gile & brother

Once upon a time, I was the Queen of Prints. They defined my style, and I reigned my sartorial kingdom with the most vibrant, unusual patterns, colors, and textures, savoring those unique vintage finds, and constantly on the lookout for new acquisitions at any and every price point. As time went on, and I entered a more professional (read: somber) work environment, many of my printed pieces eventually bade me farewell, traded in for color blocked iterations and an overall more neutral, monochromatic palette. In fashion as well, there are few designers who have upheld them as staples of their aesthetic (Mara Hoffman, Tibi, Missoni, Pucci, Etro), while most have moved past them several years ago.

Still, one of the remaining relics from my “prints” period is this strapless, horsebit DVF dress, which until recently was relegated to the back of my closet. I missed it, and was reminded that prints can bring instant joy, whimsy and personality to a look, and can in all honestly, be considered effortless dressing. It makes selecting accessories a breeze, as you can select for function or need, opposed to fashion.

For this dress in particular, an assumption may be made that because it is strapless, it shall be for dressy occasions, and true, I’ve worn it to a wedding or two. But, it’s light, breezy, 100% cotton, and 1000% comfortable, so it should be able to serve more purposes than weddings and parties. Pared with a stylish but albeit comfy pair of flats and stylish summer hat, it can double as a very chic piece of off-duty clothing, meant for strolling on a weekend, or with a pashmina during the chilly air-conditioned office environment.