It's a fine line…

…between fashion-y and costume-y, and sometimes, it's really fun to toe it.


Friday dawned the most gorgeously warm and sunny day I felt like I had seen in years. (I'm sorry, Singapore and Beijing, but you are not known for Absolutely Perfect Weather, what with your steamy tropical location and rampant pollution, respectively.) My favorite D.C. shopping partner Cathy – who recently proved her mettle by completing a marathon thrifting trip with me and finding me the most unbelievably gorgeous Tuleh dress during said trip – decided to meet in the late afternoon for a stroll through Georgetown, to soak in the sun and search for some Famous-Author-Appropriate Outfits she will definitely need when her fantastic new book comes out in a few months.


It seemed like the perfect occasion to break out a uber-bright spring dress, and so I did. Here we have:
+Very bright pink vintage dress with ruffle neckline, Goodwill (it was originally about 18 inches longer, but I had it hemmed to just above the knee, which improved the proportions significantly).
+Sheer gloves (okay, so I immediately swapped these for a big white flower ring before heading out, after realizing that dainty lacy gloves are maybe best used for afternoon tea and not rummaging through clothing racks).
+Vintage pink, orange and white oversized clutch purse. Scored from a lovely lady selling off some of her church-going pieces at the Milford, DE community rummage sale last year
+Silvery peep-toe wedge heels, which I had to swap for silvery quilted ballet flats, what with all that walking and all. (Also, serious props to the Calvin Klein Tassie for being the most comfy flat I have ever worn.)
+There were also some large Jackie O-style sunglasses.


I also took a cue from Fops and Dandies and put a poufy crinoline petticoat under my skirt to give it some extra voluminous oomph.


I dare say I was the brightest person roaming the streets of D.C. on Friday afternoon (with the exception, perhaps, of the H&M salespeople, who were sporting super-colorful Marimekko t-shirts). The guy handing out the free Burt's Bees lotion samples on Connecticut and L told me I looked "awesome." And frankly, that's the nicest compliment I've ever had from a dude wearing sparkly black and gold antennae on his head.