HELP!!! - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

HELP!!!

Ruth

Ok I have a question.... I have a December wedding to go to. Its a very casual affair and Im not a relative. Id love to know if I can wear this dress: http://i13.photobucket.com/alb.....086_tp.jpg
with my high heeled suede boots. They come a little above the knee. Im 5"1" 100 lbs and I would love to hide my legs but also its going to be cold! The dress looks good on me as it fits me well and comes to the knee. I do have jewelry that will go with it. So please HELP me I dont want to look ridiculous! Oh 4got to mention Id like to wear black tights as well.
Thank u so much & I look forward to hearing from any of you!
Brucesdawg
P.S. Ive always had a sort of "odd" taste in clothes

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Steph

Louise

Veteran

Could you manage a photo of you in the outfit?

Ruth

Hi Louise! Well Ill see what I can do about a pic! Would a pic of the boots help? And what do you honestly think of the dress? The thing is, its so close to Christmas (December19th!) that Id hate to have to buy something new to wear! Ive been having some trouble with my digital camera and my pc being able to download my pics! Just my luck! But amy help u could give me would be appreciated!
Thanks again! Im new here but have been reading the helpful posts and suggestions for some time so I thought Id better sign up! I normaly can use all the help I can get!
Hope to hear from any or all of you!

Anonymous

Hi and welcome to the forum. To answer your question, will you be going to the wedding ceremony or just to the reception? This is definitely not a dress to wear to a church wedding. Something that covers more of you would be more appropriate.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

This dress looks more appropriate for an evening out to me. Do you have a jacket that you could wear over it?

Steph

Veteran

I actually think that for a casual wedding this dress might work, but only without the sleeves. Are the sleeves detachable? If so, I don't think there is anything wrong with wearing what is essentially a strapless, knee-length dress to a wedding. The dress is a more casual in style than a dress I would typically wear for a wedding, but you said this is casual, so I would think it would be okay. The sleeves, however, kind of add a "tarty" look to the ensemble, so I think they would make it inappropriate for a wedding.

As for the boots, I'm not sure. I have never seen anyone wear knee-high boots to any wedding I have been to. I guess it kind of depends on how casual it is and what other people are wearing, but if it were me, I would wear pumps and hose (not tights).

Ruth

Ok to answer some of your questions........No Im not going to the church as theyre getting married right at the hall. As for the sleeves, well they work for me as I have very thin arms ( think skeletal!) so the sleeve hides the worst part of my arms! Oh & I for got to mention that the dress is chiffon and very flowy but u may not be able to tell in the pic, so it actually looks a bit dressier in person than in the pic. I also hate to admit that the dress looks just about the same on me as it does on the manequin in the pic! I have no idea of what sort of jacket I could wear with this dress?? As for the boots well, I know Im going ti be freezing most of the night & again the boots hide the "bad": part of my legs!The boots are on the dressy side high heeled & suede. Do u think I can dress this whole outfit up a bit and still include the boots? However, when I say casual I mean casual! The only people I know of that will be dressed is the bride groom & wedding party! I tried the dress on with pumps and hose and it does make it look a bit tarty, but with the boots and some jade & silver accessories it looks a bit more up to date. The pumps & hose make it look like a left over 80's dress. AAAGGGHH! I dont know WHY I like this dress, but Im trying to make it work! I think because the whole process of buying a new dress is a horror for me! Im on the thin side 99- 100 lbs and 5'1". Most of what Im able to find in my size looks like Im going to the prom or out to a club! I wear a size zero or a 1 depending on the make. So I can find office clothes or casual clothes but dressy clothes are a horror! I love some of the styles and I know you would think because Im thin I can wear anything but its just not so! Many times when I put them on they look like theyre still on the hanger even tho its my size!I have to tell you I appreciate all the help youre all giving me!!! When I was younger fashion wasnt a problem for me but now that Im older Im running into lots of trouble! So again THANK YOU ALL for helping me with this!

jwomack

I can't really picture the dress with the boots you described. I agree with Steph on the hose and pumps or strappy heels. Since you mentioned it will be cold, I would definitely try to find a jacket or cardigan for it as well. I think a picture would really help you get the best critique.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

For a jacket, I would go with a black fitted blazer. That would give you more coverage, and hide the questionable sleeve of the dress. I also agree about sheer hose and heels, rather than tights/boots. Have you tried european stores like H&M, Zara, Club Monaco and Esprit? Angie has said that the European stores tend to run smaller in their cuts.

Ruth

Ok Im definitley going to try & get my pc to recognize the soft ware on my camera so I can take a pic of the whole thing together! I actually saw someone wearing a dress very similar ( differnet color and pattern tho) with the boots Ive described so thats where I originally got the idea! Ok Ive got a month yet before the wedding so Im hoping I can send u a pic! Oh and also YES the sleeves can be taken off so do u think it would work better without the sleeves?
Wish me luck with the canera! And THANK U ALL SO MUCH!

Louise

Veteran

I think the best photo would be of you in the whole outfit x

rute

Veteran

This dress seems more appropriate for the srping or summer, not for December! This doesn't seem like a weeding dress.. but post a picture of the entire outfit so that we can see what you have in mind.

