Missing Black

I can't believe just 4 days of dedicated non black wearing (other than an almost black but officially grey hoodie I wore to do some chores last night) that I suffering from black withdrawal! When I was putting this outfit together this morning, I kept thinking, "I'd like to wear my black boots" (which is allowed, but I wanted to hold myself to a high standard) and "wouldn't a black jacket make this perfect?" or "My black and white linen scarf!" I guess I am a black addict, although I do like this outfit as it is.
Because of our weird schedule today, I'm taking an early break from the editing to blog. Thanks for all your thoughtful comments about the Writing Process. I actually hate editing way more than writing, because writing is very easy for me. Writing clearly, succinctly, and to the point is not. Oh well. I'd like to finish my major edits today and have Blokey (aka the editor and man of my dreams) do a good hacking on it over the weekend.
Please excuse the messy hair. We have his and her haircuts Uptown today. Also, shopping for something wedding suitable for him. Maybe shoes for me. I'm trying to figure out my shoe situation for a wedding we will be attending in Georgia next weekend. I have a (new for me) dress, but I have no confidence about the shoes.

This is a Gharani Strok dress that I bought from the Laws of the General Economy (a resale webpage), and it looked all crazy awesome on the model. And it probably cost over £100 retail, and I snagged it for $35, including shipping from the Netherlands. Thanks to La Fille d'Or for the heads up on this webpage.
Luckily, it fits like a glove. While I can't do a dark rimmed eye and dramatic pulling on the necklace pout, I think it looks pretty good on me, too. I couldn't capture the draping with my humble camera. My question to my awesome commenters: do these cheap silver sandals work with this crazy black dress or should I get some black sandals (I have none)? Is it too mismatched? Would dramatic cagey type sandals work? With studs? Or should the drama of shoulder cut outs be tempered with something less dramatic?
Also, I described this dress to a coworker, who said that I could wear this with a blazer in the fall and teach in this. Thoughts?


Tshirt: Scrapbook, via Macy's (and mom)
Jeans: Express
Wedges: Aerosoles, thrifted

Happy massive holiday weekend

I don't hate Valentine's Day actively, but I sort of step over it for the most part. I'm not a flowers and jewelry girl (at least not yet. I was told by a colleague that I could always become one), and my fella does really loving and nice things for me all the time. But I am taking a break today. I finished a paper that I should have finished a week ago this morning and sent it off. (My whole body is about a million times more relaxed). I plan to make some mulled cider, bake something delicious, play guitar, do some yoga, and watch a movie tonight (the whole thing). It's a holiday today though, for sure. Chinese New Year, the long President's Day Weekend. We are going to relax actively.
We're not going out, but I will dress up tonight during dinner and the movie, because I am taking seriously Sal's call to wear our "special" pieces more often.

note the 70s style shag rug. His tastes, not mine.

I like this dress, and the fella does too. It's a thrift store find, and it's one of those silhouettes you see frequently right now: billowy, flowy and short. I think it works best with slimmer and tailored bottom half (like tight skinny jeans). I dig the quasi-Alpine flavor of this dress' embroidery, but it's silk and quite delicate, so it makes me kind of nervous to wear it. (It came with some tears in some of the longer embroidered seams that I'm still in process of mending).
I know my readership is limited, but I am at loss on how to accessorize this dress. Scarf? If so what color? Jewelry? Earrings? It's such a simple dress, should I go with more color on bottom? A jacket? Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Happy V-Day, Chinese New Year, 4 day weekend to all!

Dress: thrifted (Beacon's closet), $18
Tights: Target, $5
Shoe: Me Too (DSW), $50