Thrifty Thursday: 3.1 Phillip Lim Zipper Dress for Less

One should never allow themselves to be encouraged to ignore the power of the zipper. For many it is merely a frivolity put in place to secure our denim to our derrieres; or to play the role of corset as it sucks us into our little black dress before a chichi cocktail party. But the zipper is capable of so much more.

Zippers are the crème de la crème of decorative touches. They contribute a rebellious touch to a romantic frock; create edginess amongst elegance; establish disorder in places most often dripping with decadence. It is this very juxtaposition between refined and rugged which is responsible for my obsession du jour – 3.1 Phillip Lim’s Zipper Dress.

Darlings so very rarely do you come across a frock adorned in a goldtone zipper detail that goes beyond a simple embellishment, instead proffering an out of this world 3D effect that is downright irresistible. 3.1 Phillip Lim’s Zipper Dress does just this, and oh so much more.

Holly Golightly’s notorious little black dress of 1961 has entered the new millennium via sheer trim adorning the hemline and fluttery cap sleeves which allow your pristine, porcelain skin to play peek-a-boo with the world; while a flow of ruffles, decorated with the shimmering gold teeth of multiple zippers dips and swirls over the entire construction, coiling itself around the skirt and neckline in a fashion synonymous with that of Medusa’s reptilian follicles writhing wickedly about her head.

It is the type of futuristic frock that makes one feel like the rock star they’ve always dreamt of being. A bit of frippery one can imagine taking center stage in and belting out hit song after hit song. But alas; just as the chances of becoming a rock star are slim to none, so are the opportunities for owning such a sensational style of dress – or so the pricetag will have you believe.

At $895.00, the Zipper Dress is obviously just as much out of the “non-celebrities” league as dating Zac Efron; regardless, it is still possible to achieve zippered satisfaction. Forever 21’s Wave Zip Tunic may lack the sheer trim of the 3.1 Phillip Lim piece; but for a mere $32.00, it allows the girl about town a taste of high fashion at a price that is just right for her teetering-on-the-edge-of-exceeding-the-credit-limit AmEx!

Speak up, don’t be shy…will you be economical with Forever 21, or extravagant with 3.1 Phillip Lim?


Fashionably yours!


Thanks to Bergdorf Goodman and Forever 21 for the pictures.


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