So last week I was telling you all about the party I went to, when I felt like I was wearing the wrong outfit.
I happened to mention in that post, that I wasn’t happy with the shoes I’d chosen to wear as they just didn’t look right:
I’ve really struggled with finding a pair of shoes that work with this particular dress. My favourite black strappy sandals with block heels somehow made me feel like I should be standing on a street corner after dark!
Then I got chatting with Ann from House of Colour and Image after my Women’s Network meeting last week, about choosing shoes to go with my leopard print dress, and she said something very insightful:
“Maybe it’s not about the shoes … maybe it’s the DRESS!”
That thought really stuck in my mind.
But if that’s the case, then how did this leopard print dress manage to find its way into my wardrobe?
It’s a lot harder to find flattering fashion now I have an older, fuller figure, that ticks all of the below:
- a. suits my shape, my colouring, and my age;
- b. is easy care and comfortable; and
- c. fits me AND my hip pocket.
So when I find a dress that meets my criteria, I buy it. I got this one in the end of summer sales earlier this year:
It was such a good buy, I went back to see if it came in any other colours or prints – and lo and behold there it was in a leopard print so I nabbed it!
And yet, much as I always feel fab in the red version, the leopard print has never had the same magic.
It was time to take a closer look at both dresses.
And do you know what I discovered?
The leopard print dress isn’t exactly the same style as the red one. The neckline is different, but I think I’ve identified the real problem: it has a seam around the middle and the red one doesn’t. Subconsciously I must have realised it was drawing attention to my tummy, which doesn’t suit me because like many women my age, I am battling middle aged spread. That’s why I never felt 100% comfortable in it – it really wasn’t about the shoes – it was about the DRESS!
Looking at the photos below (taken on a very windy day, can you tell?!), I actually think the black patent heels look the best and unlike what I first thought, they really don’t have a hooker vibe. Maybe it was all in my imagination?
I’d love to hear what you think … is it a yay or a nay for the leopard print dress? And which shoes look the best with it?