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Shopping My Closet, in a Way

March 22, 2012 by WendyB

Every so often, I check out the vintage fashion listed on 1stdibs.com.  This time I felt like I’d gone shopping without spending any money. First, I noticed this tie-dyed, velvet Todd Oldham dress from the 1990s. It’s being sold by my gorgeous friend Cherie of Shrimpton Couture.

$950. Click to purchase.

After a moment, I realized why I liked this dress so much. I already have the skirt version.

Click for my original 2009 post about my Todd Oldham skirt.

It’s kind of a relief to know my taste hasn’t changed. I felt the same way at a dinner recently when a friend brought up something I said to her about men when we first met 14 years ago. While she told the story in a long and winding way, the suspense was killing me. I was sure I was going to be mortified by whatever I’d blurted out when I was young(er) and dumb(er). When she finally got to the punchline, I said, “Oh, I absolutely stand by that opinion.” I was happy I didn’t have to disown my 1998 self,  at least not for that particular incident. (Despite that, I’m not going to tell you what I originally said.)

Anyway, the second item that I noticed on 1stdibs.com was a pinstriped Jean Paul Gaultier pantsuit, which has been sold.

Click for more information.

My Gaultier pantsuit is from a later collection.

I can't find any pictures of me wearing this.

It’s fun to see what Gaultier has done over the years to liven up suits. I felt quite daring wearing my suit when I worked at Lehman Brothers. Yes, that’s what passed for radical there.

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Filed Under: dresses, skirts, suits, vintage

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. eyeliah says

    March 22, 2012 at 1:33 am

    It’s interesting how in many ways we DONT CHANGE, not even a bit. I always wore skirts and dresses and liked to dress differently than those around me. Always second hand shops as well. My thoughts on romantic love etc etc… those opinions are still pretty much the same too hehe.

    • WendyB says

      March 22, 2012 at 12:55 pm

      I’ve definitely changed (and needed to change!) in many other ways, but I’m relieved to find I wasn’t all bad back then 😉

  2. Samar says

    March 22, 2012 at 10:38 am

    You’re such a tease Wendy! You know we are all wondering what you said 😉

    • WendyB says

      March 22, 2012 at 12:55 pm

      Someday I’ll whisper it in your ear.

  3. madeleine gallay says

    March 22, 2012 at 11:45 am

    love this, it suits you so well

    love Todd, one of my absolute faves.

    (I don’t think this dress was that spendy back in the day)

    • WendyB says

      March 22, 2012 at 11:49 am

      I love seeing video of his runway shows. They were so fun! I have quite a few of his pieces, always looking for them on eBay.

  4. Sheila says

    March 22, 2012 at 12:26 pm

    Classics don’t have to be stodgy – and you’ve proven this so many times, Wendy! I adore that long dress and your skirt version. It’ll never go out of style.

    That suit is awesome – you should wear it again!

    • WendyB says

      March 22, 2012 at 12:30 pm

      I will if the occasion ever comes up! I definitely won’t get rid of it because I think it’s classic and who knows…maybe I’ll go back to a conservative corporate workplace 😉

  5. melina says

    March 22, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    I love 90s Oldham and I’d wear that dress in a heartbeat. I have a sorta knock off of it actually but it is way, way tackier

    • WendyB says

      March 22, 2012 at 12:52 pm

      Send me a pic!

  6. melina says

    March 22, 2012 at 12:40 pm

    btw, I wanted to say that one reason I like your blog in particular is because you smile regularly in your photos instead of this new “bitchface” trend.

    • WendyB says

      March 22, 2012 at 12:53 pm

      Ha ha! I would do bitchface if I could but it doesn’t look good on me!

  7. Andrea says

    March 22, 2012 at 12:43 pm

    that dress is lovely!

    • WendyB says

      March 22, 2012 at 12:53 pm

      Isn’t it? Whoever gets it will be the belle of the ball when she wears it.

  8. Couture Carrie says

    March 22, 2012 at 12:52 pm

    Absolutely gorgeous skirt, WB!
    You look amazing, per usual!

    xoxox,
    CC

    • WendyB says

      March 22, 2012 at 12:54 pm

      Thanks! I never even got to wear that skirt this year. Next winter for sure!

