A Sartorial Salute to Madonna

It is with sadness that I confirm that fall has officially begun. Yes, we are about to free-fall into a 7-month stretch of darkness and despair.

But while my Miami-native blood curdles at the sight of anything below 75, these brisk temperatures have a silver lining: Finally — FINALLY! — I got to wear this Stella McCartney silk dress.

Silk Dress: Stella McCartney (Consignment) | Belt: Proenza Schouler (Consignment) | Moto Boots: Melograno (Consignment) | Tights: Hue (Macy's) | Clutch: Coach | Necklace: Love Brigade (circa 2006)
Silk Dress: Stella McCartney (Consignment) | Belt: Proenza Schouler (Consignment) | Chelsea Boots: Melograno (Secondhand) | Tights: Hue (Macy’s) | Clutch: Coach | Necklace: Love Brigade (circa 2006)

I found this secondhand dress over the summer, but its pale coloring is a little too close to my actual skin color. Since I don’t fancy looking like The Walking Flesh Blob, waiting for tights-appropriate temperatures was a must.

This dress has a lot of posh British overtones, with a whiff of equestrian. But it’s also malleable: Depending on accessories, it could easily fall into either the Kate Middleton or Madonna camp. As much as I love the Duchess, I REALLY dig Madge, especially circa the Guy Ritchie union. (Of all Madonna’s incarnations, I enjoyed her faux British lady-of-the-manor schtick the most. Close runner up is the Ray of Light yoga poser pose phase.)

Madonna in a pink Stella McCartney shirtdress (approximately 2009).
Madonna in a nearly identical pink Stella McCartney shirtdress (approximately 2009).

I could have easily worn the dress with a more equestrian (i.e. tall and skinny) boot. Instead, I opted to rough it up with the greatest thing to come out of the UK since Helen Fielding: Chelsea boots. (This particular style was a favorite of The Beatles, my other favorite British export.) My boots were a great find from a secondhand store, but they easily could pass for versions currently available from Alexander Wang, Rachel Comey or Ann Demeulemeester.

Next time I wear this dress, I’ll ramp up the British references with a detachable pussybow and a cropped riding jacket. (I will also be wearing a slip, since the slits seem to flap open whenever a camera is around.)

Do you have a favorite Madonna sartorial period? I want to hear about it!

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