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What Wendy Wore: Doing the Taliban Shuffle, Pantless

March 29, 2011 by WendyB

On Friday, MrB and I went to our gorgeous friend Kim Barker’s book party. The New York Times raved about Kim’s book, The Taliban Shuffle, calling it “…hilarious and harrowing, witty and illuminating, all at the same time.” So buy it now!

I wasn’t sure what to wear that night. I considered a plain black dress with my big leopard bag so that I could finally take an outfit picture with the latter. But I decided the bag was so enormous that was unsuitable for a cocktail party. While I’d be able to stash whole trays of pigs-in-blankets in the bag — and I do love a pig in a blanket — I feared I would send people’s wineglasses crashing to the floor.

I looked in the recesses of my closet for something I hadn’t worn in a while. That brought me to two Ossie Clark dress-tunic-shirt-things that I feel are too short. I’ve previously worn them with tights, with bare legs and with shiny leggings, but was never truly happy with the look. I thought a pair of black jeggings might be the answer but when I tried the combo, I hated it. I like dresses with pants on other people but not on me. I switched back to opaque tights and pondered my reflection unhappily. Then I thought, “Why am I even worrying?” I’d just come back from Miami where women were wearing scraps of spandex that barely covered their chimichanga regions. Could my outfit be more offensive than what I’d experienced for a week? I doubted it. So off I went, even though I felt like I was missing my pants.

What Wendy Wore
Dress-tunic-shirt-thing: Vintage Ossie Clark
Tights: Can’t remember
Boots: Prada (2008)
Ring: My own onyx skull design
Lip color: The usual

Separately, gorgeous blogger Collette of Statements in Fashion picked me for her Twitter Tuesday feature so go visit and leave her a nice comment. And thanks, Collette! I’m very honored! Also, Luxury Daily wrote about my use of Facebook for e-commerce.

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Filed Under: blogs and bloggers, Ossie Clark, outfit post, pictures of me, prada, The WendyB Pose, What Wendy Wore

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jesse.anne.o says

    March 29, 2011 at 1:13 am

    This is not too short – you look killer.

  2. Elizabeth says

    March 29, 2011 at 1:22 am

    The Taliban Shuffle has been on my Amazon Wishlist since I read an article on it in the Chicago Reader a few weeks ago. I should have known you’d have such cool friends, WendyB!

  3. Ann Tindall says

    March 29, 2011 at 1:31 am

    Looks like a respectable mini to me, but I’ve worn stuff so short my husband blushed! But no ass cheeks hangin out, that’s where I draw the line! You look great!

  4. Sheila says

    March 29, 2011 at 2:12 am

    You look amazing in that – what were you doing, worrying about the length? Pshaw, I say! Besides, it’s not like you’re sitting a lot at a cocktail party and that’s the only time a short skirt is really risque.

    I laughed at your Miami post – when I was there at Xmas, I was in culture shock over the clothes. I felt very staid, ha ha!

  5. Vix says

    March 29, 2011 at 2:46 am

    No way is that dress too short. You look fabulous. xxx

  6. Marian says

    March 29, 2011 at 4:44 am

    You looked fantastic, I like the proportions of the Ossie Clark piece on you
    xx
    Marian

  7. Collette Osuna says

    March 29, 2011 at 6:05 am

    I think that dress tunic thing rocks…definitely NOT to short at all…work it girl:)

    Thanks for being on Twitter Tuesday this week!!!

  8. liz says

    March 29, 2011 at 6:13 am

    You look fabulous- thank you for the book recommendation. I’ll get this one. I love Afghanistan and its people and the fact that every day was like falling down the rabbit hole- oh wait, that part was sometimes not so lovely, but it was always exciting. Wonderful wonderful people who deserve so much better.

  9. Tina M. says

    March 29, 2011 at 8:27 am

    That emsemble is smokin’ HOT! I can’t do dresses with pants as well. It seems a bit much for me.

  10. Smashingbird says

    March 29, 2011 at 8:51 am

    Hi Wendy, I do love the Ossie on you, it’s not too short at all!

  11. fashionablecollections says

    March 29, 2011 at 10:18 am

    Love that dress!!

  12. Sally says

    March 29, 2011 at 10:18 am

    In what world is this dress too short? It looks perfect with the tights!

  13. Madeleine Gallay says

    March 29, 2011 at 10:29 am

    Great … it’s so fresh and perfect on you.

  14. mystyle says

    March 29, 2011 at 10:46 am

    Hi my dear-the Ossie is no way too short, you look incredibly gorgeous and its a fabulous length to wear more regularly too!! xxx

  15. Lara says

    March 29, 2011 at 10:47 am

    Not a single person here thinks it’s too short. Crazy how we feel uncomfortable in things other people love. Go figure.

    The opaque tights and knee boots really make it work.

  16. Rebecca says

    March 29, 2011 at 11:52 am

    I think the length of that dress is perfect. Mini, but not too mini.

  17. FutureLint says

    March 29, 2011 at 12:08 pm

    I would totally call that a dress, not a tunic and the length is fine, especially with tights! And you look lovely in it!

