WIW :: Dinner, Christmas Eve 2014

Batting for Team Red to go to my friends' house for the Christmas Eve dinner. Back on my feet, but taking it slowly, I was prepared for the quiet few days at home, but we were invited to dinner and I felt like going. It was a nice evening, a mixture of quiet conversation at the table and 4 noisy, excited boys running around. It was also very memorable evening for me, my first Christmas Eve at a German home, with many Polish traditions included (the hostess' homeland), my favourite being making one extra table setting for the unexpected visitor guest.

What I wore reflects the season rather than my current style preferences. The dress is over 4 years old, my first confident and much loved post-YLF purchase. It's made of boiled wool, it is still in excellent condition, but I haven't worn it at all this winter. I'm considering making a midi skirt out of it though.

What do you think, should I keep it as dress or make a skirt out of it?

The short-sleeved turtleneck was actually pulled from the donation and back it goes - but it worked well for the evening. Am I the only one who finds them the most confusing clothing item ever? What kind of weather/climate are they for? Happy to be educated.

I'm revisiting many of my remaining patterned hose - many others have been pushed aside. This pair also had its last outing tonight. A careless moment and they were ripped, and I hadn't even blinked. One thing less taking up the space in the drawer.

Pearl studs were my only jewellery. Santa's hat worn for the photo only

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful Christmas.

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9 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Your red outfit is gorgeous on you and just right for the holiday. I think I'd prefer the dress as a dress. I think it' s a nice style and it fits you well, so I'd be hesitant to change it. You can still make it look like a skirt by layering over it.
I'm with you on short-sleeved turtlenecks. Somehow even a sleeveless turtleneck makes more sense, as a layering piece to wear under a blazer, for example.

Karie

(website)

I like the dress as a dress, and like Firecracker said, you can always wear a top over it to make it look like a skirt.

I'm with you on the short sleeved winter sweaters - who are these for? If it's cold enough to put on a winter sweater, I need long sleeves! Tonight I wore a 3/4 sleeved sweater dress, and even 3/4 sleeves are too cold for me this time of year!

catgirl

Ornella, red is such a perfect color for your coloring and personality. Glad you felt up to some activity. We need to start an unexpected guest tradition because I just invited over to Christmas dinner some additional friends who didn't have an invite - I just can't help it!

Transcona Shannon

You look beautiful and festive Ornella - Merry Christmas to you and yours

Deborah

Very festive. I love the oufit. Those boots look fabulous! Take care of yourself and don't party too hard Merry Christmas. Bet young Master O is excited.

Jaime

You look beautiful and festive Ornella! I agree that you should keep it as a dress, you can always change your mind if you find you are not wearing it or wishing it were a skirt. Love the tradition of the extra plate - we find an extra table at the ready is also a good idea!

Joy

This dress looks so go on you that I hate to see it permanently become a skirt. I almost bought a short sleeved cashmere sweater before coming to mt senses. I guess people must layer them under jackets or cardis.
Take care of yourself and don't overdo the celebrations.

ElleH

You look great. Keep as a dress.

Sveta

Ornella in red is a real Christmas gift! Red is one one your best ever colors for sure.
Was there a reason you stopped wearing this dress you loved before? Will making it into a skirt adds some extra length to it - it looks knee length to me now, not a midi.
It looks lovely but there must be a reason you did not wear it. Take me for example. When I started on YLF I jumped into sleeveless dresses and wore them A LOT for about 2 years. Now I feel like off them and actually purged them all from my closet. It is just the style which does not appeal to me anymore, especially in shorter length. I think you need to understand what is your real relationship with this dress now and then act on this understanding
I am with you on short sleeve wool sweaters. I would prefer sleeveless for layering anyway.

lyn67

To me, this is another adorable and heatwarming pictie of the festive season. Playful and still appropiate to what you have described that specific event. Hope you had fun!

Always loved you in reds, and I would probably keep the dress like it is. You can always layer over it, for the skirt only look.

Regarding short sleeved turtle necks. My office is very warm in winter, and so I have had worn them a lot a decade ago, usually to jeans or cords and longer length tweed jackets, aka the riders look, if you want so. I could take off my blazer indoors and still feel seasonally appropiate. But agree, it's not a piece to be worn under a winter coat on its own, and layering under a knitted cardi is also difficult, I would recommend to layer it only under lined winter weight jackets for covering up your arms. Still, your current use of it is also great! A long sleeve wouldn't have provided the same amount of structure and feeling, I guess & Love the Santa's hat to this!:-)

Ornella

Thanks ladies.

The suggestion to layer over it unfortunately does not work, the dress is made of wool and would be too itchy if not worn with extra layer between it and my skin.

Sveta :: I have not worn the dress this year very much because I simply did not have many opportunities. It also suddenly feels too classic (I can't believe I'm saying this) because with my existing wardrobe the styling options are limited and not as fresh as my eye nowadays seeks.
I have also realised in the meantime that on a dress of this kind I prefer higher neckline. The length is beginning to bother me too and turning this into midi would sort that, on top of giving me more styling options.
My lifestyle is more casual nowadays than when I bought it and the dress could easily become just a holiday wear. That's acceptable too, but I feel tempted by the options the skirt would give.
I am torn, I love this dress, but can't make hasty moves.

Beth Ann

Merriest of Christmases, Ornella. It sounds like you had a lovely evening at your friend's house -- and you look festive and beautiful.

I'm a spanner here --- I vote for a new red midi! Think of it worn with a chunky sweater or a cashmere pullover!

Ornella, reading your response I vote to make it into a midi skirt. Bothering neckline, bothering length, feeling off the style - all of it combined is too much IMO to fight with. I think it will serve you well as a skirt and will still serve as a holiday wear.
Good luck with whatever you decide - and Merry Christmas!

Debbie

You look beautiful!
Merry Christmas!

Ornella, you give good reasons for turning the dress into a skirt. Why not give it a try? My initial response might have been influenced by the fact that I've often thought of turning a dress into a skirt but have not ever taken the plunge and done it. (Keep in mind: I'm a sewer who would rather start from scratch and make something new than take on a challenging alteration.)

harmonica

You look lovely in red, Ornella! I vote redesign the dress to a skirt.

Suz

Ornella, you look playful and fun in this!

I vote make it a skirt, given your answer to Sveta, assuming of course that the length will work as a skirt. It is absolutely worth a try.

I wonder if the top portion could be salvaged to make a little red gilet/ vest? Even a cropped one. To go over your long white shirt or the chambray shirt? If it is too snug it would not work as a "closed" vest but might be opened up?

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Fun to see you wear your favourite colour for the holidays. Festive. xo

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