The other night, Kendrick and I were woken around 3:30AM by a ruckus on the street, and immediately flew to the window in panic mode, thinking that someone was being attacked. As it turns out: no, it was nothing more than the regular old hullaballoo of people coming home from bars and clubs…it’s just that those sounds aren’t something we’re particularly familiar with these days. Have to say, it’s a little weird: it feels like it wasn’t that long ago (and it wasn’t) that we were closing down bars with our friends, and now the idea of being awake – let alone out – past midnight is so bizarre that it feels like those must be aliens wandering around the streets…and I’m not sure when that flip happened. I will, however, hazard a guess, and that guess is: February. Sound about right to you?
While being a bit of a homebody feels natural and good right now, I have to admit: I’m sort of looking forward to that night a few months down the line when I can head out to a restaurant with some girlfriends…and then stay out. Past nine. And then maybe go…I don’t know…dancing. The lifestyle changes that come along with pregnancy and motherhood are necessary, and exciting in and of themselves, but sometimes you just need a whiskey with the ladies, am I right?
Of course, you know what will really happen is that I’ll have to be forcibly dragged out to dinner…and then be desperate to get back home to see the baby.
But anyway.
This is all to say I really don’t have many places to wear slinky black dresses lately. But this hyper-sexy jersey number was the perfect time to tackle the challenge of how to take a nighttime dress into twilight-time using the right accessories.
Q. So how do you make something with cutouts and draping work when a club isn’t on the agenda?
A. Just add denim. And stacked heels (not stilettos; I’d actually steer clear of wearing stilettos with dresses like this generally, as I think it’s Sexy On Sexy, which is Too Much Sexy), and a ton of casual jewelry (think natural materials like wood and shell). In a perfect world, I’d also add tights…but not in 90 degree weather, obviously.
This just shows the enormous versatility of LBDs – pretty much the only place you can’t make them look right is, say, Central Park on a Saturday morning. Something about exposed cleavage and coffee doesn’t really go together (unless you’re Walk of Shame-ing, in which case: work it). But other than that, we’re talking one dress; a million fabulous looks.
On me: Persephone dress c/o Holy Tee, Nine West sandals, vintage earrings, vintage rainbow necklace, Lulu’s necklace, vintage clutch.
For this post, I had the opportunity to ask Holy Tee designer Michelle Zacks a few questions about her body-conscious basics:
RG: When buying basics like neutral tees, what should we be looking for?
MZ: I suggest looking for the fabric, fit, and the special little design details that best suit your personality. I personally love a slightly sheer tee, and we use a lot of lightweight jerseys for Holy Tee.
RG: What’s your favorite way to wear a simple white tee?
MZ: A white tee is my go-to for a first date (or a second date)! You can’t go wrong with a great tee and jeans. For summer, an all-white look is cute and refreshing: I’d wear a white tee with a little white eyelet skirt or white jeans.
RG: The Persephone dress is seriously sexy, and the bustier detail makes it so unusual. Do you have any favorite styling suggestions for this piece?
MZ: I wore this dress for a night out in Miami recently — Miami is all-out sexy, so I just went for the dress and a pair of heels! Come fall in New York I’d wear it with tights and a denim jacket over it, so you still have the hint of being bare but it’s a little more “downtown.”
Thanks so much, Michelle!
Holy Tee is available at Shopbop.com. For more retailers, click here.
