One dress worn a dozen ways

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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One dress worn a dozen ways

— by Angie

on September 15, 2008

The Butter by Nadia Signature Wrap Dress is the ultimate in convertible dressing. It’s one dress that transforms into many different silhouettes. Simply follow various folding, ruching, wrapping and knotting instructions for the “Signature Jersey” wrap dress and voila, you’ve got a dozen dress shapes at your fingertips with one frock.

The creation of this dress is ingenious. It’s a one-size-fits-all and available in a “soft as butter” jersey or satin knit for around $250. It claims to suit every size and body type and is extra forgiving with weight fluctuations. Sounds like the perfect solution to any frock dilemma.

But I’m not completely sold on the idea. The looks reflect the same Grecian- inspired mood and each of the style options remains the same colour and fabric. So it seems more like one Grecian dress that I can adapt to my mood than a dozen different dresses.

Bravo to the pattern maker and fashion designer. The Butter dress is an extremely inventive piece. It’s not for me, but could you see yourself making use of this frock in your wardrobe?

Dresses

38 comments · Add a comment

It does have that Grecian look to it — I don’t think that would be my style — but for someone who loves that look, this seems like the perfect dress.

PS Angie — you should have my email address now (I don’t know why it didn’t show up before because I have made a comment).

September 15, 2008 at 10:38 am

Joy

Not for me. It looks like it needs to be worn by a tall statusque type no matter what it claims about body types. It might be a good dress for someone who travels light and needs something for formal events with different groups of people. I’d also be tempted to get it in a light color and dye it multiple times, always a darker or related shade. Cream>soft gold>soft green>turquoise>med blue>purple>burgandy>chocolate

September 15, 2008 at 10:46 am

Ellen

I have something like this from American Apparel, just a lot more casual. Normally I dislike that store, but my cousin pointed out that dress. It was $25 at the time. I agree that it’s a nice idea, but basically the same thing with small changes. But the AA one can be worn as a skirt and top as well and was handy for a weekend away, though none of the applications seem to fit perfectly. I don’t wear it a lot. For $250? Not worth it, in my opinion.

September 15, 2008 at 10:49 am

Ana

Angie, Anne Fontaine has come out with something similar, called “The Electra.” It is put together with zippers though, and can zip into things other than a dress, like jackets and skirts and a vest even. Have you seen this yet?

September 15, 2008 at 11:07 am

redhead

I’ll pass. I doubt the “all shapes and sizes” aspect is realistic and I am left to wonder how many engineering degrees one would need to create all of the twists, turns and knots.

September 15, 2008 at 11:10 am

Emily Kate

I think it’s a neat idea, though not worth the $250. A quick search on craftster.com for the “infinity dress” will turn up variations people have made themselves for around $10.

September 15, 2008 at 11:14 am

Val

I have a dress like this, and it’s a lot of fun. It’s actually very easy to make (as its simplest, it’s only three pieces to cut and one seam to sew)I’ve heard sewers call it the “infinity dress”.

September 15, 2008 at 11:14 am

Kristers

I barely made wrap-around-pants work [remember them?]…I doubt even w/ instructions I could make this work…also looks like it’s for the very thin.

Nice of them to think of size fluctuations tho’. Personally, I’m looking for The Incredible Hulk’s pants. Big and green or normal guy size, his pants always fit!

I want those pants.

September 15, 2008 at 11:25 am

Patricia

That dress looks like it would frustrate me…it looks like too much work to put together. I have a busy life-style and I need something I can slip into quickly. I also prefer wearing a bra and most of those backless styles looks like you can’t have one on…No thanks…I’ll pass on this one..

September 15, 2008 at 11:29 am

redhead

LOL, Kristers!

September 15, 2008 at 11:29 am

judy

(website)

I like it and it’s really a brilliant idea. It looks great on the hourglass type model. Probably better on her than on me! It would be kind of fun to try on though and see what it’s like…but think of how long you’d be in the dressing room!

September 15, 2008 at 11:49 am

Jeune

Nope. not for me. No arm coverage.

