Need help with MOTG dresses (Angie too) please - YouLookFab Forum

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Need help with MOTG dresses (Angie too) please

RunningSue

I am really struggling with the concept of MOTG dresses that flatter me and are age appropriate. I am working with a stylist at Nordstrom (in Bellevue Square) who said that all the dresses I send her links to are too body con. I am looking for a dress that flatters me by skimming the body and has a waist. I am a 5'2", 112 lb 51 year old IT (broad shoulders and no hips) with a very athletic build. A lot of the regular size dresses do not work since they are too long. The selection of petite dress is limited and usually do not fit since I am long waisted. I am searching for a flattering dress that I can wear running errands, volunteering at school, etc. (but not to take the kids to the park). If anyone has ideas, pictures, links, suggestions, I am all ears and really appreciate your help.

I love this style of dress (way out of my price range).

http://www.shopbop.com/tweed-s.....eviewsArea

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from RunningSue

rachylou

Veteran

Hey, Sue! Have you tried on a dress like the shopbop one? If so, how do you feel in it? Have you tried tunic dresses on your stylist? The wrap/faux wrap is eternally flattering an easy... made Diane von Furstenberg (sp?) a fortune right?

qfbrenda

Veteran

Most casual day dresses can be hemmed. I'm a 5'1" IT with a long waist and have to hem at least half of the dresses I buy. I get petite when I can but that isn't always possible.

I don't know if you are limiting yourself to Nordstrom, but I just looked online and didn't see dresses currently on their site that appealed to me as a MOTG. Maybe someone else can find some there.

Here's a few I found that look interesting:

http://www.gap.com/browse/prod.....=240664052

http://www.gap.com/browse/prod.....=914029022 (review says this is hard to iron, but I like the shape)

http://www.gap.com/browse/prod.....=240970002

http://www.christopherandbanks.....age=family

http://www.landsend.com/pp/wom.....77_59.html

http://www.landsend.com/pp/wom.....19_59.html

http://www.landsend.com/pp/wom.....22_59.html

All of those are either available in petite or can be hemmed.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hi, Sue - I'll bet Angie will see this if I bump it.

But first, as another MOTG/ Work-from-home, 50 something woman with an athletic shape (and who is a bit taller than you at 5'4" but not a lot, ), here are my thoughts on your dilemma.

1. If you are long waisted, regular size dresses will work better for you (most likely). It is easy to hem the length. So don't limit yourself to petites unless you know for a fact that regular sizes never fit you. I typically will do better in a petite dress but I always try the XS regular sizes just in case, and sometimes I get lucky. In my case I need the petites for my short waistedness. So you might do lots better in regular.

2. On the issue of "body con" - if you are sending her links to sheath dresses (which will suit your figure) then, sure, on the models they might be body con. Maybe they ARE body con in person, too. But you won't know for sure until you try on, and some may skim you because you do not have wide hips. So they are worth trying.

See Angie's post on "de-bombshelling a pencil skirt" for ideas about how to style them to reduce the too-sexy effect. Even a very body con dress styled with flat boots, tights, and a denim jacket over top can become a perfect MOTG outfit for someone with our figure type. All the better if it is stretchy, like the one you linked to.

Here's one from Nordstrom's: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/fr.....tback=1802

3. Another shape that might work is a sort of tunic shape. Una (Alaskagirl) wears this shape to perfection, usually with pants or leggings underneath. As a short IT, she could be an inspiration. http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ca.....es/3385845

Jersey might also work. I have a great black jersey jumper-style dress that I wear pretty much constantly. It's just a simple sheath. Sometimes I belt it, sometimes I wear it plain. I layer shirts and T shirts under it, I layer jackets over it, I wear with booties, tall boots, tights, etc. It is perhaps designed as a body con cut, but I wear it a bit loose so it doesn't cling to me at all, just follows my shape. It can also be dressed up very easily in a pinch. Love that dress!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh...I just wanted to add...is there some absolute reason why body con is verboten for Moms on the Go?

I know you probably don't want to look like Bombshell Betty and modesty is of course a concern....but just because something hugs one's curves a bit doesn't automatically make it tacky, or too sexy, or too ANYTHING for the PTA. A lot is in the body of the particular wearer, and the styling of the item.

ETA: Here is a higher quality and more expensive version of my jersey dress: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/bo.....tback=1319

This one is lined and in wool so a bit different in feel (jersey doesn't wrinkle, is packable, etc. and this would seem more structured than mine) but the overall FIT is identical. It curves in gently at the waist without clinging and I can layer under and over it. Totally basic, totally boring, but totally FAB styled in ways I want.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh - and if you want to give yourself some hips, maybe something like this:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/do.....tback=2306

glam on the inside

I have nothing to add but just had to say, Suz, I'm in awe of your wise, detailed and helpful replies. Good luck, Running Sue.

qfbrenda

Veteran

To go along with what Suz said, MOTG dresses can definitely be body con. But I can understand why the stylist is pointing you away from body con dresses. As an IT, dresses that really FIT from head to knee can highlight the shoulders and it sounds like you are wanting to balance the shoulders out a bit.

