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anti LBD?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I just realized, after posting a black dress today on style exchange, that I've posted no less than 3 black dresses in the last year for sale/donation/! None of these dresses looked bad on me, in fact one (that Suz sent me) got a killer from Angie if I recall, and yet . . . and yet. What is it that isn't jibing with me? I'm quite puzzled.
I don't have issue with wearing black, although it's not my most worn neutral, either. Hmm. My other 2 black dresses are one from lyn* that is my interview/funeral capsule (I know that seems weird to lump together) at the ready but not yet worn, and an asymmetrical mesh overlay tank dress that I've only worn about once a year for the last 3 years I've had it.
So obviously the LBD isn't a wardrobe staple or must have for me. Never really realized that the most purged, usually after just one wear, category for me is black dresses. How odd!

General

27 replies

Latest reply was from Mo

Greyscale

Veteran

I've never owned an LBD despite wearing all black all the time. Just recently I got a great cotton tank dress that is not nearly as fancy as an LBD, and I do have a few black cotton shirt dresses. But my dressier dresses are all gray, silver, or monochrome patterns. So, you might be on to something!

(The only dressy occasions in my life are weddings, and I do try to wear lighter colors than black to weddings.)

Thanks to the NY Times, today I got the urge to buy this pale pink leather dress.
http://www.thisisveda.com/coll.....ress-petal

I'm sure I won't buy it, but it would be an interesting new look for me!

Aida

Veteran

Mo I'm not an LBD gal either! I have a black shirt dress that I haven't worn in over a year that I'm planning to sell and replace with your tank dress if it fits, but clearly that's a casual dress. In my case it could be that I don't like to wear black though

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Funny, when I got my Vivienne Tam tank dress, I purposely got what I thought would be a more casual version of the LBD, knowing my lifestyle, and I still don't wear it much.
Maybe I should take it for a spin this weekend and see how I feel about it this year. lol

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abc

Veteran

Wow Mo. I see Grecian goddess does LBD in that pic you just posted. The draping/ruching is just so perfect!

Sal

Veteran

Maybe they are TOO classic for you....
I have had mixed success over the years with the LBD but have had a couple that I have loved.
It's a bit like me and pastels, people say that they suit me, but I feel all wrong in them.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Mo that dress is stunning on you. Regardless of color.

abc

Veteran

Chiming back in - I think you have to find the Mo version of the LBD or one you can accessorize to make it more Mo-like with your rocker edge. I'm seeing the cutout booties (you did end up getting a pair, didn't you?) and your tough accessories to hit that rocker chick vibe that is so you. Otherwise - as gorgeous as you and the dress are as shown in the pic above - it will feel like classic Mo which is not your style persona. IMHO of course

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Shevia and ABC. I do like the thought of edging it up a bit. I did a casual version styling of it back when with a linen moto. Would love to wear it with my blush moto someday but the weather or the event just hasn't lined up I guess.
How funny that I've apparently made plans for this dress more than once, that didn't materialize. oops.
I did wear it in South Beach a few years ago, which felt perfect for the time and place, with taupe shooties

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Diana

Veteran

Well, I have one Classic one and one arty one (an allsaints wrap thingy that's eyelet lace and has lots of drapey bits) and I find both have their uses. But I do go to a number of lbd type events - cocktail receptions, symphony opening night, etc.

I have trouble actually with some casual ones though, despite wearing a lot of black regularly. I think it's because a black dress, even if it's jersey or some other casual fabrication, automatically feels dressy and "evening." On the other hand, the dress I wore today is charcoal and felt appropriate. So maybe you need a charcoal dress?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Very astute Diana! BF has proclaimed a dress more evening due to color before and that might be part of what is at issue here.
I do happen to have a charcoal (or black with silver sheen to it?) cold shoulder tunic on the way. It's to replace a HEWI ink one that shrank. Maybe it will be the magic combo!

Vila Broox Cold Shoulder Dress

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Gaylene

Veteran

I think LBD dresses often give off an air of cool sophistication which is fine but maybe not so much if your style veers more to edgy, rocker chick? You can work with the dress to add more of an edge, but that takes effort, and, if you are like me, sometimes it's just easier to default to something that doesn't seem so demanding?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Gaylene, I read on your thread about the 'takes effort' pieces in your purge. I relate! There are times I want to gussy up and play, but for the most part, easy and carefree are what makes items come out to play again and again.

