When I found this garment in my local thrift shop I thought it was a strapless dress. When I got it home and tried it on, it was apparent I had purchased a skirt. No mind. I hauled out my trusty uni-suspender and MADE it be a strapless dress - so now it's a skress, wearable as a skirt or a dress.
Details of the outfit
- skirt (skress) called "Modern Day Geisha" in "Watercolour Print," Spring 2012 sample, Debbie Shuchat design, with tags, retail $195. Moi? $15
- black boat-neck under T, thrifted
- uni-suspender worn halter style, made it
- quilted cotton biker jacket, sample sale
- red wool beret, thrifted
- black tights, retail
- ankle boots, retail way back
- magic loupe and pendant, O made them for me
This skirt feels all silky wonderful and it was made in Canada. I love the bias cut and twirliness. Swish, swish, swish, oooh, feeel my legs! Even the earthworms came crawling out to see this promise-of-spring skress.
This outfit will just squeak in for Patti's fantastic Visible Monday. Yay!
I have been invisible in the blogging world recently. I'll be in and out for the next month or so as well...duty calls. Also, I just realized that a couple of days ago marked one year of exposure on my blog. What a scary step it was starting Bag and a Beret. Tremendous hugs to all of you for making this such a rewarding experience!! You guys are the BEST! I'd like to do a Thoughtful post, but it must wait...Still you all shine and shine and shine. Stay warm or cool, as the case may be... And stay GORGEOUS!
I am a super big fan of skresses. Thanks for giving them a name. Yours is divine! I can't imagine what it's like as a skirt though - must be awfully long and fabulously trail-y. Great look and congrats on the year.
ReplyDeleteLet me do all the thoughtful stuff on this occasion love, coz I don't know where I'd be without you in Bloglandia - you fecking rock my world!!!! A skress made in Canadia?! I'm guessing that's as rare an occurrence these days as it is here in Oz. And the uni-suspender came out to play again!! No wonder Mother Nature went completely nuts - she needs more gawwwwwwjusss bints in such attire to encourage her entourage to go wild and sow their oats once more!! xoxoxoxoxo
ReplyDeleteSomething else for you to patent, along with the uni-suspender, now your 'skress' as well. And what a skress to launch the inauguration of the word. Mmm, I'm craving Spring and wild blooming. What a great first year of Bag and a Beret - blooming marvellous in fact.
ReplyDeleteLong live the skress. I have a couple of these might be dress/ might be skirt garments and it is good to be able to get extra mileage out of them. I can well see why the earthworms came to have a look at your wonderful spring-time flowers. And a bargain. Well, that's always good, isn't it? Nice to see you again on the blogging pages. Yer fans, we've missed you!
ReplyDeleteMuch love from Rosemary in England,
www.foreveronthecatwalkoflife.blogspot.com
I'll shine as long as you do lovey!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a year of blogging!! The skirt is lovely-- I can't believe it's a skirt, though!! That must be super model length lolzzz!
ReplyDeleteLooking gorgeous as always, that skress is divine!
ReplyDeleteOh, I totally feel where those flowers and worms are coming from, all universal urge to helplessly fling ourselves onto stupendously magnetic you! Whee!!!
ReplyDeleteI wanna skress! You look like a flower garden dancing on a spring breeze. Actually, you smell good, even on the Internetz :P
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you started your blog. Your style, your writing, and VogOff make my day.
Love, peace & grace,
Lynne
I love your skress especially now I know it's got the uni-suspender attached!
ReplyDeleteHooray for 1 year of blogging, it's always a joy when your blog pops up in my side bar. Thoughtful's far too grown up, stay as fun & fabulous as you are. xxx
Beautiful skress Melanie! I love Debbie Shuchat. Used to have a fab red wool flowy skirt with the waist the size of a napkin holder - alas, got rid of it when my waist expanded! I kept a lovely vest by the same that was a sample, like yours. Thanks for featuring a Canadian designer and making me feel a wee bit closer to home! And happy blog-o-versary! Xo
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful skress, the geisha flowers are stunning, you should be on a pedestal in a Kyoto temple so you could bless everyone with the 'lucky find' gift!! Congratulations for your first 'blogversary'I'm waiting for more to come, it's always a great pleasure to stop here!
