For dinner at Sistina on Monday night, I decided my outfit should be “things I’ve had a long time that I haven’t worn in a long time.” The dress, the shoes and the bag were all acquired before 2005.
Front view.
Dress: Narciso Rodriguez
Shoes: Michael Kors
Bag: Vintage Hermes from Decades
Necklace: My own Boleyn necklace
Lip color: So Chaud by MAC
I love this dress but I don’t wear it often because it was a victim of bad tailoring. Before I met Jean at Ghost Tailor, I often suffered from bad tailoring. In this case, the straps of the Narciso kept sliding off my shoulders, so the bad tailor kept tightening the straps. That’s not always the right way to fix that issue. Now the straps and bodice of the Narciso are painfully tight, though not as bad as my Champagne-colored vintage Versace dress, which, after similar strap abuse, had to be given away because it was unwearable. I only go to Jean now. She knows how to do things right.
Back view.
I thought the boxy, off-white, ostrich skin bag took this outfit into ladies-who-lunch territory, but I decided to go with that. Speaking of ladies, one of my dinner companions was doing just that — speaking of ladies. My handsome friend Tim Zagat is working on 10 updated rules of chivalry. Everyone chimed in on whether or not it is still mandatory for a chivalrous man to walk on the curb side of the sidewalk. That rule goes back to the days when a gentleman needed to protect a lady from unpleasant splashes caused by horse-and-buggy traffic. You’ll have to wait for Tim to announce his verdict on the rule itself, but I will share his story about how he learned good sidewalk manners as a teenager. While walking his very first date home from the movies, Tim passed a gang of tough-looking guys hanging out on a stoop. One of the guys yelled at Tim: “Hey, kid!” Tim thought it best for his physical well-being to pretend he didn’t hear anything, but the tough guy kept calling to him: “Kid! Kid! Kid!”
Finally, the guy yells:
“KID! A gentleman always walks on the OUTSIDE!”
Basically, Tim got a lesson in manners from the Sharks.
Street gangs sure aren’t what they used to be. I can’t remember the last time the Crips or Bloods offered me any good etiquette tips.
Etiquette gangs! funny story.
Wendy you look amazing! You always have some hidden gems to show us from your closet 🙂
Wendy! You look fantastic. I love the bag to bits as well. And that story is PRICELESS. I love it. KID!
Too funny! I look forward to reading his updated rules.
You look fantastic!!
smiles,
gina
Miss J loves the whole look. Mr. B should walk on which ever side Miss Wendy prefers. ahhh… Miss J loves chivalry.
omg you look great! and yes, jean seems to be the master!
I hate it when the blog eats my post!
Gist of what I said is that I love the chivalry convo – I do think it\’s chivalrous for a man to walk on the curb side (though not mandatory, of course).
And I said all kinds of things about how gorgeous you look in that understated, but supa-sexy, outfit.
The bag is perfection.
That story is hysterical!
Love the outfit…good decades find with that bag.
That is too cute! And if the man is on the curb side it affords more window shopping opportunities.
You are such a hoot! You make my day.
Haha, you never know who will teach you to be chivalrous! Love the dress and outfit – such a sleek summer look!
The dress is perfect for you. And love the story.
My ex-husband always walked on the outside, not to protect from splashes so much, but to ensure that I never accidentally fell into the road and got run over.
He had some redeeming features.
Hi there-what a fabulous dress and the bag is just perfect for the whole outfit, the nude shade is wonderful on you!
You look gorgeous in that dress Wendy! Like the chivalry story – I walk on the outside of Small Child on the school run to protect her from puddle splashing maniac’s. When we get hit with the muddy water my language gets a bit choice…I’m sure the other school mums don’t approve but it sure makes me feel better! x
haha! nice to see chivalry isn’t dead, such a good story.
Love the back pleat detail on this dress and the nude colours suit you perfectly
xxx
I was walking down the street once and a man in a van shouted at me – I ignored him and kept walking – he kept shouting. I then realised that my backpack had caused my dress to hitch right up at the back and he was just trying to tell me. I was walking along with my backside on full view!
PS I was wearing tights (that’s pantyhose to you)
Wendy, I just want to thank you for continuing to fly the Red Lippie Flag, and fly it high & proud. Nude lips are a snooze. Red lips rock. That is all.
i love your shoes! and your neutral dress and shoes goes gorgeously with your skin tone…loving the dash of red lipstick 🙂
Beautiful ensemble. And word to the gang member!
That outfit is absolutely GORGEOUS and timeless. LOVE it!
