress sense.  But that, you’ve seen, hasn’t stopped me from sharing a few random pretty selections by Tory Burch, Suzannah, Warehouse, Thakoon and JC.  The always Fabulous Florida Mommy also posted this last TB number recently.  When she, also far more sartorial than me, liked it too, I thought it had to be good.

SOS: So do or have you summer dressed?   What styles do you favour as your best?  Any upcoming events you’re shopping for or dress investments you’re simply craving?  Does the much lower wearability factor concern you at all?  Do you tuck away stand-out dresses to wear again next season or in a few summers?   Is there a frock staring you in the face that you’ve worn exactly once – or not at all? Beloved, specific dresses in your closet, favoured brands or go-to retail sources?

BTW: I do have a favourite, happy place for truly one-of-a-kind or even custom party accessories: www.elvafields.com