WIW 5/29 & 30: 90's printed dress & skirt (against the fashion grain)

Responding to Angie's thread here about what you like that isn't "in style" (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....t-the-norm), I said that I am still wearing my bias cut printed skirts and dresses that I bought in the 90's. I had tons of these from Ann Taylor and Banana Republic--they were my wardrobe staples. I have purged quite a lot of them but a few of my favorites remain in my closet. Yesterday I wore this jungle print dress with a keyhole neckline--I love how the skirt swishes and ruffles around my knees when I walk. And it's a midi length which is current again! And Angie requested that I put one of my 90's skirts into action so here it is. I used to get lots of compliments when I wore this skirt--not sure if it still passes muster? I used to wear it with dark brown sweaters but this time I've lightened it up with a cream blouse. Even the bag and shoes are all from the 90's! Can I call these "vintage" even if they've stayed in my closet and I've been wearing them the whole time? LOL!

What say you--modern 90's retro or horribly outdated?

1-2. Jessica Howard jungle print dress (I think it was from Macy's)
Easy Spirit nude pumps (I would have worn the brown Clarks but I couldn't find them yesterday)
Jack Georges brown leather briefcase
H&M faux wood bangle

3-4. Anne Fontaine cream short sleeve dotty/ruffly blouse
Banana Republic tan and cream floral printed skirt
Clark brown twist strap pumps
Jack Georges briefcase
H&M bronze and orange bangle

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11 years ago

rute

Veteran

The dress is lovely! That print is a classical never goes out of style!

Diana

Very nice and not at all outdated. These neutrals are a bit of a departure for you lately, but they look good!

I have a couple of 90's bias skirts that I still wear too!

MsMary

I love the dress! Looks very current to me!

The skirt? Not my fave. I have a poisoned eye for those ditsy prints, I'm afraid!

rae

(website)

Great dress! Love the waist and tummy area of that on you. I think these look very current to your style - you knew you were a lady even in the 90s. It should be easy to mix these with your modern pieces like your sunny yellow bag and wonderful jackets.

Jonesy

I really love that dress on you--the fit is perfection! I'm sad to say that I don't care for the skirt--just looks too dated to me. Sorry!

goldenpig

Oh dear, I was afraid of the D word--ditsy/dated! Well, maybe since the 80's are having their revival now, I just need to hang onto this skirt for another 10 years and it'll come back in style? ;P

Rae, good suggestion. I think I'll see how it looks with my caramel leather jacket on top.

Jjsloane

In the minority here. I like 3-4 but not a fan of 1-2. I like the print and the fit, just the keyhole neck and banding doesn't appeal to me. I'm not sure if it's dated or just NMS.

harmonica

That dress is wonderful, and I like the skirt too

christieanne

I like the dress but not the bias cut skirt. I still have one bias cut I am hoarding but I think maybe it's time to let them go. I love bias cut - swishy fabric feels great and it is a comfy option and nice change from structure. Maybe if it was longer?

RoseandJoan

The dress looks very current with the key hole front and midi length but there is something about how the skirt clings (due to the bias) which is throwing me GP.

Parsley

I think the dress still looks great, and if you had sdid you just bought it I would have totally believed it. Very pretty on you!

The skirt I'm not loving so much, I'm afraid.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

LOVE the dress! It's a 10!

Thanks for showing us your '90s skirt. I remember them well. It's not your best look, Natalie - especially when compared to the killer stuff you have in your wardrobe. How do you feel about passing on?

Sylvie

I like the skirt! Yes, it's a ditsy floral but it's a neutral ditsy floral. If it were polka dots, it would be getting a lot of love, but both patterns should function identically in an outfit.

Your blouse is classic/timeless, as are the MJ's. While the outfit looks fine as is, I think it would look more modern with your carmel jacket OR with your caramel boots/obi.

If you toss the skirt, I predict that ditsy florals will come back in Spring 2004. So don't do it, if only to save those who dislike the look from having to wear it in two years!

Anonymous

I really like the dress too! The cut is amazing for your figure, I love the neckline and I think the print is pretty classic. Something about the dark (chocolate?) trim makes this look really sharp and more graphic on you compared to the second outfit.

I don't like the outfit with the skirt and top. The oatmeal toned neutrals combined with a slightly dated style would make you get lost in a crowd, and look like an entry level office worker (with really nice shoes and bag, lol!) IMVHO. Sorry for the tough love, but I know what's in your closet, and I'd be wearing more of the other stuff if *I* had it!

Transcona Shannon

That dress is so flattering on you Natalie - I love the fit, soft colouring and the keyhole neckline. I'm not crazy about the skirt. You have much better in your closet. I vote for letting that go to a new home.

morethanbeige

Love the dress. It looks so elegant on you.

Thanks Rute, Diana, MaryK, Rae. Jonesy, JJsloane, harmonica, Christieanne, Jules, Marcy, Angie, Sylvie, Claire, Shannon, and morethanbeige! So it looks like the dress makes the cut but the skirt is not getting much love. I could tell that this wasn't a "wow" outfit, and I actually haven't worn this skirt much since joining YLF, but Angie requested a 90's skirt so that's why I pulled it out. This was about the best I could do with this skirt, but I could tell it didn't meet all the elements of my rubric (color/contrast, matchy matchy, pattern, fitted and flair). It was missing color, contrast and flair. I do have one bias cut skirt in black red and white with a bolder graphic pattern that I still love and want to keep, but this one may be migrating to the donate pile. You'd be surprised how many of these skirts have been purged already! I feel like I'm nearing 100% turnover in my wardrobe!

For those of you who aren't digging the 90's ditsy floral bias skirt--did you ever wear this type of skirt and just are tired of the style, or did you always hate it even when it was "in"? Just curious!

modgrl

I got rid of all of my skirts like this one. Mine were all b/w graphic florals. They are all gone now.

Janet

I like the dress. I got rid of all my skirts like this in one of my winter purges, so I'm not a yay vote on the skirt, sorry.

Ana

I love the dress! Hard to believe you didn't buy it recently. You look great!

Suz

Well, I LOVE the dress.

And I am an outlier because I also like the skirt. See, I think some people just don't share our bias. Bwa ha ha!!!

I'm thinking of some of the negative responses one of my K/R dresses got. THe bias cut one. Well, I still love that style. And I don't care if it is dated.

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