classic city outfit

I bought a dress earlier this summer that I’ve literally milked for all it’s worth. It’s probably worth more. Actually, according to its cost ($80 from a Calvin Klein outlet), most people would have worn it for special occasions only. Its fabric should have been spared any risk of clumsy ketchup spillage or subway seat smears — the latter being especially abominable. But because I was hesitant — and I bought it anyway — I was determined to make my buy worthwhile. I’ve worn it at least six times this summer into the grit and grime of NYC, and countless more to work. Perhaps it’s all a futile effort to dispel my pangs of post-purchase guilt. But whatever. It’s working.

Era of the high-waist belt. It’s tempting to add a belt to every dress and tunic you own. But the tricky thing with dresses that are already draped well and have an intended shape is to decide whether or not a belt would actually add anything. Step back and ask: is it actually detracting from the shape of the dress? In this case, I think the belt’s okay. It cinches the waist, and adds a little complexity to an outfit that doesn’t have much going on towards the bottom. The belt is home-made from black fabric, safety-pinned on the inside.

The scarf. Scarves are incredibly versatile. I prefer the flowing, almost messy quality of a scarf over the more rigid, streamlined headband. Then again, I’m trying to focus the eyes on the detailing of the dress’s collar, so I wanted everything to look soft and as a result avoided hard materials (plastic, shiny metals). Earrings are from an Express outlet.

Switching it up. I love the clean look of white on blue, so I exchanged a scarf for an off-white hat I bought in China. It must’ve been $4 or less, but it’s made well and looks a little rough around the edges, in a good way. I think it’s refreshing to shy away from the shiny, store-bought quality in accessories and go for contrast — even if the overall look is more classic.

Necklace was a $10 find at our own Greene Street Consignment shop in Princeton. I highly recommend that everyone go check out the consignment store. It’s two minutes away from campus, and you never know what inexpensive item you might find. And then milk for all it’s worth (: