My husband, a born-and-bred New Jersey guy, constantly tells people I am from the South. I vehemently deny this. A native Miamian, I can confidently proclaim that Floridians are an anomaly of geography: Once you hit the Florida state line, the legendary Southern hospitality, cuisine and accent fade to Disney World, Cuban sandwiches and surfer culture.
So I was a little chagrined when I cobbled together this outfit, which is super-Southern — on steroids. If you delete the Manhattan background, this could pass as Tri-Delta’s Bid Day at Auburn University.
The aesthetic was purely accidental: I started with the floral dress, which I snapped up earlier this summer at an EV consignment store. It’s the perfect summer dress, but it wasn’t designed for the office: the neckline dips a little too far South, and there are spaghetti straps. I masked these problems with the huge pearl necklace and lace shrug.
During the summer, I stay away from cardigans and blazers, which seem too heavy for frothy dresses. This shrug was a great compromise, and its knitted pattern complements the dress’ needlepoint print. I still wonder if it’s a little TOO “matchy-matchy.” I can only hope my tattoos lend a tough vibe.
Speaking of tough, these $100 orange Prada slingbacks have been sartorial warriors: They’re built like TANKS and can withstand substantial city wear. If you’re ever wavering on a designer shoe purchase, I urge you to look closely at the shoes’ material: this nubby, textured leather has retained its sunny color and resisted wear-and-tear for years, making the purchase a savvy investment.