I made this silk hessian dress using Burda 8511 about a year and a half ago and yes, this dress has appeared here in a number of mixes already. I have found the simplicity of the design to be a wonderful canvas for accessorising and layering, and the colour has proven itself to be trans-seasonal. (look at me, pulling out all those professional-sounding stylist-type words there, hmm?) Trans-seasonal, meaning the soft violet colour is quietly pretty enough to fit in happily into a neutral cold weather ensemble, but still has enough personality to hold its own with the stronger colours of the warmer seasons; and I’ve worn it on all but the hottest of days. Being fully lined it is kind of unsuitable for the full-on heat of summer, but it’s been such a goodie for any day of lesser temperatures. So here we go…
Firstly, and feeling uninspired, I went to my go-to smart/casual winter styling for this dress at left. Hmm, well maybe it is a tad ho-hum, well of course any dress goes with all black accessories… at right my next, more summery attempt at styling this dress; well now lookeee, it goes well with ivory too! T’ank you Captain Obvious. I’m all set if I ever get an invite to a garden party here. Anyhoo, you can see what I mean here about the neutral-friendliness of this colour…
OK, so now getting more adventurous with colour and thinking about the warmer days ahead here… how I would wear this for a typical day spent walking along the beach?, well like this, at left. As well, the shape of the sheath is not overly fitted so the dress can work successfully as a tunic, and for a more dressy event on a summer’s evening it can be worn over a slightly longer A-line skirt for an extra layer of colour, and with an equally colourful necklace and heels to dress it up.
And finally for the cooler days we have been getting during winter, at left the colour is not an overwhelming look-at-me shade, so that it blends OK with other smudgy neutrals, at left; and at right, on a particularly cold winters day I can really rug myself up with a scarf and denim jacket, and with some bright cheerful tights to visually punch it up. This last look is the one I am wearing today in soccer mum and weekend going out-and-about mode. It was cold this morning, 5C!!! I’m so over winter, sorry…
And happily my wardrobe brainstorming session has given me some new inspirations for different ways to wear this dress to see out winter and to welcome in the warmer days of spring!
Which look here do you like the best?
I am so over winter too. I like the colourful styling best I think… love the dress worn with a slightly longer skirt underneath (love your coordinating shoes and necklace too), but the last 2 winter pictures look very appealing too.
Even if everything does go with black, I think the first styling is the edgiest.
The last 4 looks are my faves for you, though I would change my answer for myself. For me, the sheath over a skirt, with the long necklace would be good on me. I am in love with those colors together, and also with the orchid and ?purple scarf. Carolyn, may I pin these to Pinterest?
Well, it's hard to choose just one favorite, since each situation you described is kinda different, but my favs and the 3 in the right hand column.
Being a safe sought of person I would pick number one.
I was doing the soccer Mum thing this morning as well but this week it was rugby and ditto the cold in Christchurch although not so much frosty more a biting wind that whips across the park and goes straight through you. I have to say you are very brave wearing a skirt on a cold park even with tights on! Bring on spring, I say!
1-3-6
Funny how it looks like a completely different dress in #3!
I love it with the orange . My second choice is your "garden party " ensemble. Well styled! Cerisa
I love your styling posts, Carolyn. You have such a "deep" wardrobe!
I have a question for the Queen of Corduroys! I made a pair of denim jeans over a year ago. After washing, the hem flipped to the outside and will never stay where it should. I HATE THAT. I just cut out another pair, this time using stretch corduroy. The fabric was prewashed/dried by machine before cutting. What else can I do to prevent this hem flippage problem?
thx!
Seeing as "purple is practically a neutral" I am particualarly impressed by your colour combinations. I love it with the orange (gorgeous sandals) and with the autumnal tones. I would not think of these combinations, and obviously need to scrutinise your blog for a long time in the hope that I can develop stylishness by internet osmosis – I must get out my purple skirt…
Carolyn – you are never ho-hum. THat is such a beautiful colour . Thanks for providing lots of inspiration -perhaps I should try something different one day but I have a very conservative job ( thats my excuse anyway )
so versatile – lovely color combos and styles! You make me think everyone needs a LPD- lil purple dress in their closet!
Love it with the peak of orange at the hem.
I'm amazed at the lilac and coral/orange! I would never have considered the combination and yet it is STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL.
I love these 6ways Posts
That's a great dress and you do an awesome job of styling it and radically changing the looks. 🙂
I think they all look great! Maybe is just because it's Winter but my favourite is the one styled with black. You certainly have a knack for putting together some great outfits choosing colours I would never think of 🙂
Love, love love the two middle ones.!
I love pink and orange together so I like the second row on the right, and I love the accessories there too!
I'm most drawn to the one over the skirt (I love me some bright colors), but the winter look with the leggings and the big scarf is catching my eye too.
I know I say this every time, but I really do love these posts of yours. I've been plotting one myself for one of my self-stitched shirts, just need to take the time to do the styling and take the pictures. You know what they say about imitation and flattery. 🙂
(p.s. the verification word I got is "dress"! How appropriate!)
Oh, I love the layered look with the coral skirt and necklace! That's a great color combi! I also really like the I'm-a-celebrity look with the sunglasses, black cardi and boots…
Those styled-six-ways posts are awesome! 🙂
I love the summery styles because of the beautiful colour combinations… But the others look super amazing too, it's pretty cool to see how this shade really does work as a sort of brighter neutral for you. I also totally love your styling so these "6 ways" posts are always a treat.
wow, very inspiring! i like all of the views a lot – so sharp w/black & boots, very cool layered over a skirt, etc, but the "smudgy neutral" combo w/the groovy leggings is my fave. : )