Dream Dress

Aren't you getting dizzy from reading about all the dresses this month? Because I am. Well, as they said in a famous Russian cartoon - only two dresses to go. Or maybe three. :)

This dress came to me literally from my dreams. It is exactly what I hoped to find at the thrift or consignment stores while browsing this Spring, but alas - no such luck. When I saw it on Lane Bryant's web site, I thought it was a little expensive, and because it was an online exclusive, I did not have a chance to try it on and decide. So I fell in love but let the dress slip through my fingers - it was gone from the web pretty quick! I went back later to check it a couple of times, but it wasn't there. I finally decided that if it made a return for any crazy reason, I was not going think for too long, I would just buy it. At that point, I saw so many dresses and did not see anything like this one. Go figure. It's not like I was looking for something out of this world! Just a pretty, light, feminine floral dress which feels like Spring! Was it too much to wish for?

Photo credit: Lane Bryant

 A few weeks later, after I had decided that I was gonna buy it no matter what the price, the dress luckily appeared again on the web ... but only in one size! Crazy, yes? Totally dude. I think the palms of my hands got sweaty and shaky when I finally saw the dress. I grabbed it as fast I could, before it slipped through my sweaty fingers again. But I did not completely loose my mind, and remembered to use a $25 off coupon I'd received in a catalog (practically a new pair of shoes - not a bad discount). Next came the waiting for my dream dress arrive... Waiting eagerly! Again, luck was with me and it arrived a couple of days early. It was way more beautiful than my dream, and definitely more beautiful than the photo on the web. If only it would fit me.  I put the dress on... Miracle! The only size which was offered ... fit me perfectly! I was dancing and giggling!  

  

The dress has spaghetti straps, and I am wearing it with my old Lane Bryant shrug to help me to solve the whole strapless bra dilemma. I probably don't do it right, but they just look so wonky on my body - I burst out laughing when I try them on. How do you wear strapless or spaghetti strap clothing?

This dress brought back some childhood memories to me... I remember watching this popular Russian romantic comedy, and one of the female characters seemed so impossibly beautiful when she appeared in a white dress of similar design!

Vacation at One's Own Expense ("Отпуск за свой счет"), USSR, 1982 

Take a quick look at the way this gorgeous dress moves (just move to the 26:25 and watch for 25 seconds)

Obviously, my dress is a bit different, but it's in the same spirit though and reminds me a lot of the early 1980s fashion which I remember admiring as a little girl (I remember for instance that leather clogs with metal nails and wooden platforms were very popular, and my cousin and I were crazy about them - we knew all the pretty fashionistas, young women in our little town, who wore them! We were between the age 7 and 10 at the time!). 

I wore the dress here with my usual green jewelry plus a set of filigree and finift (enamel) Russian jewelry which I bought from a wonderful Russian lady a few years ago while doing art shows. I thought that I also would show you the details of my purse this time - one of a few green purses and one of a few B Makowsky purses I own. I really like the quality and designs of this brand - it's always soft leather and great quality, thoughtful hardware. They are not the most expensive lady's purses, but still pricey for my preferences, and I only buy them on a good sale at TJ MAXX.

Do you think this could be the inspiration for my dress?

Dress and shrug - Lane Bryant (similar dress in sizes US 14-26 still available here). Sandals - Born (via Nordstrom Rack). Purse - B Makowsky (via TJ MAXX, old). Jewelry - variety, including Russian traditional hand painted enamel earrings + necklace set 

What about you? Do you have a story of a dream dress in your wardrobe? :)

Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday!