Last week we attended an outdoor party in 80 degree heat and sunshine and I broke out an "oldie but goodie" dress which I still love to wear. I give it high marks for comfort and coolness (I mean temperature not "coolness", although I guess it has that too! )
Now, I know what you're saying. What about recycling, buying thrift, and going green (trendy supreme) and all that jazz?! Well, if I could buy summer dresses from thrift stores and not consume more in this area, I would. Unfortunately, plus size dresses are pretty scarce at most thrift shops unless you are looking for mother of the bride dresses. Occasionally, if you look really hard, you can score one.
This little dandy was purchased several years ago at Kohl's. Kohl's can really come through in a pinch once in a while, if you sift through all the Liz Claiborne Midwestern mommy gear, next to the Sag Harbor twin sets...(will they ever run out of variations on the twin set design?) I have had it so long, that I sort of feel like I am recycling it on my own body until it turns thread bare.
Here is the dress ( I can't get away from the vintage floral patterns,) with my 2007 preferred accessory: NO! not my husband, but the big chunky necklace. (Think Wilma Flinstone, with a dash of Jackie O rolled into one chubby neck package...) This image was taken at a cousin's wedding, and a healthy amount of wig tape was used to close the low neckline in the front for a more demure image.
Once Forever 21 and Claire's starting pushing the big beaded necklaces and pearls to all of the 14 years olds, I figured I'd move on to a new look.
For 2008 I am pairing this dress with my new favorite combo: sweet, romantic, sterling silver charms. For all of the premo big girls keeping track, here is my ensemble (including the silver charms) from last weekend's party (sans wig tape.) You can't see them, but I just wore black Old Navy flip flops with it.
The first charm I made myself! I used a scrap, salvaged, silver backing and epoxy resin over mini pressed lily of the valley buds. The rose charm was purchased at a yard sale for only 10 cents! It is my new favorite necklace combo of the summer, and I think it helped make this old Kohl's dress look reinvented, a bit. What do you think?