The dresses I linked to have some things in common: no crazy decorated stuff at the shoulders, some are looser at the hip area, a couple have hip pockets... all of those features can work well on an IT if balancing the shoulders is your goal.

Another thing: I have great success with sheath dresses. I really love dresses without a defined waist because since my long waist is often in the wrong place, a sheath dress doesn't try to put a waist where it doesn't belong. I can belt them or leave them alone. A sheath can be layered easily so they work year round.

Parsley

Veteran

Sue, have you tried Athleta?
They have some great MOTG knit dresses that should be perfect for your athletic build, and they come in petites. They look really cute with tights and flat boots

http://athleta.gap.com/browse/.....=265928002
http://athleta.gap.com/browse/.....=880253062
http://athleta.gap.com/browse/.....=772665082
http://athleta.gap.com/browse/.....=306035012

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Shu

Everything Suz said about bodycon and MOTG! If those are the ones you're drawn to, there's usually a way to make them appropriate. I hope you reconsider trying some of your first choices along with all the other great ideas these lovely ladies are sending your way.

Traci

Veteran

What is the stylist suggesting as an alternative to the dresses you like? Do you like her offerings? Maybe it's just a difference of taste and you need a new stylist?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Casual dresses are really hard at the moment because it's just not a dress season. Nordies does not generally stock *covered* casual dresses to start off with, so that's even harder.

AT, BR, Gap, J. Crew, Atheleta, Lands End, Boden and Macys are usually better bets for covered casual dresses. This season, not one of my clients is into seeking out new casual dresses. They are wearing their old casual dresses, but buying dressy dresses, all sorts of skirts and trousers or jeans instead.

shiny

Veteran

Would you consider a sweater dress? I am 2 inches shorter than you, but a fellow IT. I tend to have some luck with Spense brand of dresses at Macy's. I will warn you: the quality is not all that great. But if it's for MOTG, and you don't want something too nice that would make you cry if you got sticky fingers all over it, the price is right, especially since Macy's is constantly having sales:

http://www1.macys.com/shop/pro.....lotId%3D12

http://www1.macys.com/shop/pro.....lotId%3D15

http://www1.macys.com/shop/pro.....lotId%3D66

http://www1.macys.com/shop/pro.....Type=PDPZ1

Macy's petites has other brands of sweater dresses right now that may be worth a look:

http://www1.macys.com/shop/pro.....lotId%3D26

Well... just go look at all the petite dresses! Macy's has a good range of them. Many would work for MOTG.

N-Marie

Veteran

Shiny, I love some of those sweater dresses (and hard to beat those prices for MOTG)!

shiny

Veteran

I don't want to mislead: quality of Spense brand is about what you'd find at F21, but fit is better, more forgiving cut for an older body. I consider these fun one season dresses. Do wait for a sale or use the Macy's coupons!

shiny

Veteran

okay I have a teal sweater dress Spense brand.... It is crew neck, which doesn't work on me, and also has some sheerness... Not sure how to describe... Anyway... You are my same weight, I'm same shape, few years younger, I have only worn this once. I could send it to you? Otherwise it's probably going in the donate pile.

nk123

Boden has great petite dresses (and regular length tunics that work as dresses for petites). I reach for those dresses repeatedly when I'm looking for casual, comfy and stylish.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Another vote for Boden.

Ariadne

Veteran

I wear fairly body-con dresses pretty regularly as a MOTG. I wear them with things like tights, boots, and a jacket or cardi most of the time. As long as they're comfy, flattering, provide enough coverage and allow for a good range of motion, why not? Here is one (unstyled) example of one of my MOTG dresses (the striped one):
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ater-dress

RunningSue

Thanks everyone for all your thoughtful responses. I am humbled by the breadth of options you have offered me. Suz, we need to go shopping together. I have two French Connection dresses that I love but am not sure if they are too body con or not.

Rachylou I will try some DVF wrap dresses to see how I feel in them.

Suz, I look forward to your posts when I log on since we are similar in size and build. Thanks for the links (spot on) and suggestions.

QfBrenda, thanks for all these amazing options, I am excited to see if they work. I will also investigate sheath dresses.

GlamOnTheInside, Shu thanks for the encouragement.

Parsely, an Athleta store just opened in my neighborhood so I can check them out in person. I do love their stuff and thinking about doing holiday work for them.

Traci, I am not sure if it is me or she is trying to get me into something different than what I would gravitate to my self, sort of like what not to wear.

Thanks Angie for the other retail selections, I do usually limit myself to Nordstrom but will expand my retail horizons.

Shiny, the Macy's by me is rather drab and dreary, maybe I need to shop downtown which is why I have not spend much time there. With all those great links you sent, I do need to reconsider. I would love to try the teal dress, let me know what we need to do to make that happen. Thank you for your generosity.

N-Marie, I agree 100%.

nk123 and RoseandJoan, I did not realize Boden sold adult clothes, I had not heard of them until I had kids.

Ariadne, thanks for the styling suggestions, that is how I picture myself in these dresses as well,

Off to shop and pictures will come.

Thanks everyone.