I Wanted a Dress Like Pretty Woman

Zaful polka dot dress, Chanel chain bag, Kieselstein Cord cincture with three horses buckle, Aigner wedge heel sandals, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Hermes collier de chien leather bracelet, statement necklace with matching bracelet (all own)

Post author:Nicole Mölders
Reading time:6 mins read

Musings on iconic dresses. Read about the polka dot dress like pretty woman played by Julia Roberts, clothes my mom owned and made.

Contents

Julia Robert‘s Iconic Polka Dot Dress
Up the Style with a Belt
An Unforgettable Dress Like Pretty Woman
Another Style Trick from my Childhood

Disclosure: This post has affiliate links.

Julia Robert‘s Iconic Polka Dot Dress

I loved Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman alias Vivian Ward. The dresses she wore when she accompanied Richard Gere alias Edward Lewis to his business social events were just dreams. My absolute favorite was the brown dress with white 5-cents size polka dots. Remember, the dress she wore at the derby. The dress she wore at the dinner with the grand-father and grandson team came in second; yes, and of course, the gown and necklace at the opera.

midlife fashion blogger in iconic copper brown with white polka dot dress like Pretty Woman — Zaful copper brown full skirt dress with white polka dots, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Hermes collie de chien leather bracelet, Aigner wedge sandals, Chanel quilted purse, Bulova watch, and matching statement necklace with bracelet

Up the Style with a Belt

It may be just me, but I never wear a dress with the belt it came with. For instance, I always wore my winter white sheath with a tan belt, or red belt, but never with its black double-belt. In case you are new here or don’t remember the dress, see the post at the link. I even think I tossed the belt back then. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a belt-person, I love them. It’s all about how to best accessorize with belts.

style blogger in summer outfit with a dress like pretty woman in front of Sitka roses — Side view of summer outfit with Zaful polka dot robe, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, statement necklace with matching bracelet, Bulova watch, Hermes collier de chien leather bracelet, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Chanel bag with belt as bow, and Aigner wedges

I pulled the fabric belt out and used it as a decoration on my purse. I picked up the dark brown of the sandals with the belt. On a sunny day, I will try wearing the belt as a hat band so it matches the outfit. Do you wear your clothes with the belt they came with?

I also love that this dress is easy to style for fall.

fashion blogger Nicole standing in a parking lot in a midi garment with dots — Zaful garment to show the button down closure and the bow made from the fabric wrap band. Chanel chain bag, Kieselstein Cord cincture, Aigner sandals, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Hermes collier de chien leather bracelet

An Unforgettable Dress Like Pretty Woman

There are some clothes that I saw in my life that are sort of imprinted or tattooed or whatever in my brain. Clothes that in my opinion are Must-haves, the Queens of Beauty. There is this bottle-green dress with winter white faux collar and orange pompoms knitted in. My mom made it for me when I was a toddler. It was perfect!

There was my mom’s violet bouclé skirt suit with gray (faux ?) fur collar. My granny had a brocade sheath with green, violet, royal blue and silver threads, the sheath I got when our class went to see Red Hood in the theater in Dortmund. It had short sleeves hitting a bit above the elbow, knee length. This piece seemed long for me in the late 1960s when we kids all wore mini skirts. It was made of brocade with silver, light blue, white and gold threads. I wore it with white tights and square toe patent leather shoes that had a Cuban heel and a rectangle of faux crystals.

mature Alaskan woman in summer wardrobe like Julia Roberts — Front view of my new Zaful wardrobe addition styled with Kieselstein Cord cincture, Aigner open-toe sling backs, statement necklace with matching bracelet, Bulova watch, Hermes collier de chien bangle and leather bracelet

Do you remember dresses that once fascinated you?

Another Style Trick from My Childhood

My mom always used to say

Good garments have sewn-in pockets.

Therefore, when she sew clothes for us, she’d add pockets. Well, guess what this new wardrobe addition has?

hand in pocket with bangles on the wrist — Zoom-in on my hand put into the skirt’s roomy pocket

Do you like pockets in your skirts?

When you liked the outfit tips of this post, and want more styling tips for all kind of dressing situation in midlife, buy my book How to Dress for Success in Midlife.