A 1970s Style Woman and Her Goldendoodle

A few years ago I bought a dress. A red and white crochet dress from the 1970s – an era I oh-so-adore and which, alas, I wish I had actually lived, loved, breathed and been birthed in.

The dress is from Emotional Outlet – one of my favorite consignment stores, owned by my dear friend and confidant Michele. But this wasn’t just another anonymous dress randomly found between the racks of a small town thrift store. No. This was someone elses’ dress – a someone else whom knew Michele, and whom would eventually learn that I, Sammy Davis, had acquired her dress from 1974 and was today, wearing it proudly in 2016 (or 2014, when I bought the dress).

See below for proof!

My partner-and-lover-in-crime Oscar Furtado and I decided to pay this 1970s dress a modern homage. The weekend before this shoot I found myself lost in YouTube land watching this documentary on Prince. Two months later in April, he would pass away … and oh-too-soon. But before his death, I found myself transfixed on this man of magic, this machine of many talents who could transform whatever (and whomever) he wanted into a creation of his very own.

Which is what I wanted to do with this dress: I wanted to own it. I wanted to give it life that it needed, that it had been asking me to create from between the rack’s of Michele’s store. I had worn the dress once or twice before this shoot … but never like this. No. This was bold, this was beautiful, this was something Prince would have approved of (or so I would like to think).

I asked my Goldendoodle, Mac, if he would pose with me. He obliged. In fact, he’s still technically a puppy in these photos. How he knew to stand so strong, so tall, so regal, is beyond me. But that, he did. And that he did … very well. Perhaps Mac wishes he was born in the ’70s, too, and felt my intentions behind creating a photoshoot to remember … together.

But back to fashion: I love 1970s dresses of all eras. You can find them online via searching ’70s dresses on eBay, searching ’70s dresses on Etsy … and don’t forget, visiting your favorite boutique (like Emotional Outlet– if you happen to be in Canajoharie, New York!) to score whatever the racks beckon you to find.

What do you think? Would this dresses’ original owner (and Prince?) be proud? Let me know in the comments – or by pinning your favorite look to share with the world.

xo, Sammy