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A beautiful dress! I have a Debbie Shuchat jacket that I've had for years and still love (metallic bronze, in a fabric that twists and wrinkles and holds it shape very weird-cool, like a liquid or malleable metal). Congrats on your blog-o-versary!
ReplyDeleteLove it ... love you. Trying to stay gorgeous but never as gorgeous as you. Happy blogoversary! M x
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine my blog life without you- just a year- it feels like I've always known you.
ReplyDeleteSkress- I need to borrow this term- I love wear skirts as dresses! I need a uni-spender!
Hooray for the glorious skress! Who needs label? You are gorgeous and glowing, and thanks for linking up!
ReplyDeleteThat is beeeeeeauuuuutiful! I must say, we sure don't have such zealous flowers down here. It must be the dampness holding them down, or I don't wear enough white.
ReplyDeleteOh what a beautiful skress! Look at the flowers, the colours, the swirly twirliness of it! I love seeing you laughing too, Melanie, clothes that make us smile are GOOD!
ReplyDeleteA year? Has it only been a year? It does feel as though you have been around in the blogging sisterhood for longer, you are such an integral and joyful part of it. I agree it is scary starting out, but it soon seems like a natural, effortless conversation with a bunch of soul sisters.
Congratulations. And keep blogging please, when you can, I miss you! xxxxx
Yea, Spring has sprung on you to celebrate your first year of bagging and beret-ing. And many happy returns too. Where would we all be without...perish the thought! Here's to another day, do-do-do-do-do-do.
ReplyDeleteAh Melanie, so nice to see your sunshine-y post today! Your 'skress' is like a beautiful watercolour painting and just what we need at this time of year.
ReplyDeleteYour skress and all the other peices of clothing you rework into something always leave me a little speechless. I really think you are a true artist when it comes to you clothes. No wonder spring has sprung! Congrats on 1 year!
ReplyDeleteXXOO
I am not surprised at all. I would have done exactly like the flowers, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
ReplyDeleteYou are so wonderful, dear friend.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A bouquet of flowers has attacked you, how beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI need a hint of spring too, maybe I should wear my simple white dress tomorrow. We'll see what happens.
I was going to email you and say... hey, where are you?! but here you are, trailing spring in your wake. Utterly delicious skress, you'll be floating around in it for the next few months. Obviously the red beret is a must. Lovely to see you again! xxx
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your blogiversary! What was the person thinking who donated yoour skress? Ah well, all the better for you :-)
ReplyDeleteOh happiness has been a year of reading, seeing and just being so inspired by you lovely Miss Melanie!!!!!! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteNow said skress is a floaty wonder of spring happiness!!!!!! The flowers must have decided to be taken on a journey of walking on clouds with you.
Love V
Happy Blogaversary!!!!!! Your skress is fabulous!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo happy you are out there blooming and attracting earthworms. We all just LOVE YA!!!
ReplyDeleteConnie*
gorgeous, lovely skirt--and just in time Melanie! I needed some SPRING! It's so revolting out lately. My back yard has turned into a mud pit. Grr. Congratulations on your one year of being charming, lovely and fabulous in the blog world!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the dress/skirt. I love pieces that can be used as multiple things. I'm eyeing a maxi skirt right now wondering what I can use to hike it up as a dress.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to have you in the blogging world! It's been awesome getting to know you and being inspired by your amazing looks.
Happy blog anniversary and I LOOOOVE your skress! Gorgeous pic, the movement and light and mostly, your glorious sunrise of a smile!
ReplyDeleteSarah xxx
O the dress, Plus your beret!
