Q&A about individual items, ensembles, and wardrobe

Dress over jeans

Months ago I bought this dress on-line. When it arrived I discovered it was too short, and I didn't like how it looked with boots and tights. Several times I was minutes away from putting it up for swap on the forum, but each time I put it back in my closet to have another think.
Everything fell into place when I recently bought the COH Amber jeans. I sported the dress over jeans look about 5 years ago too, and I love it all over again.

http://s278.photobucket.com/al.....CF3447.jpg
(password: fabfactor)

- Do you like the look on me?
- What do you think of the dress itself (people I'm wearing something belted!!-)
- Any advice on accessories? (none of my necklaces - not that I have so many - seem to work with the dress)
I SO need a long strand of pearls!!

The latest reply was from Inge . You can follow further contributions to the conversation through the RSS 2.0 feed.


21 Replies

Posted 6 months ago

LOVE! I love it with the leggings too. And you are wearing a belt!!! It looks great! How do you feel in that?

For necklace, I am thinking yellow? It would go with the brown blues greys (is that grey or is it white in the pattern?). But that may be because I have had yellow necklaces on my mind lately, after seeing one I almost bought at open studios last weekend.

Otherwise, how about something earthen .... stones, leather, wood? It would not necessarily have that pop of color but I'm thinking it would give you texture and match the feel of the dress. Put color in the purse (do you have a long-strap cross-body bag?).

Dangly earrings are another option (do you wear earrings?)

Posted 6 months ago

- This belt is part of the dress and it actually felt pretty fantastic from the get-go. I'm so chuffed I can pull it off! It's positioned higher than my natural waist, and I'm starting to think, that works best for me.

- The lightest colour in the dress is a very, very light grey. I like your suggestion, but then I'd have to find the right shade of yellow. It's not always flattering on me.
I tried the brown beaded necklace from the other thread (2 voluminous tops) with this dress, but somehow it didn't look right. Maybe it was just the length, or maybe a brighter colour would be better...

- Cross-body bag: I have an old brown one (boring), but ever since seeing Angie's white one, I've been one the look-out for a fun new one. That style would look great with this look, you're right Shiny. Thanks!

- Earrings: we talked about this when I first found YLF (maybe you remember Shiny, you gave some very helpful suggestions). At the time I was only wearing small stud earrings, I've since then branched out to very small hoop earrings, but nothing large or dangly;-) I still think it looks a bit strange with my short hair (although Antje and others rock the look). I agree though that for most people dangly earrings are a go-to item in a case like this.

Thanks Shiny!!

P.S. Hope you find that perfect yellow necklace soon.

Posted 6 months ago

I have a lousy memory but yes now I remember the earring discussion!

I just googled "lemon drop pendant" on a whim, and came up with this:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listi.....d=24028771

Imagine it on a leather strap, which you can then adjust and tie to just the right length.... It's just a touch of yellow.

If you don't get it let me know... maybe I will. :-)

Posted 6 months ago

Sold!!
You're the best Shiny! Thank you so much!!
(and we'll keep an eye on that shop, often the sellers restock with exactly the same item).

You know, I was one of the few people who where hesitant about the leather strap look when Angie blogged about it, but I have to admit that I was thinking 'I sure wish I had a pendant on a leather strap now!' while trying on this outfit today.

(What have I learnt today? Listen to Auntie Angie! And trust Shiny on all things yellow;-)

Posted 6 months ago

Is the dress really too short to be worn on its own? It looks about the length of Angie's cobalt dress--a few inches above the knee but nothing obscene or outrageous. Just wondering.

I can't really comment on the dress over jeans look as it isn't really my thing, but it is a very pretty dress and the color palette looks lovely on you!

Posted 6 months ago

It's certainly not obscene Maya, but unlike Angie, I just don't have the legs for it. Trust me, if I thought I could pull it off, I'd be wearing that dress as is for sure.

And glad to hear you like the dress, thanks Maya!

Posted 6 months ago

KILLER.

The colours and style of that dress are just BEAUTIFUL on you! That's one of your best necklines. Love the belt and slides with the outfit too. You look elegant, funky, polished, comfortable, creative and effortlessly put together. WOW! Elbow sleeved tops and frocks are just so flattering. Inge, a big fat 10 out of 10!!!

(Love Shiny’s necklace ideas too).

In my experience after having loads of frocks on different bodies, I think that certain dress styles lend themselves better to shorter lengths. Fit and flares (like this one) tend to look better a little longer, while sheaths (like mine) and straight shirt waisters look fine a little shorter. I hope that make sense.

