Last Saturday friends of ours invited us round to dinner, along with another mutual friend. I’d planned what to wear a couple of weeks ago (crikey, I’m never usually this sartorially organised) but it turns out the best laid plans go awry when hormones kick in and I was feeling very hormonal at the weekend. I got ready wearing my planned outfit (printed trousers and fancy top), took one look in the mirror and thought:
‘Who is this snaffling, snarling hyena in front of me! Where is the elegant gazelle, I thought was going to stare back at me?’ Clearly it had galloped off into the African sunset, never to be seen again!
Several brutally tossed aside outfits later, having frenetically ransacked my wardrobe, I decided, to hell with it. I might as well go tribal! As soon as I slipped on this maxi dress, the jungle drums quietened down and I felt less jagged.
In the past, I probably would’ve fallen back on wearing comfy jeans and a loose flowing top with the mood I was in but I don’t want to settle for second best these days. I still wanted to look and more importantly, feel good. It will be Autumn in a few weeks time and the chances of wearing a summer maxi dress are slowly dwindling, so I pushed the boat out.
Plus, the African inspired, abstract print and the blues and turquoises lifted my mood. They are the colours I gravitate towards when I need a lift. TallBrownFox could let our friends know it was safe to leave the sharp cutting implements on the table!
The material has a slight stretchy quality to it, so it’s comfortable to wear, especially as Saturday evening was more than warm. The dress is Savoir, a brand I’m not very familiar with to be honest, but I’ll certainly be investigating them further, as the fit is so good on me. It’s a petite and the length is spot on. I’m always slightly amused when I see women having to hold up the skirts of their maxi dresses because the hem is dragging on the floor.
The V neck is very flattering, elongating my torso – always a bonus as not only am I a petite but a short-waisted petite. And unlike many V necks, it doesn’t sit so low that it ends up on my navel. Believe me, this has happened!
The twist detail under the V, allows the material to hang softly, rather than cling. Cling would’ve raised, not lowered the jagged levels. I even began to feel rather sleek and 3 inches taller!
As parts of the pattern give the impression of being animal print, I had to bring out my snakeskin clutch. It’s the ideal size.
Not so small that you can only squeeze a mobile in using a shoehorn. What is it with clutches the size of miniature playing cards?
But not so big that it swamps me. What is it with clutches the size of pillow cases?
I am truly, madly, deeply in love with this clutch and it’s fast becoming my go to ‘going out’ bag. It has a wristlet which I like for practical purposes and the slight translucent sheen appeals to the magpie in me.
A matching statement necklace and bracelet set to tie in with the yellows and the blues of the dress finished the look. I bought them earlier in the year from Red Herring when they were in a half price sale without thinking they would go with this dress.
I know many people say that when you have a V neck, you should wear a necklace that fits the V but I’m not inclined to agree. I don’t always feel the need to match length and space with my accessories. Besides, the dress is bold, the necklace and bracelets are bold. Heck, by now I was feeling bold.
I was going to boldly go where no woman has gone before. All the way to dinner!
Annoyingly, I’ve had a minor flare up of the dreaded plantar fasciitis again around my left heel. I’ve not had one for a couple of years now. Grrrrrrr. It meant discarding my favoured black wedge sandals I wore with my black and white floral maxi dress back in June. Double Grrrrrrrr.
BUT, the silver lining was that I could wear these cute and very plantar fasciitis sufferer friendly, mock croc, low heeled, block leather sandals. Phew, that’s a bit of a mouthful to say!
Savoir Petite Maxi Dress: thrifted
Red Herring Matching Necklace and Bracelets in the sale
Mock Croc Block Heel Sandals from TKMaxx
Simply Vera Wang Snakeskin Wristlet; preloved from e-bay
By the time we took a few snaps, I perked up to my old self. I’m even smiling! We had a wonderful evening with our friends. We sat outside in their wee garden, sipping Prosecco as the sun set. We were even joined, albeit briefly, by the neighbourhood squirrel. It scampered along their garden fence, clearly drawn by the amazing aromas emanating from their kitchen.
And there was another silver lining. Our friends cooked a wonderful meal for us all that was North African inspired. My tribal print inspired maxi dress couldn’t have been a better choice in the end; and room enough for an expanding tum as we feasted!
We had Moroccan style lamb meatballs cooked in a tagine with cous cous, a figs, sweet potato and feta cheese salad and a lebanese cucumber and radish salad.
Have I made you hungry now? Do you like African cuisine? And how do you cope when the jungle drums are pounding?
Linking with / Throwback Thursday / A Labour of Fashion / Spotlight Weekly / Fashion Should be Fun / Passion4Fashion / Favourite Fashion Friday / Fabulous Friday / Turning Heads Tuesday / Confident Twosday / Garay Treasures / The Wednesday Pants / #iwillwearwhatilike /
Oh, how you made me laugh! Such a beautiful and flattering maxi! Gorgeous colors and the knot is perfect. I always have a difficult time finding maxis that aren't too long, as well. So fun being petite, right?
