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LBD: how would you dress this up or down?

stringy

Veteran

Hello, new here! ::waves hello::

I'm a tomboy who has gotten a little bored with jeans and t-shirts, and am trying to branch out a bit. I've been lurking for a while and have finally gotten up the courage to post here for some help.

I bought this little black dress in a last-minute panic before a birthday party at a swanky cocktail bar. These photos aren't from then, so pardon the silly hair and goofy expression on my face, they were the pics that showed the dress details best

http://picasaweb.google.com/st.....directlink

For the party I wore strappy black kitten heels with it, but those shoes were also a panic-purchase and I don't like them. So now what can I do with the dress?

The dress is so comfy and is the perfect weight for summer weather here. I'm not convinced it's the perfect style for my shape (rectangle with a pot-belly, heading in an apple direction), but I haven't found anything better yet. I'd like to wear it more often as I keep looking for the *perfect* LBD.

Generally, if I'm not wearing jeans/sneakers I go for an indie rock look or a bit of a boho vibe. Neither seems to fit with the bow on the neckline? I don't know. But I'm open to suggestions on how this dress could go either for a day out shopping or out to dinner at a nice restaurant, etc... What would you do with it?

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from stringy

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm at work at the moment but I will be back later to comment in much much detail. I think vintage frocks and indie rock/ rock are looks which are intrinsically linked. Think Courtney Love with her 40's tea dress and eight i docs, or Gwen Steffani in the don't speak video. These looks have impacted on my style more than any other.

Be prepared for a very long answer later!

Oh and welcome to the forum

Julie

Anonymous

My first thought is to pop on a brown (or other non-black) leather jacket like Marianne in the winning TJMaxx blog with booties or boots. A denim jean jacket will also casualize (Is that a word?) the dress as Angie shows in her Global Challenge, Hong Kong (At the right of the blog entries, click on Global Style and scroll down).

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Cute dress with a million options. Have you tried the dress untied? I have several dresses with ties that I wear both ways- tied and untied. It just gives them a different look. Like Joy suggested- try a denim jacket. I love vests (waistcoats) over dresses- a white one would lighten this up for summer, pair it with some strappy sandals and you're good to go. Try some textured tights with boots or booties and a colorful cardi for the fall. Pile necklaces or bracelets on and pair with a bright pair of ballet flats for spring.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm back from work, suppers been served and the kids are sleeping so here goes.....two of my current style idols were female indie rockers in the 90's, if you are not British the names Pearl Lowe and Lauren Laverne may be met with blank expressions but both of these ladies manage to add that rock edge to even the prettiest of dresses without appearing try hard.

Here's a link to an article on the style of Pearl Lowe
http://sallyjanevintage.blogsp.....-lowe.html

and here is one for Lauren Laverne
http://www.handbag.com/fashion.....-1/gallery

In terms of styling the dress more casually you could always try slouch boots and a denim jacket or micro fishnets and ballet flats.

Dressing up you can really experiment with a dress like this, like Joy recommends you could try booties with a moto jacket.

I love wearing lace hose and leopard print heels with my jersey black dress
http://s575.photobucket.com/al.....C02317.jpg

Alternatively, you could wear the tie undone and layer silver chains underneath or replace the belt with something more eye catching. You could add a capelet in a homage to Kate Moss.

Honestly, you need to go and play dress up and have some fun, please post some links when you do.

medusa

Veteran

Sorry to derail, but...Julie, those lace dresses are awesome! Thanks for posting that.

Stringy, seems like you have some great suggestions, I have nothing to add but welcome to the forum.

peekay

Great suggestions, and Julie.. great post.
*taking notes

Welcome Stringy.

stringy

Veteran

Thanks everyone for all these ideas and the warm welcome!

The neck tie on the dress just sort of hangs there if I don't do it up, and I can't seem to tuck it away. I was thinking of getting it altered to remove it. The neckline is almost a keyhole, except not actually joined.

