Whiter Shade

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Dress: Anthea Crawford crepe

Sandals: Soft Soul @ Myer leather

Bag: Adorne vinyl & studs

Necklace: Eb & Ive wooden beads

Cuff: Wallace Bishop silver

Bangle: Trinkit Hunter (from India)

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Traversed the River City today wearing what I can only describe as one of the most impractical colours (or non-colours, you know, to be completely pedantic about it...) in creation - stark white. Yep, not only was this ah-mazing Anthea Crawford dress with waist tuck detail a difficult hue to keep pristine, it was also made from the softest, textured crepe that just seemed to want to catch on everything... or else I was just paranoid due to the 2 aforementioned aspects of the outfit; you know, either/or...

Long story short - I DID manage to keep it clean & in one piece, which was a minor miracle considering I not only ate a few tiny chocolate Easter eggs that a man in a large bunny suit was jovially handing out in the Myer Centre but drank an entire large Milk Tea with Pearls (tapioca balls) AS I WALKED. And I am usually kind of clumsy or uncoordinated when it comes to anything physical, so I was suitably CHUFFED! 

I guess the moral of the story is not to discount white dresses in baby-soft fabrics that require dry-cleaning just because they are a) white b) made from soft fabrics that just look as though they would REALLY soak up a stain, should one be unfortunate enough to be splashed their way &/or c) needing specialist attention/payment to be forthcoming in order to ensure longevity... After all, they are so incredibly beautiful on a variety of skin tones, a fact I have FINALLY learnt for myself after many years of believing some fashion critics when they suggested that those of us who are pale should shy away from lighter colours. Untrue. There's a perfect shade of white/cream/milk/beige/champagne/blush that will suit anyone & everyone. It's merely a case of trial & error which, if you think about it, is really the fun of the fashion. 

Moreover, lighter shades are beautiful in ALL seasons, not just the summertime, as some fashion stalwarts would have you believe. Just imagine how beautiful this dress will be in the Winter (if it ever arrives) with a pair of opaque tights, boots, a vintage stole & a cloche hat. Stunning. When this horrid endless summer finally begins to cool, I look forward to posting that very thing on this blog, so don't forget to STAY TUNED, lovely readers...

But back to today's take...

To keep it summery & capture a cruisy, almost-holidays "weekend" vibe rather than a businessy, work-a-day look, I mixed the dress with a pair of white leather sandals with wedge heels & contrasting silver strap across the front, picking up the silver again with a shiny, vinyl bag - complete with studded ends! - in a long, rectangular shape from Adorne.

Only 3 pieces of jewellery were required to finish off the look, though granted, they were each substantial & could be considered statements in themselves. I started off with my favourite thick silver cuff (full of sentimental value due the engraved message inside reading, "All You Need is Love," a thoughtful present from my dear friend Alice) then added a chunky wooden bangle, covered with black lacquer & silver bead work - made in India - that I picked up at an amazing shop called Trinkit Hunter. Check the bangle out in detail either above or below & if you're in the Paddington area or have a few hours to spare on the "interwebs," check out the store it came from... you won't be disappointed.

Finally, I added one of my new Eb & Ive wooden beaded necklaces - in silver, of course, the multi-strand design working well with the dress' slight v-neckline, creating visual interest by adding yet another texture to the eclectic ensemble.

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