Last weekend I had to go to a function where I was required to wear–gasp!–pantyhose.  Can you believe it?  It’s been so long since I wore a pair of pantyhose, that I didn’t know they made them anymore.  In case you think I mean tights or black stockings, no, I am talking about flesh-colored pantyhose.   I didn’t even know where to buy them, so I had to ask around; a friend told me where to go and what brand to buy.   It took me a full 30 minutes in the hosiery department at Macy’s, sticking my hand in and out of those hose swatches, to find a color suitable for my flesh.  It was hard to find an exact match because my flesh is sort of tan/orange/green and wouldn’t you know, they don’t make flesh-colored hose in that color.   I finally found a pair that looked decent enough:

My daughter was fascinated; she had never seen pantyhose before.  She said that my legs didn’t look real, but like legs in a magazine.  They looked too perfect.  She compared them to Luke Skywalker’s prosthetic hand (she had just seen Star Wars the previous night and that scene left a big impression on her).  I couldn’t disagree.  Have you worn pantyhose lately?   Those things are really uncomfortable.  The crotch was hanging low all day.  (Is this how sagging pants-wearing young men feel?  If so, why would anyone want to walk around like that all day?  Try doing that in heels!)   Because I could only find a pair with control top, using the bathroom–pulling them up and down–was a nightmare.  I tried not to drink too much liquid that day.

I was also required to wear a black dress with pearl accessories.  If you know anything about me, that is not really my stylo.  This costume–black dress, pearls, pantyhose–was seriously messing with my Funkidivagirl style!  The challenge before me:  how can I look conservative enough–ladylike, if you will–but still maintain my funkiness?

First: the dress.  AllSaints, my favorite brand, makes black clothes, so I looked there while on vacation in NYC.  I had fun shopping at the gorgeous store in the Meat Packing district and found a dress that could work for the event, but that I could also wear in my real life.

Next: the pearls.  I have a pair of real pearls (a gift), but they are very “proper” and I was trying to interject my style as much as possible into this outfit.  I needed something else…appropriate, but chic.  I thought a long strand of pearls would look fabulous and I found the perfect pair at Henri Bendel.    A skinny patent leather belt pulled the whole look together.   I already had a pair of platform pumps.  I look like quite the lady, yes?

meeting & lunch

dress – AllSaints

pearls – Henri Bendel

belt – Nordstrom

shoes – Miss Sixty, Bloomingdale’s

This is how I will normally wear the dress: with patterned black tights, a funki belt and ankle boots.  This is the real me!

tights – Nordstrom

belt – Antrhopologie

necklace – Nordstrom

boots – Boutique 9, Bloomingdale’s

I’m linking up with What I Wore Wednesday , Real Momma, Real Style and Monday Mingle.
        

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Related posts:

1. What I Wore: In Paris (without a coat)
2. What I Wore: Styled by Bloomingdale’s
3. What We Wore: Anniversary Brunch
4. What I Wore: Same Boots, Same Necklace, Two Outfits
5. What I Wore: Byron Lars Dress at Santa Tea, St. Regis Hotel