WiW - The new dresses are here! ... and trying to figure out toppers!

I hadn't originally planned on wearing this dress today, but it is one of my favorites and I decided to try it out this morning to see if the shoulders would be a problem to dress up/down (as Shannon had suggested on my other thread). I also have been having some second thoughts about toppers to go with my dresses, so this is what I tried to do...

WiW Today (1 to 3) - I ended up going with look #1 for the morning, and not buttoning up the blazer when I was doing individual therapy. I thought it looked too formal and not relaxed enough ...

Dress 1 (4-6) - There is a bit of sparkle to this dress in the material which was actually a nice surprise, and it was also lined quite nicely in a dark material too! Super excited about that; I think it would be easy to mix and match up the belt. #5 - Blazer; #6 - Cardigan. It doesn't seem to lend itself as easily to this type of round-neck cardigan, I am thinking I will have more luck with a V-neck. I don't feel too pooch belly in this.

Dress #2 (7 to 11) - This reminds me why I dislike tailored pieces. All I see is stomach. GAH. It's so incredibly frustrating. All I can see when I wear this dress is how my stomach sticks out which is really kind of silly because I'm sure it sticks out for the majority of the people who wear this dress. It's just making me very unhappy. 9/10 - Blazer. 11 - Cardigan.

Any thoughts?

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11 years ago

Anonymous

Look 1 doesn't look too formal at all! It looks good!

Dress 2 is nice.

Dress 3 doesn't look bad -- it's just the seaming and the pattern I think causing you to focus on your stomach. It looks good with the blazer over top! And my dear, you are trim enough that people aren't going to say "OMG look at that giant stomach!"

Makrame

Veteran

I really like all of these (and agree with what Ceit has said about dress #3). I think the boots and the necklace de-formalize #1. Overall, these dresses with jackets seem to create a nice, polished, grown up but not overly formal vibe.

lyn*

(website)

YAY! *pheeeew*

moira

Well, #3 is actually my very favorite. I think you look great and I see NO tummy, just a lovely, shapely and very trim young woman.
I like #2 quite a bit and I think you could wear this in a lot of settings.
In all honesty, #1 is a bit sweet for my taste, if looking more mature is what you are shooting for.

Beth Ann

Lyn: I love all these dresses. #1 is a girlish silhouette in a grown up color -- wear it by itself with bright accents when out to dinner, wear it with a black topper for the office --- double duty! #2 is so sleek and I love the peplum and neck details, even if they make topping it a little trickier.

#3: Say to yourself: People are in 3D, not 2D. You look great and don't have to wish away your internal organs! Of course, wearing a topper may help you enjoy the dress more. No matter how good we tell you you look, you have to feel fab to make this the right dress for you.

Joy

I like all three. You have a beautiful figure. I like the open jacket best with these although it's hard to tell the toppers apart.

cinnamon fern

I think 1 is fantastic - not too formal at all - but if you are aiming for more mature/professional then I would leave off the necklace.

Are 2 and 3 the new dresses?

Yep #2 and #3 are new they still have wrinkles in them from the mail bag.

unfrumped

I like them! Very polished. I agree that you can rock them all. However keep in mind that tailored isn't the same as body- con and doesn't always mean pencil- straight or tight. Sheath dresses can be more or less fitted. So it is okay to look for tailored Items that give you some breathing room. You're the one who knows your comfort zone there but it can help to know it looks good to others if that was a worry.
You can see the value of the universal blazer or 2 so your some of dresses can be styled flirty or professional via how you accessorize; that helps economize, Of course. And you don't have to purge all items that aren't " work" wear unless you're just tired of them-- you should surely have fun day dresses and party outfits and all that.

jen

Active Member

Just all too cute

Thanks ladies, I think I am misinterpreting what I need to wear for work. I took note of what people wore today (all at my academic level; all in the same area of study)...

1. Leather blazer, punk band t-shirt, black dress pants.
2. Black cardigan, chambray tunic, tights, boots.
3. Red scrubs.
4. Hawaii t-shirt, khakis.
5. Black scrubs.

Everyone asked if I was depressed today - because I wasn't wearing what I usually wear - even my patients. HAHAHAHA. Oh dear.

Transcona Shannon

Well colour me corrected! Dress #1 works beautifully with the cardigan so forget everything I said - lol!

And I think you look fab in that black/white polka dot dress - no tummy to worry about at all.

The grey dress in the second outfit is lovely - beautiful shape.

I think these all work for you lyn.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Love the grey dress! Tailored Flirty

You should try peplum tops with pencil skirts.

rae

Love the new gray dress! #3 doesn't do you justice, and the other dresses prove that it is the dress and not you.

It sounds like maybe you don't need to be as sleek as you initially thought? If it is an internal style shift, no problem, but there probably isn't a professional need to change right now if you're happy with your style as-is.

Sara L.

I think all the outfits you've put together here work very well for a professional setting. If you don't like how you look in #3, you should send it back. I think it looks great and don't see any tummy, but if it bothers you and you aren't comfortable in it, you shouldn't keep it. The polka dots are fun and flirty while the color and shape are professional, but you can probably find another polka dot dress that you are more comfortable wearing.

pil

1 is my favorite, subdued enough for work but the print still says Lyn*. The cut of the gray dress IS beautiful on you. In light of today's coworker wardrobe observations - if you're not loving 3 send it back and keep looking : ) You can continue wearing your current pieces in the meantime - maybe switch up toppers to give your dresses and skirts some more "gravitas"?

Suz

These are fantastic, Lyn, and I think they give you the perfect combination of fun, flirty, yet more grown-up and professional. #1 is girlish and fresh without the jacket (so wear out on a date) but with the jacket or cardigan is perfectly office-worthy. #2 is just flat out gorgeous! And I also really like #3, but of course if you are not comfy in it, you must return (or pass on to that sister of yours who benefits so much from what's in your closet!)

I am definitely going to try #3 on a less bloaty day again! Thanks I am just worried about investing too heavily in the peplum trend in case it decides to go bye-bye!

Unfortunately, #3 can't go back, even though I paid full price for it (haha; I blame bad business) - but I am still quite fond of it, and I will find some way to make it rock! Next time I have some time I'll have to devote some looks to it!

cheryle (Dianthus)

I think all of the dresses look lovely on you but my favorite is #2. Lyn, have you been hiding the bombshell on us until now? You look amazing in your new more tailored style.

deb

I have not read any other comments so not to taint my judgement. When I saw the last dress I actually let out a gasp. I love it on you. With the topper in #9, perfect. all the dresses look very good to me.

Hil

I think you look amazing in all 3! And if you are happy wearing them, then I wouldn't worry too much about what your peers are wearing!

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