How to Wear a Lace Up Little Black Dress

It's my daughter's birthday this month so I asked her what she would like for her birthday.  She asked for "New clothes that didn't make her look like she was stuck in the forties"  (Ashley loves vintage fashion, but wanted to try some newer trends).  So I searched and searched and found several items for her and this little black dress was one of them.  Although two of my gifts were a hit with Ashley, this one was not.  Ashley didn't want any more black in her wardrobe, plus she didn't care for the lace up detail or the shortness of the dress.  She said she had enough short skirts already and needed clothes that were more appropriate for singing in conservative arenas. I was actually elated that Ashley didn't like this dress, because I LOVED it and wanted to keep it for myself.  And when my husband saw me in this dress, he wanted me to keep it as well.  He said, "I always wanted you to get a little black dress".

It is a bit on the short side, even for me.  I will only wear it when I'm out of a date with my husband, or with leggings underneath in the winter.

 I brought color to my outfit with a coral clutch from Express.  I didn't wear a necklace because I wanted the grommets to be the center of attention, but I did wear a silver bracelet.  A pair of statement earrings would also look great with this dress.

My white sunglasses are new.  I've been looking for a pair of white sunnies forever but couldn't find a pair that wasn't too over-the-top for me.  I like this pair, because the white rim is very subtle and the aviator style is very "in" right now (not that aviator sunglasses ever go "out").  They are by Rocawear and I bought them at J.C. Penney.  The white is no longer available, but there is still a gold pair available HERE.

I wore my black straw hat that was one of my end of season sale bargains that I also picked up at JCP for only 97cents.

Now for the topic "How to Wear a Lace Up Little Black Dress".  The trend is to wear a pretty bralette underneath and let it show.  I know, I know, my conservative friends are all screaming "NO, Never".  I realize, it isn't for everyone, but when you think about it, we show a lot more skin at the beach; and as I stated earlier, I wouldn't wear this dress just anywhere without leggings underneath.  But since this was a date night, I wore it with a pretty lace bralette that had a little diamond in the center and loosened the laces just a bit (not too much, although I have seen pictures where women totally open them up).  If I was going somewhere where I needed to be a bit more conservative, I would just tighten the laces and you wouldn't see a thing, or I would wear a camisole underneath.  You can wear lace up dresses or tops in whichever way makes you feel the most comfortable and/or adjust the lacing for the occasion.

My shoes are also from JCP.  I bought them a year or two ago at the end of the season for around $3.97.  The heel is super high, yet I can still walk in them because they are wedges.  Although, I did fall off of them once!  LOL!

 I found my dress at Ross for around $12.00.  Ross is the place to go for dresses.  They are so inexpensive.  Ross is especially great for finding a gorgeous special occasion dress.  You can find a gorgeous long gown at Ross for around $25.00 that would cost over $200 anywhere else.  If I ever go to another wedding, Ross will be my first stop to look for a dress!

And here is my Cosmopolitan photo.  LOL!  I got a good chuckle at this one.  Taking fashion photos can sometimes be mundane and I just want to get it over with,  but this was a rare fun photo shoot.

 I get a lot of comments about my legs because I'm over fifty and they are still in great shape.  I exercise six days a week and my routine includes squats, lunges, pilates and floor leg exercises with weights.  Walking or running alone will not give you great shape and muscle tone to your legs if your over fifty...at least not for me.  It's hard work, and I hate every minute of it, but the results are worth it.  Plus I find exercise is very beneficial for keeping my arthritis pain under control.

So what about you?  Have you purchased any lace up items this season?  How do you feel about this trend?  I'd love to hear from you!

Have a Great Day!  Amy

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