It’s spring time in the South, which means all the Right Type of Girls are getting out their mallets and their whites in preparation for the first croquet party of the season (there are other girls who are getting out their Princess t-shirts and cut-offs, but those are decidedly NOT the Right Type of Girl and thus are of no interest to us here).
Don’t get me wrong, I love a strict dress code as much as the next girl, and when I have my party later this month I’ll probably wear whites but since I am playing with people who wouldn’t know a wicket if it reached around and fondled their budgies, the gracious hostess takes the broad view of things.
Besides, you’d hate to show up and someone was wearing the same thing:
Instead I recommend seersucker.We already know it’s beyond dapper on a man; I saw the year’s first besuckered gent on Sunday and it made my heart leap for joy. But what about we gals? Wither our waffleweave?
There’s good news. If you can look past the horrendous styling, you can get some excellent quality seersucker for next to nothing.
This is secretly really good. No. It is. I know they styled it for crap and of course you’d never wear the jacket and the dress together, but I love the idea of that jacket over a t-shirt and a cream kid leather skirt, or a pair of brilliant jeans and the dress (hemmed to hit you perfectly, of course) would be prosh with a little cardi or a more structured jacket. Under $25 bucks for the set at Roamans.
I do not approve of those shoes. I do, however, approve of that dress. A dead easy sundress in an interesting take on the seersucker conceit. Seersucker does tend to err on the side of precious, so be sure to toughen it up with disciplined, modern accesories unless you’re going for the Doris Day Patio Party look (which, hey, works for me). Remember, fit is EVERYTHING with these dresses, so be sure to have it altered if it doesn’t fit you like a dream $20 at One Stop Plus.
I’ve got to say that I’m not entirely on board with this dress. I don’t like puff sleeves BUT I have a feeling this –in the navy and white stripe– could really work in person. I like the waist and the shirtdress styling, which you don’t often see in seersucker, from $17 at One Stop Plus.
And of course if you’re wondering how to accessorize, take a cue from Charles Dodgson.
A flamingo is ALWAYS appropriate.
OK, I may be looking at the pictures on a cell phone, but what exactly is wrong with the yellow heels? Are they bad for playing croquet?
Excuse me while I go find my cutoffs…
Comment by dcsurfergirl — March 10, 2009 @ 3:56 pm
I’ve always felt a good hedgehog is an important fashion accessory, flamingoes optional.
Seersucker? Never on my body. But if you’re going to do it, these are definitely the way.
Comment by Twistie — March 10, 2009 @ 7:31 pm
Takes me back to college.
Image a sunny spring afternoon, a string quartet, and a hundred sorority girls in big hats and sundresses bearing mallets.
Makes me long for a Long Island Ice Tea.
Comment by jojokaffe — March 12, 2009 @ 6:00 pm