Note: Am taking a tiny bit of a break this week from the usual Friday posts! I hope you’ll enjoy this little musing on garment versatility instead…
Post the 30 for 30 challenge, I have definitely been regarding my closet with new eyes. Realizing that firstly I have managed to accumulate an awful lot of clothes (I blame thrifting and the couple of estate sale windfalls–those really were the main contributers), which is overwhelming. My first thought was to purge everything, but Sailor Husband wisely advised proceeding with extreme caution. I have a history of closet purges that leave me with very, very little to wear and giving things away that I dearly wish I hadn’t. So rather than charge ahead in my usual fashion (resembling a bull in a china shop), I’ve been picking out one or two pieces at a time and rethinking how I can wear them and if they still fit into my current wardrobe needs.
First up was this dress; a late 80s/early 90s Laura Ashley piece that fits like a dream. I purchased it three years ago on Ebay to wear to SH’s reenlistement ceremony in DC, and have only worn it a couple times since. Which is quite sad because I love the floral print and the unabashadly girly flounced skirt (it’s the kind of dress I daydreamed about owning when I was little)! It always makes me think of tea parties and languid southern summer afternoons. But it’s one of those pieces that is hard to wear–it is strapless after all, which always says “formal” to me. So I put my thinking cap on and took a glance through the rest of my closet to see what I could pair with it that would diversify the occasions I could wear this. I don’t claim that each is a resounding sucess, but it’s an interesting exercise and I think I’m heading in the right direction!
green cardigan | fabric flower brooch | bow platform heels
Why it works: A cardigan is a pretty easy combination for this dress, completely covering any hint of a strapless bodice underneath. Which would lend itself well for events where bare shoulders or arms would be innappropriate. I kind of love the bright green with the print; it’s not a very quiet combination! Plus this is one of those looks that suggests a vintage silhouette, but really is made up of modern pieces!
lace tank top | “antique” gold-tone necklace and earrings | green wedges
Why it works: In a similar vein as the cardigan, the lace top does a good job of obscuring the fact that this is a strapless dress, while allowing some of the colorful print to show through. Dressing it down with more casual/modern jewelry as well as plain suede wedges tones down the flounciness of the skirt.
antique corset cover | brown braided belt | brown sandals | “antique” gold-tone earrings
Why it works: I like the slightly Edwardian/hippie vibe of this outfit, but it still is very girly/prim-and-proper. The corset cover hides the bodice completely, while the narrow belt cinches the waist without overwhelming everything. I think it would look nice with basic brown flat sandals as well (which I do not have…). I actually wore this the day I took these photos and found it quite comfortable!
self-made blue skirt | black bow belt | black ballet flats | blue teardrop earrings
Why it works: A rather surprising combination that I wasn’t sure would work. Layering a skirt over such a full dress skirt can be tricky, so picking a similarly full piece is key. (I also tried this with one of my 50s circle skirts. While the prints didn’t compliment each other, the concept worked!) Ballet flats help keep the look more casual (I’d wear this out to dinner with SH!) and not too “precious”.
So there you have it! Five different looks (including the original look) using only what I had in my closet. Who’d have thought I could wear the dress so many different ways? I’m really quite excited–and this definitely fits into my concept of “cheap chic” and reusing what I have. Hooray!
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Such a beautiful dress, though I agree, to me ‘strapless’ says ‘formal’…. although you’ve inspired me to try the skirt-over-dress technique…
Great idea! I don’t always see strapless as formal (though I think this one is definitely on the more dressy side of things) but I can see how you feel. I pinned ribbons to a top once to make it look like a halter – it was fiddly but worked OK. =]
-Andi x
I think you’re right… “dressy” is the word I was looking for!
Some strapless tops/dresses I’ve seen and owned have been neither formal nor dressy; and this one is definitely not really “formal”! 
Funnily enough, I actually did tack on a neck strap after I got it a few years ago, and just tucked it down in the bodice for this photoshoot. 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elegantmusings/2549364366/
♥ Casey
Cute! I really need to figure out some new combinations for my own wardrobe, now that I’m trying not to buy so many new things. (And save money too!)
Great ideas. I need to go through my closet as well and see what I can come up with. I have accumulated a lot of dresses recently and need to figure out what i can do with them. Thanks for the inspiration!
