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Suzanne Carillo

40+ Adventurous style solutions for the uncommon woman

How To Wear A Bold Print Vintage Maxi Dress

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How To Wear A Bold Print Vintage Maxi Dress

how to wear bold printed maxi dresses when you are petite

I discovered this handmade gem of a cotton maxi dress way back in April when I went to a vintage show with Shelley. We had a wonderful day checking out the vintage wears, eating and gossiping about all the bloggers we dislike.

Joking! 

Or am I? Ha ha!

She wrote about it all on her fab blog Forest City Fashionista.

Suzanne and FCF
Ladies in hats : )

As you can see I’m a little bit late to the game on posting. I had to steal this photo from Shelley’s blog because I didn’t actually get a photo of us together.

#lameblogger

In the photo I’d already purchased my dress. It was the one item I bought at the show. I had a brilliant cobalt blue hat in my hands almost immediately upon entering and then made the mistake of putting it down. Within seconds it was gone. You can’t hesitate when you’re at one of these shows.

how to wear vintage maxi dresses over 40

They had lots of lovely outfits and dresses at the show, but it was difficult to try them on, (you had to wait in line in the bathroom) and they were quite expensive. This dress fell into my price range at only $26. A far cry from the £2 that Curtise and Vix, the vintage experts are accustomed to paying, but still reasonable when the vast majority of other dresses at the show were well over $100.

This dress was touch and go size-wise. It fits me better when I go braless, but feels weird to have the girls commando. TMI?

how to wear vintage african prints

I was first drawn to the colours but it was the fantastic bold African print with the brilliant pattern matching that sold me on it.

Just look at the back!

how to wear maxi dresses over 40

Precise right?

how to wear bold print vintage dresses over 40
Necklace – France (made from a seed pod!), Handbag – vintage, Dress – vintage (handmade)

how to wear bold print maxi dresses over 40

I thought initially that the print might be too overwhelming for my shortness petite stature, but I’ve decided it is visually figure flattering, especially through the back. I’ve written about how patterns can create optical illusions and I think this dress is yet another great example.

I think this will be one of the items I’ll be wearing for the 40+ Blogger Meet-up in Vancouver.  I know everyone will be dressing to impress and show off outfits that best reflect their personality and individual style.  This dress checks all of those boxes for me.

What would be your “dressing to impress” outfit be?

You might want to see my other posts on how to wear bold print vintage maxi dresses… or 1970’s maxi,  and 1960’s Ginger and finally my Oscar red carpet dress.

 

Linking up with Get Your Pretty On  The Pleated Poppy   My Girlish Whims  Throw Back Thursday

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Comments

  2. Patti says

    Love this pic of you and Shelley together. Two gorgeous women in their element! Great dress, and hat, and necklace too. xox

  4. Natalia Lialina says

    You look absolutely fantastic in this beautiful, beautiful dress!!!!! And yes, it’s a fine work of sewing too. I was just yesterday thinking about getting African fabrics and just make my own clothes – their colors and patterns are incredible. This one is one of my very favorite dresses on you, it’s definitely your style, your colors, and it fits you like a glove. Just fantastic! xxx

  6. Curtise says

    Agh, my comment just got eaten – I’ll start again!
    That fabulous dress is such a contrast to the trousers in your last post. A perfect fit, oh-so-flattering, great colours and print, and you are radiating confidence. it’s a wonderful dress, Suzanne!
    Gorgeous pic of your and Shelley too.
    Ooh, now, I would be intimidated by the idea of having to dress to impress, and meeting a big group of women all intent on doing the same. It’s not something I’m conscious of doing, and clearly what I wear does NOT impress some people (eg. the man who yelled at me when I wore my jumpsuit!) I just wear what I like, and whether that’s met with ridicule or compliments, it doesn’t change my choices. xxx

    • suzanne carillo says

      I hate it when my comments are lost : ( Glad you took the time to write again.

      You are right this is such a contrast to those horrible pants. LOL

      I’ve learned one thing in life, you won’t please everyone no matter what you do, so as long as you’re pleasing yourself, you are doing well.

  7. Sue @ A Colourful Canvas says

    I AM impressed with the brilliant pattern matching on your maxi! And, you do look completely fantastic…maxis really work well for you. You look long, lean, and cool. {both kinds; temp and hip}. Oooh, wardrobe planning for the meet up. You will be the jewel in the group, fear not! xo

  10. Sandra says

    Oh my Gawd! what a stunning dress! looooove it on you, also quick nod to your amaze hat, totally divine outfit Suzanne, front and back fabulousness! – I can’t dress to impress, I can’t! what happens is the pressure makes me pick the single most awful item I have which I will then apply a make-up style I have never done all with a hairstyle I have never tried, every single time x x x

  11. Shelley@ForestCityFashionista says

    So nice to finally see that dress on you, and it fits like a dream! If you aren’t wearing a bra in these photos you certainly can’t tell. I love African prints, and the colours in this one look wonderful with your hair.

