Vintage Oaxacan dress, bare feet, and flowers
I meant to post one of my backlogged posts today. But then this dress happened. I suppose I should have styled it yesterday for Cinco de Mayo, but when I slipped it over my head I realized it smelled like an old building in the worst way (confession, I tend to wear my thrifted clothes at least once before washing, unless they look or smell dirty…), so I soaked it (I didn’t want to risk the washer) and hung it to dry last night so that I could wear it today instead. (You can listen to the story behind this dress in yesterday’s thrift haul. It starts at 13:45 if you don’t want to watch the whole video.)
Do you ever have those days where you can’t find the perfect pair of shoes to go with your outfit, so you just say “forget shoes!” and instantly feel better? That was me, today, as you can see. I am dying for a good pair of retro red heels, but I haven’t found that perfect pair yet (I’d love something like Kara’s heels here), but someday when I do find them, I’ll be able to wear a “proper” outfit with shoes and all. Then again, as a farm girl, this is completely a comfortable outfit for me. (Update: literally five minutes after deciding to peek at Modcloth while typing, these heels were 70% off, and I’ve had my eye on them for months, and the last one was MY SIZE. So… that was lucky.) 
 I grew up running around barefoot in the grass and dirt and rock driveway; I grew up with callouses and dirt and feet that were not dainty and pretty, and if I’m honest, I should tell you that I still get those callouses and dirty heels. Though I’ve grown up and have babies of my own, I still love having bare feet. I love grass between my toes, mud squelching under my heels to cool them, and dust pounding up as I run barefoot and fancy free in the sun.
Though I’ve grown into a sense of vintage style, I will likely never leave behind the farm girl within, who doesn’t care if her feet are not baby-soft because a day in the sun with no shoes, gardening, playing, exploring, is better than never letting my toes relish the grass for fear of callouses and stains. 
So when I kicked off my shoes in frustration after photographing a few shots and not liking them, the day instantly felt better. Despite the knowledge of spiders hiding in the wet moss, despite the tufts of cut grass still laying in the lawn, despite the sticks that pricked the arches of my feet with a careless step.
A little sense of carefree is what makes my style feel more like myself, I think. A bit of fun thrown into the femininity, a shot of humor in an otherwise “serious” outfit, a bit of imperfection added to keep it from being too staid. 
Vintage Oaxacan dress, thrifted (similar 1 // 2) | bracelet, gift | earrings, Renaissance faire | flowers, thrifted | lips, NYX Eros
And that’s what I love about fashion. There are very few real rights and wrongs. Nobody mandates that shoes have to be part of an outfit, or if they do, you can ignore them. It’s okay to break the rules if you want to, or make new ones, or follow them all. Mix clashing colors, pair jarring patterns, wear lipstick and no shoes, and just… have fun.
Most of all, though, don’t be afraid to wear what makes you happy, because you will never be brave enough until you just jump in and do it.
I hope you are all having a fantastic week! Happy Wednesday!
P.S. have you entered Shaped by Style’s Etsy card giveaway yet? You SHOULD.
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31 Comments
Salazar
That dress is lovely – and the bare feet totally work with its boho feel!
Eccentric Owl
Thank you! I thought bare feet worked well, too — perfect for the summery weather we are having!
Emily
I love this! I grew up barefoot on a farm, too, so I totally relate to this 🙂 I remember being proud that my feet had “toughened up” enough that I could walk down the gravel driveway to fetch the mail without wincing. Nowadays I’m quite self-conscious about my feet, so no one except my husband and daughter ever see them … but, you know, maybe the world wouldn’t end if I wore open-toed shoes every once in a while.
Emily | blog.breadandrosesvintage.com
Eccentric Owl
Haha, I remember thinking the same thing! I can still walk down the gravel driveway, but a bit more gingerly than before. I’m always warring between having soft feet (I HATE dry skin) and being able to just run around outside not worrying about it.
And hey, having tough feet isn’t the end of the world. 😉
Emily
Totally! The only time I ever struck a balance in this regard was when I went on a family vacation to Mexico. Something about the beach sand there was just magic on my feet. I wish I could go back!
JennyOH
Love this look! I grew up running around barefoot in the countryside and I really miss it.
Eccentric Owl
It’s the best thing ever, isn’t it? I’m so glad we live in the country at the moment.