Ruth

Hi Gals! Ok Im trying to work out the pics! So now lets say this wasnt for a wedding..And those questionable sleeves came off...... How about black leggings and booties with a black pashmina for a cover up? Im getting desperate to make this dress work as Ive gone thru my closet and I cant find anything suitable for a evening out! Over the last year Ive lots 15 lbs dure to illness, so many of my things dont fit me anymore. I mean I was thin to begin with, so now its just worse! Ive got these boots that I love as they cover my legs & knees which look even worse that Ive lost weight. So can you picture the dress wth out those sleeves and tell me how I may be able to dress it up a bit & include either booties & tights or these boots? Boots: http://i13.photobucket.com/alb...../Boots.jpg the affair os December 19 exactly 1 week before Christmas and Im stretching my budget even attending this affair. It is a very casual event and more of a "night out" sort of thing.Now as Ive said I dont know WHY I like this dress??? I dont know if its the color that looks good on me or the style..... I think this is the look Im trying to go for: http://i13.photobucket.com/alb.....hakira.jpg (See Shikira on the right.) Or this one :http://i13.photobucket.com/alb.....hBoots.jpg
Heres another: http://i13.photobucket.com/alb.....rmudez.jpg
So now you have an idea of my "style" or at least what Im trying for! So any suggestions would be great! In the meantime I am trying to get those pics on my pc!
Thanks again!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Hi Ruth

When I first opened the link to your dress it reminded me of this J Lo dress
http://www.hola.com/2001/10/01.....pez-1a.jpg

I think it would look very good with your boots for a night out.

For a casual wedding wedding I would remove the sleeves, add a boyfriend blazer or cardigan and a coloured flower pin. If you are wearing the boots I would also wear opaque tights.

Ruth

Hi! AAAAAAHHH finally a little relief from some positive feedback! Ok I have a black crppoed cardigan and I also have a nice green flowery sort of pin to wear. Do u think the cropped sweater would look ok? Heres the sweater:
http://i13.photobucket.com/alb.....A260_1.jpg
And what sort of jewelry can I dress it up a bit with? The dress does look a bit dressier in person.
I cant tell all of you how much of a help youve all been here to me. I am still working on those pics too!! I feel like such a fashion disaster! Ive been on the look out for a nice dress since I got the invite. I wanted something below the knee, NOT strapless and wouldnt cost me a fortune! However, because of my size, Im finding "prom" looking dresses either full length or mini or very matronly looking dresses. Thats the reason I wanted to go with what I had. I know it fits sand I know theres got to be some way I can make it work!
Thanks again!

Louise

Veteran

My feeling is the cropped black sweater would work better than the sleeves and the green pin sounds fab to 'tie' it together can't wait for piccies x

Steph

Veteran

Ruth, I see that you have mentioned a few times how difficult it is to find something that fits you. I'm wondering where you have been looking. I'm pretty much your height, and although I am not a size 0, I have been there as well. I never found that I could only find prom type dresses or dresses that were too matronly, though. I wonder if you're looking in the wrong places? I'm also surprised that you are having trouble finding anything that is knee-length--in my experience, with my short height, even mini dresses end up hitting me around knee length. Maybe if you let us know where you have looked already and what your budget is, we can help a little more? Also, if you don't mind sharing, how old are you? Just so we can get an idea if we should be going for a younger look or something more mature.

Also, you mention that you don't like showing your arms. Have you looked at wrap dresses at all? Because they are unstructured and are kind of adjustable, I would think that a wrap dress might work well for you, and they typically come with long sleeves.

Ruth

Hi everyone! Well I have to admit that right now my budget is nil! However , when I am loooking for a special ocassion outfit, I have tried Macys, JCPenney,Sears, Express, H&M Filenes basement, Marshalls, Rainbow Shops, Mandees, Target and many local stores in my area. I have to say you are right about many of the styles not looking matronly, however I think because I can never get them to ft me right it just adds to thats matronly look! Oh and by the way, Im old! LOL! Im 49 yrs old. Now please dont get me wrong ,I do not want to dress like a teenager or even someone in my twenties! So to find something trendy and fashionable is hard for me! Im lucky that Im able to work from home, but when I did work in the office finding office wear was never a problem fo rme. For some reason this whole casual wedding thing has thrown me for a loop! Im not the glitzy sequined type. Im not even sure what my style is! I think I would say that its usually classic with an edge, or maybe even maybe boho 70's meets 2009. Im sure I missing many places to shop where Id probabely love the styles, so any help you can give me would be great! I also lke to shop ebay for odd or unsual pieces! Most of the time I do get comliments on my "style" what ever that may be! Oh & I forgot to mention that during the last few years Targets Mossimo Supply Co jeans( juniors) have been my favorite! These jeans fit me so well! Even tho the short length is a bit long the rest of the jeans for me perfect! Ok So im open for any suggestions anyone has! All of you have been a great help to me!
Chat to u soon!

Steph

Veteran

Ruth, my biggest suggestion is to find a reliable tailor. You're small, and the sad fact is that a lot of time clothing just isn't made for people quite that tiny. Obviously, you don't want to buy things that are two sizes too big overall, but if a piece fits well in the shoulder but needs to be brought in at the waist or shortened at the hem, a tailor can do that.

My next suggestion would be to find something really classic that you can wear to several different occasions. The obvious choice, I think, would be some sort of little black dress, or a dress in another color that you could wear over and over again. And if it doesn't fit perfectly in the store, buy it (making sure it is returnable), then take it to a tailor to see whether it can be altered to fit your frame. If so, get it done, and then you will have a reliable go to dress whenever you have a need to wear one. If it can't be altered, return it.

I think you need to have one dress (or outfit) in your closet that you feel looks great and can be worn to events where you have to be a little more dressed up (be it a wedding, cocktail party or funeral). If it isn't in your budget to do so right now, perhaps you can do it down the road.

Finally, you might want to check out Banana Republic's petite line (available online and in some stores). I was in the store the other day and saw a black dress on the sale rack in size 00 petite. Hopefully something like that would come close to fitting your frame.