Sunday, July 15, 2012

Almost Strapless

My go-to summer dress is sleeveless, with a deep V cross-over neckline. I have a good number of these, and am always drawn to this style.

But maybe, just maybe, after watching one-too-many episodes of Say Yes to the Dress with my daughters (and readers will note the irony, because I have always been a non-wedding dress person), after seeing women scream "Yes!" to 49 out of 50 strapless dresses, I was influenced not to ignore le robe bustier any longer.

Or maybe it was the sale rack at J Crew, positively pulsing with strapless dresses in pretty prints.

I have owned one strapless dress, one I saw in the vitrine of Eaton's in Charlottetown, some months before my Grade Six graduation.  (In Canada, Junior High goes from grades 7-9, so leaving Grade Six requires a proper ceremony.  Or at least it did in the 1970s.)

The dress was white cotton, with an bosom-covering eyelet ruffle, and another eyelet flounce at the hem.  It was the most gorgeous dress in the world to me, and I put it on layaway. And wore it, only once, to my graduation. 

I don't recall it being that spectacular on, because the dress was shapeless, aside from the elasticized parts that held it up.  So maybe that's why I moved on and beyond.

So: back to the J Crew dress I tried on.  Not bad.  Points in my favour: even tan, good posture.  Good fit, but I still passed.  And that evening thought about returning to get it and in the morning was glad I didn't.  It might have been the bare-ness, the seeming formality, I don't know.  Maybe I'll go back again for another try.

Do gentle readers wear strapless for casual?

8 comments:

LPC said...

I've never worn strapless. Hard to say why. Maybe just no need to add to anxiety:). Seems as common as skinny jeans these days though, so if you like and the look is good on you, why not?

Miss Cavendish said...

Lisa, There's a strapless dress in the "Delft" pattern in my post below that would be a very pretty colour on you. As my daughters told me, "you can always add a cardigan!" (Yes, I'm tempted again.)

helen tilston said...

I have never worn strapless. Spaghetti straps yes.

I think you have already talked yourself out of this dress?

Helen xx

Miss Cavendish said...

I thought I had, but I'll probably take another look to confirm!

Gauss said...

I don't wear strapless anything; I don't think any would actually stay on my awesome chest, and I see a lot of people tugging their strapless tops or dresses. I don't need that kind of worry! Cute color, though.

Sue said...

Dear Miss C, do you mind if I ask, did you manage to find any nude pumps? I hope you did.

Miss Cavendish said...

Sue, I radically changed my tack and bought those crazy large-tassel sandals from Acne (I might even call that color "nude.") I'll wait till it cools down before looking for pumps; it's just too hot to try on closed-toe shoes in the summer!

Anonymous said...

May I just bow at your use of the word "vitrine"
I love strapless for casual, I wish I didn't love J Crew so much, it costs me a fortune after taxes, duty et al.