DVF, hand-me-downs and hard working dresses
I just watched the Barry Diller interview on CBS this morning (NYTimes article here) and my main takeaway is that Diane Von Furstenberg is a bad ass. Of course I think it is great that he feels like he can finally tell the truth about his sexual identity - yada, yada, yada - but how lucky was HE to be partners with HER for so long!! She is the daughter of a holocaust survivor, married a Prince!! and built an incredible business by designing a dress that is still for sale today. The wrap dress still SLAPS after all these years (FYI that means “impressive” and I have been using it a lot because I am young and thriving and “with it”).
In 2010 (when I was actually young) I was living on West 12th and Washington Street which was right down the block from DVF’s flagship store and penthouse apartment in the Meatpacking District. Michelle Obama had just worn a DVF wrap dress in her family’s 2009 Christmas card, and being newly engaged I was on the wedding circuit. Almost every weekend I had either an engagement party, a bridal shower or wedding for one of my friends. I remember walking over to the DVF store anytime I needed a dress for an event. She just knew how to design clothing for women.
DVF’s OG wrap dress came out in the 70s and was a symbol of female independence during the women’s liberation movement. It was popularized for working women and was universally flattering thanks to its stretchy knit fabric. It experienced a bit of a renaissance again in the 2000-2010s when Michelle Obama and Kate Middleton were wearing them. I had a great one in a navy and ivory ikat print that I wore too many times with these nude patent leather Christian Louboutin stacked heel sandals. I also had a short bob at the time because I was serving “independent working woman” in my very corporate Coach Inc. era. We used to call these types of dresses “desk to dinner” during my merchandising days because they transitioned well from day to evening. Of course I love a shapeless oversized Mary Kate and Ashley sack dress - but sometimes you want to show off your body. Plus I was 28 years old and very much on my 2X a week Soul Cycle classes and wedding diet of steamed air. It was absolutely a TIME to be alive. The fact that I was wearing SPANX before I even birthed a child is shocking to me. I would love to go back and talk to that girl about skin elasticity.
As I am writing this I am remembering a few DVF dresses that I wore ALL THE TIME that have since been sold or handed down. I am a big closet cleaner and my mom is incredible at finding the next rightful owner of things so I am constantly reminded of past items when she sends me a photo of one of her friend’s daughters wearing something I passed on. Or even better, photos of my husbands sweatshirts and jackets being worn by people I may not even recognize. Her skill is unmatched and it is the best feeling when you know something is going to another person who can use it.
I LOVE this process because when I was growing up we would get a killer bag of hand me downs from this family at church and I was always the first to dig up treasures. I loved sorting through the bags and trying everything on. Even my kids have gotten into it and squealed with JOY the other day when we were sent a picture of their second cousin (that they don’t see nearly enough) wearing their Taylor Swift pajamas and a matching Etsy Taylor Swift Stanley that they passed on after enjoying it for MANY MANY months.
In honor of hand-me-downs, I am pouring one out for the dark navy long sleeve lace shift that I wore to the first New Year’s Eve that my husband and I celebrated together at Mr. Chow Tribeca in 2006. Apparently Megan Markle also had this dress because she is in the Poshmark listing I just found of it. She also looked incredible in it in 2006, and now we are both wearing drawstring wide leg linen pants and striped sweaters talking about crudite platters. Oh well.
Thank you to the DVF navy and pink chiffon shirt dress that I wore on my first trip with my husband without kids (and felt like a million bucks) only to have David and Victoria Beckham seated next to us at Pierluigi in Rome in 2014. Lastly, gratitude to the DVF X Gap Kids collaboration of knit rompers and baby wrap dresses that my oldest daughter wore for the first year of her life in 2013. This was before Zara and H&M had good baby clothes and for that - we owe you one Diane.
Here are a few of my favorite flattering dress silhouettes that are always good to have hanging in your closet. I have some of them in multiple colors because that’s what you do when you are lady of a certain age and know what works.
Apiece Apart Sophia Smocked Shirtdress
I got this last year in a print and I am going back this summer for a solid and another print. I thought that the drop waist ruching would be tricky but it is the opposite - hugs in all the right places. Links below
Solid - black is sold out but I’ll keep you updated as they add more colors)
Apiece Apart Mini Shirt Dress
I am five feet two and God knows I love a button down so this dress is perfect for me. The wrap on the skirt is slimming and I have worn this from beach club to bbq to live music in the evening. It is a must pack for vacation as it can be worn dressed up or down. Flat sandals preferred - if you must have a heel - you can do a kitten heel.
Print- I never met a navy and white print I didn’t like
Stripe- I can picture the buyer walking over her designer begging for her to add this silhouette in a stripe. Well done!
Solid - there is a long sleeve and short sleeve version of this dress - both are great
Anthropologie Pleated Shirt Dress
Gabriela Hearst made a version of this shirt dress three springs ago - but sadly the $3,000 price tag prevented it from making it to the masses.
Anthropologie made a great version of it and it is a great one to have on hand
Mini Length - love it in the white eyelet or the navy
Jenni Kayne Callan Dress
I wore this dress for the entire month of August in BLUE - also comes in white.
Knit Dresses - because sometimes you want a wrinkle free dress you can just shove in your suitcase.
just a great flattering v neck dress
love this off the shoulder one
I know I owe you a special occasion dress edit - but for now enjoy these hard working reliable everyday dress closet staples. XO
Loved all these picks…esp eyelet in navy