First, a word about the shoes. So sorry to disappoint you shoe people, but I just didn’t care enough to come up with something WOW. Lucky (?) for me, yesterday was sunny here, therefore scaling snowdrifts was unnecessary last night. I considered a boring pair of black pumps and a scruffy pair of ivory patent sandals before settling on the vintage felt “asparagus shoes”.
During the process of helping my daughter prepare for the winter formal, I began to think about what personality traits might be associated with being a “shoe and bag person” versus being a “dress person”. I mean, some people would be quite content to wear a boring little black dress (nothing personal) as long as they had fabulous shoes and gorgeous beaded clutch. Right? And then there’s me. Who almost didn’t wear this fabulous dress BECAUSE it was (boring) black. And carried a little pink, plastic, patent pre-teen purse (if a little alliteration is good, more’s better, right?).
So here’s my theory, agree or disagree: detail or analytical people tend to place great importance on the details of an outfit, such as shoes and purse, while for big picture or global people accessories are more an afterthought.
Speaking of accessories, I confess I began the evening wearing silk long johns under my dress. But when they wouldn’t stay pushed up above my knees, I slipped into the ladies room to remove them.
Uh, now what do I do? Tiny Barbie purse is no help.
So I thought to myself, why not just sling them around my neck, like a scarf, tuck the tell-tale elastic and cuffs under, and make it just blend into my dress? And I almost did it. But after standing in front of the mirror adjusting my *ahem* pants around my neckline, discretion kicked in and I folded them up discretely in my hand to walk the 15 or so feet to the coat room, and tucked stuffed them into my coat pocket.
LOL
Okay, and here’s another question for you: when your fingernails go through your pantihose, do you just take them off and throw them away, finishing the night bare-legged, or do you leave them on and pretend nobody notices?
Oh, and one final thing. Next year, I am going to go for something with a little more coverage, as I spent about half the evening wearing my hero’s corduroy sportcoat.
I think your green shoes are adorable, Rebecca!
I guess I would be one of the accessory people. My first job in high school was in a shoe store, and from that experience, I know it is possible for me to be a CRAZY shoe person. I have a wide pragmatic streak, however, so I do try (fairly successfully) to keep shoe purchases in check. Purses don’t excite me so much, although I always have a few nice ones that I switch among. I have a big weakness for shawls, scarves, earrings, hosiery, and all the rest–and also winter hats/scarves/gloves!
I definitely plan accessories as I am choosing an outfit, and often I organize the outfit around one particularly accessory. I will admit, too, that I feel awkward and a bit unhappy if I have to “compromise” on my shoe or boot choice (obviously business-like pumps for evening, chunky sandals with a more feminine dress, etc.).
Yes, I am a detail person–a little obsessive, really–which serves me well as a copyeditor! 🙂
If I snag my nylons, I immediately get out of them and go bare-legged. But shredded hosiery is really a no-win situation, isn’t it!?
The dress is fab — you look so busty!
You look wonderful – great dress, too! I understand the resistance to a boring black dress and think along those lines myself but this one really shows you off. Hilarious story about the long johns. I gotta say wearing your underwear around your neck would be a pheromone riot and every guy without a head cold would have been circling you all night.
I would take off runned stockings and I like black dresses with flesh tone legs over black sheers.
As much as I like shoes and particularly bags mostly my own concern is color. I have frequent trouble getting dressed unless I have a pair of shoes that go but for all that your theory works for me. The dress or outfit matters most and I’m a Lumper not a Splitter. (big picture vs details)
Rebecca, you can depend on me for the dissenting view! 😉
I think black dresses are often classic not boring. 🙂 Your picture illustrates that case in point. (And I think there is a difference.)
Different people attend to different details — some are concerned with the finishing details or quality of material. Some are concerned with how body type is best flattered by clothing styles or where a hemline hits. Their attention to what others might see as minutia may not be obvious.
Where I live, particularly in winter, the part of my outfit that people are guaranteed to see is my bag. My clothes may be hidden by outerwear, but my purse is out there, being an essential part of the big picture.
Oh I have so much to say I don’t know where to start. And I really need to make a grocery list and get to the store before the rest of the world is there. If they aren’t already. So I’ll be typing fast. Please forgive any typos.
