LBD is not an option

I always do this. My closet’s stuffed with loads of clothes purchased for just this situation:  last minute party.  But for some reason last minute parties always seem to demand last minute purchases.  Hence my 7:30 p.m. Zara rampage followed by a quickie make-over at Sephora.  I passed on the leggings but snagged some sparkly eyeshadow and new foundation.  Ok, and some lipgloss.   It’s an improvement over what I did last time:  tried to design and sew a cocktail dress the night before.  I wore a little black dress and tried to wear sunglasses to hide my raccoon eyes.  Lady Gaga is onto something with those lace mask getups.

I totally want some leather pants. . . just not the ones purchased in 2001 and currently residing at my parents’ house:  Red, four sizes too big, bootleg jeans-style, and purchased on a screaming sale.  (Imagine that.  Red leather bootleg jeans on sale?)   I wore them once, in my bedroom, and was so embarassed that I even owned them that I refused walk the two feet from my bedroom to the bathroom for fear someone would see me.  Moral of this post:  Never talk yourself into buying leather pants because they are on sale.

I do have some ideas of what I’d like to wear, neither involving red leather pants but both inspired by this photo of Dorien Leigh:

Dorian Leigh, evening dress by Piguet, 1949 by Richard Avedon

Ok, so she is not wearing leather pants.  But the dress is very structured (like the leather pants) and then is overlayed with classic draping.  I absolutely love this photo, love the placement of her arm, her amazing profile, and her gorgeous dress.  Mostly, I love her confidence. 

I don’t own these outfits but do have pieces that are similar.  Of course, I just don’t like them much right now.  (Delightful, aren’t I?)  Fingers crossed I like them more tomorrow.  Otherwise, there’s always the lace in the sewing chest.

Film still from "How to Steal A Million." Audrey Hepburn dressed by Givenchy.