DonnaF

Veteran

My life rarely calls for wearing a dress; I think I've only had one LBD in my life and it rarely got worn probably because it was long sleeved and wool and my life is pretty casual. I rarely even wear my solid black skirt other than for funerals. And I am, (or at least used to be due to my old job) a more classic dresser than you. After that dress was purged, I've never felt that hole, and it's been more than a decade.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I don't really wear LBD's either, Mo...

... maybe it's too much of a contrast against your skin?

rae

(website)

Veteran

But but but... I love the VT! :0

Aziraphale

Veteran

First of all, you look damn hot in that dress.

To address your issue: is it just the little black dresses that you don't wear, or is it dresses in general?

I have a small collection of dresses that I like, and most of them are casual enough to wear to the pub or a movie, but I rarely reach for them. I'm just not the dress type, I guess. I think the problem is that I always feel most confident in an attractive pair of jeans (with perhaps a tee shirt and topper, and boots or shoes with heels). I'm not a tomboy, but I've never been a girly-girl, either, and androgynous looks match how I feel on the inside better. Maybe you are the same?

Gigi

Veteran

I agree with the commenters who say that black just carries a very classic, sophisticated tone to it, and that isn't really your style. I wonder if Janet has a version of a LBD that she wears? Maybe that would be helpful info, since she too considers her style rocker.

Cerinda

Veteran

I hear you, Mo. My tee shirt-ish LBD (unfinished edges, visible seams) comes out to play all the time, but the others (varying degrees of dressy) languished so long, I evicted them. I think Gaylene's onto something: it feels funny spending effort un- or de- classicizing; better to go for more edge in the first place, no?

Kate

Veteran

Mo, the dress looks awesome on you! But maybe the ruching backfires and makes it harder to wear this dress with other things? I like the way you were able to combine the asymetrical necklines in the moto jacket look. It seems like most layers, necklaces, and belts just won't work well with this dress, so that limits remixing options. Is it possible to just use shoes, your bag, and possibly a bracelet to change the look?

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

Me too, Mo. I have a summer and winter LBD, and wear them each maybe once a year just because I try to wear everything in my closet. I much prefer my brightly colored dresses, or even my black and navy colorblocked sheath to an all black dress. I have a leather black dress from last year's NAS that I like to wear because the leather gives it some interest for me.

Anonymous

OMG, you look amazing in that VT dress!!!
But, I completely understand why you don't get many occasions to wear an LBD. Several LBDs have cycled in and out of my wardrobe in the past few years, but they are not nearly as versatile as I had been led to believe. Even a very plain jersey LBD skews very, very dressy around here, just by virtue of being black. Whenever I would try to dress one down with flat sandals I would still get the question, "Where are you going?" An LBD is actually too formal to wear to a funeral or church service around here. Too "cocktail" to wear to a job interview or to court. Too black to wear to a wedding. I have a class reunion coming up--that's the sort of event that I would think I'd need an LBD for. It would go nicely with my Okalas and clutch bag, but it's being held in a sports bar, so once again I don't think it would hit the right note. I'm with you Mo!

jennifer

Veteran

Maybe if you like ink or navy better than black you need a little blue dress instead . That might be better on a smaller capsule it could conceivably fill three spots funeral /interview / wedding depending on accessories.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

The funniest part is, I didn't realize I kept re-buying them! I have no trouble as I said with wearing black, although it's not a cornerstone of my closet.
I think Claire has it right that it's just neither here nor there on the dressiness/occasion scale in our lives with the casual lifestyles we lead. Even the strappy hi/low I'm selling to Aida my BF considered a nighttime dress when I suggested it as a wine tasting possibility those months back. I disagree, and did wear it in the daytime to an art museum, but it was still borderline dressy for the occasion. At least it was arty!

rachylou

Veteran

I don't reach for an LBD much either. Most of the time they're just too sophisticated. Even when they're not slick.

Sara L.

Veteran

I just posted a WIW with a LBD that I just bought. I'm the opposite and really like black dresses. I agree though that they do read dressy, even when dressed down. Do you think it's a matter of buying future dresses in a different color or is it the dressiness that's the problem?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, I am going to really STOP and think before eyeing a black dress in the future. Unless it's decidedly casual, a day dress, I think I should step away slowly.
The shimmery tunic mentioned upthread came and was a bust, so at least I just have the two in my closet.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Sara, it's definitely the dressiness. I didn't realize that black somehow reads more dressy on a dress (as does red according to my BF).