OverDressed for Life

Mom's Marimekko dress as worn by me in high school.

One of my mother’s favorite dresses from her 1960s closet is a taupe and navy blue Marimekko. It’s a simple shift dress but the print has plenty of pizzazz .

It was Jackie Kennedy that brought the Finnish brand to the attention of fashionable ladies when she sported Marimekko dresses during the 1961 U.S. Presidential campaign. It made a big splash in those days of bold prints and short hemlines. Even so, Marimekko never became a mainstream choice. Eventually the brand faded away in the U.S. and the company instead focussed on the European market. In recent years I’ve seen Marimekko-inspired prints by British brands, Orla Kiely and Boden.

Evidently Marimekko is now creating a U.S. revival for itself and opening shops across the country, which sell home decor items as well as clothing.

Mom gave her dress to me when I was in high school and I paired it with a blue turban, a string of garnet beads, lots of makeup, and every teenager’s must-have accessory – a scowl (pictured above left). What I appreciate about Marimekko is that their simple silhouettes mixed with snappy prints and unique color combinations are unexpected and therefore, timeless. A Marimekko dress is as chic now as it was back in the 60s when the look first caught my mom’s eye. 

Click here and listen to what Mom has to say about her beloved Marimekko dress: Memo