H&M shirt dress - YouLookFab Forum

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H&M shirt dress

Maya

Veteran

I could not find the coveted purple shirt dress yesterday at the Great YLF Meetup of '10, but I went to another store today for unrelated reasons and found it in red. I was not disappointed. This is my favorite shade of red and I really like how it looks on me.

But when I got home, I felt sort of unsure. Angie loved it on me, but when I got home and put it on, I felt...old. Well, older than I am anyway. I could hear Michael Kors saying it was "dowdy" in my head. The length seems right for the a-line shape, so I don't think hemming would be the way to go. Keeping in mind that I would like to wear it without layering as well as with, I'm not sure how to style it in a more youthful way. The only thing I could think of was a wide corset belt, which I can't wear.

http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....2362-1.jpg

Dressing

27 replies

Latest reply was from

Dawn

(website)

Maya, I think that it is beautiful on you. The red really flatters your skin colour. I also tried this dress (I think it was this dress anyway) on a few weeks ago and the elastic on the waistband really annoyed me as it means that I would always have to wear a belt with it. However I think that it has loads of potential for sweet summer outfits. I can see it paired with cream/ white bead bracelet, wedges and a hairband.

I also think that I bought the purple shirtdress which you were discussing on the H&M thread. Does your fantastic dress has an almost contrasting pin-stripe matte and shine texture (best way I can describe it) and is it a blue-purple shade?

I also love your haircut at the moment!

janetinvirginia

I think the color is great on you too, Maya. It is a plain dress, so I think the choice of accessories (jewelry or scarves) will make all the difference.

Maya

Veteran

Dawn, the purple shirt dress is exactly the same as this one and it's a true grape purple. I saw a lot of blue-purple shirtdresses, but I don't like that color on me. I can definitely see it looking beautiful on your coloring though.

marianna

Veteran

Maya, it's beautiful. Not dowdy, rather classic, classy, and feminine. I really like it on you.

Maya

Veteran

Hmm, maybe that's the problem then. I'm not very classic or feminine in how I dress.

I'd love a pair of oxfords to wear with it! I think that could sufficiently spunk it up a bit.

Kari

Veteran

Maya, I don't see it as dowdy at all. It's different from your typical style, yes. I'm wondering if you would feel more like yourself if you pair it with some of your wonderful boots - or yes, oxfords would be awesome - rather than ballet flats, which are more classic. (I mean, I'd wear it as is in your photos, but I *do* have a more classic style.)

Kristine

Veteran

I think it's really pretty on you! Maybe change out the belt and wear some edgy accessories? This would look great with boots! I don't think it's dowdy. Even if you don't like it for day to day wear, there'll be occasions where this will work perfectly. It's a nice thing to have in your wardrobe.

April

Veteran

Maya, how about a belt that's not wide, but that's more young and edgy? Maybe black with some kind of studs? No shortage of them at F21 right now:

http://www.forever21.com/produ.....pgcount=25

http://www.forever21.com/produ.....pgcount=25

http://www.forever21.com/produ.....pgcount=25

http://www.forever21.com/produ.....pgcount=25

And they're all faux leather!

Maya

Veteran

April, my belt issue is one of stretch as much as space! For some reason stretch belts always seem to be 3", and skinny belts have no stretch. I need a skinny belt WITH stretch and I haven't had much luck finding any. I tried this one on and it wasn't *too* hideous due to the tapering in the front, but I'm not 100% sold on it.

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com.....oductSize=

(Calling it a waist belt and showing it on the model's hips? Really helpful visual, Urban Outfitters)

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Maya I don't think it looks bad on you, but I see what you mean. Is it a bit too big? Maybe that's what's thoriwng it off. The colour is indeed beautiful.

Otherwise it just lacks a certain spark of Maya-ness to me. Nothing that accessories won't fix though. What about a medium stretchy belt? I'm totally not a belt person either (apple shape, no waist) but this style of dress is quite forgiving with belts. Here's me in my red shirt dress & black belt. Not the best example but an example nontheless

Or what about shortening the sleeves a bit? Or wearing your boots with it?

Maya

Veteran

It's not too big. As I said, I can't find a medium stretchy belt anywhere. It's not really a winter dress so I don't feel like boots are the answer.

Winter dresses can be layered so I have no problem with those, but warm weather is trickier. Since my shoe and belt options are so limiting, I feel like the summer dresses I get have to be interesting on their own. I'm leaning towards returning. There are so many other things I want right now so it seems pointless to keep something I'm not sure of.

Anonymous

Maya, like Tam said, the dress is great but lacks your creative touch. Before giving up, could you pull out your accessories and work with this lovely red canvas? Do you have a black or cream waistcoat you could try over the dress? Maybe wearing a cami...maybe in turquoise or purple or in a black and white zebra stripe..under the dress with a couple of the top buttons left undone would help.
Wearing it with a cute hat and/or leggings might also funk it up.

taylor

Veteran

We all agree it looks fab on you:) but perhaps as Joy mentioned it is all in accessorizing, what about a different color belt, same size and width as the current one and add a brooch or flower or pin and a necklace. Just more accessories to give it a younger vibe.

