Date night OOTD

By Malene Birger dress, Burberry bag, C-Label ankle strap wedges

I wore this old favorite By Malene Birger dress on a date with Chris. We went to Superior Motors which is Kevin Sousa's newest restaurant in Braddock. The food was really amazing and the space was very cool. I'm glad we checked it out. We went in celebration of my birthday, though we had gone to the Whitfield the night prior and Choolah on my birthday day (the night before that). So much going out! Anyway, I decided to wear this dress because it is incredibly delicate and I worry it won't last much longer. The silk chiffon is beautiful but not necessarily durable. And since it is another on that is about 10 years old, now seems like the time to enjoy it.

I don't know if that designer still releases lines but I always loved their aesthetic when I paid better attention to such things. I believe I bought this from Net-a-Porter or perhaps the Outnet. It was on a good sale, as usual. The Outnet may not have existed yet so it was probably Net-a-Porter. It has an open back so I usually pair it with a black cardigan because I am not about to go braless (even pre-motherhood). It's incredibly sheer and the slip it came with is still extremely revealing so I always pair it with one of my own slips. I'm sure it is outdated but I did get a few compliments from others in the restaurant.

The bad luck outfit

By Malene Birger dress

Aqua cashmere cardigan

Spanx reversible tights

Rosegold Liz booties

Kate Spade belt

Michael Kors watch and misc. bracelets from Target, Hiptique, and a flea market

This dress is one of those dresses that I coveted mostly because of how it looked laying flat, unfettered, and un-modeled on Net-a-Porter.

I should know by now that if a dress looks better lying flat versus being fitted onto lithe mannequins then it will probably be less than "flattering" on my non-lithe body. And on some level, of course I am aware of this. That doesn't mean that I will not be overtaken by irrationality on occasion (i.e. sale goggles). Besides, my theories about flattering are somewhat removed from "making a body look as small as possible." 

I pined over this dress back in 2008 but it never became discounted enough until it made its way to Outnet. Once on Outnet at 85% off, I pounced. When it arrived I realized that it needed to be altered for length. The combo of its volume and its length overwhelmed me. Done. I have to say that even though I've altered it and I truly love it in theory, it still hasn't been worn very much. Part of the reason is because I am in a total styling rut (especially when it comes to this dress). I wore it nearly the exact same way the last time it saw daylight (which I don't think I blogged but I could be wrong). And although I like repeats and monogamous dressing, if I can't figure out creative, new ways to style something it will be more likely to sit in my closet. For now it has a home but I think I need to branch out from the instinctive black pairings and try to wear it with color.

I welcome styling ideas and feedback!

*as an aside, I titled this a bad luck outfit because I proceeded to have a very bad luck day after I taught my first class. I don't care to relive it through language but as a slightly superstitious and overthinking person, it will take a failsafe occasion to remove some of the acquired bad vibes from this ensemble.

Twirling in Liane

I wore this dress to the opera a few weeks ago. I saw Donzetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. Its emotions were unrelenting and powerful. I found myself teary and wondering if there would be a smidge of comic relief. There wasn't. But it was an incredible performance at the Benedum. Because it was an afternoon show on a Sunday, I knew that outfits would run the gamut from casual to the nines. I opted for the sixes and was happy with the medium.

A few years ago I became obsessed with this By Malene Birger dress called Liane. Although I was unfamiliar with the designer and sizing, something about the romantic antique floral print really resonated with my girlie but kind of old fashioned aesthetic. When the Outnet marked it 80% off, I pounced. And after some alterations, I am pretty pleased with the dress. Although it doesn't really "flatter" my figure, in that it makes me look sort of potato shaped, I really adore how the dress moves. I can't help by sway my hips a little extra just to perpetuate motion and flow. And when no one is looking it is definitely the best for twirling!

Tailoring Update Success! By Malene Birger Liane Dress

I am happy to report that this formerly "slightly too-long dress" is no longer too long. I bought Danish designer, By Malene Birger's "Liane" dress from the Outnet back in Fall 2009 when it was deeply discounted. But I was hesitant to take it to the tailor because of the lovely details. So it sat in my closet for almost a year. Here it was before:

Finally I came to my senses and took it to the tailor.

A pretty but non-functional dress may as well not exist! I had Geno take up the length and can now wear this beautiful antique ivory frock!

Figuring out how to wear a slightly too long dress

I really like my new By Malene Birger Liane dress that I posted about a few weeks back but I haven't yet figured out how to wear it. It is slightly too long and I am loath to hem it because I fear it would be too complicated a fix.

The fabric seems so delicate. And the interior hem in reinforced and lined with a different fabric. It would be labor intensive to replicate how it is done currently.

I need to decide if I should just deal with the length (and the stumpiness it produces on my 5'3 silhouette) or if I can find a creative, and sartorially acceptable solution.

I started playing dress up with it today and the results are mixed.

My first thought was: add a cardigan. For example, when I added a cardigan to my outfit of the day, it made a slightly tented dress shorter by making it hug the body tighter.

Despite the blurriness of the photo, it gathered the empire waistline in to hug my entire mid section.

There is SO MUCH fabric in the pleated skirt of this dress, that I thought perhaps it would be less overwhelming to gather it.

That gave it the effect of a bubble hem. But I definitely like it more from the front than the side.

I wanted to try a pencil shape and had enough fabric to tie the two sides together in the back.

Again the front view is a lot more palatable than the back. The back looks like a big puffy mess. I guess the best way of wearing it will be with the cardigan and a pair of higher heels so the length is less noticeable. What do you think? Are there any other options I could try?

My Taste Hasn't Changed: By Malene Birger Liane Dress

In one of my very first entries, I mentioned that I loved this By Malene Birger dress, called Liane.

Its simple feminine shape and leafy foliage print suited my style in the Spring of 2008, as much as it does in the Fall of 2009. When it was available at 80% off on The Outnet outlet of Net-A-Porter, I snatched it up. And it arrived carefully wrapped in its Outnet dustbag.

I have a small collection of these dustbags which eventually proved to be useful, not as grocery bags, but as storage.

Anyway, although the dress is very delicate and gorgeous in person, the shape is not terribly flattering on me. The length is longer than I expected. Technically this is the correct size. Danish 38.

But I think with some black tights and pumps, it will look nicer than these quick photos I took when it arrived.

What I do like about it, are the details. The interior hem is lined with a smaller scaled version of the overall print. And while the exterior fabric is a silk chiffon, the interior hem lining and accompanying ivory slip are slightly more shimmery and made of silk charmeuse.

I was clueless about Danish sizing, even though I also have this By Malene Birger sweater coat.

The size chart conversion and garment measurement information provided detailed enough information for me to guesstimate. The DK 38 translates to about a US 8. I think I will find ways to wear this and am too in love with the details to consider returning it. I got a great price because I was patient enough to wait well over a year. I guess it is useful to have reliable, slow-moving taste.