I think as fun as dresses can be (easy! no matching required!), they can also be the hardest pieces to really mix up in different ways… At least with my dresses I sometimes feel like I find a couple ways to make an outfit with them, and then get stuck! lol.
♥ Casey
Love it! I’m one of those people who once I figured out an outfit, I tend to wear it the same (safe) way over and over, but am trying to break out of that mold, so I’d to love to see more of this type of thing.
I am that way too! I have to work hard to figure out new ways to mix things up, and frankly not every day do I feel like doing that! lol.
♥ Casey
Fantastic remixes! I like the forward thinking behind adding a skirt over a dress, belting, etc.
Great ideas Casey. It’s great you are “working” those pieces you love. It’s wonderful finding things that work together and knowing you have great outfits right at your fingertips. I really the green cardigan with the dress and to my surprise really like the skirt too. Wouldn’t have thought about that one. Great job!
Wow, what a great idea! I’ve just had a massive wardrobe purge (mainly maternity wear that I’m hoping not to need again for a while yet), and what I’m left with is distinctly lack lustre. I’m going to go through and see what I can do with the handful of available clothes/shoes/accessories before dashing out to buy more.
That’s part of the reason I’m doing this–so I don’t run out and buy more to “fix” the wardrobe problem! It’s been tempting for me to go out and see if I can scrounge any great clothes or accessories at the thrift store to “help” with outfits. But right now I’m trying to put the brakes one just hitting the (thrift!
stores before I’ve really evaluated what I do or don’t need…
♥ Casey
This is among my all-time favourite posts! This – and your 30×30 posts – have been so inspiring. I think I’ve been stuck in a bit of a style rut lately thanks to a poverty-imposed shopping ban (hence the lack of blog posts round my way), but I’m going to try and remix something from my wardrobe today!
xx Charlotte
Tuppence Ha’penny Vintage
I’m so glad you enjoyed this, Charlotte!
I’m trying to look at shopping bans (I’m on a kinda-sorta one right now) as a way to be more creative–I’m sure you’ll come up with some stellar outfits!!! (And please post about them too! 
♥ Casey
Those all look fantastic! I love your white blouses!
This is great! First of all, I really like your combinations……….and secondly, the fact that you explain them. This is just a great learning tool for those of us who struggle to think outside the box on clothes. I sure hope you do a few more of these.
(VERY wise of SH to advise otherwise!)
I had to laugh when you mentioned your purging technique! Ha! Shades of your mother!!!! I still regret getting rid of the black milk can.
Mom
I’m hoping to do more of these as the spirit moves me and inspiration strikes! If nothing else they’re a great way for me to document ideas. hehe! Yeah… I think the sister warned SH at some point during her visit last year about my purging tendencies with stuff–I’m trying hard to not repeat some of my past mistakes!
♥ Casey
ooh, this is such a good idea. I’ve been looking at my wardrobe in some despair recently. It’s fine in the winter when I have my favourite jumpers to rely on, but for summer wear, I’m finding myself really stuck. I love the look with the skirt, especially, as it’s so unusual and looks so good!
Thanks
I think in some ways winter is so much easier to mix-and-match things! At least with all the layers it seems like I have more options then.
lol. With the summer I sometimes feel as though I have to have more pieces to make up an interesting whole… don’t know why, but that’s how it’s seemed to end up!
♥ Casey
Even though it’s probably not as versatile, I’d have to say that the last one (with the blue skirt) is my favourite! : ) Excellent job “reinventing” that beautiful dress!
All very good ways to change that up. I wouldn’t have thought to do that.
Great ideas.
Those are some lovely combinations! I particularly like it with the cardigan. I imagine for chillier nights you could even combine that look with one of the white light blouses, too.
I am completely the same way about closet purges. I get in a mood about a particular type of fashion and I purge everything that doesn’t fit into that, then later dearly regret it when I am done with that “phase”. Fairly regularly I still think of pieces that I could smack myself for getting rid of, and have resolved NOT to make this purging mistake again! I need to proceed much more cautiously, like you have resolved to do. (Your SH is one smart cookie for the suggestion!)
