milkmaid braids – okay andie

If I had to decide what my ultimate clothing staple was, it would likely be a white/cream blouse, which is blatantly apparent when you look through my closet; I own a whole slew of them. That might seem a bit excessive, but each one is different, giving me a multitude of options for styling. For me, a white blouse goes with pretty much anything and everything; long and short skirts, layered under a pinafore or sleeveless dress, trousers and shorts, under a sweater, untucked, tucked in, dressed up, casual…the list goes on. White blouses are romantic and timeless, and a really great one is something I will always fall for. The sleeves and neckline of this little number had me at hello and I quickly knew it would be a new favourite. With an air of nobility, I figured I should wear my hair in pseudo-crown (read: milkmaid braids) and photograph it in the most monarch-worthy garden I could find in my fair city. I think this whole look would have been punched up a bit with a floor length skirt, but it was bloody hot and I’ll do a lot of things for fashion, but overheating is not one of them. I often think my British ancestry still very much lives on inside me; I’m generally displeased with the heat and the cold, leaving only those short periods of mild temperatures during the year where I am completely content, which is a constant reminder that I live in the wrong part of the world…but I digress. White blouses, forever.
Blouse c/o Larmoni
Skirt: F21 (similar)
Belt: thrifted
Shoes: Sylvie and Shimmy

I refer to this dress as my Grammy (like Grandma…not the music awards) dress. It’s 80s does 40s which is probably why it’s so appealing to me. I don’t much care for 80s fashion except when it’s pretending to be a different era. The reason I call it my Grammy dress is I feel like in it’s heyday it was worn – but I suspect it wasn’t exactly a “stylish” dress – and then when 80s fashion was passe it got ignored and sent to a thrift store, not being seen for what it really was and to become just another 80s misfit. It has the characteristics of 80s awfulness -.big gaudy flowers, sort of shapeless when on a hanger, the midi length, big shoulders…a perfect mix for a big ol’ pass when browsing a shop, and most likely something most young people would ignore entirely. But I fell in love with the colours, and I love a good midi length dress in the summer that I can just slip on and go about my day, so I gave it a shot and was even more pleased when it seemed to be my size. I really believe you can make almost any article of clothing work if it is styled right. Sometimes you have to give the misfits and Grammies of the world a chance to prove themselves…they may just surprise the heck out of you.