Faking it

The fall has finally settled in my corner of the world and the leaves are starting to turn. I love this time of the year and it makes me crave all the autumnal, warm color combinations..

I have bought this faux fur vest two years ago but never got around to wearing it too much.  I was determined to start using it more this year. Previously, I have worn it with jeans, but I decided it will also work with a dress. This is Linda wrap sweater dress from Diane Von Furstenberg (also worn here and in fact it looked very similar, after I took off the vest and scarf). I love DVF wrap dresses and my favorite thing about this one is that although it is a print (which is easier to wear in wrap style if you body is not model quality) it is neutral and not very memorable.

 
All the element of this outifit are old, fur vest and boots by Boden, bag by Banana Republic, scarf by Barbour, sunglasses by Ray Ban, gloves by Lord and Tailor. Nothing by J.crew this time.

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Do you wear faux fur?

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

Being Scarflett O'Hara

As you may know, I was planning to return at least some of my Bloomingdales order and after some deliberation I selected the DVF Whisper Silk Scarf to be the sacrificial lamb.

Here was my logic:

• The scarf is too delicate and easy to snag
• I don't really wear scarfs other than in the winter
• It costs too much money

These are all perfectly good reasons and I am a reasonable person. So I packed the scarf and decided to return it upon my next visit to the mall.

Then I decided to try it on, one last time. Couldn't hurt, right? Hmmm....

This was the original styling idea:

As a scarf. Duh!

But... I could wear it as a cover up, when we visit European churches and arms need to be covered... I am not planning a trip at this moment, but you never know... Look how nicely it works:

As a wrap

As I had it on, I thought how it magically become quite substantial. With a little belt, it almost works as a top:

Impromptu top

How fun! What if we are on a beach holiday and I can use it as a sarong?  Heck, I can even make a skirt out of it... Not to wear to the office of course, but to stroll around the pool, in some tropical destination... Forget that we are not really big fans of tropical destinations. With a skirt like this, we may as well turn out to be the ones...
 

Sarong

Actually, it is like two-skirts-in-one, because you can play with the pattern:

Ha!

back view

And since we are somewhere tropical, I can wear a  halter top, why not?

Halter top

Or even a tube top!  Remember, I said "tropical destination". It means everybody is at least tipsy,  so nobody really cares that you are wearing a tube top.

Tube top!

And what if we are stranded on deserted island and I have nothing to wear and we get invited to a ball?  I can play Scarlett O'hara and make a dress out of the curtains, I mean, out of my DVF scarf, no?

the possibilities are endless...

Invited to a ball on deserted island??? OK, you got me, but you know what I mean...

Looks like I will not need to buy another piece of clothing ever again. Genius!

Wait, what do you mean by 'not need to buy Ever Again'???

Maybe I should return it, after all...

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What do you think?

This post could also be titled " Warning! Mind of a shopaholic at work."

Do you ever do that?

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

Diane von Furstenberger Julian Dress in Leaf Meadow

I have received most of my Bloomingdales order!

When I placed the order,  I was kind of hoping that some of the items will not work out and I will have no regrets returning half of them.  That would make my shopaholic self feel better about the amount of money I spent.

DVF Julian Floral Print Silk Jersey Wrap

I knew that I certainly didn't need another floral dress when I own quite a few perfectly fine dresses that don't get enough love. But when the box arrived and I took the dress out of the package, I knew I was in trouble. The print is beautiful irl. and the fabric felt wonderfully smooth but substantial.

OK, I thought, maybe it will not fit. So I put it on.

The print is gorgeous IRL

The fabric is smooth and substantial

It fits perfectly!  I wear size 6 in many J.Crew dresses and sometimes size up to 8 to accommodate my chest. I have ordered size 10 in the Julian dress and I am glad I did. Wrap dresses are adjustable and you can probably fit in about 3 sizes but I recommend the biggest size, especially if your chest is more than a B cup and you don't want to wear a cami.

Tied in the back with unrolled sleeves

I am 34D, 5'6 about 135 lbs.  I wear size 4 in J.crew pencil skirts and my hips are about 36-37 inches, but I did not find it too roomy in the hips or shoulders.

the back view

I had to get over my vanity and order the bigger size. I feels good to order size 6, but 10 just looks so much better. With the extra fabric in front you can easily pin the dress (or install a small snap) to get good coverage and modest enough neckline.

Cuff sleeves make it easy to adjust the length

The dress is unlined but the silk is substantial and does not need it. It feels so good against the skin. It does not cling for some reason. How it does not highlight every lump and bump it is a pure magic.

The sleeves are cuffed and have the printed fabric on inside and outside of about two inch wide cuff.  It makes it look much better when you want to roll up the sleeves, just turn the cuff up and you have 3/4 length sleeves converted to elbow length sleeves.  

There is some extra fabric sort of curving up towards inside around the neckline.  It is not really visible in the pictures but it makes for better coverage and easier pinning.  I may still add a tiny snap to hold the wrap at the crossing point to avoid making holes in the fabric.

Overall, I love it and I will keep it.  It is a kind of dress that makes you wish you'd bump into your High School friends and enemies.

Especially the enemies!

DVF Whisper Silk Scarf

The colors of this scarf are beautiful. The scarf itself is gauzy and airy and can be worn tied in the small knot or big and loose.  

You can tie it pretty small

But is is a good size scarf

The scarf will transform any plain outfit into something photo worthy. The silk has slight sheen to it, which adds interest.


It is light but it also feels quite warm. I think I could wear it on a cold day and be warm around my neck.

This is similar to how they have it styled on the website

I would probably wear it like this

The only con with this scarf is that it seems very delicate. It will snag easily and the self fringe may unravel.

I am on the fence whether I should keep it.  It is truly beautiful, but I am afraid I will snag it and ruin it  quickly. 

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Do you like the dress?

Would you keep the scarf?

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