I too am aware that this is a departure from this blogger's current style - and the photo is out of context too, as on the original post she mentions that she is on a boat and is wearing a swim suit underneath. I love Karla's style.

I think that in the setting that she is wearing it - on a boat with a swimsuit underneath - it's okay. A bit risque for *my* taste as a swimsuit cover up, but that is my personal preference and not a judgment on Karla's choice to wear it. (It's probably just my prudishness; I'm just always kind of iffy about any outfit that makes you wonder if the person is truly in the buff underneath, or if you're going to see more than you want to when they move? I am not a fan of nude-colored swimsuits either for the same reason... and that's just me.)

However, I could totally see wearing this dress with a white or even colored opaque slip underneath, which would really make the lace pop in a different way, and would make the dress versatile for more than just beachwear.

It looks as if she is wearing this on a cruise ship. As a cover up, I think it is fine, except for the high heels. That confuses me a bit. I like Kari's idea for wearing it.

Man, if I had a body like that I would wear this dress every second I could. On a boat with a swimsuit underneath, maybe not so much to the office or buying groceries. Although I bet I would get REALLY great service in the grocery store with that on.

I love lace and crochet and think this piece is absolutely beautiful. I personally wouldn't wear it this way because I'm not that brave, but to each his (in this case, her) own. Beautiful for a warm/tropical vacation and I think it would be stunning over a turquoise bikini.

I heart Karla. I would certainly wear this as a swimsuit coverup if I were as young and fit as she. As a dress, only if it were lined. And not in the same color as my skin!

Would I wear it? No, but I'm at least double her age. Would I have worn it when I was younger? Probably not, but I'd like to think that I might have dared if I looked like her and was on the Amalfi coast in the summer.

I think it's interesting how we North Americans find even the illusion of nudity unsettling when many European women, regardless of their ages, are quite comfortable going topless with just a tiny bikini bottom while on the beach. Given the context, Karla's decision to wear a crocheted dress with full coverage underneath for dinner might be a bit daring but certainly not inappropriate.

Personally, I think a twelve-year old in a strapless dress much more offensive. But that is another topic.

Gaylene, you make an interesting point.

I was one of the people who said that the illusion of nudity was too strong for me. I like the dress--I actually clicked all the way through to see it for sale--but I would personally never wear it as Karla styled it. On the other hand, I've been on European beaches and felt perfectly comfortable with just a bikini bottom. That felt less exposed to me because my friends were topless and many of the people around us were wearing very little. I think, though, that the strong illusion of nudity is often much more charged and compelling than nudity itself, something every lingerie manufacturer and purchaser, including me, counts on!

I thought Karla's choice to wear the dress with the nude swimsuit underneath to dinner on the cruise ship was pretty bold. As a swimsuit cover up, I think it is stunning. As a dress, I think it is stunning. On her, I think it is stunning. On me? Nope.

Also, I totally 100% agree with Gaylene that a strapless top on a 12-year old is much more concerning for me. Karla's an adult woman, and if she wants to dress alluringly, more power to her. She looks gorgeous.

Karla's not my personal style most of the time, but IK's got me giggling hysterically at bedtime (not good for quaffing a glass of milk!) and suddenly getting a whole new perspective!

And I agree 100% with Gaylene. I confess I do see this as problematic in the cruise dinner context --- largely because I pay attention to cruise etiquette and feel given the large and diverse company a little less risk-taking would be appropriate, as is *polite*; but I'm betting there's plenty of adult-ishly dressed young girls on that same cruise, prepubescent non-boobs in 'flattering' bikinis even, on similar cruises. That I find a bigger issue to address. (Mind you, am not saying one does not acknowledge the sexuality or the sexual autonomy of the young and underage; I'm talking about the trend of 'genderising' as well as sexualizing young people's attire to the extent it currently is, and the gender bias it shows --- not too many 'banana hammocks' for the young buys, more shorts I believe; so why are the girls so often in 'asset-enhancing/highlighting' bikinis?)

Sorry --- I've strayed off-topic rant over!

I don't follow Karla's blog, but she is a beautiful girl. I second IK's opinion: If I looked like Karla, I'd wear that dress 24/7!

Oh ya, that is a doily-comment provoker. And an eyebrow raiser. Everyone will be staring at the freak girl trying to figure out if she's got on anything underneath.

'Everyone will be staring at that freak girl trying to figure out if she's got anything on underneath.'

Then the starers are the ones to be pitied, not Karla!

I've been doing some research into the dress which has caused statements like that to be made. I have discovered that it was designed and marketed by a pretty extraordinary Swedish designer, EmmaO. She sent the dress to Karla and other high-profile fashion bloggers and top models (including Kate Moss) to help publicise the work she is doing, which from my perspective as a volunteer doctor for 'MSF' (often known in English as Doctors without Borders) who has seen with my own eyes the tremendous suffering in Zimbabwe, is highly moving. This is an extract about Emma, and her work, and how her designs (including the one Karla was wearing) are manufactured:

'My name is Emma, from Sweden... I've been modelling full-time for 5 years - Travelling around the world. Cape Town is the place that really captured my heart - I've been going to that city for work every year since I was 16.

I started emmaoclothing in February 2011 when I was down in Cape Town... It instantly grew into bigger proportions than I had ever expected! I had great luck in many famous bloggers and fashion sites showing interest in the clothes.
I started working with one woman, designing pieces that she put into making - Now I have a whole factory in Zimbabwe where the same woman is the head of a group of ladies that once was living without money or work.

When I met 'my' lady the first time, she was living in Cape Town without her family in order to provide money for them in Zimbabwe. Now as I write this - She's at home in her own bought house in Zimbabwe with her both children and husband!

A happy moment for me was when her mom phoned me last summer - Crying and thanking me for have made this project happen.'

Okay! I accept that I have taken this thread wildly off-topic here, but I for one, admire Emma, who at the age of just 21 cares enough to use her connections in fashion to help some of the world's most vulnerable women. I also admire Karla, who almost inevitably knew that by being photographed in that dress which is out-of-keeping with her usual style, she would provoke controversy, which in turn brings publicity to Emma's work. It will be interesting to see how Kate Moss wears the same dress!!

I really like the idea of this outfit but this would never work for me. If it were black and styled somewhat differently.. I would be tempted to give it a try:) But I definitely need more coverage

La Francaise, that's a very interesting point.

And it does obviously get us thinking not only about the "appropriateness" of the dress, but also about how we could make such a trend work on US, even if not that specific dress nor in such a body-baring style.

When I was at All Saints the other day I saw a few similar crochet swimsuit coverup-type dresses:
http://www.us.allsaints.com/wo.....tegory=330