I like the blouse idea… I tried something similar with a few I have hanging in the closet, but nothing quite “clicked”. Although come to think of it I think I might have one packed away that would work…
I’m so glad I’m not the only person who has been too overzealous on closet purges! I could kick myself sometimes… In fact, I’ve have a couple bags of items to donate that I’ve been hanging on to the past week because I want to be doubly sure that I am really ready to get rid of things (I think I am; a lot of it is stuff that is clearly no longer my style or doesn’t fit right). My biggest problem is I get in fits of wanting to simplify because I’m so overwhelmed by the stuff and feel like it’s taking over! I’m really hoping this time I’ll learn my lesson and go more slowly!
♥ Casey
What a lovely idea! I have tried this somewhat with a few of my dresses(those ever difficult bridesmaids dresses that I never get around to ‘wearing again’) but not with this kind of success. I absolutely LOVE the green cardigan on top so pretty. I will definitely have to reexamine my closet for some new pairings.
I love this post and that dress! I really like the look of the corset cover over the dress. Another option, if you stray away from strapless, would be to make removable straps for the dress? That way you might be more likely to wear it, and have that many more options!
I actually did attach a halter-style strap to the dress after I got it, and completely forgot to include a link to that in this post!
But I think I might look into eventually adding some narrow shoulder straps instead…
♥ Casey
Try layering this dress with a light mesh style petticoat underneath for another way to dress it up. I think a pink petticoat with matching sandals would be darling.
Oh, oh – look SO GOOD with the green cardy.
Wow, I love this feature and I love all the pairings you made with the dress! For Me Made March I had a sleeveless dress I wanted to wear, but it wasn’t quite sleeveless weather yet so I put a sheer black blouse over it and it worked! I love all your combos, the last one is especially cute (and the layers from your dress add nice body to the skirt, kind of like a petticoat!). I had thoughts of doing this myself, but now maybe I will go through with it
So glad you enjoyed this, Amanda! I am really bummed that the circle skirts I have do not go with this dress, because the volume of the flounces really works beautifully under the 50s skirts! A petticoat without the separate layer. hehe!
♥ Casey
“I have a history of closet purges that leave me with very, very little to wear and giving things away that I dearly wish I hadn’t. ”
I’m glad to find out I’m not the only one who does this sort of thing.
Whew! It seems like I am not the only one either… a couple of other gals have commented similarly!
♥ Casey
I love, love, love your remixes of this dress – especially the one with the green cardigan. You’ve definitely inspired me to take another look at some of the items in my own closet.
Casey, this is brilliant! The green cardigan and blue skirt options are my favorites.
Very inspirational- as usual!!
Brilliant!
Wow! I love all of those looks. I can totally see how the dress would be hard to wear on its own, but the combinations you put together are all so fabulous! I love the look with the lacy tank.
I love all the different looks! The green cardigan is my very favourite. If you wanted a less formal look, how about sewing some grosgrain ribbon on to use as shoulder tie straps? So cute!
You have such a great sense of style!
I like the idea of the shoulder-tie straps! I did sew on a halter-style strap after I got the dress, but forgot to include a link to that photo in this post.
I think, however, that shoulder straps would suit the design a bit more (but three years ago I was really trying to play up the 50s look of the dress, so a halter was the element that seemed to read most “retro” to me! 
Unfortunately, it wasn’t the most comfortable to wear with this dress, due to the way it sits around the torso…).
♥ Casey
Wow, I envy your outfit creating skills! I would have never have though of an of these ideas to make a dress more versatile! It looks so fabulous with the green cardigan and also with the antique corset cover over with the belt. Where did you find the corset cover, that’s the neatest piece!
Thank you, Lizzy!
The corset cover is something I’ve had for years. My granddad had an antiques business for a couple decades, and when he decided to stop doing shows I was able to go through and acquire a few things! This was one of them. Though I see them quite regularly on Ebay too!
♥ Casey
Adorei todos os looks, principalmente com o casaquinho verde.
My favorite look is with the white cotton blouse and belt.
You are so creative, i would never have thought to mix some of those outfits. I think the last one is my favorite, very casual and springy even though it is strapless. I wish you could come to my closet, and help me mix up my wardrobe!!
Thanks for doing this post! I think this is the type of thinking I need to do with my closet, and this was really helpful to get me thinking how I could approach the items differently.
Wow! This is pretty awesome! I’d love love love to see this kind of post more regularly!