That makes me happy you laughed, Jennie! I'm so pleased with the dress. You often hear people say petites shouldn't wear bold prints as it can swamp them but I disagree. If the cut is flattering it won't and I'm glad you think this maxi is flattering. At least more and more places do petite styles than even 10 years ago! It was a nightmare finding clothes way back in my 20s when hardly any places did petite ranges.
What a great dress and story : )
I like that you went with the more is more approach.
I'm always looking for plantar fasciitis friendly shoes. It is a pain. Quite literally as I'm sure you know. And tips on how to get rid of it? I've tried icing, rolling a ball, stretching. Even went for the most painful massage of my life. None of it seems to work.
bisous
Suzanne
Sometimes you have to say bah to less is more and go for, more is more! I've been neglecting my footwork exercises and missing my weekly Reformer session and so boom, it's come back to haunt me, sadly. I'll just have to keep nibbling away at it!
Oh I have those days too where nothing seems to fit or look right and it's just frustrating – especially if you've planned out your outfit in advance! A printed dress is always a good go-to, especially a maxi dress. Glad you felt better once you settled on wearing it – you really do look good in it,and your bracelets and necklace coordinate brilliantly! 🙂
Away From The Blue Blog
And it always happens on the times you've planned the outfit and thought I'm all organised! Thank you for your lovely words, it's one of those dresses you just feel better in the moment you put it on.
Love the pretty print mix of this ensemble!
Rebecca
http://www.redtagchiclosangeles.com
Thank you for the compliment.
Very pretty dress! I like how you pair it with that necklace!
Take care and keep in touch!
Please stop by every Wednesday for Color and Grace Fashion link up! 🙂
Grace
http://colorandgrace.com
Thank you Grace. The colours of the necklace were such a great match with the dress.
Thanks for linking up to Favorite Fashion Friday!
xoxo, SincerelyJean.com (co-host)
You're welcome.
I hate it when hormones kick in! Men just have no idea. 😉 this look is lovely and perfect for dinner with friends.
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
They don't do they? Although TallBrownFox was hugely patient when clothes starting flying left, right and centre!
Loving your maxi dress, a perfect pick for dinner with friends. We were twinning this week!
Rachael
http;//www.threadsforthomasblog.com
We were completely in synch, Rachael!
Va Va Voom, Jacqueline! I can't believe anything about this outfit wasn't first choice! You look stunning! And thanks for the smiles too! Love having you at Fun Fashion Friday!
OXOXO
Dawn Lucy
http://fashionshouldbefun.blogspot.com
Aw, thank you for your kind compliments Dawn. It all turned out well in the end!
Wowzers! That dress is fabulous on you.
Such a great cut.
As for your shoes…these are perfect, despite being worn due to your painful foot (my friend has that condition and wears special insoles and trainers) I can't imagine the wedges looking any better than these, they are lovely.
I bet Tall Brown Fox had 'Jungle Fever' 😉
XXX
Samantha
Ha, ha, I shown him your comment and he roared with laughter! I've been madly doing my foot exercises and it's much better, thank goodness. I feel for your friend as it can be very disabling.
This dress is amazing and the print is gorgeous! I love tribal inspired prints. It sounds like wearing this dress to dinner with the Moroccan food could not have been a more perfect combination. Speaking of which, I also love Moroccan food. I had it once for the first time at a cool place that even had belly dancers last year!
Thank you Katie. It is such a stunning print and in real life the colours really are that vibrant. I shall have to tell my friends that next time they'll have to get some belly dancers in!
What a beautiful dress on you and great accessories too!
Thank you for joining TBT Fashion link up and hope to see you Thursday.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Thanks Alice for your lovely compliments.
Just the type of a dress I would wear gladly too! Very beautiful! I like how the necklace looks with the V neck! Have never tried African cuisine, sounds appealing though!
I appreciate you saying that Olga, as I know you also love prints. The food was delicious – filling but without being heavy.
Oh wow, that is an amazing dress!!! That is my kind of maxi dress- nice proper sleeves(well, shoulder bits- you know what I mean!),not too low cut and a great length. Plus blue!x
Thanks Kezzie. I do know what you mean. Alot of V necked maxis sit way too low for me. I love this dress as it's just the right balance, sleeveless but not strappy, a V neck which finishes at just the right place and fabulous blues!
Very stunning dress! I love dinner dates with friends when i can get the chance to do them.
Rachel xo
Garay Treasures
We're trying to make regular dates with friends otherwise it's so easy for months and months to go by and when you have a great dress to wear it motivates you even more!
Fortunately I read this story just after dinner haha. Otherwise I would have been peckish. The dress is adorable on you. Elegant and sexy. What a swell combination. Again lovely sandals with it.
Had to laugh over your mood and the choosing of an outfit.
Greetje
Thank you Greetje, I've done rather well on the sandals front this year. All good buys that will stand the test of time. I was rather pleased and relieved at how the outfit turned out in the end considering where I started! Sometimes the first thing we put on just doesn't feel right and you turn your whole wardrobe upside down. But we got there in the end!