the opposite of basic

Tommy Hilfiger silk plaid dress, Ross

navy and green colorblock belt, Forever 21

    

       Impracticality is a longtime friend of mine. As much as I dutifully hunt for well-fitting, work-appropriate, versatile clothing, a part of me has always yearned for things of whimsy. I still remember the thrill my sister (my very first shopping co-conspirator) and I had so many years ago when we decided to buy a floral rayon buttondown from Wet Seal.  It was loose-fitting and the pattern was predominantly olive green and dusty red. I know what you're thinking - a rayon floral shirt doesn't sound that revolutionary. But to girls who grew up wearing t-shirts and shorts, it looked elegant.

    This dress is definitely a thing of whimsy. Let's start with the crinoline. I have never considered myself a girly-girl, but the fluff makes my heart happy. Next, let's glory over the fact that the skirt has two pockets. I know I look morose in the photo below, but I'm smiling on the inside. 

    This is the kind of dress that I imagine a certain woman would wear for Christmas fun. She lives in a airy, immaculate house that glows with light and whose living room hosts an 8-foot-tall Christmas tree. She'd wear this dress while trimming the tree with glass ornaments as sweet and intricate as spun sugar. When it was time to take a break, she'd sip on gourmet hot chocolate crowned with homemade marshmallows. 

     ... Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? But back to real life. I don't even own a pair of shoes that would do this dress justice. Our holiday family gatherings are quiet and low-key and we don't dress up. I don't hold or attend any fancy holiday parties. The cut of the dress is conservative, so maybe I could figure out a way to style it for work, but I'm sure silk plaid with a crinoline would raise a few eyebrows at my very casual workplace. In short, I have no real reason to own or wear this dress, but maybe it's a "just because" dress. Just because it makes me feel pretty and sophisticated. Just because it makes me smile. 

 

p.s:. I didn't wear this dress out yet, just put it on for the picture-taking fun. 

p.p.s.:Yes, it's really wrinkly from being smashed between all those cheap dresses at Ross. 

p.p.p.s: I've always loved how Dotty wears her belts artfully askew (see second from left photo), but I've never been able to pull it off successfully, until now. I think it really offsets the dress.

      

What is your favorite "just because" clothing item? When and how do you wear it?