    Although… my anti-spam word is “easygirl”

  18. patni says

    March 29, 2011 at 12:18 pm

    It is a perfect length! You could even reach down and tie your shoe laces with out displaying your um crown jewels.
    What a gorgeous dress!

  19. miss cavendish says

    March 29, 2011 at 1:03 pm

    I third, fourth, hundredth the comments that say that your length is not short! In Miami the look would be positively modest! (And flattering, in *any* city.)

  20. Kate Seward says

    March 29, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    Not too short at all, although that’s always a question I have to ask myself as well. I think black tights make many things okay. And I love the print!

  21. Courtney says

    March 29, 2011 at 2:08 pm

    I totally don’t think the dress is too short – I love it! And I’m swooning over the amazing boots that you paired it with.

  22. Audi says

    March 29, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    My mom told me that when she was in school in the 60’s the administrators would determine if a miniskirt was too short by having the girl hold her arms straight down to her sides — if the hem came down at least to the tips of her fingers the length was ok. I’m betting this dress is downright conservative by that standard, although since you always have your hands on your hips, we’ll never know…

  23. Anna says

    March 29, 2011 at 2:37 pm

    Love the dress, so urban and funky!

  24. viviane says

    March 29, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    what a beautiful ossie frock! love his work, actually my latest post is about him 🙂
    You look beautiful in it!

  25. Style Eyes Fashion Blog says

    March 29, 2011 at 5:03 pm

    Great outfit, sounds like an interesting book.

  26. Emma at Daily Clothes Fix says

    March 29, 2011 at 5:54 pm

    That is definitely in the dress category. Your blog title made me laugh. Reading that in the UK, it means you went out without any underwear. Ha ha. Lost in translation?

    • WendyB says

      March 29, 2011 at 5:59 pm

      Or maybe I skipped the underwear. I’ll never tell!

  27. Susan Tiner says

    March 29, 2011 at 6:06 pm

    Another new word, chimichanga!

    That dress is not too short. No way. It looks great with those boots.

    The book sounds really funny — and it’s available via audible.com, a definite plus, since I can listen while working out.

  28. Ravina says

    March 29, 2011 at 6:33 pm

    I love that dress, it’s super cute – especially with the patent boots!

  29. Eli says

    March 29, 2011 at 7:48 pm

    This last month I’ve been worrying that everything I’m wearing is way too short! Is this what happens as you get older?!

  30. K-Line says

    March 29, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    At my parents, they buy these pigs in blankets from Trader Joe’s (we don’t have it in CAN). I ate 16 of them last time I was in NC.

  31. Jacqueline says

    March 30, 2011 at 2:26 am

    As a restless native in a land of cougars and sunshine, the OC, and a former Catholic school girl I am very aware of the rise of the too short syndrome, that would have earned me a seat in detention,and the threat of losing my skirt wearing privileges. Fearing a fate of heinous pleated walking shorts we CSGs had a keen eye for just exactly how short was too short. Technically, it was anything more than 3″ above the knee but as long as the tips of your fingers didn’t go past the hem of your skirt you were safe. Using my highly trained eye (I was only caught once!) to glance over your photo I don’t see anything that would earn you a seat in detention next to me.

    P.S. Have you seen Rihanna’s Rolling Stone cover? If so what are your thoughts on the chain mail cootchie cutters?

    • WendyB says

      March 30, 2011 at 8:46 pm

      Even though I was never a CSG, I somehow have that fingertip rule in my head and it did indeed cross my mind when I was contemplating the Ossie!

      I’m finding that Rihanna cover very sex-ay. I think it’s one of the best pix of her ever.

      • Jacqueline says

        April 2, 2011 at 3:57 am

        Haha! I thought it was a secret of the Holy Roman Empire but after seeing it noted in other replies I’m beginning to have the vague feeling that such wisdom was imparted to the devout followers of women’s fashion magazines several years ago and has since been passed down generation to generation.

        *I winced when I saw the photo. All I could think was how do you not get pinched in those shorts? No one wants her chimichanga regions becoming carnitas.

  32. Miss Peelpants says

    March 30, 2011 at 11:02 am

    Love that Ossie!!! Just spotted this over at Kerry Taylor…

    http://www.kerrytaylorauctions.com/detail-test.php?id=1814

    Someone needs to buy it and do the twin thing with you!

  33. TheOnlineStylist says

    March 31, 2011 at 2:33 am

    Chimichanga regions… this nearly had my morning cup tea coming out of my nose! Not good when you’re still half asleep. Permission to use this expression and spread among the British public? Looking fab as ever Wendy! xx

    • WendyB says

      March 31, 2011 at 11:58 am

      Yes, please share the expression “chimichanga region” with the world!

  34. Auqí says

    March 31, 2011 at 12:22 pm

    I love your dress! So unique 🙂

  35. Elizabeth says

    April 2, 2011 at 12:06 am

    OHGOODLORD

    STOP worrying about exposing yourself.

    1. You have great legs!
    2. There is NO WAY this is too short.
    3. I love the Miami attitude. (apropos: my captcha was “rome,” so when in Rome . . . . )

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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