Maya

Veteran

I realized I was about $30 short to get the Clarks Smooch sandals, which is roughly what this dress costs. I ended up ordering the last pair in my size in red, and will return the dress tomorrow. It's pretty but I think I'd rather wait until summer collections roll out and look for dresses then. Comfy and cute sandals are higher on the priority list for me.

Anonymous

That sounds like a good decision. Nothing tops good comfortable footwear. Your feet will thank you when you are older!

An

I think the red dress looks lovely on you but those red sandals are gorgeous so good choice I say!!

cciele

Veteran

Late to chime in -- love that shade of red on you. Gorgeous! I understand about you returning it, though. I think it looks good on you, but I'm sure you'll find something that speaks to you more. The red version of the Smooch sandals are awesome; I have my eye on a pair too

marianne

I guess you've already made up your mind, I just wanted to say that I saw this dress at the store and liked the color, too but the fit was wacky. However, the purple dress that I saw was a different style, and it had shorter sleeves (maybe cap sleeves). And I didn't see this dress in purple.
I am very tempted by the red Smooches as well.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Maya, this might not be the shirt dress you tried on with me. You tried on a purple style with shorter sleeves. It was also tighter. Do you think that this is the same dress in the same size? I don't think it is. H&M has several shirt dresses in at the moment so I'll recheck the style when I'm next in stores.

Maya

Veteran

Angie, I could definitely believe that. I thought the skirt seemed a lot more flared than I remembered. This was the only shirt dress in the store though. It was hanging right next to a purple one, which was probably the one I tried on, but it was the last one in stock and wasn't my size, so I didn't bother to look more closely. Since they were on the same rack, I just assumed they were the same and didn't bother trying it on. As if to tease me, the dress I bought didn't even have a tag on it so I couldn't check it against the barcode picture I took, but the guy at the register said it was $34, which is the same price as the purple one.

H&M is annoying me lately! This is the second time this has happened to me. I had to return the pleather jacket I bought the other day for the same reason. Don't kill me Shana/Medusa/Debora, but it actually wasn't the right jacket. It was just mixed up on the rack with a very similar style, which is in fact the one I wanted. I exchanged it for the right one but it was a hassle. When I went to return it, I picked up the red dress, and the same thing happened! If the two styles aren't the same, they should be hung in different locations. If they aren't the same but are very similar, they should be in two VERY different locations!

I guess that means the purple one is sold out. I haven't seen it anywhere since we met. Oh well, there will be other dresses.

Debora

Veteran

Maya, I'll go by my local H&M tomorrow just to check on the off chance that they might have it in purple. It's a good thing you exchanged that moto jacket for another, sweet girl, or I would have to give you a swat! You looked KILLER in that jacket!

Maya

Veteran

Debora, I also looked for Kindrex's polkadot dress but couldn't find it! If I do find it and it looks half as good on me as it does on her, I'm all over it.

The jacket I got is much better, I swear. I think it looks better open than the one I originally picked up.

http://files.hm.com/media/prod.....4_0832.jpg

Thanks for keeping an eye out for me!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I was at H&M this morning and saw the purple shirt dress I had on fab little you, Maya. It’s also available in a deep red and citron colour. It’s not the dress you bought. It has a short capped sleeve and is MUCH sleeker.

Return this dress and try and get the original style we fitted together.

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Maya sounds like a good plan. If you aren't going to be layering the dress, you need to feel fab in it as it. You will def. do that with those cute red sandals!!!

hanna

(website)

if you weren't comfortable with the style of the dress then i'm glad you're returning it and getting those KILLER sandals instead.

i was in h&m over the weekend and while i loved a lot of the stuff they had on the rack, very few things looked and felt good on me. is it just me, or is there something kind of off with h&m sizing lately?

Maya

Veteran

It's just you, Hanna :p

No seriously, my size is remarkably consistent at H&M so I'm shocked when people tell me theirs isn't. I can pick up a 36 and be 98% positive each time that it will fit. Very rarely, I will go for a 34 since 34 fits me better in the shoulders (just not everywhere else). This only happens with voluminous tops or jackets that don't need to close. Other than that, I find that H&M suits my shape really well...which is surprising, since everyone says their clothes are slim cut and not great for curvy bodies. I wonder if that might be true of their bottoms more than their tops. i don't think I have bought pants, skirts, or jeans from there in a few years now. Last time I did, they were TTS though (those jeans have been happily rehomed with Marianne).

Anonymous

The red dress pictured looked too big in the shoulders. I bet the purple one fit better in the shoulders and that's why it felt more like you.