My designing friend Zang Toi had his Fall 2013 show at Lincoln Center last Wednesday. This season, he was inspired by Imperial Russia. Opulence. Zang has it! I was particularly attracted to the pieces in amethyst and emerald. Now that I think of it, maybe I’m looking for something to go with my Marie Antoinette earrings.
Werq the runway, sweetie!
Zang can always be counted on for sex-ay backless dresses.
We love to watch her go.
But my personal favorite was this luscious velvet trench gown. I get a louche, ’70s vibe from it.
I gave designer/blogger/stylist Stacy Lomman a wardrobe challenge for that evening. To her mild dismay, I’d bought a vintage gold lamé hood by online late last year. She said diplomatically, “It’s very you.”
Found it on 1stdibs.com.
When I first tried it on, we fell down laughing. It was so high at the crown that it could have been a wardrobe contender for the old Coneheads skit on Saturday Night Live.
I figured that Jean from Ghost Tailor could fix the problem and she did. I told Stacy she’d have to learn to love this thing …
… especially because I already had the matching sunglasses!
I thought Stacy outdid herself with this outfit. It’s not the showiest result of our wardrobe-therapy project (except the hat, of course) but it was something I could never have dreamed up. Who would think to wear a 15-year-old t-shirt dress with tights and a lamé hat in the middle of February?
What Wendy Wore to New York Fashion Week
Jacket: Zang Toi
Dress: James Perse (late ’90s)
Shoes: Prada flower feet (2008)
Purse: Prada (2007)
Jewelry: My own designs
Lip color: Chanel Rouge Double Intensité in Almandine
This photo is washed out but it shows the dress better.
Back in the day, I was so excited by this dress that after I bought one, I ran back to the store and bought another. It might have been from Bendel’s. The one I’m wearing in this photo is the original length. I hemmed the second one to knee-length. I wore one of the dresses to my sister’s gospel-brunch surprise bridal shower at Sylvia’s in June 2002. I can’t find a photo of me from that day, but here’s my sister, Terri Berry, pulling up to her event with one of my co-conspirators, her then-fiancé Tim.
Surprise!
And here’s my mom that day, with her younger sister, Susan, and their mother.
From left: Mom, Aunt Sue, Nan.
Now I have to prod Terri Berry and BarbaraB (Mom) to leave comments reminding me how we lured Terri to the restaurant. I’ve got a memory like a sieve!
I’ve added a link to this to Not Dead Yet Style’s Visible Monday post. Click the link to check out other ladies who aren’t afraid to stand out.
Tim and I were staying with Mom and Dad and they lead me to believe that we were going to brunch at Sarabeth’s and then a Yankees game. No one told me about it the night before but that morning apparently Paul called the house with extra tickets (I think). I questioned Tim or M&D about it because you can’t make reservations for brunch at Sarabeth’s and we weren’t going super early so I didn’t think we’d make the game in time (Tim likes to arrive promptly/early for baseball). They claimed that we would. I also knew from Tim that afternoon games typically started at 1:10 and this game started at a different time. I was suspicious and was going to look for the Sports section but didn’t. In the kitchen, Mom was modeling some big sun hat that she was going to wear to the game. She seemed excited about it. For the drive into the city, I felt a little blue because I was hoping there might be a bridal shower but tried to concentrate on learning Italian. I did question why we exited the FDR where we did when I knew Sarabeth’s wasn’t in that direction. Tim said dad indicated there was traffic. I think he called Tim’s cell phone. It turns out in the morning when the phone rang it was dad making the house phone ring because Tim knew how suspicious I was and since no one mentioned the day’s outing the night before I would question how it all developed out of nowhere. The phone ringing was allegedly Paul. Also, Tim said he hid the Sports section just in case I tried to check the time of the gang. Boy was I surprised when you and all my friends were on the sidewalk outside Sylvia’s (and not Sarabeth’s)! It was a fun gospel brunch and surprise. Hee!
Yay! I’m glad you remembered the whole complicated story. Amazing that we pulled it off because you were like Sherlock Holmes. Love that Time hid the Sports section! xoxo
Correction: Afternoon games start at 1 PM I believe.
Second correction: I meant game not gang. No gangs were involving in the making of this bridal shower.
Are you SURE?!?
Wendy your hood is amazing. Visible indeed!! You are the coolest 🙂
xoxo SarahMac!
That is awesome! I love the gold shoes and the hood as accessories against all the black. Your friend’s collection looks amazing!
Great outfit and great story! I love the lamé hat! XXX
Love you in that outfit! Is there ANYTHING you can’t wear?
Love the story of the gospel baby shower. Sounds perfect.
I’m trying to think of a challenge for you…something wild. But I bet you’d still look hot and perfect in something like my 80s meringue wedding dress.
Christine xo
Hi there!! Wow that is one stylish outfit, loving the Zang Toi jacket and tube dress and of course your gold lame hood finishes it off perfectly! xx
You wear the golden hood so beautifully! Love the family story, corrected by your family : > And thanks for linking up to Visible Monday.
Terri Berry has it right!
You look fabulous in the gold lamé hat – and I like the sparkly eye shadow too. And your mum & family are gorgeous (of course!)
Aw, thanks, TNMA!
I think you look mischievious and quite chic in your gold lame. The shoes, oh my goodness, are so cool!
Zang Toi’s collection looks beautiful. I love rich, deep colors.
That is such an unusual piece and the outfit looks great! Stylish but original. Nice! Debbie
Thank you! I leave it to Stacy to work with these challenging pieces 😀
All the gowns and coats are beautiful!! I love your eye on his shows!
OMG I LOVE the hat! I think we all need pieces that are a little bizarre and out there.
Wendy you look like a cute little golden egg 🙂
The reference to the cone heads made me laugh!
You look great. I think your hood goes perfectly with the egg locket.
That Terri Berry is obviously a smartie. Very clever of Tim to hide the sports section.
Love Toi’s short and long purple dress.
I’m clostrophobic and would felt smothered in the hood.
Marti