My mom loves clothes almost as much as I do. But to my chagrin, she hasn’t kept most of the clothes she bought in the 60s, 70s and 80s.
However, the vintage collection that’s survived her cross-country moves is extremely well-curated. (I’ve already discussed one such item, her fringe vintage suede jacket, here.) On my last visit, my mom showed me this ruffled floral number. I immediately thought it was new.
Untrue. It’s actually from the 80s — and it couldn’t feel more contemporary.
The dress is a vintage Norma Kamali and is extremely comfortable. It also looks and feels brand-new, which is a rare feat for vintage clothes. (It’s also a sign of impeccable quality.) The ruffles feel contemporary, and the sleeves drop to reveal a bare-shoulder (aka “cold shoulder”) option.
Despite the ridiculous name, the cold shoulder is one of the hotter trends this season. This serves as a healthy reminder that every SINGLE trend comes back — so if you have the storage space, I wholeheartedly recommend hoarding your designer clothes.
I wore the dress to the first Broadway preview of Hamilton last night. (I heartily recommend seeing it, which should come as no surprise if you read the show’s 5 billion positive reviews.) Because I walked to the theater from my apartment, I opted for flat sandals — although I personally think this dress would look its best with a wedge.
Can you believe this dress is 30+ years old? I’d love to hear if you’re wearing any of your mom’s older clothes!