Now this is more like it ...

So this is from the new Garnet Hill catalog, from which I buy something once every three or so years, and from whom I receive a catalog roughly every three weeks. (I really, really need to get off some mailing lists.)

But it's also the kind of thing I'm thinking about for fall (more on that anon, if by "anon" you mean "in a few days, or maybe next week"). A deep-toned floral print, able to be worn alone or with a cardigan into early October, and then right on through November with tights (although I don't like the black tights they show with this; I'd want maroon or a deep rose, or maybe even camel, except that every time I wear camel-colored tights I think that someone, somewhere, is going to think I have a very, very odd tan).

This would be cute with loafers, and also with grannyish ankle boots, and even with lace-up oxfords, and flamboyantly gorgeous with a brown suede three-quarter-length coat tossed over it. (A coat WHICH I just happen to have, incidentally. And which I do not wear nearly as often as I should because it has no pockets, alas.)

Click on the image to visit the Garnet Hill site; I think this is about $138, plus shipping. It's available in up to an 18 (or up to a 14 petite).

A few housekeeping things: I'm thinking about redesigning the blog and perhaps -- perhaps, I say -- moving to WordPress. Does anyone have any suggestions? I think this would be a loooong-term project, so don't expect to see a new design next week.

I also missed doing anything for Sept 1, which I think we had tentatively decided would be International Dress Day (that is, a day for dresses around the world, not "International Dress" whatever that is). So I think perhaps we should declare September 15 "International Wear a Dress Day (observed)". What do you all think? (I did wear a dress yesterday, and I'll show you the picture of it tomorrow.)

Comments

[Latter-Day Flapper]

I confess I like the black tights, but then I wear black tights with all kinds of things. I'd totally wear that with boots, too.Now I feel like I need a couple of new fall dresses, even though fall won't even hit here until, like, November. If we're lucky. Sigh.

[Lise]

Agh. I love that dress!September 15th? Done.

[Theresa]

I did not wear a dress yesterday - I went to the gym. but I did SEW a dress. I'll definitely wear a dress Sept. 15.

[Zoltar Panaflex]

I still say dark tights with a paler dress/outfit is a 'don't'....

[Kim]

Wordpress is a cinch. I highly recommend it. If you find a theme you like that you don't need to tweak, switching won't be a long-term project at all. Let me know if you need any help!

[melissa]

If you're thinking about moving to a new blogging platform, I highly recommend Textpattern. It's free and open source, there's millions of themes and plugins for it, and you can do anything html, css, etc with your site and it just lets you get on with things. I've built about ten sites using it and it's dead easy. If you fancy seeing what's under the hood at fehrtrade.com, let me know, Erin.

[grumpy-today-and-not-hiding-it]

This dress is frump-tastic. The length, the smocking, the very-90s wide scoop neck, the pattern... all wrong. You'd have to pay me $138 to wear it!

[Dilly]

I wore a dress yesterday (snake print - apologies after the previous post - that I made myself, with a black patent belt and a yellow scarf and shoes). But I'd forgotten it was supposed to be Wear A Dress Day...I love the autumnal colours of that dress! I think it would look ace with green, bright pink or orange tights. (Erin - I thought of you this morning when I put on my new pair of orange tights - you're obviously having some sort of influence over me...!)Dilly.

[Adrienne]

Get rid of those catalogs by signing up at CatalogChoice.org They handle unsubscribing you from unwanted catalogs and it is FREE! Super service; they have definitely cut down on the amount of paper junk coming into our house.I am all for Sept. 15 dress day. Consider it done.

[Andrea R]

I use wordpress a lot, I work with it for clients. I did want to mention the difference between Wordpress.ORG (the stand-alone software you install on a webhost) and Wordpress.COM (the hosted version similar to Blogger).The .COM does not allow advertising. You cannot edit your template, unless you get the CSS upgrade, and then you can modify the stylesheet. So.. that's probably not what you want. :-/I would recommend for your site you go with Wordpress.org and get webhosting etc.. or look into typepad if you really need it hosted for you.

[Hana]

Oh, you disappointed me with the Dress Day a bit... because I didn't forget. But I can easily wear a dress on the 15th as well. :-)

[Erin]

Andrea, thanks! I use my own hosting (pair.com, they are awesome) and I think they have wordpress installed ...

[Fiona]

My wedding anniversary is September 15th so it would be quite an appropriate day to wear a dress, though not quite as dressy and flouncy as the one I wore 18 years ago!My sister has just changed her blog to wordpress.com, and she seems to know what she wants from a blog. Good luck with the re-design!

[Anonymous]

When I was in high school during the mid 60's this was the fashion. I was surprised to see this coming back. We also wore the tights with this empire waisted dress fashion (what we called it back then). Linda K.

[Lisa @ the Vintage Fashion Library]

I love this dress, but the black tights, not so much.Speaking of wedding dresses: Erin, what's your wedding dress look like? That would be an interesting blog entry.

[lorrwill]

I also think the black tights are too dark for this dress (LOVE the print!)As it was a holiday and the only things I did outside my flat were wash the car and take a sweaty walk, I also did not wear( but did sew a dress yesterday). And surfing the 'net for fall fashion ideas, I noticed that tights in all colors are back in so I thought of that stupid article that inspired the Dress Day but forgot the actual day.My bad.I'm on for the 15th.As for redesign/move, I will follow ADAD anywhere!

[the_lazymilliner]

The dress is certainly on the frumpy side. Unck.

[the_lazymilliner]

One more thing re September 15 Dress Day --- someone should set up a Flickr set so we can see what's been worn 'round the world during those 24 hours!

[Jen ~ MOMSPatterns]

Just penned in 9/15 to wear a dress! I'm in!

[Tracy]

I had a coat that I loved but didn't wear often cuz of the pocket-issue. Eventually I sewed some pockets on the inside, then wore it to death!

[Anonymous]

I missed out yesterday, so Sept 15 sounds great!It's one thing to wear it the day after dresses are supposed to have died, but to wear it two weeks later shows dresses have staying power. :) We'll show them!

[Summerset]

It's on the calendar.I didn't wear a dress yesterday, but I did wear my bright yellow skirt I made from a 1974 pattern while going to a vintage textile/clothing show in Massachuesetts!

[oonaballoona]

i'm in for the 15th! but then again i'm in one pretty much daily :)are you a mac user? i tried my blog out on wordpress, and found it was easier for safari to work with blogger. and even easier for firefox.

[Anonymous]

Garnet Hill is the worst for excessive catalog mailing, and stubborn about it; it took me nearly a year to get off all of their lists, including the appalling Garnet Hill Kids! They were worse than Williams-Sonoma for junk mail, and that's saying something.The dress is clearly going for the Dylan Thomas's girlfriend style that the Telegraph assures us is A Look for Fall. The Telegraph suggests wearing it with "textured socks"....hm, this isn't letting me log in. ---movingfinger

[Shaina]

I like the shape, but $138 for a dress with *smocking*?! Heck no!