Enough with the rompers.

JULY 30, 2010

The other day I went to the mall on a quest for sundresses. What else does a sane Florida girl wear these sweltering days, anyway? In store after store, I gleefully reached for what looked like pretty patterned frocks and flowy skirts only to discover…

The romper.

Yes, yes. I read fashion magazines, too. I know that stars from Blake Lively to Beyonce have been pulling off the toddler-ish duds for months. I've seen the spreads showcasing different accessories and shoes to pair with the odd little jumpsuits. And FINE. I tried one on.

Terrifying.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve seen girls out there rockin’ the romp, gliding by in their wedges and long necklaces as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. Great. But what about the rest of us that don’t possess the magical torso-leg ratio that makes infant-wear look chic?

( << Yikes. Sorry Jessica Simps)

How can we possibly pull off a look that was designed for the not yet potty-trained?And speaking of pulling it off, what are we supposed to do in the ladies room? Get completely undressed just for a bathroom break?

Enough already. Bring back the sundresses before I throw a temper tantrum.

Deal Diva Kim

Posted by at 5:00:43 am on July 30, 2010 | Permalink | Comments | | Edit Post

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THE AUTHORS

Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or shayes@tampabay.com.

As a sullen teenager, Emily Nipps refused to wear anything but black, olive green or burgundy, preferably ripped. She has since added color to her life but still experiments with her dark streak. A product junkie, she has tried tons of overpriced face creams and hair products but loves drugstore brands that work the same. She's an Aries and a bassist in a punk band. She has a pet pig, seven chickens, three cats and a rabbit. And just as many lip glosses. She can be reached at (727) 893-8452 or nipps@tampabay.com.

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or lstein@tampabay.com.

Coming from a long line of fashionable women, Kim Wilmath considers herself lucky to fit into their hand-me-downs. Her wardrobe staples include her grandma's vintage blouses and her mom's funky jewelry. When she's in the market for "new" items, Kim hits her favorite thrift stores -- a habit she also picked up from mom. But when circumstances require a visit to the shiny stores in the mall, you'll find Kim at the sale rack like a good little diva. She can be reached at (813) 661-2442 or kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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