I’m so glad I’ve finally got round to showcasing this patterned midi dress on the blog at last – have you EVER seen such a wondrous mix of sludgy 70s-style colours and print?
My obsession with all things 70s inspired hasn’t waned in the slightest it seems. The other week I did 70s Ralph Lauren country style with a floral maxi, and today it’s a mind-bending swirly print of epic Abigail’s Party proportions.
Hobbs have knocked it out the park yet again with another stunning AW17 dress – I didn’t think I could love a dress more than the yellow velvet dress I featured last month: please don’t make me choose between the two…!
I wore this dress to the eRetail Europe conference in Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago where I gave a presentation (I wrote a blog post about my fears before the conference and a follow up post explaining how it all went) – if you follow me on Instagram you may have seen my InstaStories in the hotel room before I left, showing off this beauty.
It was everything I wanted in an outfit where I was the only “influencer” – meaning, everyone else was there representing their business or their employer (a question I was asked all day – delegate: “Who do you work for?” Me: I work for myself…!” 💪). And being a fashion blogger you have a certain reputation to uphold. So as I knew back in May I was going to this conference I’d been thinking for a while about what to wear.
SHOP THE LOOK:
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I FELT SO GOOD IN THAT DRESS WITH ITS STUNNING SWIRLY PATTERN, RICH COLOURS AND THOSE BELL SLEEVES
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I saw the Edie dress in the summer at Hobbs head office when I went for a meeting with the team – the print caught my eye immediately and when I took it off the rail to see the shape it was lust at first sight. I asked if I could wear it to the conference, so a sample was kindly sent to me as it wasn’t yet available to buy – thank you Hobbs, I felt SO good in that dress with its stunning swirly pattern, rich colours and those bell sleeves! They may drag in food a bit when you’re at lunch (I had a few near misses) but I received endless compliments about the dress on the day.
The good news is that it IS available to buy now, and today there’s an extra 10% off the Hobbs site – use code EXTRA10 (don’t say I don’t spoil you)!
I kept the rest of the outfit as simple as possible: I wore Scholl’s new compression tights (perfect for plane travel and being on my feet all day), the still-popular black Asos heels and my fave gold asymmetric earrings from Mango.
Breast Cancer Care bag
The other fab piece in this outfit is the Fiorelli Mia grab bag, part of their range of bags to raise money for Breast Cancer Care this October. For every sale of this and the other bags in the range, Fiorelli will donate £10 towards the charity (HOW good is that?!).
My Mia is small, gorgeous and super smart, so do check out the rest of the Breast Cancer Care Fiorelli bags and join in the #CARRYYOURCONFIDENCE campaign. I wrote about dressing large boobs to look smaller earlier this month, it’s all part of my new idea to bring you all things boobilicious every October (let me know in the comments if you like this idea going forward).
Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – and if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured next week!
ARE YOU AN ALL-THINGS-70S FAN LIKE ME? COMMENT BELOW, OR TAKE IT TO TWITTER @NOTLAMB!
Dress: Hobbs c/o (extra 10% off today! Use code EXTRA10)
Heels: Asos
Tights: Scholl (compression tights) c/o
Bag: Fiorelli (£10 from every sale is donated to Breast Cancer Care)
Earrings: Mango
Sunglasses: Asos (similar)
OTHER HOBBS PIECES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
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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!
Linking up etiquette…
CLICK HERE to read the rules of linking up (and to grab the #iwillwearwhatilike button). Basically it’s just good manners to link back to here – to leave a comment is even nicer!
Featured favourites
My favourite outfits from last week’s link up:
(L-R) Mumma B Stylish | Nancy’s Fashion Style | My Fabulous Forties
To get yourself featured next week, make sure you’ve included a link back to Not Dressed As Lamb or my button in your post/sidebar!
DO SHARE THE LOVE AND VISIT AS MANY LINKS AS YOU CAN (YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT OTHER LOVELY LIKE-MINDED LADIES YOU MIGHT MEET) – THE ORIGINAL INSTAGRAM CAMPAIGN FORGED SOME WONDERFUL NEW FRIENDSHIPS SO DON’T MISS OUT!
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P.S. DO CHECK OUT MY PINTEREST BOARD WITH ALL THE BEST OF THE #IWILLWEARWHATILIKE LINK UPS – HAVE YOU BEEN PINNED…?
Linking up to: iwillwearwhatilike, Shoe and Tell, Visible Monday, Fake It Until You Make It, Turning Heads Tuesday, Brilliant Blog Posts, Fun Fashion Friday, Passion for Fashion Friday, Saturday Share Link Up
Disclosure: I was loaned the dress and gifted the bag but this post is not sponsored (click here for my full disclosure). This post may contain some affiliate links which means if you click through and buy I may receive a small commission. All content is original, however, and opinions are my own and 100% honest.
Fab frock! I love 70s stuff. My mum had a fantastic range of frocks, jackets and platforms. The dresses didn't fit me as she was so slim, but the shoes did. I would've made good use of them in the '90s, but guess what my granny did? Gifted them all to a charity shop without checking with my mum! They would've been worth a small fortune.
