the sweater dress

A person who sees only fashion in fashion is a fool.

                                    – Honoré de Balzac. 1799-1850

The color of this dress is, for me, the embodiment of autumn. It’s kind of a cross between olive and rust, looking quite different depending on the light. Earth tones, how do I love thee.

IMG_7297I am completely fixated on this kind of rust-sepia shade right now. This encompasses cognac and whiskey shades, too. Here, for example, is a Pixiwoo tutorial for a sepia eye look I’ve been keeping in the wings, wanting to try out.

It would be superfluous to outline the virtues of the sweater dress, right? Its appeal is universal and self-evident? I am also much enamored of its close cousin, the turtle-neck dress, which will become clear by and by. The crew neck keeps this one reading quite casual to me, though it’s so brief in the leg that it can never be as casual as its crew neck seems to promise. Unless I wear it as a normal sweater, which I will certainly do.

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IMG_7320American Apparel knit sweater crew neck dress, vintage Levi’s belt (brown + black, yes), Zara heels*, Breil Milano watch, Pearls of Joy 10mm studs, brown-dyed freshwater pearl necklace (as bracelet) from eBay, vintage LuckyBrand bag.

*I came across a picture of the kitten-heeled version of these Zara pumps on a great Polish style blog. They are from several seasons ago, evidently, and I could only find the taller style available anywhere now, but I loved this look so much that I didn’t care. Advertisements wish they could be as effective as this photo. I wish I could take a photo like this. Look how nice this looks! So nice! Sooner or later I plan to wear them exactly like this. Imitation/flattery/etc.

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The cutout edge and instep are what got me, I think. The pointed toe I don’t actually love, abstractly, but I’m succumbing to the trend of them a little here. Well, it happens. I will admit it. You see enough images of a trend styled well (that is, if it is not simply beyond saving – some trends will always be incomprehensible) and you start to come around, bit by bit.

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the cherry Tahitian

Pearls of Joy provided this necklace for review.

Pearls of Joy hoped to see how I would style a new necklace they are offering; a stunning cherry Tahitian pearl on a delicate gold chain. I was more than happy to oblige.

IMG_7015The pearl shows purple-red in the center and peacock teal at the edges. It is beautifully round and unblemished with a size range of 9-10mm (the piece shown measures in at 9mm). As with all high quality pearls, it looks even better in person.

There are only a limited quantity, so investigate now if it catches your eye. On sale at the moment, too ($145): cherry Tahitian solitaire pendant.

The piece is very versatile to my eye. Simple enough to be the kind of necklace you could wear every day, quietly adapting itself to every style and context, luxurious enough to wear when things get fancy. This strikes me as having a professional elegance, and I immediately wanted to pair it with silk and a pencil skirt.

IMG_6856And heels.

IMG_6879Silk is such a great partner for pearls, it has that same luxurious glow. I essentially wanted the simplest, most casual form of a professional uniform (in grayscale) and a bright cherry lip. Like the necklace, the silhouette is eloquent yet unobtrusive.

In person the cherry color shows at a greater distance than on camera. The requisite neck shot:

IMG_6850The gauge of the chain is in very nice proportion to the pearl, and the chain itself very fine.

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IMG_6962There is a pattern developing where I think I look a lot better in blurry pictures…or somehow the pictures look more interesting.

IMG_6920Seriously, this was my favorite shot of the day.

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Black silk camisole from Fondue (thrifted), American Apparel interlock pencil skirt, Cole Haan pumps (thrifted), necklace from Pearls of Joy, earrings from Michel Michaud, vintage Timex watch. On the lips: Tom Ford lipstick in Narcotic Rouge.

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p.s. Speaking of pearls, I’m giving away a gorgeous pair of freshwater studs this week. Giveaway open through Sunday. Details on how to enter here.