Black and White Gingham Dress With Pearl Collar #iwillwearwhatilike

Classic summer dressing: Bardot-style gingham dress, bronze heels, pearl embellished collar | Not Dressed As Lamb

This was an outfit I wore to a party in London last month – I’m only just getting round to showing it to you now!

The Hobbs Twitchill gingham dress was incredibly popular last year after I was featured in the Sunday Times Style magazine wearing it, and although it was available for ages it’s sadly now completely sold out. (Fear not – I found another sleeveless gingham midi dress and one with sleeves in all in black and white in case you can’t live your life, like me, without a Bardot-style black and white gingham dress.)

This week’s #iwillwearwhatilike theme is gingham – the perfect summery pattern of preppy-style lovers everywhere (after stripes of course)…!

The details I added to the dress this time around were the pearl collar and bronze heels – the former adds some interest to the plain neckline and the latter adds colour without adding colour, if you see what I mean. In other words, treat metallics like neutrals. They’ll always go with anything and everything.

Classic summer dressing: Bardot-style gingham dress, bronze heels, pearl embellished collar | Not Dressed As Lamb

SHOP THE LOOK:

I haven’t used my bunny ears bag (here’s the same in a cat version) in ages, in fact I’d almost forgotten I had it till it was rediscovered during a clear-out frenzy that’s been going on in my wardrobe for a while now. I love having a selection of cross body bags: More practical (easier to carry) than a clutch, but they do the same job. Just big enough to carry essentials without overwhelming a dressy outfit.

Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – you may be featured next week if you’ve linked up something gingham – don’t forget to check out my favourites from last week’s red, white and blue link up below!

DO YOU TEND TO WEAR PARTICULAR PATTERNS IN PARTICULAR SEASONS (GINGHAM IN SUMMER, TARTAN IN WINTER, FOR EXAMPLE)? COMMENT BELOW, OR TAKE IT TO TWITTER @NOTLAMB!

Classic summer dressing: Bardot-style gingham dress, bronze heels, bunny ears bag | Not Dressed As Lamb
Classic summer dressing: Bardot-style gingham dress, pearl embellished collar, cat eye sunglasses, bunny ears bag | Not Dressed As Lamb
Classic summer dressing: Black and white gingham dress, pearl embellished collar | Not Dressed As Lamb
Classic summer dressing: Bardot-style gingham dress, bronze heels, pearl embellished collar | Not Dressed As Lamb
Classic summer dressing: Bardot-style gingham dress, pearl embellished collar, cat eye sunglasses | Not Dressed As Lamb
Hobbs Twitchill dress c/o (this black and white gingham shirt dress is stunning, and this one is similar but has a halter neck) | ASOS pearl collar (this embellished pearl collar is even more fancy than mine) | ASOS heels (I love these bronze strappy sandals version of mine) | ASOS bag (I couldn’t find a bunny ears bag but here’s a round black cross body bag) | Lulus sunglasses c/o (similar black cat eye sunglasses) | White Fossil watch

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#iwillwearwhatilike | Not Dressed As Lamb
Thank you for joining the #iwillwearwhatilike link up! This started as a campaign on Instagram in August 2015 where women over 30 wore everything on a journalist’s list of “inappropriate” items for 30+ women (including leopard print, short dresses and oversized sunglasses. Yes, really). It was so popular that I decided to carry it on weekly where women of all ages link up their fabulous style, never mind what anyone tells them not to wear!

The link up goes live every Monday at 3pm UK time and will stay open for a week. Whilst the original article was of course aimed at the 30+, you can be ANY age to link up. The only criteria is that you’re wearing whatever you damn well like!

An InLinkz Link-up

RELATED  Styling My Classic Boho Maxi Dress (Again!) in Cornwall


 

Linking up etiquette…

CLICK HERE to read the rules of linking up (and to grab the #iwillwearwhatilike button)

 

Featured favourites

Fashion bloggers in red, white and blue #iwillwearwhatilike

My favourite RED WHITE AND BLUE outfits from last week’s link up:

(L-R) No Fear of Fashion | Cato in Amsterdam | What Lizzy Loves | The LIFB Issue | Peridot Skies

To get yourself featured next week, link up something following this week’s theme and make sure you’ve included a link back to Not Dressed As Lamb or my button in your post/sidebar!

36 Comments

  1. 14 July 2016 / 3:24 pm

    I LOVE this dress. You look absolutely FAB!!!!

    xo,
    Janise

  2. 13 July 2016 / 8:29 pm

    This is such a versatile dress Catherine. Just a few little tweaks and it's super-smart and yet still essentially a day dress too, very clever! Thanks again for the link up party. Have a great week x
    Anna

  3. 12 July 2016 / 6:11 pm

    How stunning you look in this dress Catherine, I always fall in love with gingham whenever I see it. Thanks so much for liking my red and blue outfit. I hope to see you in London at the end of this month! Much love your way, Kirsten xx

    http://www.thelifbissue.com

  4. 12 July 2016 / 2:00 pm

    I totally remember this cheerful gingham dress from your Sunday Times magazine feature, dearest Catherine…and I'm not surprised at all that it's sold out in the meantime!! "Bardot style" is the perfect description; and adding that pearl-embellished collar?? Genius!! P.S. I've been on the hunt for a fun summer bag to add to my collection, and your quirky-cute bunny-eared version has made me more determined than ever to find one before the season is over!! XOXO

    http://www.StyleIsMyPudding.com

  5. 12 July 2016 / 12:20 pm

    Perfect Summer dress!

