Accessorizing the Classic Winter Formal
Here’s the story:
After endless hours of fruitless shopping for shoes to go with the intense blue evening gown, we gave up and headed home. The plan was for dd to stop at the following last-ditch possibilities on her way home from work the next day:
- Target
- Goodwill (which is where she found the dress for $9 last week)
- Value Village
- Classy Rack
Since the mall she works at is out on the edge of the known universe, almost to Idaho, I rarely get to these particular branches of these stores, but if she takes the main drag as opposed to the freeway, it’s a straight shot past them all. Trouble was, this particular day, that when she came out of Target … her car wouldn’t start. And dad was in a meeting. So off I went.
About the time we were pulling into the parking lot of the final store on the list, the phone rang. Our hero! We had just enough time before he could get to Target to quickly check this one last store and that was all the time we needed!
These shoes were only $6.
Yes, I know silver would have been better, but these are simple basic shoes which she will be happy to have in her permanent wardrobe for years to come.
And the jewelry? Even at 40% off she spent almost as much for it as she did for her dress and shoes (actually more, but if you count the dry cleaning …). But without it, actually without the necklace, it’s just a generic outfit.
But a generic $45 outfit is alot less painful than a generic $350 one. And that would not have been hard to do.
(Tip: a reader sent in this link for modest prom dresses and I found the clearance dresses are even affordable. LDS Bridal & Prom clearance prom dresses.)
Related Posts:
More on Apparent Body Shape
As previously mentioned, Trinny and Susannah have come out with a 12 body shape system. When I first encountered this idea, it did nothing but make my head swim; as many of you know, I use a variation on the six silhouettes found in The Triumph of Individual Style
I still consider myself a figure eight, and I will NEVER admit to being a pear, but I am not embarrassed to be associated with Sandra Bullock and answer to this description: Small bust, long waist, flat tummy, saddle bags and heavy legs.
Not if Halle Berry is a skittle.
Related Posts:
Flats for Winter
Flat dress boots are the ballet flats of winter. I had never really considered that before I got thinking recently about dcrmom being interested in some flat boots.
In my idiom, ballet flats have never been a staple (a bit too romantic). Whenever moccasin-style flats have been big, though, I’ve worn them until I’ve worn them out. On the left in this picture are the flats I finally found this time around (and my daughter’s - maybe she should just wear those if she can’t find a dress to go with her evening gown).
Have I mentioned that there is a really good chance I will be traveling to Italy this winter? Not for pleasure, or for blogging business, but to help a friend who is moving there. And I had been seriously wondering what I was going to wear on my feet, until I decided to buy some riding type boots with my birthday money.
Just in case you decide you want the same boots I got - and I don’t mind a bit if you do - let me advise you that I bought a full size smaller than I normally would, although there isn’t alot of room in them for thick socks. That’s okay, I wear bamboo.
And, in case you can’t see yourself wearing the same boots I got, here are some others, all except the first ones are under $200 (pictures are links to Zappos):
An Ugg more shapely than most, the styling on the Liberty may be too western for some.
Did you know that Aerosoles makes boots? From what I’ve heard about the comfort of Aerosoles, these may be the boots worth investing in.
These are really soft and comfy looking. Like maybe too soft and comfy looking, would you feel like you were walking around in your slippers? The color, though, is a refreshing change and would be great on someone with reddish or strawberry blond hair.
Now, if you aren’t planning on tucking your jeans into your boots, it doesn’t really matter if they are tall or short, does it?
Hey, some people just don’t want anything ordinary.
If you don’t see anything you like here, check the born page at Zappos (Link to Zappos.com Brand Pages). Leave a comment here with a link if you find something that needs to be shared.
Updated: dcrmom left a link to these, which I LOVE!
Related Posts:
Teen Style Tuesday: More on Coats
Perhaps it was just so that she didn’t have to wear her letterman with her evening gown, but my daughter finally broke down and bought herself a “grown up coat”. 
With her broad shoulders, finding comfortable tailored clothing can be a challenge; which accounts for why she compromised and got black. It was comfortable. Until she finds a scarf, though, she can wear this hoodie to keep the black from washing out her peaches and cream coloring.
