Today, I’m unleashing my inner Miss Havisham.
Most women have something in their closet they just can’t throw away. Something they’re emotionally attached to. I have lots: a one-shoulder sequinned top I wore to death at university; the halterneck I’m wearing in a photo of my husband and I when we first met; a t-shirt with ‘Nobody Puts Baby Lisa in the Corner’ emblazoned on the back (clearly, from my Dirty Dancing themed hen night!)
You see – all I need is a veil of dust and a stockpile of spider webs and my wardrobe would be a veritable smörgåsbord of Havisham chic.
This River Island dress was my actual hen night dress – they let me change out of the t-shirt, much to my delight. I’ve worn it a couple of times since then, usually on holidays. The print is distinctly summery and, because I’m a total coward when it comes to confrontation, I just never bothered arguing with it. But this morning, we had ourselves a little tussle. I won’t lie – hair flew. But I think I won.
It’s surprising what a Havisham-esque lace top and a length of grosgrain ribbon will do for a summer dress. If there was such a thing as a Swiss Army knife of fashion kit, these two things should be prime utensils.
For fun, I styled it with Office sandals – carrying on the summer/winter switcheroo but, on balance, I think I’d go for the more sensible (and age-appropriate) option of these Nine West shoes…I think if Miss Havisham were a modern gal, she’d probably favour a bit of leopard print. In fact, she’d probably be Bet Lynch.
I stole the hair from Emma Watson at the Golden Globes…poor thing never saw me coming (insert appropriate wizarding joke…cloak of invisibility etc). It wasn’t me who half-inched the back of her dress though, honest!