Steele Flying High: Another (Gasp!) Non-Laura Outfit

Laura is not the only character on "Remington Steele" who is given a lovely ensemble. From time to time a guest wears a gorgeous dress. Here's a non-Laura outfit that we could not pass up.

Hello and welcome to Laura Holt's Closet. Today we revisit a dress from "Steele Flying High" (Season 1, Episode 12).

A shadowy figure (Francine Lembi) steals across a driveway to a backyard office. They haven't introduced this character yet and we do not know what she's doing... except that she's sneaking around... in an indigo sweater dress.

The costume suggests that trespassing is not a part of her chosen occupation (i.e. she might not be a professional burglar). This lady is driven to snoop around because -for whatever reason- she is desperate.

The plot thickens.

It's difficult to see the dark outfit (which makes sense if you're tipping around in someone else's office at night), but you can just make out, by the light of the lamp, a multicolored blue-violet, Persian indigo and olive green striped calf-length sweater dress. It seems to be made of light wool.

It's a shame this dress doesn't get more airtime. We need to see more of the detailing.

Let's go to a close up.

Her expansive, high-waist Persian indigo belt stems from just under the bust to just over the hips. Yet, her actual waistline doesn't get lost because it is accentuated by a rope or tie of some kind in  blue-violet.

What would you call this kind of waist accent? Is it a big belt? Is it an exterior, structureless corset?

Would love the sleeve to be a bit more tailored. Still, for once, that '80s trend of layer upon layer of fabric does not make this character look like a fugitive from a shoplifting spree. This outfit could be worn today in casual circles and would draw compliments.

 

Perfect cowl neck. Not too droopy, and just capacious enough to balance out all that business going on at her waist.

And -yes- the intruder is wearing gloves. What would the '80s be without glossy gloves? It could be made of soft lambskin or a man-made material. Any light-colored, wrist-length, feminine glove with a sheen is reminiscent of Jim Henson's puppet, Miss Piggy - another figure of the late 20th century that we enjoy.
 
Where can we buy this sweater dress?

Trying to buy anything like this outfit off the rack today seems futile. Most sweater dresses these days have a mini skirt hem up to mid-thigh. They are extra-long sweaters that are meant to be worn with leggings or tights or -if you're daring- without bottoms at all.

One would have to have this episode's sweater dress custom-made. To wit, we've searched through vintage patterns. This out of print Kwik Sew brand pattern 1542  from 1986 is available at an Etsy shop called Hard 2 Find Patterns.

It's not the same pattern as our inspiration dress, of course. You might just discuss your options with a tailor. Or eyeball it and make it yourself.

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We wonder what Laura is wearing now....