I am a frequent visitor of vintage stores (shocker, I know). I love the hunt, the feeling of discovery. My husband says I have a sixth sense and can sniff out the perfect dress in a sea of nice-but-not quite-right. I flip through the colorful racks with practiced precision, my eye towards the next great undiscovered beauty. And I’ve also come to notice an interesting phenomenon about the way I shop.
Some vintage owners organize by era, some use rainbow merchandising (a personal fav), and some by clothing type. Regardless of organization, there is always one lonely category that goes neglected by many a vintage shopper: The brown dresses. Time and time again, I flip through the selection of brown garments and they look back at me like puppies in the pet store that no one has taken the time to glance at in awhile. Sad and lonely and begging for attention. And more often than not, I’m guilty of walking right past, my eye on more colorful pastures…
And then I saw Her. This chocolate-hued beauty so full of details you almost can’t take them in all at once: The drop waist, polka dot gingham print, illusion neckline and full, twirly skirt. Why, oh why, have I been neglecting brown all my life??
It got me thinking… Most people (myself included) tend to shy away from neutral brown or beige tones, much more dazzled by the bright, colorful items in other parts of the shop. The extroverted, outgoing dresses with all of the confidence in the world, who know exactly the right thing to say at parties. But, the brown dresses are the shy wallflowers, full of depth and possibilities, waiting for someone to get to know them. (If you haven’t guessed, I was definitely more the wallflower variety in high school.)
Here’s the thing about brown: It’s the world’s most perfect canvas.
I adore a good canvas, because it allows me to pull out my loudest accessories and most vivid shoes…those things that would otherwise fight for attention with a brightly colored dress. These insanely amazing shoes have overpowered every single item of clothing I’ve ever tried to pair them with, until now. Clothing can sometimes seem like a dance, and even the best dancers aren’t amazing until they meet their ideal partner.
Now, I’m certainly not turning my back on my first love of brightly colored frocks. I have many a colorful confection currently sitting in my wardrobe, some still awaiting their perfect dance partner. And their ideal match may just lie in the neutrals we can often neglect.
So every now and then, without sounding too much like an after school special – ladies, give brown a chance!
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Dress: Daisy & Stella Vintage (similar modern or similar vintage here, here, here & here)
Belt: Alannah Hill (similar here and here)
Bag: Vintage (similar here & here)
Shoes: Irregular Choice via Heels.com (similar here & here)
Petticoat: Vintage (similar modern & vintage)
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