I love this look, especially the top two dresses. Is there a body type that should avoid this look, or is it fairly flattering for all types?
Thanks!

Hi Angie,
I love these types of dresses so long as there is some feminine touch to them, as you pointed out. They can look very “tough” in a sense depending on the fabric and the detailing.But they are super functional for running around town in general and sort of feel like a trench dress when they have sleeves.
I’ll be looking for one for the fall myself…

I´m not a fan. The usual utilitarian dress has a very military touch without any irony. It looks so earnest and stiff. But the ones you showed are pretty special. Probably it´s a lot about fabric and – again – ironic details like the big bow or the red buttons. Maybe I´ll give them a try…

Good question, Sarah. I can see you in this look too. (And everyone on these frocks could end up in my wardrobe bar the moth bitten tights). Decide whether you want to show your waistline or not. Selecting a style with a belt like Inge has is very flattering. You could also add a belt if you like. Fabrics in silk will drape better than cotton. Personally, I’m liking the unstructured version best (top left), if it’s just above the knee. I might need to check that style out.

Nice description, PF. Trench dresses. I like that.

I love these, too, but it’s kind of hard to find them without pockets on the chest… I just can’t handle extra stuff up top.

I like these dresses too. Currently I don’t own one, but I used to have a white one with black piping, and I loved wearing it with brightly colored pumps and purses. I like all 4 dresses you featured, especially the bottom left (Esther Perbandt) which is superb. The “rebellious”-me would crave the bottom left, and the practical-me would get the top left while secretly wishing the “rebellious”-me prevailed.
Definitely something to think about for the fall…

I love dresses like this as well. I have a green military shirt dress from last summer that may qualify to be utilitarian. Now I think you got me inspired to wear it over my cropped black leggings to the lab today and solve the ‘what to wear when all the pants you have are too big problem’ at least for a day.

I adore the grey dress , first in the bottom row. Too bad the price is quite ridiculous.

Yay! These dresses are right up my alley, and I’ve been looking for something like this for a while. I didn’t know what to call it though–not really safari, but kind of like safari with a tough edge….thank you for putting a name to this style for me!

I agree with you, these are fantastic — the dress on the top right particularly. I’ll be keeping an eye out for something like this at the NAS pre-sale!

I have one with with a flounce hem (hard to explain) that gives it a girly touch from Target-but still I have trouble wearing it outside of something work related b/c it feels too “businessy” to me…

Angie, I can see you looking adorable in any of the dresses pictured. The top right looks like it would not be so high maintenance, but I’d love to try the bottom left upside-down dress (w/o the torn tights) as a tunic. Besides being interesting, it would add volume to a small chest. Too bad it’s so expensive.

If I could find one of these without any busy-ness up top, I’d snatch it up. But all the ones I find tend to be too busy and fussy for me taste; I feel sloppy and big wearing something with so much detail, especially on the top.

I like anything with military detail, so these really appeal to me. I like all the dresses you posted, Angie, and I would love to find something similar to the first dress for fall. Maybe Esprit will have something

I love these dresses and ofcourse I have a bit of nostalgia going because I had one in orange many moons ago. When I was young and lived in sunny SoCal I could wear soft orange.
The dress I had was the stiffer fabric but I think they also look great in the soft fabric. I like the DFV dress but not the color or the price.
I would wear one for sure if I found the one that did not look like it was made for a younger woman. I’m not even sure of the criteria for that, I think it is hit and miss, just try them on to see if they work.
I saw the dark blue on bottom right on the Nordstrom’s sale website and did a second take as a dress for tights. I love the way it is made but I am afraid the details make it for younger women. What do you think Angie?
In reality, I would probably feel better in the DVF style dress.

I like these a lot but don’t see myself in them. I can’t live with high maintenance clothing. I can have an androgynous streak, but it’s more like a refined, foppish androgyny…not the tough motorcycle kind…it just isn’t my personality.

I just looked at the link for that upside down dress. That is really nice. It’s great to see something different. Often while searching dresses I think that the designers aren’t coming up with anything different. I don’t see many dresses that I really like.

Awesome! This is TOTALLY up my alley, I’m all over this style. Looks very Euro. Maybe I’ll find one in Duesseldorf later this summer… I just would want to make sure it provides some nipping at the waist, or that I can wear it with a belt; I think that’ll be more flattering on my bod than one that flows down more loosely.

