A Dress from the Armoire
I must confess that this dress has been in my closet forever. After almost a year of writing this column and digging through lots of people's closets, I realized that it had been in a garment bag for too long. And, because it's perfectly suited for a Spring full of skirts, feminine sheers and tailored details, I decided to take it out and see what I could do with it.
My great grandmother, Ebe, a talented seamstress, made this dress for my mother’s 18th birthday. Having clothes made for yourself is now considered a sophisticated luxury, but when my great grandmother was alive, it was customary in my family to choose a model from her library of French magazines and hit the fabric store. This dress is an ocre-green crinkled chiffon, and in incredibly pristine condition. The full skirt is gathered at the waist and has three layers of chiffon and an inner-most layer of satin. The side-zippered corset is hand-embroidered with smoking stitches, has a boat neck in the front and is lower in the back (no cleavage allowed for my mother!). Originally, it also had a short chiffon bolero to cover the shoulders, but this item is missing in action, even in closets back in Italy.
A Reading at Books & Books
© Francesca Belluomini / MFb
A fabric messenger bag by Fendi, and animal print espadrilles, classed up with a single strand of pearls. Perfect for a reading at everybody's favorite local bookstore.
Easter Egg Hunt
© Francesca Belluomini / MFb
My favorite green Hunter boots are perfect for an easter egg hunt (no heels digging in the grass for me!). Finish the ensemble with layers of maxi beads from my own collection for a look that is truly, well, mine.
Sunset Picnic at South Pointe Park
© Francesca Belluomini / MFb
These crocodile cyclamine hot pink by Sergio Rossi add pretty to pretty, making an outfit that's perfect for the a romantic picnic by the bay. Just add takeout from Joe's Stone Crab, a bottle of chilled Chablis and a camera to capture the sunset and the cruisers passing by.
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About the Author
Francesca Belluomini has got style, class and sass. In How to Wear It, she offers fun and funky style solutions for your most troublesome wardrobe pieces. When she's not writing, Belluomini designs jewelry. Her collection draws from the colors, textures and aromas of her native Tuscany. See it at www.francescabelluomini.com.
