Preppy Top, Scandalous Dress

A few weeks ago, I snagged this uber classy, Ralph Lauren striped tank at Buffalo Exchange. Not POLO Ralph Lauren, not LAUREN Ralph Lauren – Ralph Lauren. Its tag bears striking similarity to the brand’s current high-end line, Black Label, so I’m going to give myself the benefit of the doubt and assess its original price point as on par with Ralph Lauren Black Label Tops. And if I’m right (if…BAH!), this means the tank in question would have originally retailed for at least $100.

I got it for $12.50. Word.

Given my penchant for ripped tights, off-shoulder shirts and legwarmers (basically, the eighties) a striped, boat-necked tank is an uncharacteristically preppy purchase for me. I didn’t buy it because I’m considering upping the Classy ante in my wardrobe or anything. I bought it because its the perfect background canvas for something more risque. Something slightly ridiculous. Something not intended to be worn in public.
Something like this black satiny robe-turned-wrapdress from Target.

This easy-peasy robe-to-wrapdress transformation utilizes an item that’s become an essential in my DIY arsenal: Tight Strips. I simply hacked up a pair of hot pink tights into pieces, strung them together, knotted them to the ends of the robe’s ties, and poked a few strategic holes in the sides of the garment for threading purposes. I could illustrate the process with diagrammed drawings, but I don’t want to frighten you with my kindergarten-esque artistic skills more than once. The best way to visualize this undertaking is to familiarize yourself with the constructs of a legit wrapdress, and mimic its structure.

Robes in jersey-knit and/or satiny materials work best in this sitch, as they can masquerade as non-sleepwear fairly well. Going to town on anything in terrycloth or flannel is ill-advised.