What kinds of toppers for these dresses? - YouLookFab Forum

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What kinds of toppers for these dresses?

rae

(website)

Veteran

I'm having a complete mental block and struggling with these. They still fit the same, but I don't feel great when I try to style them for work at the moment. Since they're jersey, I want to pair them with a dressier jacket (we cannot go sleeveless), but then my two solid blazers are also knit, and my Gibson blazer doesn't go. I was thinking they are similar in style to B44, but when I picture how Nordies styles B44, it is for the more casual TBD department.

Would the plain black blazer that some of you have suggested as a wardrobe hole do the trick?

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Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from anya

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, I'd wear a similar dress w/ a black blazer - so maybe you need to find one! I struggle a bit with the drape-y pretty dresses too; and I try to find ones with sleeves for that reason!

For now, do you have a long sleeved top you can wear underneath?

ElleH

Veteran

So dress code is dressy? Business casual? Sorry I know you told us in your other post but my brain is really foggy. I would try different blazer styles, longer, shorter, coming to points in front like Deborah's new white one & see which looks best & take pics for us.

rute

Veteran

I love the ideia of a small "chanel type" leather jacket, it's dressy but still young and trendy!

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annaj

Veteran

Black blazer sounds perfect!

harmonica

Veteran

love rute's suggestions. a white or cream blazer might work as well

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I like rute's suggestion of the Channel-type jacket for you. A black blazer would work great too. Would you wear one style more often than the other?

Anonymous

Rae, I wear mine (stripes) with a black blazer.

Deborah

Veteran

I can see a black blazer over the second dress. Black with the blue would look dynamic. Is the first dress black and white? Is so a black blazer would be good, or white or a completely contrasting colour.
Your blue F21 blaze would lok good over dress 1. What about your faux leather Bebe? Jacket over the blue? Would your new Ella Moss work over the blue dress? How would your Thari dress look over dress 1 for some tonal pattern mix (sort off)? Just some thoughts. I do think a nice black jacke could be a good investment too.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

A collarless blazer like the photos posted above would be stunning and right on trend!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Agree with the others a black blazer would work, but is pretty expected, unless it's a very interesting one - But a color such as a neon coral or something could also work...

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Why are you ruling out the jackets you already have because they are knit? I think knit over knit is fine... am I wrong?

rae

(website)

Veteran

Here's a pic of my blue knit blazer as I used to wear it over the striped dress. The dress code is presented as pretty ephemeral - for example, I learned we are allowed to wear *colored* denim if we dress it up. I have felt good and appropriate applying that rule of thumb to my other casual items (Ella Moss moto with a pencil and button front, slouchy knit pullover with silk dress pants). I guess the knit blazers don't feel structured/dressy/classic enough in my mind to counteract the stretch and drape of the dresses.

Rute, thank you for the suggestion! I would not have thought of a collarless jacket, leather or otherwise. I guess I have to wear a dress out to try on blazers when I get a day off.

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

How about your SLEW of leather toppers? Cropped pullover?

Anonymous

I think your steampunk brown jacket on the stripes would be awesome.

Diana

Veteran

I agree on the collarless blazer suggestion. My cropped collarless Aqua jacket (that Angie helped me buy in NYC) is super versatile over all kinds of dresses and skirts. (I wore it most recently for the bridal shower outfit). I don't like the high, round necked collarless styles for myself but this one is cut lower and more like a regular blazer (just missing lapels) that work well with all sorts of necklines.

I know the white Bebe jacket is too hot for work, but how does that style look with the dresses?

ETA: found a photo where you can see the neckline I'm talking about.

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rae

(website)

Veteran

Angie and Ceit, are my leather jackets not too RATE? I haven't felt comfortable wearing them to work at all. I don't feel approachable in them. Am I crazy? I don't really have a slew of them; it's down to these two (white made me clammy at work, and the forum deemed the DIY too dirty looking).

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rae

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Diana, that sort of a collarless cut really appeals to me! I have a hard time with high, round necks, too. Yours is almost like a cutaway... mmmm, I like.

Diana

Veteran

Apparently Aqua still makes one that looks really similar! (only in navy and limited sizes right now, but they might have it in store?). No idea if it's still the same sizing (mine is a year old), but I had to size up.

http://www1.bloomingdales.com/.....sn_results

ETA: Also, this is intriguing.

http://www1.bloomingdales.com/.....sn_results

Anonymous

Well, I think you look great in photo 1 -- I don't know how you can't look approachable!

What about your mixed media blazer, does it go?

kkards

Veteran

I would love to see the leather jkts over these dresses. I think a denim jacket would also look great.
I don't think the leather would make you unapproachable.

dizzys

Not quite on topic, but I love the stripes.....they have movement...if that makes sense......

I have no comment on the jacket as I have no clue, but I would consider the leather jacket to look fab as you have styled it.

Joy

Veteran

Thumbs up for both the existing jackets in your photos. I'd hesitate to buy something new unless it also went well with other things. I find that knit dresses don't have a long lifespan, but they look perfect for stooping and bending at work.

unfrumped

Veteran

Sometimes leather jackets indoors are to heavy if the jacket is sort of thick or bulky. You can probably tell more about that when you try them on.
Knit on knit still works but you may need more structure in the jacket--a stronger shoulder or collar.
Have you looked at some of the knit and lace moto's now available? I think they might look great--edginess is tempered by the softer fabric, but they have more structure than a shrunken knit.
Also hard to go wrong with a black blazer--I would think you could add scarf, jewelry, pin or what not so as not to look like a banker.
did you see the recent thread on more black jackets (?) featuring Target jacket that is woven + faux leather--so not all black jackets need to be staid.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yup. You're crazy xo

You're working in fashion, Rae. And you'll add the right amount of polish with your make-up and fit. Totally appropriate.

You have many more leather jackets in your holding zone. The All Saints. Haul them out!

Nicole D

Veteran

My first though was bolero jacket. Are those cool?

Anonymous

Oh, I love the stripped with the leather that you posted. It's so perfect with the book-end bootie.
Like Angie said, it's the perfect time to bring the All Saints back out. I don't know about your dress codes (I think not being able to go sleeveless is just crazy) but I think you will add some fun and intrest to the floor by adding more of your preferred tomboy-rate-UWP style. You will look great in a sea of blazer clad SAs.

DonnaF

Veteran

FWIW, I would not find a SA in leather unapproachable unless she also looked like she worked in a coffee shop, you know, completely covered in tatts with piercings in places other than ears and maybe gauges. I might also wonder if the leather looked like outdoor weight. [Note: I'm an aging Baby Boomer pushing 60 who shops at Nordies.]

Aida

Veteran

It sounds like for work you are most comfortable with only one rugged item (hey, I'm like that all the time ^^). So my suggestion for these dresses is to have EITHER the topper or the shoe fit the UWP bill.

- distressed leather jacket : pumps
- refined leather jacket : pumps or rugged/refined boots
- woven blazers : rugged shoe/boot
- knit blazers : pumps or refined boots
- soft long cardigan (fine gauge) : pumps or rugged/refined boots
- soft long cardigan (chunky) : pumps

You have a bunch of very cropped jackets that would be super fun with these. Also like the idea of a collarless blazer, what about the citron H&M blazer you, Una, and I got? Would look brilliant with both dresses. Also also, how about tossing a slouchy or cropped sweater over the top?

anya

How about a pair of "sleeves" i mean I have a couple of short-sleeved and long sleeved bolero's that i wear when a jacket seems to much.