Thursday, January 13, 2011

Seemed Like a Good Idea

I've had this shawl for a dozen years, I think. My mom got it from a friend who went to India (probably someone visiting family). It's in my favorite color combination. It's a lightweight wool & very soft. But don't wear scarves very often, plus this one is huge -- very wide & long.

I often thought it would make a great shawl with a Regency costume, except that's my least-favorite historical era (though I have read all of Jane Austen's books & seen most every film adaption). Empire-waist dresses are just so unflattering on me.

What to do with this beautiful shawl then? It's been languishing in a drawer, & I've worn it perhaps twice. Then I saw all these great belted scarf looks on fashion blogs, like A. on Academichic, who has made it her signature style. Maybe that would make this shawl thing work ... & it did, at least for photos!

But all day, the shawl slipped around out of the belt as I moved my arms (& I sit at a computer, it's not like I'm doing jumping-jacks). It was just too fussy. This might be fine for, say, an evening out or a party -- basically, a few hours of an event where I won't be annoyed by it very long (or I'd have a cocktail to distract me). Not great for workdays.


What I'm wearing:
Black knit long-sleeve dress, Newport News
Black & burgundy wool Indian shawl, gift from my mom
Black elastic belt with leather ruffle detail, NY & Co.
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Black Indigo pumps, Clarks
Silver filigree pendant necklace, vintage Avon
Silver hoop earrings, random accessory store
Cabernet lipstick, Tarte
Raving Egotist eyeshadow (named after me! but discontinued), Amphigory

16 comments:

  1. It's a beautiful idea. I have a dress that looks great with a belt, but with any movement at all it starts to move away from the appropriate seam in the dress and ends up making me look very frumpy. Oh, the perils belt fashion.

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  2. The shawl is beautiful. I can see why you would want to find a way to wear it.

    I am too distracted by your nails however to give you any advice. Great color. Looks great in your other posts too.

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  3. I love the look, but it sucks that it wasn't practical and kept shifting around. Maybe you/we/I could figure out something like stitching it into a poncho shape to help keep it on your shoulders... I know that cutting into it would be difficult, though. But not wearing it is even sadder!

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  4. You look a bit like a corporate fortune teller. I think its beautiful--and warm looking--but yea, I can see why you wouldn't want to wear it for long.

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  5. It looks beautiful. Could it be pinned into a wrap skirt? It looks wide enough to be work-appropriate.

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  6. OH! Another idea: Stitch it into a caftan style dress like that paisley one you have. If you're never going to wear it as a shawl, you might as well sew it into something you will wear.

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  7. I love shawls. I love the look of them, the feel of them.

    I never, ever wear them. They are too much of a pain. I have never found a way to wear them without having to babysit them the whole time. I'll be very interested if you come up with something!

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  8. It is a gorgeous shawl, but when I saw the first pic I was expecting you to say you'd made it into a skirt! That's what I think you should do with it.

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  9. It looks great - could you pin it at the shoulders or something to keep it in place? I have a bunch of shawls like that, and I ended up using them as outerwear scarves with my raincoat or wooly coat.

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  10. Wow, that looks fantastic! I'm sorry it was uncomfortable, though, but it looks great. :)

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  11. Gorgeous <3

    Everyone loves This Is Corp Goth! I wondered if you had seen the nice things Laurel at Blind Goth often says about your blog: http://blindgoth.blogspot.com/2011/01/this-is-corp-goth.html

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  12. Thanks for all the comments & ideas (Hexotica - "corporate fortune teller" was totally how I felt ;-). I am definitely thinking of sewing it into something else now; that hadn't occurred to me, but I've had the piece for so long & *not* been able to wear it, why not try to sew it into something I *will* wear? The material is so beautiful, it's a shame to have it sit in a drawer.

    And I know my mom would love to see what I've done with it (I get my craftiness from her ;-)

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  13. very flattering- looks great on you!
    <3 mode.
    http://modestylist.blogspot.com

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  14. what a great idea indeed! must try this soon! love the color of that shawl, so gaw-juz!

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  15. I like it belted! I think it's completely aces. And your right about that color combination - it suits you perfectly and looks lovely.
    Oh, and about your comment on my blog regarding negative comments: You're absolutely right! People love to be negative! Sometimes, I can't even believe the things people say (type) when they are responding to news stories or YouTube videos or whatever. I think the Internet emboldens a lot of people!

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