Two Looks at Lace

I've had this scrummy Collette Dinnigan black lace dress for about a year.  
Would you believe I bought it at a flea market for - get this ... $1!.
It was the end of the day, the woman still had heaps of gear to sell and she was extremely fed-up!
I STILL pinch myself when I look at it hanging in my closet.

It's clearly (;D) see-through, yet I wanted to try a couple of ways to wear it that didn't involve a black slip or dress underneath.
I wanted the gorgeous lace to be the star of the show.
It has a side zip, so no nasty back fastenings to spoil the look, and the armholes and neckline are edged in silk velvet ribbon.

I feel the dress could work for both day and night, it just takes a bit of playing about with proportions.
As my base, I chose the black 1950s corset I wore here and a pair of black wet-look leggings, so the dress would slide over the pants.
I added a thrifted denim Jag jacket and 1950s-style beauty-ad-print wedges.
The jacket happened to be from the same flea market stall for another buck and it sees a lot of wear.

I popped on my leather red rose ring and added a few vintage brooches to the jacket.
The one that looks like a book, really is a book.  It's from the 60s and has "New Zealand" written on the front cover.
Open it and a sheaf of miniature tourist postcards fold out.  
It's my favourite brooch.
And yes, that's a nurses watch (in working order) that I bought at a flea market ($12).

I like how the corset accentuates the delicate dress lace - modern corsets just do not do the same for a woman's natural shape either.
For night, I've added a 1950s black velvet veiled hat, Forever 21 feather cape, 1980s snakeskin clutch and velvet platform heels.

Pile on the bracelets and pearl ropes.  Add some red lippy.

I'm happy with how it turned out.  I wear leggings, so why not under a sheer-ish dress?

At last I've found a couple of versatile looks for this dress that I'm comfortable with.
Take it easy this Monday xo