The Summer Dress

After the hottest weekend I have ever felt (I am pretty positive I got heat stroke on Sat night), it has cooled down to a frosty 80 degrees. I know for the average person 80 is hot, but for us New Yorkers, it is refreshing and lovely and so relieving. We can still wear summer dresses, shorts and no jackets, but we don't have to be worried about feeling and looking like we just stepped out of a sauna at all times.

And speaking of summer dresses, in the last week or so I have seen at least four or five ladies sporting this little number. Like the girl above each of them wore some sort of novelty bra — either in lace or a bright color — to show in the back and the sides. A couple of the girls wore it in a larger size so it had more of a baggy look to it — or maybe it's a different cut — either way, I liked that. So after seeing it so many times I started to wonder, is this the dress of the summer? I mean I get it, it's cute and open, perfect for those earlier said intense heat days. I like that too.

With its simple design and cotton fabric I assumed it was from American Apparel, and I assumed right. Looks like AA is all about the scoop back these days, they have one in pretty much every fabric and pattern. Kinda want to get it, but kinda don't because so many people are wearing it right now. What do you think of this summer dress? Would you buy something so popular?

Photo by Mr. Newton.

The Great Thigh High Debate

Us

Vs. Them

So I have been swooning over thigh high socks for a few seasons because of street style shots like the ones above, but it wasn't until a week or so ago that I finally got a pair. And I will tell you I am full of mixed emotions over the whole deal. Let's make a list to clarify.

*It has been ages since I have taken so long getting ready. I just couldn't figure out what to wear them with: some skirts were too long, my shorts just looked too weird and some things I just couldn't tell.

*I also couldn't decide how to wear them — since I am short mine seemed too long at first but I couldn't figure out the right way to fold them over. Turns out pulling them all the way up is the best idea, because even those that are suffocatingly tight (that could be on the list too!) eventually loosen up and fall down.

*The gray ones I bought from American Apparel reminded me of the socks I used to wear playing soccer. They are so thick — not at all dainty like the ones pictured above — but I didn't really notice until they were out of the package. But in the end, they kept me so warm, so I was thankful for that.

*It seems in order to pull these off you have to have stick legs (examples above). When I stress about my weight, my legs are never the problem area, but yet I still felt the extra tight socks squeezed my thighs in a way that accentuated any fat I had on them. Maybe why I am not actually standing up in any of the pics?

But even with all that fuss, I did like wearing them for more reasons than simply warmth and I am not giving up yet. Maybe it will get easier the second time and one day I will wear them with confidence (once again pictured above). Have you tried thigh highs yet?


Pics via Garance Dore and Mr. Newton