Catherine, that dress is wild. I love the length and the print! it really flatters you too. Really enjoy coming back to your blog over and over. so many lovely photos and fashion posts xx
That's a fabulous dress – so flattering – it suits you perfectly! #brillblogposts
Wow, that really is a lovely dress. You look stunning!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
I adore this dress Cathrine. It really looks beautiful with your coloring. It's a keeper!
Cherie
http://www.stylenudge.com
STYLE NUDGE
Oh my GOSH that dress is amazeballs, especially with your coloring. Funny, I was a teenager in the 70s and ever since then I sorta thought of 70s style as UGGGLY…but the modern version of 70s style I'm LOVING.
Bettye
Stunning print on that dress!!
This dress is tres chic!!! Love it!
xo,
Janise
thank you Janise…! x
Catherine, an absolute stunner!! – Amy
http://stylingrannymama.com/
That dress is so fabulous! It definitely suits you, especially as an Influencer!
Cheryl Shops || http://www.cherylshops.net
You always find the most perfect dresses, Catherine! This one is absolutely gorgeous, but if I really had to choose, I'd for the yellow velvet dress you wore before. I fell totally in love with that one!
Suzy xx
http://www.suzyturner.com / http://www.yogadocious.com
It's a bit of a Sophie's Choice, isn't it Suzy 😉
nice blog.thanks for sharing it.
http://www.sprycandles.co.uk
Gahhh give me that dress & nobody gets hurt!
Step AWAY from the dress, MT!!!!!!!!!!! lol 😉
Great dress; top print and lovely colors for the season 😉
https://4highheelsfans.wordpress.com/2017/10/22/see-you-soon/
I'm saying yes, yes, YES to this dress, dearest Catherine!! The colours and pattern are sooo 70's cool…and those bell sleeves are absolutely divine!! XOXO
http://www.StyleIsMyPudding.com
Thanks Monika – yes I have to agree with you there…!! x
It is indeed a stunning dress. It is really important that you feel confident in what you wear when you give a presentation. Makes a world of difference in your appearance. I have never heard of such tights. That’s a new one to me.
Greetje
The tights were really comfy Greetje – I wore them on our day together too and on the plane on the way back 😀
I love this dress! It's beautiful and is so Fall perfect.
I especially like the length of this dress Catherine. It seems like it's expected to be a maxi but instead stops just beyond the knee. I think nude nylons would also look smashing showing off your calves. I can see why you feel in love with this dress. And it's so awesome you were able to wear it to present in. You must have felt very, very confident.
And with that, I'm off to see the booby post–being a large breasted woman I'm eager to read the tips!
Love, Annie from Kremb de la Kremb
Hmm I hadn't thought about it perhaps being a maxi Annie (maybe because it's got that mid 70s pattern)… I think because Hobbs nearly always do on-the-knee dresses (which I'm not a fan of) it was a relief to see this one was a true midi. And thank goodness!!!!
Thank you sweetie x
That's a fabulous statement dress, Catherine! You look amazing!
Thanks for the link up & have a great week!
Thanks for the linkup Catherine. As for that dress…sigh and double sigh…if only I could wear that one! You look fabulous! Mimi
What's stopping you Mimi?! If you like something, try it!!!!!
You look amazing dear!
Isa M., Tic Tac Living
That's a fantastic print! Psychedelic!
And I feel so proud to be featured on your blog!
My pleasure Nancy, and thank you! x
Such a fabulous vintage look!
Beautiful dress and totally conference appropriate. I have a new Fiorelli bag.
Love your hair!!!
– http://www.inmyjoi.blogspot.com
Yessss! Dress looks amazing on you. The colours complement you so well. Going to have to check out the Fiorelli bags. I have a couple of their purses and they wear really well and as the bags support such a good cause, how could I not?! x
Kat
I've always loved Fiorelli bags too Kat! thank you x
Gosh, I love that dress, Catherine. Looks wonderful with your hair!
Great dress! I love that '70s vibe and you wear it well, especially with those sunglasses, and the colours really let your hair shine. And right on for representing the self-employed bloggers at the conference. Yes!
Thanks so much Melanie – I didn't think too much about what sunnies to wear, but it made sense that it was these 70s-inspired ones..!
Catherine, I love this dress on you! Very feminine and stylish, and definitely perfect for fall!
I love this dress so much it actually hurts. These aren't my colours at ALL like they are yours, but I'd wear this anyway! I adore this. xx
hehe oh bless you Lisa – thank you! x
All I can say is Absolutely fabulous, my friend! The dress and the handbag! Magnificent!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
My grandmother had a ton of dresses like these, and my cousin still has and wears a bunch of them. I guess I'm going to need to raid her closet!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Yes, another 70s fan here! You look stunning in that frock and I love that it waa such a good choice for your conference. X
The 70s are the best, aren't they, Porcelina…?! 😉
Oh well that's a nice surprise to find! Thanks so much for the feature – I'm blushing as I type. x I love your dress too! It's perfect, the whole outfit is just perfect and the glasses finish it off so well. xx Jacqui
Mummabstylish
My pleasure, Jacqui! and thank you x
Wow, this dress with the 70s pattern is really cool!
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
That dress brings back memories-definitely has a 70's color story vibe. But the sleeves update it (although we wore those sleeves in the 60's). I love the bold graphic pattern. I find few prints that I love and this would be one of them.
I guess it is a bit of a mix of 60s & 70s, Teresa! Thank you