Interesting perspective, RSRP. I perceive these frocks to look quite relaxed, as opposed to business-like. But you’re spot on that military styling can look strict. I love that actually. I think it’s fabulous to look quite strict once in a while.

Joy, these dresses will work really on a smaller bust size. I have a 68 year client who wears a black belted utilitarian dress over charcoal leggings. KILLER. San, I hope that inspires you. You are after a more sophisticated version for sure. This could be a very nice look for both of you.

Marianne, my military-style twin! Let’s hope Esprit, Zara, French Connection and Club Monaco do this look well this season. It’s funny how I am drawn to all things ruffle-y and all things military. Polar opposites but equally fab.

Maya, you have two moto jackets which you love that look great. You absolutely like motorcycle inspired clothing!

This is true Angie…but they are kind of played down moto jackets. I don’t think I could ever do a black leather moto even if I wore leather. It’s too harsh. The ones I got had details that sort of detracted from their toughness: the red color, the cotton material, one of them being a knit, little sparkly things and embroidery on the back. I have my eye on a turquoise one now, but the price is going to have to come down a whole lot. I haven’t posted it on the forum because I don’t want people seeing it and buying it before I get to (yes I am very selfish). I never grabbed onto the Docs wave and while I like the idea of military details, I just never latched onto the idea on a personal level.

I just do not have a tough girl streak. The kind of androgyny I like is almost like how I would like to see more men dress! Brogue oxfords, vests, glen plaid, fedoras…a more refined metrosexual androgyny :p

I LOVE the girlier/more structured version in the lower right-hand corner. I can’t even look at the price, though! Maybe one of the more budget-friendly retailers will come out with something similar. I also love Inge’s dress on her.
The upper left dress looks perfect for you. I’m just not confident that I could pull off anything completely unstructured – I can’t give up defining my waist somewhat, even as short as it is.

What a shame about your dress, Angie. I hope you find a great replacement. It makes me sick when something like that happens to a favorite piece.
I ruined a lot of shirts and towels years back when I used a facial cleanser with benzoyl peroxide. Fortunately I was on a very inexpensive and relatively unstylish college/high school budget at the time, so most of what I ruined was cheap tee shirts.

Shirt dresses don’t generally do me any favors, so many of these styles don’t appeal … but that Esther Perbandt number is a knockout!

I absolutely adore this look. I’ve subconsciously gravitated towards these styles in dress/coats/shirts for several years now. This post has gotten me all excited about the Fall =)

It won’t come as a surprise when I say that I absolutely love this look;-) The frock I bought has more of a casual feel in my opinion, and it has proven to be very versatile.

I absolutely want to get at least one more for this Autumn/Winter. I’m drooling over the one on the bottom left, pity about the hefty price. I adore the DVF as well, but I’d look dreadful in that colour.

‘bleach stains’: that’s rotten luck Angie-( But I’m convinced you’ll find a killer replacement dress!
(thank you for mentioning me!)

I will be enjoying this look on others because I do love it, and wish I could do it. Perhaps I will keep my eye open for *just the right one*

I love the rich fabrics…and I have a safari jacket in raw silk, that I love to death!! I know this is a different animal though:)

I’m with Phoebe; I’m not a fan. I always feel like I’m wearing too much of a “uniform” in this style, and my husband echoes the same thought. Once I had one in navy, and he said I looked like a flight attendent; then one in brown, and he said I looked like a UPS driver (LOL!). I will pass on this trend.

I really like these dresses! I like the dress on the left on the second row a lot too! I think they look really cute with tights and wedges or heels. Belted would even be cute.

Angie, I have no idea which of these dresses pictured is the most sophisticated! What makes one so over another? That may sound like a rudimentary question, and it is. Now you see how far behind I am in my studies of style.

I do love this look! With tights and slouch boots for fall- how wonderful! I can hardly wait! I think fall is the best season for fashion!

While out of the price range for this stay-at-home blogging mommy, I LOVE this Paul & Joe Sister utilitarian dress on Chickdowntown.com:
http://www.chickdowntown.com/v.....?ID=125708

Oh! Nice one, Tammy.

San, I’d say that the top too styles are the most sophisticated because they are the most refined, ageless and grown–up looking. Hope that makes sense.

Love the last dress. The bow and the red buttons add to the perfection.

I think I could incorporate a utilitarian dress into my style if the details are not too heavy metal-ish and there is some shaping to the cut of the dress. I tried belted shirt dresses several years ago and they were not flattering on me at all. These look a lot more interesting–almost like a cross between a dress and a coat.

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