Keeping it (VERY) Real: one dress, more than 30 ways

Once upon a time … actually it was less than two weeks ago … the good fairy of shopping, aka Mrs Woog, bought a black tube maxi dress.

I shall wear my dress and go and get sozzled with my girlies, she declared. Or maybe I’ll behave over lunch with the inlaws? But mostly I just need something to schlepp on before the school run.

What happened next had never before been seen in all the land. A spell had been cast on women from Perth to Port Douglas. Normally considered and conscious shoppers lost control of their keyboards and their mice, clicking their way to snap up one of these dresses.

Seed calls it the “longline tube maxi dress”. Mrs Woog decreed it was a “condom dress” and so it became.

As the Seed Heritage site crashed under the clickety click of fine shopping maidens making their purchase, word spread even further.

What is this condom dress you Tweet of, they asked? And why did I not know that I needed one until now.

As online parcels … and tales of in-store encounters started to flow in, it was clear that we indeed had the makings of a wardrobe fairytale.

Cries of OMG I don’t know how they do it were heard in change rooms and homes, as women of all ages, shapes and sizes realised that yes, they had a comfortable wardrobe alternative and this autumn-winter didn’t have to confine their legs solely to jeans or leggings.

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Me? I’ve worn mine twice. It’s thicker than I thought (which is a good thing) and I layer over tunics and tees and knits to suit. It’s a wardrobe layering piece that delivers a look that is relaxed, yet stylish and comfortable enough to sleep in … should you know … hypothetically … drop off for five minutes on the lounge on a Friday night after a wine or three.

Black Seed maxi tube dress | Bella Lido orange leather ballet flats | left: Mix Apparel stripe asymmetrical tee | right: Country Road green knit tunic top  | Virtu scarf

I love my condom dress so much I hopped back online yesterday to order another similar in navy - it’s $30 more for a slight capped sleeve but it was the colour that got me in. (UPDATE: the navy dress arrived but it’s going back – it’s not as thick a fabric as the black condom one I have and is quite see-through.  It could be unfortunate for everyone in my vicinity, should my top roll up to reveal my undies.)

But enough about me … and more about you: I presenting the Styling You-Woogsworld Condom Dress pageant of 2012. Never before have we seen such a diverse mix of women showing – and owning – their personal style. I LOVE it.

(Just click on the first image and use the arrows to navigate your way through the slide show)

[Show as slideshow]

Thanks so much for sending in your photos to me … if you’re still waiting on your dress and want to submit a photo to the mix, then please do (just email me: nikki@stylingyou.com.au). If your photo appears above but I’ve stuffed the link to your blog or Twitter handle under your photo, please email me also and I will fix it.

And if you haven’t got yourself one of these styles of dresses, what’s stopping you?

Note: Mrs Woog and I have received no monetary or compensation from Seed for these posts. We paid for our own condom dresses. I, was however, gifted these very lovely ballet flats from Bella Lido.