I love the idea of a denim or brown leather jacket with this. Maybe with sandals and a long-ish boho necklace? What colour sandals? I've got lovely brown ones and some decidedly average black ones at the moment.

Bright cardi and tall boots for cooler weather - I've got the right boots already, I think, but no cardis right now. Might take a look at the current colours and see what's around.

Thanks for all the pictures too - I think the pic from the Hong Kong challenge is great. And Pearl Lowe looks fantastic, so cute and yet pulled together.

I'll definitely post some photos when I get something together that shows this dress off a bit.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oooooh! I LOVE the black vintage dress! You need pearls, garnets or rubies. (And welcome to the forum too, Stringy. I got so carried away with the frock that I forgot my manners).

You definitely want heels, hose and a hardcore topper. I did all of that minus the hose in my HK challenge (thanks Joy). I like the sound of your brown shoes actually.

Hmmm. I wondering whether you need to shorten the dress?

stringy

Veteran

Haha, I'm glad you like the dress! It's from Esprit, but is clearly vintage-inspired. Maybe it could go in a Holly Golightly kind of direction... kitten heels and pearls?

Funny you should mention the shortening though - I went and tried it on with my knee-high boots, and I was thinking the dress seemed too long for them. I always have to have jeans shortened, so I guess this is just part of branching out into dresses. Is there a guideline for hemlines?

I'm going to look for some kind of long-ish, multicoloured, boho necklace this weekend. Something that will go with my brown sandals. The jacket will have to wait a bit, but the summer weather has started in my corner of Down Under so I've got time to find something nice.

stringy

Veteran

Bumping this up again because I've got some pics of this dress with shoes and a necklace. Still not 100% sure of what I'm doing:

I bought these shoes today, but will return them because they're 30 min shoes and I need at least 4hr shoes!
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh.....directlink

These are my favourite brown sandals but not sure they're a good match:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh.....directlink

And finally the black sandals that I don't like (silver filligree sort of thing in the front of them):
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh.....directlink

Opinions?

Queen Mum

Veteran

looks great with the necklace and black sandals!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Stringy, these outfits are fab for a super casual affair. Well done! Is it super casual?

shiny

Veteran

I love this dress! I have a blouse with a similar tie-neck that I am having a lot of fun with. Personally, I like the look best without any necklace - the tie is ornament enough. Try with hoop or other fun earrings, or a pair of cuff bracelets.

I also leave it untied - creates a long lean slimming line. Depending on how low the keyhole is, you could pop a cami in a bright color underneath, to have it just peek out.

I love popping a cardigan in a bright color over top. You could try a new look cardi or just a regular one. Try belting it - maybe a brown belt, then brown heels or boots?

I'm not sure a denim jacket will work, because it may cover up the tie? A jacket with a V neckline that buttons at the waist will probably work the best.

What about a vest?

I think the sandals work for a casual summer day outfit, but I would really love to see this dress with a funky wedge heel:

http://www.zappos.com/naughty-.....-chocolate

http://www.zappos.com/naughty-.....?zlfid=111

http://www.zappos.com/volatile-sabrina-brown

http://www.zappos.com/gabriell.....ndal-camel

http://www.zappos.com/delman-laine-n-luggage

stringy

Veteran

Yep, having very casual outfits is necessary for me. I tend to live my life either in super-casual or formal-enough-for-a-wedding-guest mode, not a lot of opportunity for in-between because my job is super casual too. I'm going to wear my new BF blazer to work today and am pretty certain I'll get asked if I'm going out somewhere after hours. Male computer programmers, what can you say? They think wearing shirts with buttons is too much effort

I've seen a great v-neck, fitted denim jacket online that I think would be great with this dress, but it was sold out in my size

I'm looking forward to cooler weather to try this with a cardi and boots, too. And thanks for all the shoe suggestions, Shiny! I love wedge heels in general - I like that 3rd one you linked.