Posted 6 months ago

Inge, that is a gorgeous dress. It looks great on you. I like it with both the leggings and jeans.

Posted 6 months ago

Thank you Violet!!

Angie: I'm recovering from all your praise. You should see my smile!

And it's so true: with the right dress it really is very easy to look effortlessly put together. I need more of those!
Now if only retailers would start stocking more elbow-length sleeved items. They are my absolute favourites!

I completely agree with what you're saying about dress lengths. I'm on the taller side, and that's been exactly my experience. And somehow, I've always instinctively picked the right lengths for myself. Thanks for explaining it so clearly here!

Posted 6 months ago

YES! You look terrific, Inge. Well done!

Elbow length sleeve is also one of my favorites.

Posted 6 months ago

Looking good. Next stop skinnies- i think they'd look great with that dress x

Posted 6 months ago

Fantastic all around! Hurrah Inge! Well done. (Applause! Applause!) In addition to the amazingly delicious looking lemon drop pendant that Shiny located, am I off base to imagine that a chunky turquoise or robin's egg blue pendant, or even the right shade of green, might work as well?

And to Maya's point, the dress isn't terribly short, so in the fall, maybe you would consider wearing this dress with tights and tall boots?

Hey, off-topic, but did you ever decide to buy that S & K cranberry-colored leather coat? Being your style twin, I was quite smitten with your pick and hoped you wound up owning it :)

Posted 6 months ago

Inge your new dress is lovely and looks great over jeans to me! I like it with leggings even better too!!! I really like the pattern and the colours on you!!

Posted 5 months ago

Super! I love the dress and how the color/pattern combo matches your complexion. The belt makes it even nicer.

Posted 5 months ago

I'm quite taken aback by all your positive comments! Thank you so much everyone! I feel fantastic in this outfit and could never have imagined loving a belted look so much.

Loulou: I don't own a pair of true skinnies, but now you've got me wondering;-)

Laura: not off base at all! I had been thinking about a green necklace, and I really like your other suggestions too. The hunt for accessories continues...
I tried it this Winter with tights and boots, but just didn't like how this looked. That's why I'm so glad the jeans and leggings are working for me.
S&K leather jacket: OH YES, I still want it, badly. I'm on a limited budget though, and after much deliberation I decided it would be wise to buy the things I really need first (a decent pair of jeans - the COH Ambers - a few Summer tops, a pencil skirt, a pair of lightweight trousers...), and leave the 'want items' for later. I go visit the coat on-line at least once a week though, and it's still gorgeous;-)

Posted 5 months ago

Oh, Inge, I just re-read your post and saw that you didn't like the dress with tights and boots and that's why this whole jeans-over-dress idea transpired! Duh. Sorry :)

I hope the S & K coat goes on mega-sale and you are able to nab one. Otherwise it will become a distant but beloved memory, much like our Mark Eisen sweater ... p.s. is that sweater still on Bluefly?? I must go check right now.

Posted 5 months ago

Oh bummer. They have a S (and a M) in dusty mauve, which is what I was looking for. But it's $165. Isn't that price still high? Maybe I should look around for a coupon code. I don't know, maybe I should wait til the NAS to buy anything anyway ... I never should have looked!!

Posted 5 months ago

I can see it with a simple necklace of white gumball beads, as you need something chunky but very simple with the pattern of the dress and casual. A brown, black, or silver (or even yellow) pendant on a black leather cord like Angie sported in one of her first spring accessory blogs would also be great. The pendant needs to be a simple shape. It could be wood, stone, metal or glass.

Posted 5 months ago

Joy: thank you very much for the extra tips. I'm definitely going to experiment with all the suggestions that have been made. To be continued...

Laura: Apparently S&K never have sales on their own website, and I haven't seen that coat anywhere else-(
Mark Eisen sweater: I KNOW!!! What is wrong with those Bluefly people!! I think that's still the same price as three months ago. I'd wait and see what the NAS brings, and would then make a decision about our sweater. Maybe they will have come to their senses by then. Aren't they reading YLF??!

Posted 5 months ago

Inge, I could've sworn that sweater went as low as $120, and now it's summertime, and the price is HIGHER? Wouldn't Bluefly want to clear out winter merchandise at this point? You're right, I'm waiting for NAS!

They need to hire us as consultants to help them get their act together. And they need to make that sweater $40 on sale ASAP. In my dreams ...

Posted 5 months ago

LOL. Let's email them Laura, they are clearly lost without us!

And, my advice would be: $40 for one and the second one for free. How else are they ever going to get rid of all that Winter stock.

Posted 5 months ago