September 15, 2008 at 12:02 pm

Jillian

Great concept. As a long-time traveller, I can see that it would be a great travel piece. You’d get to fill your suitcase filled with jackets/cardis, jewelry and shoes… and have room to bring home souvenirs! Beyond price, my hesitation is on the hem. The hemline appears very uneven in most presentations on the website, and unless purposeful (assymetic, handkerchief) this detail is one that bothers me. It looks like poor tailoring which ruins it for me.

September 15, 2008 at 12:26 pm

Joelle

This dress, no matter how you drape it, would only look good on a woman with a small waist, so it’s not for me! And while long Grecian dresses are very elegant, I don’t think I like them so much when they are knee length.

September 15, 2008 at 12:39 pm

Mai

I’ve been planning on making myself one of those for a while now. I love jersey dresses, and the different ways to wear it would keep me from getting bored.

September 15, 2008 at 1:10 pm

Nicole

Hmmm this does not appeal to me at all. It looks like a lot of work. I could see something like this in a less fussy dress, working for maternity wear though.

September 15, 2008 at 1:41 pm

annagybe

I’m with Patricia. You can’t wear a bra, even one of those convertible bras with most of the styles.

September 15, 2008 at 2:55 pm

Johanna

Even if I had the body to pull this dress off, I would be hard pressed to figure out more than two or three of the designs.

When I put a dress on, it’s largely because I don’t want to spend a lot of time thinking about how to put it together: belt, shoes, and a scarf or jewelry and that’s it.
No brainer. I let the dress do its job.

September 15, 2008 at 3:02 pm

susan shull

Interesting concept, but I’m afraid we would have another episode of I Love Lucy if I tried to figure it out!

September 15, 2008 at 3:32 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The point about not being able to wear a bra successfully with this style, is a good one. I meant to mention that in my post but forgot. Not so fab.

Ana, I have not seen the AF version in the flesh. Have you? What’s it like?

I wonder if the styles stay put? Knots and twists tend to loosen. And you’d have to get them just so in order to create a great aesthetic. Quite tricky.

September 15, 2008 at 5:04 pm

shiny

I like this idea in concept (not necessarily this particular grecian style dress though).

Every year it seems someone comes up with an idea like this. I remember something that was sort of a kit tube – maybe 10-15.. gosh possibly 20…. years ago? My sister had one.

I love the idea of a sari or a kimono too. Similar concept. In those cases, it is all about the fabric.

However, I don’t buy the “one size fits all! I am not an expert on saris and kimonos but I seem to believe that even they don’t come in just one size… ??

September 15, 2008 at 5:58 pm

shiny

kNit tube… not kit tube…

September 15, 2008 at 5:58 pm

Sal

(website)

Hrmph. It’s a great marketing ploy, but I’d be willing to bet it looks like a giant mess on anyone with curves. Jersey is tough if you’re not toned. I’m not sold.

September 15, 2008 at 6:02 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I remember the convertible knit tube dress, Shiny. That was at least 15 years ago I think?

I’m a little skeptical of the one-size-fits-all concept too. And I wonder if anyone who knows more about saris and kimono’s can help us out with their sizing? I remember that saris are pieces of fabric sans the undergarment bodice bit. I wore a sari once and it was loads of fun.

Good point, Sal. It’s quite a slinky dress.

September 15, 2008 at 6:48 pm

Tanya

Hmm, I actually like the look, probably because I tend to like jersey dresses, Grecian dresses and waist-emphasizing dresses. And being small chested, I could get away with one of those Nu bra stick on bras.

September 15, 2008 at 6:51 pm

Cathy R in Melbourne

I have a maternity version of a versatile dress which I don’t think I can wear any more. Two pregnancies and age have made my ribcage larger, so it’s too tight across the chest.

http://fertilemind.com.au/page.....age=374356

I now have a “curvy” figure, so this might suit me. And in the time between post-maternity and normality it would be good to have something that will tolerate me changing my size (and shape) somewhat.

I’m pleased to see they sell this locally, too! No shipping from the States for me!

I’d like to try it on, though, and see if I could wear a bra with it or whether bra-less would be ok.

Thanks for pointing out this piece, Angie!

September 15, 2008 at 8:42 pm

Wendygrrl

Works for me…

September 15, 2008 at 9:38 pm

Carrie

I kind of like, but doubt that small chest would fill it out appropriately. A lot of the “styles” look the same to me with only slight changes to the back. Also, I would be worried that it wouldn’t stay in place all day – like when they flip the shoulders over – I’d be running to the bathroom every half hour to make sure the shoulders were right and to re-tie the thing!

