April 24, 2019
Ah, our heroine the opera singer! Remember her from back in January?
She’s not the star, but she channels her inner diva quite well!
Most of the time, she’s in a costume, so she doesn’t need to pack a lot… This week, she’s off to her favorite city, to finish up the “regular” opera season with a role in 1 of her favorites. She’s had a good season…
This is her inspiration, in so many ways!
She realized long ago that she’s made to wear dresses and skirts! So she focuses on navy dresses, with cardigans, jewelry, and scarves to add that bit of drama and femininity that she loves so much… (she was BORN to be an opera singer…)
dress – L.L.Bean; scarf – Halogen; earrings – Natasha Schweitzer; cardigan – L.L.Bean; watch – Tissot; sandals – Amalfi by Rangoni; bag – Longchamp; suitcase – Aimee Kestenberg
She loves working with such a neutral, almost predictable base in her wardrobe; it’s sort of like the way she, as just one extraordinary woman, can play all kinds of roles, while still remaining herself…
stud earrings – Anzie; sleeveless dress – Lands’ End; scarf – Ace & Jig; earrings – Majorica; necklace – Majorica; yellow cardigan – 1901; striped top – Lucky Brand; grey cardigan – Halogen; scarf – Treasure & Bond; brooch – Bottega Veneta; skirt – Boden; floral top – Vero Moda; pumps – Bella Vita; bag – Whiting & Davis
She HAS to be organized – she travels a lot… So she arranges her packing on her laundry rack, and gives it a good, hard look. Will this all work?
She knows that this trip won’t offer quite as much free time as usual, but she’s already scheduled for a couple of dinners with other members of the cast… What are her options?
This most interesting of heroines has a fascinating closet – a mix of discipline and whimsy that’s seldom seen…
I have to confess that I’ve often considered doing exactly this, with black dresses and a range of accessories. Maybe develop my “dressy” wardrobe in this direction, and then build the other half of my wardrobe around jeans and casual clothes? Hmmm… tempting…
Do any of you know someone who is a true “dress” person?
love,
Janice
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Me! From late spring to early fall I wear almost exclusively dresses to work. Weather permitting as I’m in Wisconsin. It’s just one piece to worry about (except a cardigan, of course) and looks both feminine and professional. In my previous life I was a professional cellist which precluded most dresses and boots and now I’m loving having them as my core wardrobe! So easy!
I’m a cello teacher and I wear almost exclusively dresses and skirts, I just don’t feel right playing the cello in trousers. Of course I have to be really picky about the length and how wide they are but when you find the right ones it’s just so much more comfortable.
I’m tall and had a hard time finding skirts and dresses that were long enough. Back in the nineties I wore them a ton. But in the 2000s I switched to pants.
My mother is a true dress person. She would love this wardrobe. Mom tends to favor simple t shirt dresses for everyday, with cardigans & scarves to polish them up for evenings. This is very much like her wardrobe.
I’m a dress person in the summer. I find dresses much cooler than capris in the heat and they’re so easy to wear. A simple cardigan and you’re ready to go to an air conditioned movie or restaurant. No scarves for me in the summer so I tend to wear necklaces more in the summer.
Being a truly dress person I wonder about the opposite :) why not all of us wear dresses in the summer season all the time? What can be more forgiving /comfortable /easy to wear.. There are so many options.. Is there any pants and jeans person who can kindly help me understand? :)
I’m a dedicated pants/jeans person: not dresses, skirts, shorts, or capris. Pants. I’m a techie and a chef, this matters. I want protection on my legs, no bare skin just begging for a burn! It’s a comfort issue for me: I don’t have to worry about wind, back-lighting, placement of legs/knees/ankles, excess cloth if I have to squat down to deal with computer wiring or to grab a big pot.
In summer or really hot weather I tend to wear linen pants, often wide-legged ones. Warm weather, I have some broadcloth scrubs that work well. My jeans are a lighter weight denim (I don’t like the thick stiff kind). I’m perfectly happy wearing pants full time.
Does this help?
Thank you very much. It does help! I totally agree regarding bare skin in the office
I have recently read a sewing article penned by a farmer that wears her home-made patchwork tiered skirts. In winter I think she wears leggings underneath for extra warmth. It was a brilliant read and has made me rethink my mostly pants and Capri wardrobe.
Confession: My thighs chafe. I might wear a dress or skirt… with bike shorts or similar underneath. I’m not worried about “shapewear” – I’m overweight and can’t hide. But I can reduce chafing with shorts or jeans or seasonally-appropriate pants.
Skimmies! They’re long, they’re lightweight, and they improve your comfort immeasurably!
hugs,
Janice
Dresses require slightly fancier shoes than pants/shorts/capris. I love the simplicity of a dress, but my wacked-up feet require really utilitarian shoes. Do Birkenstocks go with dresses? I get comments from my in-laws about having never worn heels or fancy shoes, but still spending a fortune on my othotic-friendly footwear.
We need to expand our ideas of what’s appropriate to wear with dresses; look at what Eileen Fisher shows with dresses, or many of the outfits on the Nordstrom site. We can be comfortable and not worry about what others say… I have worn Birkenstock sandals with dresses for years. I’m sure some people don’t like it, but if I’m happy, and my feet are okay, that’s all that matters…
hugs,
Janice
One such consideration for dresses in the Summer is the condition of the legs. ex: spider veins
Agreed Janet. I have issues here, so for me dresses and skirts become possible in Autumn/winter, when I can wear opaque tights. I’d like to wear dresses in the summer of course, but on the other hand I do enjoy frocking up when the cool weather starts, looking out my low heels with a dash of flirtiness, and boots. I think a change of style is fun and although it’s back to front seasonally, the newer comfy cool wools and cosy coats make winter my dress-up time.
I do like this story of the diva, and her growing wardrobe. There’s a similar lady in our town and it’s always a pleasure to see her out and about.
This is a lovely selection! I do have to giggle a bit…. as a long veteran of the opera business, I think most people would be surprised to know that dresses are not one bit practical for most of our daily lives, and wearing a costume only covers about 4 hours a day for maybe 8 days of a 35 day gig! Would that I could indulge in these feminine looks though!
This is a lovely selection! I do have to giggle a bit…. as a long veteran of the opera business, I think most people would be surprised to know that dresses are not one bit practical for most of our daily lives, and wearing a costume only covers about 4 hours a day for maybe 8 days of a 35 day gig! Would that I could indulge in these feminine looks though!
Ah, sometimes it’s more my imagination, and MUCH less real facts…
hugs,
Janice
I’m such a dyed in the wool separates person that I literally forget about dresses, even though I have some in my closet that I really like. Most often when I dress up I reach for skirts. – nancyo
I LOVE skirts and dresses with flat/low heeled boots, Birkenstocks, flip flops, slides, oxfords, and other comfy flat boots. I find a midi length is great for many occasions. Can be treated as casually as jeans or dressed up with a sweater or jewelry— And in an airplane I find it much comfier to sit for long stretches in a skirt or dress than in trousers.
Oh, yes! And the state of the floor in most airplane toilets – I’d have to roll up the pants legs before I sat down. With the right skirt, I can hold it bundled up under my chin and it won’t touch either the floor or around the seat.