Prairie dresses?

Janet

https://www.washingtonpost.com.....es-prairie

I can see perhaps a more Westworld-ish interpretation -- prairie with a bit of badass? But in general, I think this is a trend I can pass on.

5 years ago

General

38 replies

Latest reply was from Jeanie

JAileen

Veteran

NYT had a similar article, possibly the same company. I particularly like the look with hair curlers. It’s not for me, either. Been there.

5 years ago

Anonymous

Pass for sure.

5 years ago

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

NOPE!

5 years ago

ladypainter

Active Member

The turquoise eyeshadow in the 1st photo is pretty awesome, as costuming!
This is one recycle that *was* better the first time around, though.

5 years ago

RobinF

Veteran

Yikes! They didn't look good on me when I was young, I am sure that is not a look for me now.

5 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

I do get sucked into browsing Doen from time to time, but it's really not my look. I think the closest I could get is a plaid or gingham sundress. The shoulder poofs, the ruffles, and the small-scale florals are all pretty awful on me. It's a bit reminiscent of the Laura Ashley trend in the 80s/90s and I suspect that, a decade from now, we'll all be looking back and laughing at these dresses.

5 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Confession... always loved Laura Ashley dresses. This iteration is a bit much though

5 years ago

Gretchen

Veteran

I love the idea, but agree it's a pass for me. Although I _AM_ wondering if I could find a thrifted Jessica McClintock for a Halloween party...

5 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

Jenni, I think Laura Ashley did it better! If I did was going to partake of this trend, I'd be scouring thrift stores for Gunne Sax and Laura Ashley.

Gretchen -- agree that this trend is GREAT Halloween inspo.

5 years ago

Windchime

Veteran

NO, for so many reasons!

5 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I think this is really fun. It's not something I'd wear out on the street, but I think it would be super cute as a party theme.

5 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

A couple of years ago I remember some look with ditzy floral prairie dresses with OTK boots, I really liked it.

5 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

I like elements of these dresses, but think that they are too over the top even for maximal me!

5 years ago

SarahD8

Veteran

I wouldn’t wear the full-on prairie dress, but I could see going for a calico in a more streamlined/modern cut. And, I’m rather taken with high necked Victorian blouses these days — sort of like the top half of a prairie dress. I’d wear something like that with jeans — see the last photo at this link:
http://dresslikeaparisian.com/.....-collar-2/
I CANNOT do any kind of puffed sleeves though so like I said it would have to be a less maximal cut.
I like the West world/badass idea!

5 years ago

Kathie

Veteran

I just read a similar article in the New Yorker, https://www.newyorker.com/maga.....nine-dress

Not a trend I see myself adopting though.

5 years ago

Sal

Veteran

There was an article in The Guardian too...

I don't mind the look - I think it is quite fun - but I don't actually see myself doing so. I also think it could easily go quite wrong on me- whereas a 20 year old model can carry it off.... That feeling is not confined to prairie dresses though.

I think some of the associations might be over my head though. I had to google Gunne Sax but I do remember having dresses like this in the 1970s and dressing my barbie doll in this type of look too.

5 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Oh, yes, JAileen, the look with the curlers jumped out at me, too. Gotta have the curlers.

These dresses remind me of the costume I wore to sing in the chorus of Oklahoma! (or was it Annie Get Your Gun?) in high school summer theater. My prairie dress was a pale green, made of a moire that could have been drapery or upholstery fabric.

5 years ago

Kate

Veteran

Just no.
Though I have to admit, cringing, that I wore a similar look when I was a teenager in the 70s. I remember my father asking my mother in some bemusement: 'What are all these young girls doing running around looking like they just came in off the prairie?' There may even be pictures. I hope not.

5 years ago

Andrea H

Active Member

Aww, the late 70s/early 80s were my high school/early college years so I have a deeply ingrained fondness for this stuff. I have a distinct memory of waiting for a bus on the way to my job on a snowy day in winter 1982, wearing a high-necked ruffly white blouse, a tiered denim prairie skirt, a wide bronze metallic belt, and white cowboy-style rainboots. With a fake fur coat. I remember feeling like I was *so fashion*. (Side note: other people do have clear, fond memories of clothes they wore 30 or 40 years ago right? RIGHT?)

Anyway, while I probably can't pull off a full-on prairie look now (unless it suddenly goes full mainstream again) it saddens me a little to see so much hate for it. I do think a lot of it (ditsy florals, swishy midi skirts, ruffled blouses) is pretty and feminine, and I find a switch to more covered up ("modest" if you will) styles as high fashion again is interesting and refreshing.

5 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I had some Laura Ashley clothes that I bought in London in the 1970s. Every so often this look resurfaces. I will pass this time around.
Andrea, I have clear and fond memories of clothes I wore almost 60 years ago! I had a pair of jeans (passed down from my brother) that I loved. I wore them when I was about 3 or 4 years old.

5 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Me too Andrea! One of my fave memories is of both fashion happiness and then disappointment. I think I was 15 almost 16, late 1976. I had my first summer job and spent money on cork platform sandals and then very long flared jeans that came down over the top of them hiding the shoes and making me look so much taller with legs that went on for ever. And possibly some kind of knit top. I was going to a play with my best friend and her parents. I thought I was just so fashion. Then I saw her. Some kind of a dress that looked sort of gypsy? And I felt all wrong beside her. Think my love for boho started right there, right then, and has continued until the present day nearly 42 years later

5 years ago

Mainelady

Veteran

I had my turn with Laura, Jessica and Gunne. I loved and rocked the look. Then. I can leave this trend in my fashion history book.

5 years ago

Helena

Veteran

This looks is not for me personally, but I am fully on board with any reaction against the over-revealing clothes that look like bras and undies that I still see at the mall. I'm all for more modest options being mainstream, and it might take some fringe to push that. I also feel like there is a way to style these IRL that would look cool on someone younger and edgier than me ... I just don't know what it is

5 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

WOOHOOO. Fun. Why the heck not!

5 years ago

kkards

Veteran

i have learned to never say never....but this is a Jr High fashion flashback, that i think needs to stay in Jr High

5 years ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I like the Doen dresses La Pedestrienne mentioned as well. But I see a lot of the super-covered up ones as looking more sister wife than prairie chic.

5 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Lisa, exactly! As much as I loved Chloe Sevigny in Big Love, I don’t think I need to take fashion cues from her character.

5 years ago

Anonymous

Pass- definitely pass!

5 years ago

Jules

Veteran

Well right after reading this thread I went out for the evening in a an area that newly has a lot of condos, young people and nightlife, but isn’t what I’d call hipster or high fashion. Yet I did see one beautiful young woman with model-like carriage wearing a full length, long sleeved and high necked floral dress. Somehow more high fashion than prairie though. I would have been a bit puzzled if I hadn’t just seen this!

5 years ago

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