so, maybe I was wrong ...

So, I think I've pontificated (probably at great length) in this space about how I don't like navy. Not The Navy, I'm actually pretty fond of The Navy, what with Hornblower and Aubrey and all, but navy, the color. "Too hard to match," I say. "I never know what shoes to wear," I say. Being frustrated by these problems (and because I'm basically lazy), I just wrote navy off altogether. There's no navy in my closet, at all.

But Charles (what? guys read this blog too, y'know) sent me a link to this dress, the Ashley Dress at Trashy Diva, and -- you know what? -- I think I might be wrong about navy. This dress wouldn't be as perfect in any other color. Black polka dots are too harsh, and red too obvious; this dress is supposed to be navy, and that's all there is to it. (And I'd wear it with red shoes.)

Of course, it's also sold out until mid-June AND is $249, so the prospects of navy being added to my closet are still on the slim side. It's sized xs-s-m-l, with L being B44/W33.

So -- don't ever let it be said that I'm afraid to admit it when I'm wrong. I hereby rescind my blanket navy ban. However, culottes? Still on the no-fly list.

Comments

[Anonymous]

I want that dress. Wow. Gorgeous. That neckline? The midriff band? The flare at the hips? Nothing short of delectable. Shhh, don't tell anyone, but I'm making culottes for my trip to Italy. I'll send photos. I'm not saying they'll convince you to make them for yourself, but perhaps it'll help ameliorate your overwhelming distaste for them. =)--Lydia

[missmaya]

Trashy Diva's clothes are fantastic; beautifully made and infinitely wearable.

[Anonymous]

I'm a New Orleans native and I LOVE the Trashy Diva. All their dresses are made from a heavy silk, and feel just wonderful on. I can't afford to buy things there very often, but I love to go look.

[Heather Outside Boston]

Fabulous dress, in any color -- the classic cocoa and cream combo would be equally elegant.

[Joni]

No; wear that dress with spectators. Often.

[enc]

Few people should wear culottes; they're a hazard. However, that dress if fantastic!

[Marissa]

I have the shirt version and I think it looks more purple than navy in person. :)

[kim p.]

I love everything about this dress--except the sleeves. Way too short for me. This has become my dress-related pet peeve of the moment. Every dress I see is either sleeveless or comes with itty bitty cap sleeves. I can't be the only adult woman with less-than-perfect upper arms, can I? (I know, I know, I should just get over being self-conscious, but I'm not there yet!)

[bonnie-ann black]

i love the idea of the red shoes -- but spectators are even better. red and white spectators!

[Kate in England]

GORGEOUS dress - if only I could find a handful like it (oh, and had some money), I'd have a summer wardrobe right there. Navy for me smacks too much of school uniform... but that might just be a British thing. Also, navy hosiery makes legs look AWFUL. And there is always the accessories issue. Just out of interest, where do culottes end and "city shorts" begin? Because I think these are pretty cute...

[phoenix]

Love love love. Wear red lipstick with your red shoes when you're feeling sassy...and red lipsticks with the spectators when you're feeling in a retro-40s kind of mood.

[Spring]

That dress is gorgeous. If I wasn't a hundred months pregnant I'd try anything to get my greedy little hands on it. Speaking of navy, last week I was at Starbucks and saw the cutest little girl in line with her mother before school. She had on the typical navy sailor dress but had on the cutest red patent leather shoes and a red headband and earrings. She was about six. I leaned over and told her she was dressed beautifully. She hid because at that time of the morning before my first cup of coffee I do not look like a kindred spirit. Her mom told me she'd picked the outfit out herself.She has a good future in fashion.

[Nora]

Oh my god, that dress!!!!I too have an aversion to the color navy, which is not only impossible to match but is the color of the Man (cops, bankers, etc.) and therefore too Establishment for me (though I actually dress much more conservatively than I vote).But navy with white polka dots is a color unto itself, and is perfection in summer, especially with red shoes. Traditional, but not staid.

[Susan]

I *love* Navy. What shoes to wear? Navy shoes of course. I think I own more Navy blue shoes than black ones. I think it's a more flattering color on me than black or brown, for example.

[Susanne]

I'm with you on the navy-ban (abd on that dress being just perfect). No blue in my closet...

[Anonymous]

I have tons of navy in my closet since I look horrible in black. I wear it with my grey, navy, brown, pink or orange shoes. There's actually a Simplicity pattern [3774, a new one for summer] that will let you make this dress. Same little sleeves, midriff band, full skirt and all. Slightly different bodice, though. I just made one. In navy.

[Robyn]

I love navy, being blond it looks so much better on me than black, much richer color. I would wear the dress with strappy bone sandals. Or with red, love red! Kim P. go to the web site an look at the dresses, they have the same style in a longer flutter sleeve and in a fitted 3/4 sleeve.

[Theresa]

I agree with the red shoes, and even more with red spectators. It is hard to get exact Navy mathces because there are so many shades of Navy. Personally I love Navy. This year I have noticed a lot of navy, red, and white. And I agree about the itty bitty sleeves. I, too, am not all that fond of my upper arms and prefer 3/4 lenght sleeves.

[Anonymous]

This is so inspiring. I so want this dress, if only it didn't cost so much money. I have a couple patterns I could adapt to make it. Oh bother, I have 2 other dresses I've cut out and need to sew and one is in the Vogue pattern I'd want to use for this one. Anyway, does anyone know any place online where I can get similar fabric for under $10 a yard. It doesn't have to be crepe, but have some weight to it.

[Karen]

I'm facing my own what-shoes-to-wear dilemma with a blue polka dot dress (with pockets! looks ridiculously gorgeous on) these days...I have a pair of vintage navy-blue pumps that make my legs look a thousand miles long, but it's all I can do not to topple over in them when standing. There is a pair of brown spectator-y pumps, but they just make me look like I've dashed together an outfit from two eras, the 1940s and then 1950s. Time for more shoe shopping, I guess!

[Margo]

I love that dress! Classic but NOT boring. My sis-in-law just passed on a silk skirt to me: navy with red and off-white. It's so pretty and it came with a little navy sweater tipped in off-white. But I'm hesitant to officially Place It in My Wardrobe because I just can't be bothered with navies that don't match other navies and off-whites that don't match other off-whites. I'd have to buy shoes for it and, as a size 11, buying shoes is not a pleasant, spontaneous event. By the way, thanks to "anonymous" for the Simplicity pattern number. I'll be tracking that one down! But making it in sky blue, not navy.

[Ladygrande (Texas Marie)]

For summer, white pumps, white purse, white gloves, and white hat with navy flower. Stupendous!!

[Beth]

ahoy, there! I forgot my dislike of navy this past fall and fell in love with a navy pinstripe skirt, then ran myself ragged finding stuff to go with it. Finally settled on a grey sweater and shoes as one match, and a light brown heather sweater, brown tweed jacket and brown boots as another. I get tons of compliments on the navy/brown ensemble.Culottes may be me. I do have a couple pairs of gauchos (wearing them today, in fact) that I really like wearing. I like them because they are noncommittal, neither pants, nor a skirt and some days I just feel that way...

[Skulleigh]

Ok, now I have to ask - are spectators a type of shoe? At first I thought people were commanding an audience for this dress :)

[AmeliaB]

Super cute dress! I like navy (and the Navy yay somebody likes Hornblower and actually knows who Hornblower is :-) ) I like navy because I have pale skin and black can sometimes wash me out. ~Amelia