Patchouli Princess

Well, hello, Late 1970s, Holly Hobby, and the Back-to-the-Land Hippy movement!  The Patchouli Patchwork print tips its cap to them all and I love every blessed square on it.  There are prints I love but just can't afford unless they find their way to the dupe rack and fortunately this Patchouli Patchwork print eventually did.  I debated it so many times but could just never bring myself to plunk down the cash for the original style but at a tenth of the price, I could totally afford this dress and I'm glad it's now mine because I really do adore the print even if it is somewhat eccentric.

Babydoll puff dresses are not the most flattering style on me.  They're so short I feel almost indecent, and so puffy I feel like I'm drowning in organza, and yet I love the prints so I brave the puffs, even if they're not quite my size and scandalously short.  There's always a work-around if you want something bad enough, so after much thought, I have found a way to comfortably wear this dress.

This particular puff I had to take in a couple of inches at the bust and waist to get a better fit and because it is so short, I thought my rust corduroy shorts with fleece lined tights and thigh high boots would be the perfect accessories for maximum coverage.

This is my first time trying these fleece-lined tights and Wow!  Why hasn't someone invented these sooner?!  They're fantastic!  They look like sheer hosiery on bare skin, but they're actually a sheer finish on top of a layer of fleece so your legs look bare and stay warm.  I love them, and because I'm not showing any actual skin, not only do I stay warmer, but I feel more confident because I know I'm covered.

Now that I have finally discovered the way to wear these sheer organza mini-dresses and stay warm through layering, fleece tights, and high boots, I think I'll wear them on every date night all winter long!  

I know I have tons of dresses and people, on Youtube in particular, like to ask what I do with them all.  The answer is I wear them, sell them, or donate them, but mostly, I wear them.  I wear the cotton dresses to work.  I wear the organza and lace dresses to every holiday, special event, and party.  And I don't care how others are dressed.  I wear what makes me happy and I wear it all the time.  

Even on days when I don't particularly feel like dressing up, I usually convince myself by saying that life is short and I enjoy it so much more when I wear something lovely.  If that fails to motivate me, I follow it with the simple mantra:  Dress like you'll be a ghost in these clothes.   That's usually the ticket.

Although, to add to that, I recently read a quote from the late great Vivienne Westwood, "You have a more interesting life if you wear impressive clothes."   And I have found it to be true.  When I dress up, I meet more people, act more confidently, and generally just enjoy life more than if I were dressed down.  It may all be psychological, but it works, so why not.

Shopping info:  Patchwork Dress-$24, shorts and boots from Forever 21, Fleece tights-$13 from Walmart