Krish - I think I don't wear them for 3 reasons.

1. Makrame alluded to this. They SEEM relatively neutral, but really aren't. So they don't go with a lot of outfits. They would look good with navy, or SOME (but not all) greys, or olive. But much as I wish for one, I don't have a navy skirt or dress (other than a denim skirt). The grey skirt I have does not work with them. And I don't own anything olive or brown.

2. They don't really look good with any tights other than nude. So that rules out most wintery outfits for me. Spring/summer/fall shoe only.

3. And...in most of spring and summer I wear sandals, not shoes!!

So it's a perfect storm, really.

They ARE, in fact, very comfortable. And I like the look of them. I have one dress that works brilliantly with them, and I've worn them with my Long and Lean jeans once, too (and that olive top you gave me!)

But my struggles with them have been enormously instructive to me. I have worn more "apparently" difficult shoes much more often than I have worn these apparently neutral ones!

Love #2. I like the first one best with the denim jacket.

That is so interesting. Me too, I would have thought they would be more versatile. But you never know. In a season or two, you might find the perfect thing to wear them with, who knows?

Yes, that's what I figure, Krish. I got them on sale. And I know they won't go "out of style" since they have such a vintage look. Eventually I will get some more navy and olive in my wardrobe. Even some other blues might work...I'll have to experiment. In the meantime, the shoes won't go bad or anything, so it was probably no loss in the long run.

Suz, what about pairing them with a black and white outfit?

I tried it, Aida. It was "off." The grey of the dress didn't like the olive. At least to my eye. But I can try again. I notice they look different to me in the photos than IRL, so that is also useful information. The flash was not on and we had a mildly overcast day here, so colour representation is probably fairly accurate.

I mean like a graphic black and white only outfit, where the olive shoes would be the only "color". Maybe with white bermudas/jeans and a darker top (either black or navy)?

With the talk of the shoes, I wonder if that contributes to the first dress not looking modern to Aida and me? I'd be curious to see that one with the bright jacket and edgier/non-vintage-inspired shoes.

Those shoes have a very 1920s vibe to my eye. I think they would look wonderful with anything remotely flapper or Deauville style (naval, wide pants, etc.).

Aida, that's a good idea for the shoes. I'll give it a try.

Rae, I think you're right. The dress probably does harken back to 90s dresses that in turn harkened back to 30s bias cut dresses, and you and Aida are young enough that those style associations may be negative to your eyes. (I think we often reject the clothing of a recent era, especially when we're young, e.g. in the 80s I wouldn't have been caught dead in anything 70s looking. Though...come to think of it, this dress has a bit of 70s going on, too!, LOL)

Anyway...the dress assuredly has a bit of an old-fashioned tone. And I also think the colour or pattern seem less flattering in the photos than they seemed IRL...OR the photos are giving me really good information about that that I'll have to check!!

I can try it with some different shoes and jackets, too. The truth is, this dress would basically be a casual daytime sundress for walking downtown to do errands, maybe go for a lunch - a hot day, can't-be-bothered-doing-anything-more-than-throwing-on-one- thing kind of dress. So I wouldn't wear it with much other than a pair of sandals.

Krish, you're right - the shoes look 20s or early 30s. I enjoyed wearing them with my Long and Leans (my version of wide leg trousers.) I agree anything naval would be good to try.

Thanks again, all!

Oh, Suz, I love both! I understand the love for number two, but number one has that awesome neckline - a V with no cleavage. (I'm sure yours is lovely, but I recall that you share my reluctance to expose that bit of anatomy!) Keep and wear often.

Interesting that dress #2 has dressier fabrication IRL than it looks in pics. I really like that dress on you, esp. the length and proportions. It gives you more life/energy than #1.

I agree with Donna's last comment - #2 looks better on you in pictures than #1, although both dresses are very nice. If you feel that #1 will be a workhorse for hot summer days, I don't think you can go wrong if you keep both.

I have purposely not read comments first:). Suz, I love the second dress. In the pics it lights you up and is stunning each way you have styled it. The first dress is also lovely however the color isn't translating well on my screeen and the cut of the skirt of the dress reads dated to me. Having said that, it's pretty and flattering on you. I think the question is does it fit with your style and does it convey what you want it to?

Thanks again, everybody. Donna, I think you are definitely right about the pattern and it surprises me a bit. First of all, black is not "supposed" to be one of my colours, although here, admittedly, it's softened by the blueish grey of the pattern. I also think the size of the pattern is more enlivening somehow.

Theoreticaly I'm a cool summer, so I "should" look best in softer, less contrasty prints. But the reality seems a bit different, at least judging from the photos.

Off to muse some more, and wow, aren't photos instructive!

Please keep them both! YOU HAVE TO! "enough said" as Angie would have said...:-)

I like them both! #2 is especially great on you.