    Check out the 1st installment of my festival style campaign with UK brand BOOHOO this week at the blog – I'm sure you'll like it!

    Rebecca
    http://www.redtagchiclosangeles.com

  6. 12 July 2016 / 7:51 am

    I love this dress! And the post made me realize that I don't have enough gingham in my life. : )

  7. 12 July 2016 / 6:49 am

    Wonderful dress, I love the fabric and I love the design. A spectacular, elegant and beautiful outfit.

  8. 12 July 2016 / 4:45 am

    I love this beautiful dress and I do love to wear gingham this time of the year.

    Thank you for hosting and hope you are having a fab week!

    Alice
    http://www.happinessatmidlife.com

    Hope to see you Thursday for TBT Fashion link up.

  9. 11 July 2016 / 11:31 pm

    This dress is so timeless (even though gingham is having a moment) and your styling is spot on as always!

    Heidi || Wishes & Reality

  10. 11 July 2016 / 9:39 pm

    Oh this gingham dress is divine Catherine! You look gorgeous 🙂

    Take care,
    Daniella xox

  11. 11 July 2016 / 8:13 pm

    YAASS! I'm a huge fan of gingham from teeny tiny to huge and oversized. This dress is so classic, but I love the eccentric accessories, beautiful and LOVE your photography as always. Yvadney x (Style After Nine)

  12. 11 July 2016 / 8:07 pm

    It's a lovely dress. Love black and white gingham almost as much as yellow and white 🙂 (my childhood favourite). Looks like it's made from a really nice fabric too. Gorgeous.

  13. 11 July 2016 / 7:19 pm

    Oh what fun, I am in last week's Featured Favourites WooHoo. Thanks.
    You know I love the dress. That bag is so fun with the little ears. And I love any silver or gold shoe. So yours would do me nicely.
    A I have a black and white gingham top I decided to follow the theme. But I am linking back to this I will wear what I like in my latest post. As usual.
    Greetje

  14. 11 July 2016 / 4:46 pm

    Great gingham dress! I can see why it sold like mad after you were featured in the magazine. I don't have any gingham, which I didn't realize until now. I seem to be a hounds tooth gal pattern-wise. Thanks for the linkup.

  15. 11 July 2016 / 4:31 pm

    Great retro vibe in this outfit Catherine, totally in love with the delicate collar and the fun details on your bag. Thanks for hosting the linkup per usual and have a great week.

    xo Sheree
    http://poshclassymom.com
    IG: @poshclassymom

  16. 11 July 2016 / 3:56 pm

    This is the height of sophistication Catherine. If you wanted to meet the Queen it could not get anymore stylish. Seriously! Just wow! And the Mary Janes are so adorable. <3 Thank you for hosting. Sabina

  17. 11 July 2016 / 3:51 pm

    What a great look Catherine- you can't get anymore classic and stylish than black and white gingham! Love the ears on your handbag :))) Thank you for hosting.

    Cherie
    http://www.stylenudge.com
    STYLE NUDGE

  18. 11 July 2016 / 3:46 pm

    Oh wow!!! You look like a 1950s starlet. So gorgeous. As Lisa said, I'm in love with the bunny ears too and the pearl collar is divine.
    Thank you for featuring me from last week lovely lady xxxxxxxxxx

  19. 11 July 2016 / 3:41 pm

    I actually love the two alternate gingham dresses!!! Totally agree about metallics being neutral, too. I've been in the midst of a closet clean-out frenzy forever…

  20. 11 July 2016 / 3:19 pm

    This style of dress suits you so well Catherine! I love the pearl collar and bunny ears bag – it adds a little bit of quirkiness to a classic look!

    Emma xxx
    http://www.style-splash.com

  21. 11 July 2016 / 3:06 pm

    Great dress, great shoes and FABULOUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS hair.
    Congratulations to the magnificent photographer.
    You are both artist.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

  22. 11 July 2016 / 2:51 pm

    I love Tartan, and tend to wear it in the Fall, Winter, and Spring (depending on the color scheme). However I currently do not own any gingham, but I am on the lookout for a piece 🙂

  23. 11 July 2016 / 2:47 pm

    That dress is gorgeous!I love gingham and thankyou for the link up. I have just started my fashion blog after believeing for ages I was too fat to be a fashion blogger!

    CHarlotte | http://www.shoestringchic.co.uk

  24. 11 July 2016 / 2:29 pm

    I love the idea of a pearl collar—it's so different!!
    I think one of the loves of gingham, is the classicness of it—(and to me, it reminds me of a picnic blanket, so anything associated with food is a winner!!)
    thanks so much for this great campaign!
    jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

  25. 11 July 2016 / 2:05 pm

    The gingham dress is perfection!!
    Jaymie

  26. 11 July 2016 / 2:05 pm

    Loving the detail on the collar Catherine. I ordered a few collars myself last week, it's amazing the difference they make to an outfit.
    I agree with Lisa, this has a really retro feel to it.

    Michelle xx

    http://www.thebarefacedchic.co.uk

  27. 11 July 2016 / 2:04 pm

    Catherine, Thank you for highlighting my red, white, and blue outfit from last week! I love the opportunity to discover other fashionable ladies here! xo Lisa

  28. 11 July 2016 / 2:02 pm

    This oversize gingham print is gorgeous on you! It really has a chic retro feel to it. I'm sick in love with the bunny ears bag and the pearl necklace too, bravo Catherine! xx

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