Saved From The 'Country Living' Fantasy

I will take a break from my travel posts, although this one is somewhat related and I will explain why, a little later. 

I think all of us sometimes indulge in a little fantasy-life shopping.  For some it may be party dresses, for others the formal suits, but for me it is the ultra feminine and nostalgic dresses. You know I love Brora and their cashmere is wonderful, but over the years I found myself falling for the prettiness and charm of their dresses as well.  I always thought I am this slightly rough around the edges,  sassy, no-nonsense, bred-in-the-city chick, but I fantasized of being transformed into one of those sweet, feminine, gentle, country living creatures that look so adorable in the catalog shots.       

This is the dress I bought in 2010 and it is indeed a beautiful frock irl.  But unfortunately, it did not make me look like the model.  I think what seduces us is the old-fashioned vibe of the dress combined with the youthfulness and general willowy-ness of the women wearing it.  Put the nostalgic dress on the middle aged, not so thin-and-tall me, and you simply quadruple the old-fashioned factor,  hardly a flattering sight.      

oops

Granted, this Christmas picture (with Santa) is awful, the pose is awkward and I could probably work it a little better, but the fact remains that this is how it will look, more often than not.  The silk has a wonderful feel, the print is very pretty and the neckline is flattering, but I had to face the fact that that the volume around the hips and the bottom ruffle did me no favors.  Sigh.

What to do with a pretty dress that simply does not work for you? Well, you can sell it or donate it, or you can try an alteration.  Especially if you have a mom who saws, you happen to be visiting and you bring the dress with you, just in case she can spare some time pretty please.  Brilliant, right?  This is how this post is related to traveling.

The dress came with a side zipper that bothered me when I belted the dress, so we have removed the zipper first.  Then, my mom have taken it in at the sides and removed the bottom ruffle.  I don't have the picture but the dress looked sooo much better.  My straight figure came to be an advantage since I could pull the dress on without the zipper. 

At this point the silhouette was fixed but I realized that the dress was simply too sweet for my style.  However, I could easily see myself wearing it as a top.  It may seem like butchery to hack off good chunk of a dress, not mentioning that I probably would not pay the amount I spent on the dress for a blouse, but hey, what good was it to sit in the closet?    

I know,  I am due for weeding and trimming...

I love it as a top and it is definitely much more my style.  I can easily see myself wearing it.   In fact, I was in need of a tunic-type tops to wear with my skinnies...

Btw, here you can also see another small transformation.  Before my trip, I have hemmed my black jeans to an ankle length and I like them so much better now. I hated how the used to bunch up around my ankles before and I did not think they looked good cuffed.

The top also works belted, imo.

Now this is more of what I had in my mind...

 

And no, sadly, the Poppy dress will not work for me either...

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That's all folks!

What do you think? 


Have you ever saved you 'fantasy shopping casualty' through an alteration?  

Please share, it would be no fun without you!!!