5.11.12 Outfit: Colorblock Top and Demure Bottom

Colorblock Chiffon Top: DIY of a thrifted top (tutorial here)

Leopard-Print Bra: Warners (similar here)

Rings: from Japan; Cartier, Tiffany

Clear Bangle: unknown

Black Box Clutch: no label, thrifted

All-In-One Dress (worn as a Midi-Length Skirt): Norma Kamali

Metallic-Heel Low-Heeled Velvet Pumps: R&E

This year low-heeled shoes are back, and though I’m usually drawn to super-high heels I decided to give my feet a reprieve with this low pair. The chunky, shiny heel adds a bit of glamour to something that looks unusually Puritan. I decided to continue in this demure manner and add a midi-length skirt to pair with the semi-sheerness on top. Technically this skirt is a dress, and when worn as a skirt it is a maxi, but a bit of careful tying and folding at the waist and it works as a mini, too. I bought it at Spiegel.com a very, very long time ago…and then it was available at Wal-Mart for a time….and now it’s at KamaliKulture.com or to be found on Ebay. It was one of the best purchases I’ve ever made, as I can wear it in tons of different combinations (a mini-dress with long sleeves, a sleeveless tube, a one-shouldered dress, a maxi-skirt etc.) and after all these years it still hasn’t faded or stretched out.

Another happy find at my local Goodwill: this sweet little jewel-clasped box clutch! I like to imagine that it has some amazing history behind it…that it was carried to the Metropolitan Opera by some unknown woman of 40 years ago reeking of perfume and chicness.