ReplyDeleteYou know what I mean... :)
LOVE it! I just finished a post on flowered pants. Do we all have spring fever? Its so cute how you thought it was a strapless... it must have been owned before by a giantess?
ReplyDeleteYour skirt is beautiful. Have fun and be fulfilled in the life and projects of your other world.
ReplyDeleteOh! And Happy Blogging Anniversary!
awesome dress! you look charming as usual and very fresh!
ReplyDeleteLyosha
Inside and Outside Blog
And happy blogaversary!
DeleteLovely dress, I'm a sucker for florals! Congratulations on a year of blogging x
ReplyDeletepacificrobin.blogspot.co.uk
Happy anniversary! Your posts are such a treat - always a magical story and some unexpected clothing combinations (skress!). You must see these things through your magic loupe. And lucky you that the flowers were immediately attracted to your light!
ReplyDeleteThe skirt, sorry, skress, looks great with those boots, and the jacket gives it a Melanie edge that is so cool!
Hi Melanie . . .Congratulations on your anniversary, we both starting blogging about the same time:) It is a marvelous adventure, with new friends around every corner. I am very glad that I found your blog, it always brightens my day . . . you must be a very fun loving person.
ReplyDeleteI am delighted that I could remind you of national wear red day. I hope that you post your red outfit. It must be fun visiting your fanciful closet . . . a treasure chest of delight.
Have a marvelous day, here's to a healthy heart.
Your blogging sister, Connie :)
Thoughtful or unthoughtful (never!) you are a treasure, a joy, a friend!! I love the perfect combination of swirly/flowery with the accent of the "tougher" jacket. Your beret is sitting at such a cute angle today and your smile is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGod time flies! Congrats 1 year old ! Many more i hope!
ReplyDeleteGreat that you made that skirt a dress i like the suspenders idea, i have suspenders maybe i can use them more often!
you are so darn cute!
Take care of yourself
Ariane xx
Congratulations on the first year of blogging - looking forward to many more! Also congratulations on finding the gorgeous Skress! Spring flowers are just what we need now, with all the snow and ice outside.
ReplyDeletePreciosa falda!!!!
ReplyDeleteSaludos
http://judithbysucre.blogspot.com.es
It's a dress now! And if you say it is.
ReplyDeleteAppealing, the whole ensemble ... enjoy Spring, and
I know you'll wear it often and in other ways.
(Just a guess!)
Congratulations Melanie, on one year of sharing your talents, artistry, wit and now your skress with us. Beautiful flowers which speak the promise of spring. You are always a vision, no matter the season.
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog from over at visible monday and so delighted that I did. What an inspiring woman you are. Absolutely love the skress, and the name as well. Looking forward to following you.
ReplyDeletehurrah for your trusty uni-suspender and all your dress twirliness, you look perfectly floral wearing that jacket and faux-dress combo, love your beret and fabulous booties!
ReplyDeletebesos & flores
Don't forget about us! I've missed you :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy first birthday to your blog-baby! So glad to have found you and have been inspired by your creativity and wit for the last year. I love that skress, and would have been inclined to throw myself at you if I had passed you on the street ;) I really like some of Debbie Shuchat's stuff - a marvelous find!
ReplyDeleteWow that skirt is lovely!
ReplyDeleteYou look darling as always! Have missing your shining words and awesome outfits. Please do not let too much duty keep you from sharing your world with us. That would be the worst duty of all.
ReplyDeleteThat is one stunning skress! Great new word for it! And I love your smile, Melanie, you look glorious. A very happy first birthday to your blog, you're an inspiration to us all!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your year... and many thanks for the creative inspiration you share with the world!
ReplyDeleteStunning skress, I like it very much. Happy blogiversary...time does fly when you're having fun.
ReplyDeleteHere's to may more.
xxxx
I like this idea of "skress", it looks great on you. Congrats on blogging anniversary
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