Firstly, thank you everyone for all your support and encouragement with regards my first “What I Wore” post 🙂 I’m still not a snappy dresser (and I still suck at having photos taken) so weekly posts, as suggested by some of you will not be imminent. But I had loads of fun the first time around, so I will have these posts pop up now and again 🙂
What I wore to work quite recently was a dress with a hole.
I’d worn this one quite a few times, without thinking about it too much, but it was only when someone remarked to me that it was an interesting detail, that I actually paid attention. You see, whilst the back is all holey and exposed, the front of it is quite demure and office friendly. It makes a good outfit for a work-to-play occasion 🙂
The dress is fitted with a simple V neckline in the front which is what makes it deceptive.
This is how it looks from the front. Simple and demure.
For work, I toss over a long cardigan for something a little more casual, or a blazer if I’m feeling more formal. For after work drinks or dinner, remove the cover up, and flash a little skin 😉
The obligatory stiff as a board shot hehe… This is quite possibly turning out to be a signature of mine 😉
I’d love to find more interesting dresses like these but I couldn’t tell you where I got this one because it was a gift from a lovely friend. I don’t know how she does it, but she seems to guess my size quite accurately. Its freaky! 😛
Dress: Gift
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Mini as before
Shoes: Clarks as before
Do you wear interesting clothing pieces like this? How do you feel about flashing a little skin?
I like wearing something clothes with unexpected details like this, especially something that can be worn for either work or play. It is surprisingly hard to find however. Gotta keep my eyes peeled 😉
Paris B
ProudMummy says
September 2, 2012 at 8:50 amI had a dress of similar detail in the 80s. But strictly for partying during those carefree student weekends in the UK. I remember it well. Dark green, tight fitting with much larger hole placed much lower. Won’t show much skin these days though. Now Spanx is my BFF. How I wish I was 25 years younger and 25kgs lighter! LOL
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 7:05 pmThat sounds like a pretty dress you had back in the party days 😉 Those were the days huh? 😉
Jenn says
September 2, 2012 at 10:03 amWhat a cute dress!! I always wanted one but i’m terribly self-concious about the acne scarring on my back, so i’m keeping my back as covered as possible! Hehehe! 😀
Looking forward to Vol 3, 4, 5 and so on! Keep them coming please!! 😀
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 9:43 pmI guess I’m lucky about my back *touch wood* 🙂 Thanks for the encouragement, Jenn!
jean says
September 2, 2012 at 12:20 pmlove this! need to have very good skin on the back for this. =p
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 9:44 pmI didn’t realize it till Jenn pointed it out but yes, good back skin is definitely a must!
Jyoan says
September 2, 2012 at 2:07 pmYes! Love this kind of small details that still stand out. =D
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 9:44 pmMe too! It’s hard to find something like this. I like little unexpected details
aiyu says
September 2, 2012 at 2:44 pmLooking good, Paris :D.
I personally won’t wear such short length for work. I’m bottom heavy and a bit tall, so such length would make me very conscious. And it gets shorter when I sit down! But it looks great on you. I really enjoy your ‘What I wore’ posts, please keep it up.
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 9:46 pmThank you, Aiyu! 🙂 that’s the problem with short skirts. They ride up and can look indecently short when sitting lol! I sometimes make that mistake too 😛 thank you for the encouragement! I will try to keep this up 🙂
Monstro says
September 2, 2012 at 3:12 pmI love clothing with a surpise detail, especially one like yours, where it’s simple in the front and interesting in the back. Looking good, PB!
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 9:46 pmThanks Monstro! 😀 I need me more of these!
Helz Nguyen says
September 2, 2012 at 8:12 pmI love the cut out style 🙂 been obsessing with them recently! This dress totally says “Business in Front, Party in the Back” lol! Looking good PB!
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 9:49 pm“Business in front, party in the back” I love that Helz! 😀 thanks and I think I need to find me more 😉
Jacqueline says
September 2, 2012 at 9:23 pmThat is such a pretty dress! I love the holey detail. I love dresses. I don’t ever wear pants to work can you believe that? I am currently loving the dresses from Zara. There is a particularly flattering style that is sleeveless with an exposed zip at the back. The zip does not zip all the way up so everyone is fooled into thinking I forgot to zip my dress properly. I love it to bits and I have 3 of them in different prints.
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 10:00 pmThank you Jacqueline! I love wearing dresses too because they are so easy and so much easier to look pulled together. I need to go and check out that dress from Zara that you mentioned. It sounds most interesting! 😉
Jacqueline says
September 4, 2012 at 7:19 amThey don’t have the flower print but they have a diamond print which I picked up immediately. Here is the link.
http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/us/en/zara-us-W2012/269185/907052/JEWEL%20PRINT%20DRESS
Amanda says
September 2, 2012 at 10:47 pmOh, I LOVE this post (and your dress as well). I can relate to how it is to have a dress like it. I recently bought a top with a nice and demure front (just like yours), but the back is full of holes (think spider web). It’s definitely fashionable if I don’t wear it in office! Of course, I will sport some cardigan as long as I’m in the office.
