Q&A about individual items, ensembles, and wardrobe

Restyled sack dress

I recently tried this Vera Wang dress http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStor.....+Dress.jsp and found the volume overwhelming. Even with the ribbon-belt, it just looked wrong on me.

Taking some advice from Taylor, I tried it again, this time with a couple of changes. I removed the ribbon belt and substituted two different wide belts; I pinned up the straps, which hung too low on me; I removed the brooch that came with it.

Here are the results:

With wide belt and necklace:

http://i649.photobucket.com/al.....G_0340.jpg

With wide belt and no necklace:

http://i649.photobucket.com/al.....G_0346.jpg

With wide flower belt:

http://i649.photobucket.com/al.....G_0352.jpg

Now that I've seen the photos. I'm still not sure this very blousy look is for me -- what do you think?

The latest reply was from April . You can follow further contributions to the conversation through the RSS 2.0 feed.


23 Replies

Posted 3 months ago

Uhhh, I sort of love it on you, actually.

Posted 3 months ago

Beautiful! I really like that flower belt!

Posted 3 months ago

Love it! With the wide belt and necklace, especially.

Posted 3 months ago

It's really adorable!

Posted 3 months ago

You totally rock that dress. I had ordered the same one and couldn't figure out what to do with it on my rectangle body. I ended up returning it but now I wish I had kept it and tried styling it differently. I think it's gorgeous on you. Hope you keep it.

Posted 3 months ago

I like it too

Posted 3 months ago

What are you talking about, you look fantastic!

Posted 3 months ago

KILLER.

Hope answers your quezzie, sweet pea.

Posted 3 months ago

Love it! It's exactly the sort of dress I've been looking for except nothing available is small enough.

Posted 3 months ago

Ahhhhhh. SCORE!!!!:)

You look FAB !!! LOVE this on you!

Posted 3 months ago

Seeing as you rocked this part of sack frock dressing April, I'm challenging you further! Are you brave enough to sport a sack dress sans the belt?

Posted 3 months ago

I love the graphic print -- and I too would love to see the dress without a belt. Let's see!

Posted 3 months ago

I love it on you! It makes your waist look so tiny. :-) The color and pattern is wonderful. I'd love to see it without a belt too.

~ Lori

Posted 3 months ago

First, let me say thank you to you all for this encouragement. I was really feeling tentative about this dress (again!) after seeing the photos, but am glad I gave it a second try.

Second, let me say - oh, dear. Angie, a sack without a belt? I may not be that brave, though I saw a very young woman wearing the look with leggings in a restaurant last night and I "got it" in a way that I hadn't before.

Kellygirl - yes, I was quite discouraged by this dress initially, but Angie challenged me to find a way to wear a sack, so I gave it another go. They might still have it in your size if you want to try again.

Laura - it was the print that captured me too. Unusual, and she has mixed a browhish-yellow with a very deep brown and then added some black accents. I love black with brown, so that was a big motivator for me.

Joy - this particular dress came in a 2 Petite - would that fit you? As I mentioned, I have to have the straps taken up, but otherwise the fit was okay.

Hmm, a sack without a belt...

Posted 3 months ago

Go for it!

Posted 3 months ago

April - stunning. I love it best with the flower belt and no necklace - the necklace seems to get a bit lost in the neckline. I hope you will keep this. It is very flattering on you. Maybe your eye just has to get used to it?

Posted 3 months ago

April, your style rocks more each time you post. Heavenly :0)

Posted 3 months ago

I love it!

If you want to try it without the belt, I can see how it might be too voluminous for that. But, I suspect it's an easy, inexpensive fix: just have a tailor take it in on the sides. Not too much, just maybe an inch on either side, following the line of the dress (so it retains the sack shape, it's just a bit narrower). That would bring down the volume in scale to your proportions. Since you probably have to get the straps altered, I'd give this a try.

Posted 3 months ago

I love it with the flower belt - you look amazing!

Posted 3 months ago

I'm feeling your hesitation April:) Like I said I do love them....belted...but we never know until we try...if you don't like it...or are uncomfortable...belt it:) It is a great dress either way!!

Posted 3 months ago

I LOVE it! I'm saving the belt/necklace one to my inspiration folder.

Posted 3 months ago

GREAT job restyling. The wide belts made a world of difference. Looks great!

Posted 3 months ago

Shiny - that is a genius idea... Just when I thought I'd had every alteration known to man done on some piece of clothing (including my boots!), I realize that this one wouldn't have occurred to me. Thanks.

And everyone else - thank you for your encouragement. I'm glad I gave the dress another attempt. Angie, I read your blog post today; still questioning whether I can do the sack without belt and not look like a kindergartner sporting her favorite Hanna Andersson, but since you have put the challenge out there, I will keep trying. :)

Posted 3 months ago