Back of the closet: Vintage Lilac Dress

This dress has one of my all time favorite stories behind it. I was visiting my friend Natasha in Seattle a couple of
years ago and we were in this adorable vintage shop called The Pretty Parlor. The first thing my eyes fell on was
this pretty little delicate 70s lilac dress. I scooped it up, eyed the price tag and decided I could handle $29.99. I tried
it on and it fit like a dream, (bananas, I know!) but as I looked in the mirror I was afraid Birmingham just wasn't
ready for a dress like this.

So I lamented to Natasha and the cutie pie Brad Goreski look-a-like behind the counter - "I mean I live in Birmingham, Alabama. When in the world am I going to wear this?" His matter-of-fact response: "On a Wednesdaaaay."

Sure, sure. On a Wednesday. Why hadn't I thought of that? But seriously, I realized he was right. Who cares? It's beautiful. I love it. It fits me. It's affordable. So why shouldn't I rock it? So this pretty little thing found a new
Southern home that day!

And even though I try not to wear it too often, in hopes of preserving it as long as I can, the other day I decided it
still needed to be "remixed" and given a little something-something to make it feel new again. So I grabbed a hat, a different bag and added the platforms and socks instead of the other heels I normally wear. And I'm pretty fond of
the outcome!

Here's the cheapskate outfit breakdown:

1. Vintage lilac dress, The Pretty Parlor ($29.99)
2. Hat, Forever 21 ($12.80)
3. Platforms, Charlotte Russe ($16.25)
4. Socks, Charlotte Russe ($2.99)
5. Vintage Ray Ban Sunglasses, gifted/passed down (thanks mom!)
6. Vintage Etienne Aigner bag, gifted/passed down (thanks mom!)
7. Vintage cocktail ring, gifted (thanks Cathy!)

Total: Under $75.00

**Oh and don't forget, you have until Sunday to enter the Shabby Apple Giveaway!**

photos: Laura Menconi