September 16, 2008 at 5:44 am

Risa

First I dont think that it is a $250 dress regardless of what it can do. I swear I have seen this same idea by Newport News and someone else. Maybe theirs didn’t “twist” into so many dresses but it was the same basic idea and it certainly didn’t cost half that much.

Secondly, as far as fitting “everyone”, when I look at some of those styles I have to say that if you have any type of extra large bust, tummy roll or baby fluff on you some of those get ups are going to look terrible. So there went so of the “benefits” of the dress right there.

So, for me this is not a deal or a cure all for my wardrobe at all. I PASS, THANK YOU!

September 16, 2008 at 6:21 am

Mai

To answer shiny’s earlier question, as far as I know kimono have standard sizes, but since they’re supposed to be hand-sewn and many people make them themselves these days, I can’t imagine it’s difficult to get one tailored to one’s own height if you’re an unusual size. That said, the ways in which one can wear a particular kimono are heavily prescribed by custom, so if anything, I’d consider this the anti-kimono!

September 16, 2008 at 6:46 am

Sarah

I find the evening gown the most practical, because most of the styles this dress transforms into are more appropriate for evening anyway (i.e. backless, all-but-backless, strapless, split down to the navel, etc.). Still not worth $250 in my book though. If I wanted it, I would find a pattern or instructions online and make it myself for one tenth of the price. But then, as others have mentioned, it looks tricky to construct all of the various knots and twists for the looks. Also I don’t have the perfect hour-glass figure that the dress seems to look best with, so I think I’ll take a pass.

September 25, 2008 at 11:46 am

Ysa

I found one on sale for $89, and though I am not thin it looks amazing. The only flaw is that there is only 1 way to wrap it with what for me is a required bra and it is difficult to do by one’s self. I completely agree that $250 is too much, but for $89 it would be perfect for anyone who only needs a little breast support

May 11, 2009 at 8:50 pm

Ysa

About saris and kimono, saris are flat yardage 5-10yds over a skirt and top. Kimono are sized, but also layered, so the topmost one may be one size fits most. I have worn saris, but not Kimono

May 11, 2009 at 8:52 pm

Maria

I love this dress. It is so nice but I did think that it was a little bit expensive. I found a Convertible dress on http://www.nuovavitaonline.com The dress was great! I also got to customize it with the fabric I liked, color and I bought the jewel that they make also. The dress I bought was $97.00 and so worth it. I love it. Its definatly worth it and so much fun to play with. The possiblities are endless.

April 15, 2010 at 2:14 pm

Lindsay

I bought this dress – One siz fits all, Not so much! Im 4’11 and farily thin, people say Im busty. This dress is easy to figure out and pretty simple. The material is very thin. The site shows the dress wraps around the models three times. It only wraps around twice on me. So if modesty is your thing, the dress is not so hot.

June 26, 2010 at 8:28 am

Kym

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the dress! Used it in my wedding for my bridemaids. Three of my girls are a size 14, one is a size 20 and two are between a size 2-6. It worked out well for everyone because it gave them a chance to express their own individualism as well as cover insecure parts of their body. Yes it is a lot of work but in the end it was so worth it…not for $250 however…I found a great online website for $98. I sooooo ready to get my own so that I can explore all the possiblities! It fits my creative personality!

September 24, 2010 at 12:55 pm

La Musica

Member

The whole 1 dress worn a dozen ways…I love it!
I loved it so much that I went searching for more ways to wear dresses and ran across “The Uniform Project” where this girl wears one dress for 365 days. straight. and…SHE ROCKS IT! You got to check it out!

July 20, 2011 at 7:00 pm

Lola

I made my own version of this dress for $13 today. It was the first actual piece of clothing I’ve ever made on a sewing machine and it was pretty easy, and it’s surprisingly flattering on a 5’0 117lb body. $250??? NOT WORTH IT! but I used a tutorial at sewlikemymom.com and it came out awesome.

PS I found this article by googling “ways to tie an infinity dress” not because I’m out advertising for sewlikemymom!

January 26, 2012 at 4:19 pm

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