The Little Brown Sweater Dress That Could
A quick lesson in stepping outside your style comfort zone.
My favorite thing about clothing rental services is getting to test drive looks without having to buy them. It could be a whole buzzy trend that’s piqued my interest (looking at you, Coastal Grandma), or just a one-off style outside my lexicon, but having the freedom to remix my monthly wardrobe without commitment is major.
Plus, my impulse fashion buys are practically nonexistent, which is the cherry on top. (Also, if I made a purchase every time a boxy barn coat or wide-leg jeans turned my head in these NYC streets, we’d be in dire finanical straits.)
Why are we talking about this today? Because I took a risky style swing this week, thanks to a wildcard rental piece, and it totally paid off.
The Style Swing In Question
This dress caught my eye because of its effortless sophistication. Flattering draping, unfussy fabric, and a contemporary vibe that could flex up for date night or down for work? Interesting!
Did it fit with my usual style M.O.? Not really. Take a look at what filled the rest of my rental cart at the time:
If you asked me to describe my personal style (and I was often asked in my last role as a branded fashion editor, so I am well rehearsed), I’d say: “My signature style is a sunny mix of colorful hues and retro silhouettes with rock ‘n’ roll-inspired details.” Think lots of denim, vintage band tees, and an affinity for platforms.
This dress was definitively not that.
But like I said, something about a clothing rental service gently nudges me to step outside my fashion comfort zone. And the dress did feel like the definition of transitional weather dressing, a constant puzzle to be solved once March hits its stride. Could it fill a gap in my wardrobe?
How I Styled The Dress
I made the modern look more ‘Elly’ with a vintage Brighton belt (circa 1996, if the engraved year on the hardware is to be believed) from FiFi’s Consignment in Sarasota, and my trusty Dr. Marten Jadon boots.
The commotion for the dress was resounding. Subway strangers, coworkers, fashion friends, and family at post-work drinks were in unanimous agreement: This dress was fab.
Lesson Learned
It had me thinking: If I could pull off this (for me) out-of-left-field look, what other styles should I be stepping outside my own made-up style boundaries for? What styles are you curious about, but haven’t worn yourself for one reason or another?
But Now I’m Curious…
Yours in dressing outside the style comfort zone,
Elly
If anyone can pull off funky fresh it would be you!
You rocked it!