WIW - a not-so-simple dress for simple summer dressing

Some of you may remember this dress. I got it two years ago for my husband's high school reunion in TX and I got stuck in thinking of it as an occasion dress for a while. But last summer I started wearing it for hot summer days and I love it. It's a lot of color and detail, but it's light and loose and silk, so great for easy summer hot-weather dressing.

I had on heeled sandals at first but decided to dress down a bit more with flats. And I love how this clutch and my Santa Fe peridot and mother-of-pearl ring coordinate with the dress. And my new pedicure!

Question: dress belted or unbelted? I usually defer to belted because I feel like it helps draw attention to the waist and away from the hips, but maybe with the curved seam along the hips, it's JFE without the belt?

Haircut tomorrow!

Comments & suggestions welcome.

This post has 4 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

9 years ago

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I love this dress!!!!!!!! It's soooo beautiful.

Slight preference for it belted, because it adds a bit of structure while still looking cool and breezy. At least, tied this way. But both look great.

Peri

Wow, most of my favorite colors all in one dress! I think it is beautiful. For the vote, I have a slight preference for belted but really like it either way.

carambola

Gorgeous. Love it both ways, but have a very slight preference for the simplicity of unbelted.

Suz

(website)

Absolutely stunning on you, Janet. The colours are extraordinary! So glad you rescued it from the special occasion prison. And wow, just look at the toes and bag with it!

I prefer it unbelted myself. Cleaner and simpler that way.

ameelizabeth

Active Member

I love how you're repurposing this by dressing it down! For some reason, the unbelted version looks dressier to me, so if you're trying to keep it more casual, maybe go with belted. Or maybe a non-matching belt of some sort? I think it looks great though, and you look so beautiful! Love your toe polish too, I might have to go find some turquoise polish, myself!

Ginkgo

I prefer it unbelted, as the addition of the belt with makes it look "too busy"' and the dress is still shaped enough to flatter your figure. And I love the ring! You inspire me to get min out and wear them more.

texstyle

Very pretty and I also prefer it unbelted. Love the accessories! You look great in this.

Anonymous

So pretty, perfect shoes and bag! I like the dress unbelted in this context. It gives it a more easy, breezy feel. I think with a heeled shoe the belt would be nice to make a more of a polished silhouette.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Killer

You look ALIVE in those colours.

I prefer the frock sans the belt.

Nice bag and toenail bookending. xo

Gracie

Beautiful dress and I love how it goes so well with your accessories (and pedi). I agree that unbelted looks dressier and belted, casual. Both fab!

Diana

Gorgeous dress! I'm glad it gets to come out and play more. I prefer unbelted, as these days I am wearing all my sack dresses without a belt. I like the long lines, and who wants to wear a belt in hot, sticky weather anyway?

AviaMariah

So Pretty. I like both ways but prefer un-belted for casual.

Susie

What a gorgeous dress! I'm glad that you are wearing it for everyday life and not saving it for occasions. I do prefer it unbelted; I think the shape is more striking with it loose.

Transcona Shannon

I do indeed remember this gorgeous dress! You look stunning in it Janet and it works brilliantly with that turquoise clutch and your metallic sandals. I prefer the dress without the belt - seems a wee bit more modern that way.

Gorgeous

Erikajl

That dress is unique and absolutely gorgeous!! You look wonderful in it too!!
I think I slightly prefer it unbelted. The lines are great. It vaguely reminds me of a flapper style dress. Love it!

cciele

Wow, stunning -- both you and the dress The colors are fantastic. This dress definitely deserved to come out and play!

I prefer it unbelted -- simpler and cleaner lines.

Janet

Thanks, all! I'm not sure why this dress works so well because I look awful in 99.99% of drop-waist dresses. I think it's because the top is slightly tailored in shape and the drop-waist seam is curved, which mitigates the effect drop-waists have of making all of me look as wide as my wide hips. The high-low hem and the deep neckline might help too. At any rate, it's a high happiness factor outfit.

rabbit

really gorgeous, especially with your accessories. I very slightly prefer unbelted with the flat sandals, but both are nice.

What are the sandals? I love that pearly silver color.

Tanya

Stunning dress, and loove those colors. I also prefer it unbeltes.

rabbit, I added the sandals to my Finds, below. They're Donald J Pliner (on sale now at Zappos!). These were 14-hour shoes straight out of the box. I recommend them if your toes are on the long-ish side. The leather upper is soft and pliable, and footbed is nice and cushy and comfortable, but the piece that goes between the toes definitely sits a bit far back in the footbed -- anyone with short toes will find the fit problematic. I love the champagne color -- it goes with everything!

Zappos

Donald J Pliner Lola

View Info

Top Pick

carter

Beautiful dress! Unbelted.

Janet -- you look absolutely breathtaking. I prefer the dress unbelted.

Sara L.

Beautiful dress! I love how you've accessorized it with the silver sandals and ring. I like it both belted and unbelted but would probably wear it without a belt because it seems more easy-breezy that way.

Marley

Beautiful colors on you - so very flattering! And, I like your hair pulled back like that - it really draws attention to your nicely developed shoulders!
I prefer the dress by about a thousand times UNbelted. So much more current of a silhouette that way!
It looks really nice with the sandals - but I'd love to see it paired with some sneakers - but then, I'm not sure that you wear sneakers as fashion shoes, do you? If not, just ignore my last suggestion!

crutcher

Lovely dress...Your hair fits the dress and shoes...All in all you look smashing...Yes you do...

Lyn D.

Beautiful!
I think I like it un-belted best

san

Gorgeous dress. I'm glad you have decided to wear the dress more often. I love the sandals, purse, pedi, and that beautiful ring.

Windchime

Wow! The dress is spectacular. I prefer it unbelted to show the line of the dress.
And your mother of pearl ring is SO beautiful! I never needed to have one until I just saw yours, and now I think I really must have one!

unfrumped

Plonk!
Unbelted for sure--works with the asymmetrical hem and the zigzaggy pattern.
The metallic sandals are inspired.

Category