As far as detail and big picture people, I don’t know. I’d say that I vacillate between caring more about the dress and more about the accessories. In the past, I’ve been more of the dress (or outfit, since I’m a huge fan of pants and a fun top for the cocktail party) person and just make sure I have appropriate shoes and bag and jewelry but rarely think much about those parts. This year, for some reason, I chose a rather boring black dress and then focused on the accessories.
But then I think I also tend to vacillate between being a “big picture person” and a “detail person”. I have some odd neuroses, like having my stainless appliances polished, and then I am surprisingly laid back in other areas. I am basically just one huge walking contradiction. I can never seem to pigeon-hole myself when I am asked these types of questions.
As far as dressing warmer, I hear ya, girl! I froze at my party this year. Next year I’m definitely going with more coverage.
And the pantyhose, GO WITHOUT! I’d never wear pantyhose with a rip in the, especially not to a fancy party. Please tell me you just went without.
I can’t remember if that’s all but I’m getting stressed about the grocery store. Must run. Merry Christmas!!!!
Hmm…now THAT is fascinating. I’m definitely the outfit-focused person vs. the accessory person. I have 1 purse that I carry with everything, for example. (If it doesn’t go with what I’m wearing–the purse stays in the car and any necessary item goes in a coat pocket). I am definitely the big picture sort of person too in general, and have to make some effort to school myself on details. Interesting observation.
On the run–I change to a new pair but keep the old one wear under longer skirts or a different shoe until it there is no longer a possible way to hide it. If I didn’t have pair to change into, I’d either change my whole outfit to find something that would hide the run, or I guess go bare-legged before I’d wear it. 🙂
Then there’s my Grandma’s practical advice…if you wear something with a stain or hole, just look down if someone says something or if you think they notice and say, “OH NO! Look what happened!?!?” like you had no idea. Of course, I would never really do that….but it makes me laugh whenever I think about it. 🙂
Merry Christmas, Rebecca! I’m finally back online…
The hose question. For me it would depend on the length of the dress and the size of the hole. If it’s a small hole I would leave them on. If it’s major laddering, they would have to come off. I don’t do the bare legged thing well, but since I usually choose longer skirts it would probably be OK either way.
You look amazing in that dress. It really is beautiful, not boring! Why don’t you look for a pashmina scarf/shawl in the after Christmas sales to go with it for next time? It would solve the warmth problem and still look elegant.
Ah, Alyson, I love you but …
1) I just can’t wear pashmina/shawls, even though I think they are great on others. For one, they just feel weird, not secure, inhibiting movement, etc. and for the other, I suspect they mess up my silhouette. Both problems could probably be overcome if I had the inclination, which I don’t. I will say that one of the ladies that my husband & I both think always looks nice, and this party was no exception, was wearing a pashmina shawl over a lace dress and looked fabulous.
2) Truthfully, I will probably not wear that dress again. I was very comfortable with wearing it, but receiving a comment about it making me look busty is very UNcomfortable for me; I guess it taps into whatever lingering insecurity I have about my figure. Kinda like the well-meaning friends who suggest wearing makeup and all I hear is “you’re so ugly …”
Anyway, your suggestion is really stylish and practical. Furthermore, it illustrates just how much our decisions about what to wear are based on interior issues. 🙂
Looking busty is NOT a sin Rebecca. 🙂 I think you look incredible! It’s a pity that I’m not your size, considering you’re not going to wear that dress again… 😉
I am soooo a black dress girl! I love the glam and flexiblity. I have about 4 different styles in my closet at this very moment. I’m not big into shoes or handbags, although I have very distinct (vintage or v-inspired) styles of both in neutral colors. But large necklaces and earrings and scarves and shawls… Oh my! Black dresses are the perfect canvas. 😀
Should that have been me, I would have done the pearl thing too, only with white or black tights (depending on my mood) and my black suede heels. The dress doesn’t need much extra bling, in my not so humble opinion.
Fashion faux pas or not, I gave up wearing hose 10 years ago. The price to times worn ratio kills me. I only wear microfiber tights – and Maggie’s organic cotton around home for warmth. I keep a stock in black, brown, white and navy. I’ve never had a problem with runs in my tights and like it that way, thankyouverymuch. I am so a fashion rebel. 😀
p.s. I’m soo glad you put the silk in your jacket. lol
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