Seized by the Collar

I have always been a fan of subtly unusual clothing--that is, something that looks perfectly staid, but with a detail that really stands out. I rarely buy a piece that completely screams out for attention; given the large amount of time I tend to spend in a professional setting, it is simply not prudent. However, I recently came across a dress that overcame my logical approach.

A New York-based boutique on Third Street (near Fairfax) named Pinkyotto was having a store closing sale, so I went inside to check it out for the first and the last time. I'm quite sad to see the store go, as the clothes were cute, distinctive, but still fitting for my lifestyle. Anyway, I digress...when I walked into the store, I saw one dress on a mannequin that called out my name. It felt like some kind of a deja vu moment--the dress is something that I may have seen before, and I thought it was very "me." The wide collar was the very thing that captured my attention, then other details--the tulip skirt, the plaid print, the wooley fabric--got me hook, line, and sinker. I usually deal with one standout detail at a time, but somehow all of these quirky details worked together seamlessly. I rifled through the racks until I found that dress and a few others. After I tried everything on, I determined that this dress was the only one that worked for my body.

As quirky as the dress is, it is perfectly suitable as a work dress. All I have to do was add stockings, some sharp outerwear, and a nice pair of shoes. I can imagine myself wearing it on a weekend with electric blue stockings and a pair of boots, but I will have to wait until the weather warms up. It has been cold and rainy, and a few more storms are supposed to follow.





[First outfit: Pinkyotto dress, Kenneth Cole camisole, Forever 21 cropped fleece bomber ($5 from the clearance racks last Spring), Target black tights, Christian Lacroix flats. Second outfit: Pinkyotto dress, Target gray tank with metallic silver threads, To the Max jacket, my own Chomping Through the Meadows necklace, black tights, Ciao Bella peeptoe booties.]