And He-weasel is pretty adamant that he always walks on the curb side. I like it. Actually I like all chivalry. What’s not to like?
You look amazing. Thank you for reminding us all that it’s not always about buying a brand new outfit for every event!
Wendy you look fantastic!!! the all nude palette is just gorgeous! ~Yes a great tailor is a woman’s best friend!
the bag is the cutest!
xx
marian.
hahaha,
talking about west side story, you should see this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtPb8g8Jl6I :))
love your dress!
That was great! Thanks.
RE: the shoes are from a brand named Duffy 🙂
Hah! What a great story. My husband tends to follow the walk-on-the-outside rule, too.
I remember being told when I got married to always stand on the right because I’m always going to be right in the marriage. Maybe that’s where the curb rule stems from. My spam word is weasel.
They’ll cut you if they see you wearing white shoes after Labor Day.
Gorgeous outfit! I love how the pieces are so timeless and perfectly suited to you. I’m curious–how was the strap solution supposed to be remedied properly? What was the actual cause of the straps sliding down all the time?
I should interview Jean for this probably. But I’ve definitely had the back taken in to deal with slipping shoulders. I’ve probably had the sides taken in and darts as part of a general reshaping of a piece as well. Jean always looks at the whole dress for fit.
Love this color on you!! The bag is amazing – I adore the ‘ladies who lunch’ look..
And I totally agree – guys should def walk on the outside – tell Tim MG says it’s a keeper, LOL!!
Criminal that you haven’t worn those pieces since 2005. You know what, if you decide the bag is too ladies who lunch for you, drop me an email and send it right over, I think it would be perfect for when I eat lunch, every single day. xx
I’ve worn them since 2005, but I’d estimate that I haven’t worn them since 2008. I put the dress on last year and was so unhappy with the fit I didn’t wear it out. I was more prepared for the bad fit this time. I wore all these pieces most around the time I got them — and before the dress was messed up by the bad tailor — but I’m not sure exactly when the purchase date was. All I know is that it was before 2005.
well look at you! this outfit is fab! classic, chic, timeless, elegant and FAB! well done!!!
That dress fits you like a glove! You look absolutely stunning!
That dress is gorgeous even if it is a tad uncomfortable! And it’s true…a gentleman does always walk on the outside. Pity the hubs forgets little details like that and opening the door…except on date night…he remembers then for some reason.
Crips and Bloods have their own etiquette and code.
But I bet they can’t wear Narciso Rodriguez like you do!
(BTW: I LOVELOVELOVE this new comment format.)
OMG Wendy you look so pretty! I absolutely adore this dress on you. You are one foxy gal 😉
I love when you tell stories. They end so hilariously.
That dress is great on you, strap slippage or not.
Oh my, Wendy you’re looking hot!! Glad that the dress is still worn occassionly despite the bad tailoring!
Love that little annecdote, so funny and kind of sweet coming from those tough guys. I have never heard of the guy walking curbside.
Loving the outfit and the story!
Some of the tough kids still have it – ALWAYS when I was pregnant it was the gangster-looking kid, sometimes even w/the gang tattoos, who jumped up immediately and gave me their seat on the subway. Go figure.
You’re looking seriously hot as the lunching lady!
pretty as always!
also here’s another tip i learned from some gangstas regarding manners:
“walk on my left, boo, you know you ain’t right!”
Great story! And you look fabulous! I love the nude look and those shoes are so elongating.
Oh i love the back view, those pleats are darling.
I positively judge every man I meet by the footpath rule!
Looking gorgeous! I love the combo of your bold red lips with the beige 🙂
Etiquette tips from the Bloods. Can you even imagine? As soon as I saw this first pic. of you and noticed the dress was Narciso, I thought, “Wow, it fits well, I wonder if she had it altered.” Then, I scrolled down to the next paragraph and yes, yes you did! So, that explains it! Jean did a great job and you look beautiful. Good choice w/ the ostrich bag. Again w/ MAC? You MUST start charging them because I’m sure you are bringing them a tremendous amount of business!
Darling, my anti-spam word is “ladygaga” 🙂
Amazing dress, WendyB!
♥ ñ_ñ ♥
Oh Tim! I know that embarrassing feeling! Love that story.
I know the rule seems outdated, but I like that etiquette rules (even the ones that seem pointless) are still observed. Nothing boils my blood like guys that don’t know the first thing about treating a woman like a lady.
BTW- I love your “ladies who lunch” look!
Looking awesome!!
xx