The Once a Year Dress

by Retro Chick
July 25, 2016
11 Comments
2 minutes read
152 Views
8 years ago

Any guide to clearing out your wardrobe always contains instructions to get rid of anything you haven’t worn for a year.

Personally I think that’s way too short a time. This dress, for instance. I am certain I never wear it more than once a year, but I love it and it’s not going anywhere.

The only reason I don’t wear it more often is that there needs to a very specific convergence of situations that make a super bright, strapless, vintage prom dress with net underskirts appropriate attire.

Lets face it, this is not the sort of dress one wears to pop to the pub on a slightly drizzly Thursday in June, or fling on to pop to the shop.

No, this super bright, strapless, vintage prom dress needs the convergence of glorious sunshine, and a planned jaunt where I want to look a bit fancy. To wear the dress more often I have been known to interpret the second rule pretty loosely.

On Sunday I was just going out for lunch. Nowhere fancy, but the sunshine was bright enough to give the dress its opportunity. So I seized it!

The weather was stupidly hot. A head scarf to keep my hair out of the way, and sunglasses to hide the fact that my make up slid off the minute I left the house were essential accessories.

I also wore bamboo hoop earrings. I note that hoop earrings are on the list of things I shouldn’t be wearing after 30, so that’s another score. Super bright, strapless, vintage prom dresses I note are missing from the list. I assume that apart from the earrings this is a totally age appropriate outfit. Which is a little disappointing if I’m honest.

We went to Revolucion de Cuba for lunch and a frozen daiquiri. The bar is air conditioned, so I actually felt a bit chilly for about the first time in 3 weeks.

It was strangely refreshing. Remind me I said that in January.

So that’s this years outing for the once a year dress. It also went to see Ghostbusters. Honestly if we’d planned to go to the cinema I may have worn something different as it’s not the best sitting down dress, what with the net under skirts and the boned bodice. But hey, what can you do? Ghostbusters was an awesome film, so it distracted me from my inappropriate attire.

The dress got its first outing on the blog for a picnic back in 2010, and then another in 2012. It also made a guest appearances on Instagram in 2013 and 2014.

So I shall let this dress be the one that breaks the rules. Even though at least a year frequently goes by between wears. This vintage prom dress is staying exactly where it is.

So there.

♦ Dress – Vintage ♦ Headscarf – Bad Kitty ♦ Shoes – Irregular Choice * ♦
♦ Bamboo Jewellery – Lady Lucks Boutique ♦ Sunglasses – Derek Cardigan* ♦

11 Comments

Fiona July 25, 2016

I personally have dresses I haven’t worn in years cos I can’t fit into them, I have reduce the amount but some I cannot part with as I know they are in reachable sizes, so they will stay stored away until the day I know I’ll never get there, or I’m too old to wear said dresses (I’m talking 90!). I think when clearing your wardrobe out the things that should go are the ‘I rarely wear it and wouldn’t wear it again’ they go, everything else stays!
Ann July 25, 2016

What a lovely colourful summer dress! And I don’t believe in getting rid of anything you haven’t worn for a year either. xxx
Ev July 25, 2016

Love that dress!
http://www.evdaily.blogspot.com
Anthea July 25, 2016

Such an amazing dress!! And you look amazing in these pictures. I don’t know what it is, but you look really confident and happy!
Janet Colwell July 25, 2016

Totally agree! If I got rid of all my special occasion dresses that I haven’t worn in a while, I’d have nothing to wear when one of those occasions arose. I love dressy dresses but as someone who works from home, I’m usually in extremely casual attire! Love your vintage prom dress!
Suzanne July 25, 2016

Good for you!

Sometimes it is the dress that forces us to get out of the house and take advantage of the weather while we can. Jeans and a tee wouldn’t make me move off the couch, but this lovely vintage piece? It puts a smile on everyone’s face.

bisous
Suzanne
jessica July 26, 2016

This should definitely be a twice a year dress, at the very least! It’s just too fun. Love the vibrant colors and the print, it’s definitely one to pull out any time you’ve got some sunshine.
Mim McDonald (@crinolinerobot) July 26, 2016

That list of things not to do over the age of 30 is daft. Actually, the site with that list on is daft – it seems to think anyone over 30 needs to stop having fun and just die already. I’m not so sure getting rid of stuff you haven’t worn for a year is any more sensible. As you say, there are always things that will be worn again, when the right occasion comes along. You look ace in that dress and hoop earrings; keep following your own star.
Alice July 27, 2016

Stunning! I love this fabulous print and this dress is pure LOVE! It suits your figure so so well!
Theresa Campbell July 27, 2016

That is a keeper for sure! Love the colors and print. But I understand what you mean about thinking there aren’t a lot of occasions to wear it. I have some dresses like that as well. Usually I’ll put a little cardigan over them and wear with ballet flats to give them a more casual look. Then it looks just fine for even a day out of shopping!
Hint August 6, 2016

🙂 It is so sweet! In India a lot of dresses is one for the Year! You can wear the same dress almost all of year – weather the same, peoples the same, feeling the same :))