Thank you, everyone! I stepped away to get a pedicure (same colour toes as my dress now!) and look at all the lovely comments.
Julie, you are a wonderful punster. And I am so sorry about your weather this year. It has been a strange summer in many places, either hotter or colder and wetter. And cold and wet does put a damper on style change. Although I am still hearkening back to that AMAZING faded shorts outfit with white shirt earlier this summer. That was a style icon moment.
The dress is a dark, wine red. I'm not sure what they call it. It's not really burgundy. Maybe it's claret. Definitely a good range of colours for me, anyway - all the blue-reds work well.
Gaylene, I couldn't agree more about Jayne's wonderful "happiness quotient" phrase. It has been very helpful for me, too. I don't know if I can articulate as clearly as you just did what raises my happiness quotient, but I've certainly been giving it some thought. Definitely ease; like you, I hate to fuss.
Laura, your short hair is such a part of the "you" I know that I am really curious to see how it will look longer. It is always nice to have a change, so I understand.
Merwoman, the dress really does strike an easy balance, and because it's knit, it feels like wearing a Tshirt. I'm not actually wild about the fabrication of it, but I can't deny that it works for summer-into-early-fall.
Shabbychick - I wish I had your version! I would prefer the dress if it were longer. I wonder if they will make that available in the fall.
Angie, blushing at the killer rating, and everyone else, thank you for the kind comments on the hair. It has lost some of its cool asymmetry and is more of a traditional pixie, but that's okay.
And Janet, I really hear you on the difficulties of summer dressing. I miss my jackets so much in the summer.
Thanks again, all. And oh - if you like the style of this dress I recommend you check out Land's End sale. I got this at a very low price when everyone was ordering the puffer coat six weeks ago or thereabouts. I ordered the petite version, FWIW.