You can’t really see the detailing, but it’s got some ruffly stuff going on in the middle; her co-workers assured her it did not make her look pregnant. lol
I predict she’ll wear this coat for many years.
Update:
After searching all over (including Macy’s, where she bought the coat) for the exact coat - Billabong, textured wool-blend, baby doll style - I found this coat at Nordstrom which is similar, just so you can get an idea what it’s like.
(I’m afraid she might have liked this one better. ?*?*? Oh well.)
Related Posts:
Flannel Gifts
This morning, while I was out in the yard enjoying the dry frozenness (I have a dog, if you get my drift), feeling all comfy in my flannel lined Eddie Bauer jeans, I started thinking about another kind of flannel, aka flat people,
What about you? Did you grow up loving flannelgraph stories? Do you use them now? Do you have any idea what I’m talking about? (I personally had no exposure to them until I started using them to teach a little over two years ago.)
Share your flannel nostalgia here.
Related Posts:
What Would It Take to Simplify Your Wardrobe?
In a word, for me, restraint. And willingness to part with a little bit more money, I’m afraid.
If I were to truly restrict myself to my plan, I would have to forgo some opportunities in order to pursue possibilities. For example, if what I really need is a white cotton dress shirt, I need to go buy one, and possibly spend real money on it, rather than limping by with a pink stripe or a white t-shirt or whatever happens to be cheap.
Coming soon: my personal top 10. A step toward simplification.
In the meantime, here’s a dress I wore back in the gypsy skirt days. The smocking at the top is in primary colors. And, yes, it is black. But I messed up the picture, it’s really a “maxi” dress. 
I believe this picture was taken at my mom’s house. Today.
So, what would it take for you to simplify your wardrobe?
Related Posts:
A Classic Winter Formal
In selecting a gown for this dance, a number of criterion come into play, not the least of which is color. The top contenders were:
- emerald green
- purple
- teal
- a variety of intense blues. Not navy!
So, while this dress is indeed fairly “ordinary” - or, as Jenn correctly put it, “classic” - the color works: it’s not boring and it looks fabulous with her fair skin, green eyes, and auburn hair.
Another must: it had to meet dad’s approval. Yes, even at 18, she cares about her dad’s opinion.
I loved the way Ambika described the dilemma with the previous dress I pictured:
The dress is fantastic and I’ve seen Gunne Sax going for a lot of money on ebay. However, when I was 18, being different was *very* hard to pull off (without being defiant, in a way, which isn’t exactly the happy medium I’d say I’m at now.) Being around people you’re not familiar with only makes it worse. Though ordinary may be, well, ordinary and kind of boring, I think having fun at the dance without feeling self-conscious might be more important.
Can you think of any reason she’d feel self-conscious in this dress?
Related Posts:
Do You Prefer Short or Long Formal Dresses?
As a follow-up question to our discussion about my daughter’s search for a formal, just because I’m dying to know, what are your thoughts on short dresses for formal? I was interested to note, as I was looking for some pictures to spruce up this post, that Nordstrom doesn’t appear to have any short dresses in there evening dress category. But just look at the dresses categorized Homecoming!
Anyway, I know some people genuinely prefer a short dress. Why is that? Others don’t, and still others might prefer one or the other, but succumb to peer pressure. Does anybody really know what’s technically correct?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. 
Related Posts:
Teen Style Tuesday: Winter Formal Dress
My new excuse for not posting: my older daughter has been invited to go high school dance dress shopping. Well, not exactly, but you know what I mean.
If only they’d had this one in the store. (Also available in black and eggshell, but she was looking for a pretty color.)
Unfortunately, there was nothing so tasteful. As my hero says, there’s skanky and matronly. DD is neither.
So here’s my question for you: if you were 18, with a romantic and innovative personal style, and going to possibly your only formal dance ever, and you had to buy the dress yourself, and you still needed shoes, would you wear this?
And now’s your opportunity to ask me about dating, if you wish.
