Today’s outfit is one of those “keep scrolling down” looks. It starts off normal… and then POW.
See what I mean?
This is my attempt to nail the LAYER EVERYTHING YOU OWN trend. For this iteration, I wore my Derek Lam shirtdress (last seen here) over wide-legged pants, with an extra swaddling of cashmere for good measure.
This specific outfit also has faint echoes of a shalwar kameez, a traditional Tamil style that incorporates a long tunic over trousers. (I wear them whenever I go to Indian functions with my husband and his family.) I absolutely adore a shalwar kameez, equating the style with romance and adventure. (Consider the fact that Princess Diana rocked a shalwar kameez as a coded message to her secret lover, Hasnat Khan. I’m a sucker for that stuff.)
But this outfit is also a shining example of the Style Pragmatist ethos: Leveraging a summer dress for autumn in a completely new way. (Better to actually USE the dress than to let it languish in a vacuum-sealed bag under the bed, am I right?)
However, this outfit was not without its pitfalls. It’s also a poignant reminder that it is difficult to replicate street style looks. Here was my inspiration:
The model’s shirtdress is much longer than mine and made with a heavier fabric, so it HANGS. My shorter, all-cotton version is featherlight, so it BILLOWS. The model also has long sleeves — perfect for cuffing — while my dress has short sleeves, which can bunch up under an additional sweater layer.
On the plus side? My outfit looked rather elaborate and elegant — when I was sitting down. It’s also very forgiving post-Chipoltle bean bowl.
What do you think of these proportions? Would you wear a long shirtdress over trousers? Let me know what you think in the comments, or head over to Facebook.