A couple of years ago, I bought a 1980s Patrick Kelly dress on eBay. When it arrived, I was surprised that it was a knit. A big, formless knit. I brought the dress to Jean at Ghost Tailor for alterations, then stuck it in my closet until I felt I could cope with a disappointing eBay purchase. I don’t know what inspired me to put it on recently, but I’m glad I did because Jean totally redeemed the fit and, more importantly, I have a mullet! I’ve been writing about mullets — or high/low hemlines — as a Never Is the Next New Thing™ item. Clearly, they also fall into my Fashion Repeats Itself category because Patrick Kelly died in 1990, meaning this dress pre-dates the 1992 mullet-dress heyday that I wrote about here.
What Wendy Wore
Dress: Vintage Patrick Kelly (acquired 2009, probably)
Shoes: Prada (2011)
Ring: My own Cleves design
Photo: By Tina Anderson
I’ve turned everyone around me into a mullet-dress spotter. MrB pointed out Dolly Parton’s mullet dress when we saw her at the Hollywood Bowl last month. This was a sheer coverup that she put over what I’ll have to call “spangled chartreuse Bermuda shorts,” for lack of a better term.
Gorgeous blogger Tanvii tweeted me to report that she was wearing a lace mullet by Free People. Like Dolly, she’s layered her mullet. I would never think to wear black lace over stripes — love it!
Click for Tanvii's post.
Free People seems to be a good source for mullets. Gorgeous blogger Kristin of BonBon Rose Girls shared one and gave me a nice shout-out at the same time.
Dress by Free People. Click for BonBon Rose Girls post about it.
Here’s another one by Free People.
Click to shop.
Free People describes this dress as having a “high-low hem.” That’s the language any sane retailer would use, because the word “mullet” may be memorable, but it’s definitely not appealing. Even I think of hairstyles from People of WalMart every time I write “mullet”!
UPDATED TO ADD: Here’s another great high/low example. Thanks to Kate from The Styley for pointing it out.
It looks fantastic on U! 🙂
Love it! I may be somewhat late to the party, but i have a mullte too. I think it’s from the 1940s (neckline0 or 1950s (silhouette):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/franca_eirich/5800108180/in/photostream/
The black mullet is awesome on you. You are single handedly de-yuckifying the word mullet. Mullet forever!
I have a deep set hatred for the mullet dress (they’re everywhere right now!) but that black mullet does look lovely on you: you must be a witch! 🙂
i love that black lace over the stripes and would never have even looked at that dress thinking… what could i possible put under this.
brett
That dress looks so great on you. Still majorly jealous you saw Dolly!
*I blush* … But you do wear it the best … Also loved that casual number Bon Bon Girls posted about yesterday. ‘Mullet’ is going to stick with me forever now! 🙂
That last shot reminds me of the Grand Ole Oprey for some reason. Maybe Dolly put me in that country frame of mind. She is certainly looking good.
Love your silver memento mori ring btw.
I’m so glad you resurrected your beautiful dress, you look utterly radiant! x
I loove you’re mullet dress. I bet it’s super fun to walk in. Also you’re killing me with these posts because I have two dresses with funky hemlines, but they’re both long sleeved and it’s 100+ degrees every damn day. I may just put one on and email you the pictures.
*your. Gah!
Ooh, yes, send them!
The black mullet dress is very nice butthe shoes, OH MY they are devine.
My pleasure. I just bought myself a black mullet shirt and plan to send you a picture once I wear it!