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Finding the right shirt dress

AntjeH

I'd love to find a great shirt dress. Last nite I tried on this one, which looks super cute on the hanger: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....rchresults
It has the right length (hits just at the top of the knee for me), great color (very dark blue with white - lots of options for making it pop with different color shoes etc.), and I was really hoping it would work. Alas, it looks too severe and boring on me, and just plain un-flattering. I'm trying to figure out what could be the problem and what to look for. I'm thinking I might need to go more A line (this cut is pretty straight), but the top also just seemed "severe" and "strict" on me, and I can't really figure out why that is and what kind of details would make it less so. Does anyone have any ideas?? I'm 5'3'', hourglass with smallish chest, and need to distract away from the tummy area.

Dressing

33 replies

Latest reply was from Julia

Steph

Veteran

AntjeH, I'm not sure if this dress would be too boring for you, but I bought it recently from Ann Taylor and love it. It has more of an a-line in the skirt, and it hits right above the knee. It's just plain black, but you did mention wanting to be able to make it pop with different color shoes, and black does that (I wear it with a pair of really cute red Stella McCartney shoes I have and it looks great).

It comes with a really nice wider belt that has some elastic in it, and it completely hides any tummy flaws. I am also an hourglass (although large chested) and I think it is really flattering, particularly because of the belt accentuating the waist. I wonder if the dress you tried on would have been better with a wider belt. I have found shirt dresses tend not to flatter me when they have skinny belts.

Here is the link:
http://www.anntaylor.com/catal.....ory=Misses

Steph

Veteran

Sorry, double posted by mistake!

Nicole

Veteran

Antje, I have a hard time with shirt dresses too. I've stopped even trying them on. I know exactly what you mean when you say they are too severe and boring. I don't know who has ever watched the old TV show The Waltons (I know I'm aging myself here) but if you have seen that show, think of the grandmother--THAT is what I look like in shirt dresses!

AntjeH

Steph, thanks for the info and the link. I do like that dress! And I actually am waiting for a dress from the Loft that's very similiar, though with shorter sleeves:
http://www.anntaylorloft.com/c.....ory=Misses
I'll see how that fits. My preference, though, is not to get a black one, as I own too many black pieces of clothing already. For many years, black was pretty much my only color, but in the last couple years I really started to replace most of the black with other colors. I do like black and white, or black with a pattern. I'm also hoping to find short or 3/4 sleeves.
THanks for making me laugh Nicole. I personally felt more like a badly dressed office temp in the AK dress. Not anymore flattering than the Waltons look

AnaElizabeth

Oh Antje I love that shirt dress! I wish they had it in my size.

AntjeH

I guess it went fast. They don't have it in my size now, either (I ordered it just a few days ago). It looks super online, but of course you never know until you see it on. I'll report back

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The Loft shirt dress is very good. I’ve had a few people in it wearing it in very different ways. Very versatile.

sijyk

The Loft Shirt dress is really cute.

AnaElizabeth you might be able to find you find your size if you call 1-800-DIAL-ANN. They can do a store search and mail it to you. I am not sure if they charge extra. Not sure if you have already tried that.
But I was able to get a jacket like that earlier this year.

AnaElizabeth

Oh, thanks for the tip, sijyk!

Steph

Veteran

I love the Loft dress! You're right--it looks almost exactly like the black one I got, but, like you, I would prefer a color other than black. And since I love the black one so much, now I can have two.

It wasn't available in my size either, but I just called the store and someone just returned the dress, in my size, this morning. What luck, huh? I do worry about how those small pockets will look on my larger chest, but we'll see. Thanks Antje!

AntjeH

My mail-ordered Loft shirt dress came yesterday and I tried it on; here is the report: It's a great dress, it runs true to size, and the cut is quite flattering. Love the sleeves in particularly. I'll still send it back, though, because I find it just a tad stiff and boring on me, and it's just "too black" for me considering the many other black things I own. Since I'm on a tight budget right now, I'll keep looking for something a little more colorful.
But if anyone is in the market for a black shirt dress particularly, this could be a great choice.

Julia

How about this one from Chadwicks? There are reviews on their website so it might help you to decide.

http://www.chadwicks.com/cloth.....haseType=0

Julia

Also I like this one especially when it's worn with the skinny jeans. You can see it by clicking on the alternate images:

http://www.chadwicks.com/cloth.....#038;pos=3

Nicole

Veteran

Oh wow, I kind of like that Mandarin Collar one from Chadwicks. Anyone have any experience with that store? How do the sizes run? $40 for a dress is pretty cheap.

AntjeH

Thanks Julia, these are cute. I actually have a black long-sleeve non-belted shirt style dress that I've worn with skinny jeans in the winter - I love that look and always feel stylish in that combo. However, now I'm looking for one that's cut more like the first one you suggested, with short sleeves, a belt, and to be worn just by itself, for spring and early summer, with flats. Something for the office, but a bit funky, not too stiff.
I don't care so much for the palm tree pattern, but otherwise the style fits the bill. Although it looks awfully close in style to that Anne Klein dress I started with and that didn't look so good on me. Maybe I'm just not really the type for this trend? I don't want to accept it yet, so I'll keep looking for while. Love the helpful pointers, thanks!

