Oleaceae

*

Dress: Vintage, 1960s lace

Heels: Sandler patent platform

Clutch: Adorne vinyl

Necklace: Samantha Wills chrome ball

Bangles: Autograph chrome

Brooch: Gift, leather, feather & bow (from China)

*

Celebrated a cooler, cloudy morning in the River City by donning a vintage, handmade olive lace "wiggle" dress (once belonging to a dear friend's mother) for a client meeting. The simple, tapered shift shape, to the knee & with sleeves was the ideal blank canvas to create a myriad of different looks with statement accessories. 

In this case, bone & chrome elements were chosen for a edgy yet sophisticated business look - bone patent peeptoe platforms with a mid-sized heel from Sandler & an oversized envelope clutch from Adorne, reminiscent of the Balenciaga style favoured by celebrities like Nicole Richie, to cart around all the essentials. 

Such a heavy-looking, tactile dress required chunky jewellery & the trio of chrome pieces didn't disappoint. The shiny, chrome ball necklace enhanced the lace's olive hue rather than becoming lost in it, providing visual interest at the slight v-neckline, while the 2 thick bangles, worn "Wonder Woman style" on the forearms rather than the wrists, certainly made an impact. 

*

Stylist's Confession:

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit a little something about the detail above the hemline of the dress - it shouldn't be there. Obviously, sometime over the last 50 years, the lace stretched & fell slightly, creating what I am calling a "fold." After trying to iron it out - to no avail - I decided to heed the old adage, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" & instead focused on ironing it in, which worked a treat, securing one end with a circular bow & feather brooch that Louise brought back for me from her latest trip to China.

This is one of the quirks of buying/wearing/loving vintage clothing - there's no telling what the passage of time will do to different fabrics or what will happen when washing said fabrics after years & years of languishing in a closet, but in my opinion, that's part of the charm. 

*