What I Wore Sunday, Volume 9

Subtitle: Recycling Your Outfits

This morning for 9:00 Mass I wore a dress/jacket combo (by Virgo II)  that I've had at least, oh I don't know, 12 to 15 years or so--I've had it so long I can't really even remember when I bought it.  I do remember that I found it on the clearance rack at T.J. Maxx for $20 when I was looking for something to wear to the wedding of one of my husband's many cousins.  ( I never forget a really good bargain.)

I love a lot of things about this outfit.  I love the yummy ice blue color.  I love the loose fit of the blouse/jacket and the cut of the dress, with its flattering princess seams.  I love the pleated accents on the cuffs and hem, and the 3/4-length sleeves.

I love it that with the cover-up ("blacket"?  "jouse"?), it's modest enough for Mass...

Awkwardest pose ever!

...but when you remove that and add some snazzy heels and a little bling (which I didn't do here, but you can use your imagination), it becomes a perfect evening wear/wedding reception type of frock.

The only thing I would change about this dress is the length; I would prefer that it fell right below the knees rather than right above them.  (We grandmas tend to steer clear of anything remotely resembling a mini.)  Several times over the past decade, I thought maybe I should donate this possibly-past-its-prime outfit to Goodwill, because it is a tad short and I only wear in once in a blue moon anyway.  But I just can't bring myself to do it, because it's been such a good stand-by for so many occasions over the years.  I think those women's magazine articles that advise you to get rid of anything you haven't worn in the past year are off the mark; as long as you buy pieces that aren't super trendy and they continue to fit, you never know when you might wear them again.

Case in point: I wore today's outfit ten years ago, to my second oldest son's high school graduation in 2003...

...and then to his college graduation in 2010.

However, I did decide today to bring this ensemble into the 21st century by removing the Velcroed-in shoulder pads, so that I would look less like Lynda Evans in "Dynasty."  (Is anyone else out there old enough to remember that 80's-era nighttime soap?  If so, you might recall that the shoulder pads on her dresses were EPIC.)

I also decided to accessorize with a beautiful pin my husband brought back from Moscow some years back.

The image of the Blessed Mother is hand-painted on mother-of-pearl.  Isn't it just exquisite?

Today, I wore my brown lace mantilla (you've seen it before), and there was a little boy of about four or five who was extremely interested in this somewhat uncommon sight.  As he made his way up the aisle with his mom at Communion time, he stared at me with a frown of incomprehension on his little face, and continued staring long after he'd passed by my pew.  He kept craning his neck around until his mother forcibly pushed him forward by the shoulder.  So...my battle with not really loving the idea of "standing out" continues...

Have a blessed Sunday and a great week!  And don't forget to check out the other (read "better") fashions on display over at Fine Linen and Purple.