dresses - The Seventh Sphinx

Periodically there is a certain look or silhouette I have seen, perhaps only briefly, that stays with me for weeks or months, or longer. Haunting me, tugging at some as yet incoherent desire, shaping outfits to come. To determine their appeal is a retroactive exercise.

There are two such looks at the moment (well, a great many more than two, but two dominate), and I wonder if it can be a coincidence that they are both from Carolina Herrera?

This first is from Herrera’s Fall 2013 RTW collection, and a number of the pieces feature this fantastic belt in some form or another. Black and white of course we love, but also the severe structure of the neck and shoulders, the close tailoring from neck to waist, contrasting with the fluidity of the skirt. This was, somehow, the piece that convinced me that it is worthwhile to invest in a truly excellent belt. A belt that can, solely by its own virtues, cocoon the bearer in a halo of sophistication. [Must find an opportunity to show you the one I found.]

This look is reminiscent of Herrera’s own uniform; she is invariably chic and nearly always in a white blouse and black skirt, which she changes occasionally for a black blouse and white skirt (this is a slight exaggeration, I think there is a gray skirt, and sometimes she is in all black…but the exaggeration is only slight, I promise you). I have mentioned before and will surely mention again my devotion to the white buttoned shirt, and I think I’ve covered my current preoccupation with long, full skirts, too. Here they are together! Living in harmony! In two of my favorite colors!

While quite different, the looks share clean lines, simplicity of design, an element of severity, and that maximal contrast.

Herrera is a Venezuelan designer whose brand was built on her own reputation for impeccable style. Her designs are often described as ‘classy’ in a vintage sense of the word that is increasingly rare in usage; the one giving the sense of elegance and grace without any irony or mobster w/ cigar imitation voice. The designs are feminine in the sense of accentuating the waist and incorporating the soft lines of light, fluid fabrics, but they are often (certainly I think in these examples, it varies) stately, too. This is a reserved (and thereby fortified) elegance, which makes it all the more striking, poignant, to my eye.

images via pinterest

As I enjoy a sweater dress, so I enjoy a sweatshirt dress. This combination of a bundled up top and unprotected legs is exactly the kind of contrast I love. The bulkier on top, the better, which means this look will just keep getting better the more coats and scarves I have to pile on top. Eventually I’ll need to incorporate tights, but bare legs are superior because: correct! More contrast.

In my world, contrast = good.

This is another lovely pearl necklace on loan from Lilia’s Treasures Etsy shop, a long strand of golden pink ripple pearls. There are swirling wrinkle-like corrugations all over the surface of the pearls, which are themselves beautifully metallic and reflective. Ripples, like keshis, are yet another option for the modern pearl consumer.

I love longer strands:

You can double them up.

You can knot them or, if the strand isn’t long/small enough, gather them with a broach or ribbon

And they look great loose, too, though you may have some Thoroughly Modern Millie moments.

I’m not always interested in showing much leg – it can be in questionable taste or outright trashy – but with a look like this, the more leg, the more contrast, so all of my favorite shots were those revealing maximum thigh. The legwarmers change the skin:clothing ratio, and somehow that expanse of thigh doesn’t seem as risqué as it otherwise might to me. Somehow, I don’t think twice about it. But then, I do have this trashy streak.