  9. Marti says

    March 22, 2012 at 1:43 pm

    As much as I love the dress I would go with skirt too more versatile and can wear year round. Regarding maturity now and then I feel like I’m at either end of the spectrum never in between eiher ultra conservative/stuffy or 45 going on 25. Until communicating with you friends think my music taste is repulsive – I could also dance in a club all night. The stuffy me loves good wine, gasps when I see people dressed badly at functions and will listen to vivaldi, whaow I sound like a quak:) but I’m not I promise. The suits are beautiful, who wouldn’t like them I’m rolling my eyes that Lehman thought the one was “too much”
    Marti

    • WendyB says

      March 22, 2012 at 5:27 pm

      Except for the Vivaldi we could be twins. I was very happy to hear about your musical taste because mine seems to please no one I know!

      • Marti says

        March 23, 2012 at 10:55 am

        That’s awesome we have lots in common! We’re fantastic women!! 🙂

  10. lisa says

    March 22, 2012 at 3:31 pm

    Reminds me of the saying “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

  11. Megan Mae says

    March 22, 2012 at 4:40 pm

    The dress and your skirt are fabulous.

    I’ve noticed my tastes have pretty much stayed the same, they’ve just “grown up” and merged into what I hope is becoming a more cohesive style… Although that may have something to do with finally finding stores that suit my taste.

    • WendyB says

      March 22, 2012 at 5:26 pm

      All Saints!!!

  12. FranniePantz says

    March 22, 2012 at 6:30 pm

    This skirt is sooooooooo cool. I love all the colors. I’ve done that before too–thinking I NEEDED something only to find something very similar in my closet. Well done! Thank you so much for your kind words on my post about Bob. I really appreciate that.

  13. Silvergirl says

    March 22, 2012 at 7:50 pm

    lol @ the skirt and dress
    we like what we like, right?!
    brett

  14. Catherine says

    March 22, 2012 at 8:21 pm

    Wendy,
    I think Fran Drescher wore the rainbow dress on The Nanny. Todd Oldham is her cousin on the show and does costumes for Mr. Sheffield. Or something like that. Anyway, I remember her in it. She looked great. She wore it with a matching yellow wrap. She really wore what she wanted!

    • WendyB says

      March 22, 2012 at 8:55 pm

      That’s right, she wore a ton of Oldham on that show! I loved her style on it. Wow, that was really a big coup for Oldham.

  15. K-Line says

    March 22, 2012 at 10:07 pm

    I really want to know what you said.

    I just tried on a suit I’ve had since the early 90s and, while the fit is PERFECT, the suit is wrong. I mean, it’s not terribly wrong, but the pants have front pleats and they’re pegged and high waisted. I think a 25 yo could get away with it but on me I look like someone’s mother. The jacket is very curvy (if slightly too shoulder padded) but this whole freakin’ thing is like a yellow beige?! I look sort of like I’m on safari. Trust me, the workmanship is good and, in its day this thing was chic.

    • WendyB says

      March 22, 2012 at 11:44 pm

      I got rid of a skirt suit here: http://wendybrandes.com/blog/2011/06/what-wendy-wore-plus-thoughts-on-bill-cunningham/

  16. Miss Cavendish says

    March 22, 2012 at 11:23 pm

    I have a beautiful Gaultier pink silk and pinstripe wrap vest that I bought in 1983, and tried on today for the first time in around 15 years. Am going to wear it next week!

    • WendyB says

      March 22, 2012 at 11:44 pm

      PLEASE send a picture!

  17. savvy gal says

    March 23, 2012 at 1:01 pm

    My taste has changed slightly, but in general stayed pretty much the same.

  18. Soccer Mom Style a.k.a. Maya says

    March 23, 2012 at 7:41 pm

    love the skirt.
    xx
    maya

  19. Eli says

    March 24, 2012 at 1:06 pm

    I’ve never seen the post with the skirt, wow is it pretty! I like it better than the dress.

    Also, the JPG exhibit has finally made it’s way to SF. It’s at the DeYoung museum. I’ll keep an eye out for your suit!

  20. stacy says

    March 24, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    that’s a very good sign that you were instantly drawn to these items because, as you said, your taste hasn’t changed. that means you have true style(which we all knew!). i love that JPG suit… mixing up fabrics like that is one of my favorite things to do. athletic stripe rib with an office suit… BRILL.

  21. Lara says

    March 24, 2012 at 9:28 pm

    I miss Todd Oldham so much. He was a ton of fun!

  22. Susan Tiner says

    March 29, 2012 at 5:00 pm

    Please tell us what you said! Those JPG suits look cool. I can’t wait to see the JPG fashion exhibit in San Francisco. We’ll think of you when we go :).

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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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