Nicole

Veteran

Antje, have you checked out SmartBargains.Com yet?

http://www.smartbargains.com/g.....08.see-all.

Julia

Nicole, I've bought a top and a dress from Chadwicks recently and I was happy about my purchase.

Their size is pretty consistent. The quality is decent. Also they have a lot of promotions so if you google "Chadwicks promotional code", you'll find a lot of them to use. I got a 50% off coupon this way and used towards my order, I paid $25 towards the following dress when it was on sale for $49.99.
http://www.chadwicks.com/cloth.....haseType=0

I'm leaning towards the second one I posted but not sure about wearing it by its own, it seems too boring to me. I want to wait to see if there's better one coming out of this discussion.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yoooohooo. You can change the belt on most shirt dresses to kick them up a notch (skinny or wide). Perhaps add your skinny red patent belt Antje? You can also layer a great cami underneath for visual interest. I do this all the time. Adding leggings is another super option. Shirt dresses are very versatile.

AntjeH

Well well well. I have to report back on my quest for a great shirt dress. And it's a rather goofy story. Today I went to the Ann Taylor Loft to return the shirt dress that I had gotten through an online order (http://www.anntaylorloft.com/c.....ory=Misses). It was a good dress but I decided it was "too black" considering my already quite black-heavy wardrobe and the fit just not quite right and flattering.
Only at the store did I notice that the dress I found "too black" is actually ink blue - a color I really like, and which looks so awesome with lime green, amongst others. Somehow that was not apparent to me, neither when ordering (although it sure says it on the website but I must have completely overlooked it), nor when trying it on. This should teach me to never ever rely on trying something on at nite in a badly lit bedroom again!! I also saw that they had it in Petite sizes, and so I decided to try it on again, just in a P8 rather than a regular 8 this time. And I LOVED it! The color is wonderful, and the petite size one was quite a bit shorter and showed more of my knees and all of my calves, and this just made a huge difference. Suddenly it was really flattering and a "must have" item
Just thought I'd share this, especially since we were also discussing "the right knee length" on another thread. While it varies for everyone, it's super valuable to try different lengths with dresses and skirts; for me it made the difference between slightly frumpy and kinda sexy.

AnaElizabeth

Did you find the P8 at the Loft store? I really liked that dress. When you said it was "too black" I wondered what you meant since it said it was blue on the site. I thought you just thought it was "too dark."

AntjeH

Yup, they had the petite 8 at the store. Check it out, it is a great dress, and as Angie pointed out, I expect it to be very versatile. I'm thinking bright belts and camisoles, in yellows, greens, red...
I really don't know what I was on when I thought it was black. I'm not usually that color blind But all is well now. Good luck!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I knew that you would LOVE this dress and all its combinations, Antje (smiling!)Thanks for sharing your discoveries with us.

Sarah

Thanks for sharing Antje. I'm finding that length can make all the difference in the world. Now you make me want a dress like that too.

AnaElizabeth

I think I'm going to the Loft tomorrow to search for that dress. Antje, do you remember how much it cost? The link now goes to a different dress.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I went to the Loft today to look for the shirt dress. They only had a size 4 left, and no petites, but the sales girl convinced me to try the size 4 (even though I've never been a 4 in my life). It turned out to be perfect! I'm so excited (and really surprised), it looks fantastic. The only issue is the length, but I decided to have it hemmed so it hits right above the knee. I didn't want to take a chance with ordering a petite size since I've never tried Loft's petites before. I'm going to try changing the belt to a brighter color and wearing a bright cami underneath per Angie's suggestion. Thanks for posting your find Antje!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I also found some nice alternatives in other colors, if anyone is interested:

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....=EverGreen

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....ryID=26862

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....ryID=26862

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....ryID=26861

I especially like the cobalt blue one.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Excellent Ana! I am sure that this dress looks great on you. Elie Tahari makes beautiful dresses. Love the blue too.

AntjeH

Awesome, Ana, I'm so glad to hear you love the dress, too! It really seems like the regular sizes run big, since you said you bought a smaller size, and the regular 8 (which often works for me) looked too big and unflattering on me as well. The petite version was perfect, both in width and in length.
We can exchange tips on how to best spiff it up I am looking for some good camis in yellow, citron, lime green and/or acqua to wear underneath...
I just bought some bright yellow earrings and ordered a skinny yellow belt (already have a skinny red patent leather belt), so there should be a few bright accessories to pick from.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I like kind of funky accessories, and I ordered this flower belt in yellow from J. Crew that I thought would work well with the dress:

http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/p.....=cat301259

I think it's meant to be worn off center on the hip. I'll have to wait until I get it to see how it works out. I was at Express today and they have a bright pink cami and a bright green cami (not citron, but more of a crayon green) that I was going to purchase to wear underneath. They also have acqua and Express' camis usually hold up pretty well (my only complaint is that they have a bra shelf, which I'm not a fan of). If you find a true citron cami I'd be really interested.

I don't know how you feel about bracelets, but I found these at Coldwater Creek for only $16.50. They're chunky, but they actually lay fairly flat on the wrist since they're oval shaped. I think the green or orange would look really great with the dress:

http://www.coldwatercreek.com/.....leid=45637

Where did you order your skinny yellow belt from?

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