Taylor
I grew up barefoot and running around in dirt as well! Love this photoshoot and what a great score at the thrift store! I love a good find don’t you? I’m actually wearing a similar style dress on my bloggy as well… although mine isn’t authentic like yours. It’s from Forever 21 however, I did find it at the thrift store and I’m pretty sure it’s supposed to be a top and not a dress. Lol! I think your dress should only be worn barefoot as a rule : )
xoxo
Taylor
http://www.nothingbutapigeon.com/
Eccentric Owl
Thank you Taylor! I love good finds; I have been having the greatest luck at thrift stores lately (I found a Forever 21 top the other day, too, and definitely got it!)
I probably will always wear this dress barefoot! Especially with summer coming up. It’s going into my maternity staples wardrobe for sure!
Babymoon Advice
There are definitely health benefits for going barefoot or “earthing” as the term goes–lowering stress and improving heart rate variability are a few.
I adore that dress, by the way–it’s gorgeous and totally unique. The red blooms in your hair are a lovely touch.
Sabrina
http://www.babymoonadvice.com
Justina Kenyon
Barefoot helps with balance too! It keeps us connected.
Eccentric Owl
I’ve heard that! My sister-in-law was talking about the benefits of connecting skin to earth a while ago. So interesting!
Eccentric Owl
Thank you Sabrina! My sister-in-law was talking about the benefits of earthing a while ago, and I believe it! Digging in the garden, feeling grass on your toes, letting the sun warm your skin — those all definitely relax me.
I love this dress, too. I still can’t believe I found it!
Justina Kenyon
This is why you are one of my very favorite fashion bloggers! I think style is best when it is a real part of your life, which sometimes means no shoes 🙂
Eccentric Owl
Aw, thank you! I don’t fault bloggers who post things that are not quite what they wear in real life, because I do that too from time to time, but I definitely prefer blogging what I’m actually wearing. Even if it’s shoe-less, or not perfectly accessorized, or maybe a little more “lazy” (to me, jeans and a tee) than usual. I love real-life style blogs every bit as much as the magazine-esque blogs!
Daenel T
I seriously love that dress! I wish that I’d had people like you around when I was pregnant — I spent those months (years, really, I have 4 kids) looking like a pilgrim. LOL
Eccentric Owl
Thank you Daenel! It takes a lot of time to find good maternity wear, really; I think if I hadn’t been blogging for so long and found other bloggers who had great maternity style, I would be spending this time looking like a pilgrim too. 😉 Haha! And sometimes I still do. Comfort when pregnant is essential!
Erin Hendrian
You look so gorgeous in this dress! I love the Spanish vibe with the flowers in your hair and the red lip – you look put together but with such a natural beauty. Really lovely. 🙂
Eccentric Owl
Thank you, Erin!
Heather Gwinn
You look absolutely gorgeous in your Spanish dress! You’ve styled it beautifully too! I never grew up on a farm but I spent most of my time in the country as a kid, climbing trees and playing in the woods. I still do! Bare foot was always my favorite.
Eccentric Owl
Thank you Heather! Country days are the best!
Jamie Rose // Petite Panoply
You just look so comfortable and pretty in this outfit – even without shoes! I’m a big fan of shoes and hate walking barefoot on grass, but I understand the frustration of not finding the perfect pair of shoes to go with an outfit. Anyway, this dress is fantastic and I’m glad you were able to get it nice and clean because it looks like it’ll be perfectly breezy to wear when it’s hot outside.
Jamie | http://www.petitepanoply.com
Eccentric Owl
You know, I think location might have something to do with it — when we lived in Mississippi, I did not want to walk barefoot in the grass. It wasn’t as soft somehow (not as mossy, probably!), and also my mom (who grew up in the south) always warned us of chiggers and other fun things that lurk in the grass. But here, the worst thing you’d find would be harmless spiders, and the yard is always so lush and mossy/grassy that it’s almost like a carpet.
Lublyou
This is so gorgeous! You’re beautiful and so is the dress! I really want to walk barefoot on grass some time soon. The city isn’t that great for it though.
Eccentric Owl
Come visit me in Washington! Lots of grass here. 😉 Well, in the country where I live, anyway.
Lublyou
I wish! I really miss the Northwest <3
Eccentric Owl
I would, too, if I had to move away! But really, if you ever make it this way I would LOVE to meet you!
Lublyou
The same if you ever come this way! 🙂
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Hannah Rupp
Most of my early outfit posts were me without shoes because I never had pairs that matched my outfits! lol I’ve grown my collection a bit more now but I’m mostly barefoot around my house.. even if we do have a gravel driveway and it hurts like the dickens to run across it..
I’m so happy you snagged this dress! I always keep an eye out for them when I’m on vacation, since Wisconsin’s not really known for this style of dress, but I still haven’t found one in my size OR price range! This post GMH. 🙂
-Hannah | The Outfit Repeater
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