I personally don’t have a lot of strapless in my wardrobe, but my go to fix is a cropped cardigan (usually to hide my bra straps!). But, after several grueling forays to the mall, I finally have a strapless bra that fits so I’m excited to get out all of the strapless and spaghetti strap pieces again.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this, Stephanie! I am thinking I’d like to do a few more posts like these; as the inspiration strikes and I pull some more pieces that need to be rethought (um… which is a lot!).
Isn’t shopping for a strapless bra the worst?! I finally bit the bullet a few years ago and went to the mall and spent an entire afternoon going from place to place. Although another blogger clued me in to the strapless stick-on adhesive bras you can get at places like Target. I still need to get one, but it sounded a lot better than facing the mall again! haha!
♥ Casey
Wow that dress is beautiful and fits perfect – I’d be saying keep it even if it didnt go with anything else! Love the idea of dress+skirt tho, looks cute with the tops too
Such a good idea! I love the combinations–so good to remember that we can be more creative with clothes. There’s not just one way to wear things… thanks for the inspiration!!
omg this is amazing! you accomplished this beautifully. every time i try to do this kind of thing, i end up a hot mess at the end!! lol! but! you have inspired me to keep trying!
Just remember you didn’t see all the outtake and outfit flops!
In fact, there was one version I had originally planned on including in this post (which I prepped about two weeks ago; it’s been sitting around in my drafts folder for a bit!), but just didn’t look that great to me on second look. hehe!
♥ Casey
Very inspiring Casey, you’ve got me thinking about how I can wear the things in my wardrobe. Much more cost effective than just giving things away and buying more! I love all of these looks, they’re all so different!
Emma x
Yes, I love it! I’ve always enjoyed the “1 Piece/5 Ways” features in magazines. More, please!
Very cute ideas for this little dress. I hope you received the pattern I sent you okay.
Nan
Nan,
Sent you an email Friday–do let me know if it didn’t’ turn up!
♥ Casey
This is a gorgeous dress. I’m so glad you decided to keep it. I’m really surprised about the skirt over a skirt. I’ll have to see how that works for me. Great outfits !
I am in love with that green cardigan! green makes such a good spring and summer color.
I love it! It was a beautiful dress to begin with and looks amazing on you, but to come up with four other ways to wear it is so clever, and i think i like how you paired it even better than the dress all by its self.
Brilliant! that dress is so flattering, you should definitely keep it. And you’ve inspired me to go through my ward and do the same thing. I’m itchy to purge a bunch of stuff but I don’t want to do anything I’ll regret later!
I never get rid of anything is my problem. I still have sweaters from HS. When the style of something no longer suits me I cut it up and make something new out of it. I almost never buy NEW clothes. I hate the idea of supporting 3rd world child slave shops (ever watched Blood, Sweat & T-shirts?) or companies with VERY questionable ethics and various levels. I’ve been several different sizes in the last couple of years and I am guilty of packing away my finer items “just in case” I fluctuate as I’ve been known to. Most of my items start out nice, either get re-made or moved to the bumming-around-the-house drawer and there they stay for years. I am getting better about letting go of items that are worn out instead of keeping ALL of them for gardening. LOL. I’ve also been trying to sell some of the vintage pieces I’ve glommed onto via Etsy, which is working out okay. My goal is to someday keep a steady size so that I can just have my basic quality pieces with a few fabulous accents. I mean, I want to be totally IN LOVE with each piece I own… maybe someday!
I love the floral dress though and all of the ideas for mixing it up!
Oh golly… I know exactly how it is to hold on to things “just in case”! lol. I finally cleaned out my “chores” drawer of grubby old clothes recently… Stuff I had saved to wear when doing messy projects–hardly any of it was ever needed or worn! (Just the select few “favorites” that were super comfy. lol.)
♥ Casey
Amazing re-mixing Casey! The last has to be my favorite!
What a clever idea! I love this sooo much
Very inspirational post. x
What a gorgeous dress Casey! I remember those from the late eighties (I’m showing my age now lol
). I love it with the green cardigan- that bright green is divine! 
What fun you must have had playing dress-ups! I love it with the green cardigan, and the overskirt is a stand out look for me too.
I have vowed never to purge anything ever again, after regretting my last one so much. Sob!
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