Teal + Ferragamo Bow Flats

On a separate note, I saw this dress a while back on a petite lady from Boston Magazine and fell in love with the color. The flattering shade of teal reminds me of tropical waterfronts, and the looser shift shape is easy to wear. True to most Ann Taylor petites sizing, this dress is roomy on me but works with a waist belt. A triple strap belt wasn’t the best choice, so the second time around I switched to something more delicate:

A few months ago, a box showed up at my door from the stylish Wendy, and I almost fell over with surprise upon finding these vintage Ferragamo bow flats inside. I had been hard-core eying the current Varina bow flats for over 2 years, but never pulled the trigger. These shoes are a signature style (Update – thank you Iris for letting me know I misidentified this style! These are actually the Vara low-heel pumps with a 1″ heel, currently still sold in beige) that Ferragamo has been making for decades with slight updates – the most noticeable difference between older and current versions is the curved shape of the heel. I love the sleek silhouette (good for narrow feet), the leg-lengthening nude color, and the feminine grosgrain bows with gold buckles. Thank you, Wendy, for adding a classic piece to my wardrobe that will be treasured for years!

Here’s the fit of the dress right out of the package and before a light ironing:

I’ve come to accept that Ann Taylor XXSP and 00P dresses will fit a bit roomy on someone with my measurements (like the recently-posted navy crochet lace dress) so if I want to wear the brand, I’ll need to get handier with self-alterations. Blouses fit a little better, and sometimes you can get lucky with knit dresses or skirts designed to be more fitted.

Also, thank you all so much for your input on my last post (especially those who provided creative suggestions that I would’ve never thought of). I decided to keep both for the time being and will sell the ivory one only after careful consideration : )