21 April 2009

Four Ways - Black Silk Tunic

July 1935

I have a pretty regular routine down whenever I visit one of my local thrift stores. As soon as I walk in the door I grab a shopping cart (I'm Southern so I actually call it a "buggy" much to the amusement of the Yanks I live amongst). Then I start to fill it with anything and everything that looks even mildly interesting. I don't bother checking for flaws or stains or fit. By the time I get through the store I usually have a buggy full of clothes, shoes and assorted household goodies. Then the work begins. I sort through each piece, looking over it carefully and usually end up keeping about a third of what I picked up. The last time I was there I found this black silk dress. When it was time to sort through my finds I was see-sawing back and forth over whether to keep it or put it back. It was really long and sort of shapeless but the 100% silk fabric and the pretty pintucks kept tempting to put it in the keep pile. It wasn't until after I got it home that I realized it was reminding me of some of the silk pieces I'd been admiring in the Lyell collection. I ended up chopping about 8 inches off the bottom and happily hung it in my closet. Here's how I plan on wearing it...
b
  • For daytime black accessories seemed a bit dour so I mixed in some brown to make it feel lighter.
  • The fabric is so soft and draping it's perfect to wear belted as a shirt with jeans.
a
  • It becomes my blouse and my slip when I wear it tucked into a slightly sheer high waisted cotton skirt.
  • For a night look (as if I ever go out at night!) I paired it with sheer tights, heels and a little embroidered purse.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow I never would've been able to figure out how to salvage that yet this looks fantastic! love all of the ways to wear it!

Gabriela Ciobanu said...

great piece!
http://lapetiteloulou.blogspot.com/

Poke Salad Annie said...

what a stylish piece! the decision to keep it was a good one!

Casey said...

What a gorgeous find! I always love taking things I've thrifted and breathing new life into the pieces--even just by shortening a hem! :) I have a similar dress (although it's an antique nightgown), and your outfits gave me a couple ideas of new ways to wear it!

What we four say said...

Very cute! dress! I use the same method at the thrift stores, it works well. Here in SF, you have to be on top of it. That way is the best way to not waste time and lose out on the great pieces.

ana maggie said...

lovely! there all great!!!

Unknown said...

so pretty! that is one of my favorite lyell collections, and you recreated the look perfectly. i especially love the way you styled the dress in pictures 1 & 3 :)

Luna : said...

such a diverse item your styling skills are amazing :-D

Meaghan Kelly said...

i love your four ways posts! they are so awesome!

Anonymous said...

its gorgeous, i absolutely love it + it looks great every way you've styled it xx

Lexie said...

i love how it fits belted! great find - you have such an eye!

Jessica said...

i always love your four ways posts, this one especially! what a great find.

Eyeliah said...

fantastic, really love #1 and #3. :-)

anja louise said...

All of the looks are awesome. I'm really loving silk lately but have yet to find just the right thing. It sounds like our shopping methods are exactly the same... it's always so sad when you find out there's a stain at the end of the trip! Back on the racks it goes.

Jules said...

Oh yes,this is so great..;D
And i love how you wear it in four ways..
Amazing..;D

Rebecca, A Clothes Horse said...

These 4-way posts of yours are so great and that is such a nice piece!

MakMonas said...

OMG...4 in 1 and its so perfect! love it !!

Ringo, have a banana! said...

Absolutely perfect!

Every Little Counts said...

i really love it with the jeans and belt...i am envious :)

where are those jeans from? really cute!

platformshoesandwintercoat said...

Not related to this post, but are you still looking for a boater? I saw one that looks like the one that you posted of the one you wanted. It's cheap, but there's no size selections, so not sure how it would fit.

http://www.fantasycostume.net/hatscostume.html

Lindsay said...

please know that i am obsessed with your blog.

Unknown said...

Oh that was so informative post.How to wear a dress in four great ways..;D

Anonymous said...

LOVE the black turban. i've got one in blue!

Kelley Anne said...

I just had to tell you how much I loooove this post! I have a tunic that's too short for me to wear as a dress. I'm never sure how to wear it, but got some great ideas from your outfits. Thanks!

Danielle said...

I LOVE all four ways to wear it!! They are all so different, it looks like a new piece each time!

Sally Jane Vintage said...

Thank you so much for all of your comments!

I’m trying to do more 4 Ways posts as I know that you all enjoy them. 

Anja Louise: I know what you mean. I’m always sad to discover my favorite piece has a stain or a hole.

Every Little Counts: The jeans are vintage Jordache. Thanks!

platformshoesandwintercoats: Thanks for the link! I’ll be sure to check it out.

Grace said...

Gorgeous find!

Love. Gracie.

Piglet said...

In NZ we call it a shopping trolley. The signs say "trundler" but I've never once heard anyone say trundler!
Love the stying option for the black tunic.

devaneante said...

LBD Forever! It's a fantastic and beautiful piece, and it is very interesting all the different ways and contexts that you introduce it. ;)

Laurel said...

The jeans look is my favorite. :)

Great post!

Julia said...

I like all four ways to wear a tunic. I will certainly try my own.