Looking forward to your next post!!!
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 10:01 pmHi Amanda! Thank you for the encouragement! 🙂 I love the description of your top and now I want one as exciting lol! For the office, definitely just toss on a cardigan or blazer and you’re good to go with no one the wiser 😉
Cindy Tong says
September 2, 2012 at 11:21 pmi don’t bother to dress up to work when i’m busy rushing my project..a plain shirt and long pants…but when im a little free and I will really select a nice piece of dress with matching heels..
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 10:03 pmFew of us bother when we’re busy or in a rush but it’s nice to dress up for work sometimes. I think it makes me more productive cos if I’m in casual wear, I tend to feel like I’m on leave and not work as hard lol!
Lisa says
September 2, 2012 at 11:59 pmI’ve come across some of these ‘holely’ dresses online. I think ASOS and some other e-retailers are having a ‘comeback’ for these vintage inspired pieces recently. On the topic of vintage, how do you feel about second hand clothes?
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 10:08 pmHmm I’ve neve bought anything off Asos (read and heard so many bad things!) but I’ll take a look anyway, thanks for the suggestion! I’m not fussed about secondhand clothes so long as they are clean. As a student, I used to buy stuff from the charity shops that sold second hand clothes. I’d take them back, wash them out and they’d be as good as ever 🙂 It’s hard to find good quality secondhand goods locally though.
Liz says
September 3, 2012 at 12:08 amLove the dress, Paris! Very chic. Dresses are easy to wear and really low maintenance despite looking high maintenance. Throw it on and go! Sadly I wouldn’t get away with a hole in my back in my office though.
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 10:10 pmThank you Liz! 🙂 I couldn’t get away with this in the office too, hence the blazer or cardigan is your best friend! 😉 I love wearing dresses too – easy to just pull on and go without worrying about whether they match 😉
C says
September 3, 2012 at 8:47 amThat is such a pretty dress! I love cut outs in clothing but I find that usually its the back or chest which I wouldn’t want to show due to scarring. I once found a beautiful dress with cutouts on the sides that if not so expensive would have been perfect :/
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 10:11 pmThank you C! Friend has good taste 😉 I could do cutouts in front or at the back but never at the side. Wouldn’t want to show off my rolls of flab lol!
LeGeeque says
September 3, 2012 at 11:21 amYay! I welcome this post with open arms. Want more! (kepoh mode turned on)
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 10:19 pmThanks Geeque 😉
peach_ says
September 3, 2012 at 12:01 pmVery cute dress! It looks great with your short hair. I think flashing a bit of skin like this is so much sexier than having everything hang out! 😛
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 10:24 pmAww thanks Peach! I think you’re right. Long hair would hide the interesting detail 😀 I’m the same as you. I’m all about being subtle, instead of as you say, letting it all hang out lol!
Issa says
September 3, 2012 at 5:45 pmyou look good PB! Love the dress 🙂
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 10:32 pmThank you Issa! 😀
Ting says
September 3, 2012 at 10:19 pmThat’s a lovely dress, Paris! You look like a china doll. The open back is sexy. Flashing just a little skin always is, as cOmpared to showing too much skin. 🙂
Paris B says
September 3, 2012 at 10:35 pmHi Ting, thank you! 🙂 I’m actually uncomfortable about showing too much skin. I don’t know how people do it 😛
Beth Maiorana says
September 4, 2012 at 7:30 amYou look yummy, Paris- like a doll. The dress flatters you immensely … I am not certain what kind of work you do, but I may have paired this dress with another type of shoe, perhaps something a bit more “lite” and summery- maybe even something un-dark … anyhow, that’s a treasure of a dress and it suits you to a sweet “T”. I like the shoes, as well, just not really with that dress. Thank you for sharing. xoxo Beth in Pgh 😉
Paris B says
September 5, 2012 at 7:27 pmThanks for the feedback Beth! I have to agree with you – the shoes do look way too heavy for the dress doesn’t it? I should be in something nice and strappy 😀 I just tend to pull on any old pair of shoes every day. I should give it a think next time 😉
Tracy says
September 4, 2012 at 3:17 pmYou look amazing in that dress Paris! Gorgeous!
I don’t really do dresses since my life is so casual these days, but I do love the ease of them!
Paris B says
September 6, 2012 at 6:53 pmThanks Tracy! xx when I’m feeling casual I’m always in shorts haha
Beauty Box says
September 5, 2012 at 8:36 amWhat a pretty dress… I still love your Rebecca Minkoff bag…!! I want it!
Paris B says
September 6, 2012 at 7:15 pmThank you!! It’s a great bag -fits a ton!(weighs a ton too when filled lol!)