    We did have fun that day, and we should plan another outing this summer.

  12. Vix says

    Now that’s the kind of dress you were born to wear, unique, beautiful and totally traffic stopping. Love how the print enhances your already banging bod and whatever price you paid it was an absolute bargain. I’ll gladly take it off your hands when you’re bored with it (which should be never!)
    Love that photo of you & Shelley. That’s what I call a great day out, no time to take photos! xxx

  13. Elle says

    Suzanne,
    This dress could have two extra 00s behind it and it would not shock me. It is stunning and so on trend! It looks like the designer Naeem Khan! and it is flattering. That you can leave your bra at home is big bonus!
    Big! ha! 😉
    LOVE this! Sorry about the hat, but i do adore this one.
    xx, Elle
    http://mydailycostume.com

  15. shawna says

    Okay, first, I have to say that I will not be dressing to impress because that sounds much too difficult. I am going for comfort in Vancouver, which will mean physical and psychological comfort. Your dress, is a winner though and I will be envying it the whole time. The style is really figure flattering (and by that I mean not that it offers any help to someone who doesn’t need it but that it shows your lovely figure nicely) the colours suit your warm colouring and I think that elongated diamond in the print is very flattering.

    I love shopping at flea markets and such but rarely for clothes as I don’t have the patience for awkward trying on situations. I think there is a greater abundance of vintage items in the UK and that is one of the reasons the prices are so low, but you still got a good price for a great dress. xoxo

    • suzanne carillo says

      You are right I am sure about the abundance of vintage in the UK compared to here. I had never given it any thought before but of course that makes sense.

  16. carmen says

    You sure know how to wear a bold print vintage maxi dress Suzanne! A great find. Fun shopping day together with Shelley.

    I would wear my teal lace palazzo pants to impress (that I will be posting soon). I wore them to Langdon Hall last week for the first time. They make me feel regal.

    Have fun in Vancouver with all the fashionistas and I look forward to hearing all about it. I know your photos of the event will be fabulous! I will be going east across the big pond this summer.

    Happy Sunday!
    ♥ carmen

  17. No Fear of Fashion says

    Oh yes, this dress is such a fantastic item. It beautifully shows off your hourglass figure. If prints can make optical illusions, this might have been the type of dress for me. To create the hourglass figure I so want but lack haha. No, it wouldn’t have worked. You have to fill it up. Which you do marvellously. For a fabric lover and a seamstress eye, this dress is heaven. So well-made. Sue will love it too, I am sure.
    Well, you raised the bar for the end of July. Most of my clothes are nice with high heels. Not a good option when you are exploring cities. I will have another look at the programme, to see weather there are days when I may be able to wear heels.
    Greetje

    • suzanne carillo says

      I think that this dress would work brilliantly on you, except there would be an issue with your chest…which would not fit in. You’d have to carry it on the side. LOL

      I think you will do okay Friday night and Sunday morning for higher heels. All day and night Saturday you will need something comfy.

  19. Mrs C says

    Oh, wow! That was the first thing I said when I saw this dress. Beyond gorgeous and at $26, you literally hit a jackpot! I love the slimming effect the pattern creates at the back.. not that we need it (ehem!) Honestly I cannot dress to impress unless I am comfortable in what I’m wearing, so if I were to be at the meet-up, I’ll be in one of my men’s wear shirt and pants with heels. I think there’s a ‘butch’ somewhere in me…

  20. Denise says

    Amaaaaazing, lovely outfit and pictures! The kind of dress and print I love! And that it fits you perfectly, a bonus! It is totally flattering, you are right! I also loved the seed necklace and I also loved the picture with the blogger – with that beautiful green outfit, the kind of shade of green that I love! And I saw the dress in your bag 🙂 I like the outfit you wore then! I’;s nice that you will go to the bloggers’ meeting, and will wear this dress! I don’t know what I would wear… maybe the blue dress of the “Patience” post 🙂
    DenisesPlanet.com

  22. Debbie Stinedurf says

    This dress is perfect for you…it screams “Suzanne”…in a good way, not in a terrified horror movie kind of way. As far as the girls going commando, there’s enough going on with the print that it probably wouldn’t be noticeable that they were running free, so go for it if it’s more comfortable that way.
    Debbie
    http://www.fashionfairydust.com

    • suzanne carillo says

      LOL glad it isn’t screaming in a terrifying way. Like I normally am! LOL

      Honestly I’m not keen on going braless, but it is less squishy in this dress if I do.

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