https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/more-handholding-please-as-try-to-purge-or-make-use-of-my-dresses Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 25 May 2026 19:07:57 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/more-handholding-please-as-try-to-purge-or-make-use-of-my-dresses#post-726643 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 18:05:13 +0000 catgirl 726643@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ooh, sounds like you've made some good decisions. I was kind of paralyzed here. The Tahari dresses set a really high bar for sure! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/more-handholding-please-as-try-to-purge-or-make-use-of-my-dresses#post-726632 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 17:44:25 +0000 Sylvie 726632@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Saretta: I really do have a crazy number of dresses. I'm pleased that I could show you you're not the only one in the same boat. I think your suggestion would work for #14. #4 just has *so much volume* it's hard to layer on top of it. #5 and #6 I tend to wear belted to reign in the volume. #9 I'm actually quite tired of but it's so useful in the wardrobe I just can't bear to get rid of it.</p> <p>Ramya: Why don't you come visit and you can pick up #2 from me?</p> <p>Liz: LOL, you'll have to pry #12 out of my cold, dead hands. I don't own a slouchy blazer but hmm...the wheels are turning.</p> <p>Makrame: The orange dress is a floufy voluminous party dress. That plus the deep V are what make it dressy.</p> <p>Claire: You're (as always) right, Oh Queen of the Purge. I was brought up frugally (don't throw things out, don't waste). I will try a variation of yours and Shiny's formula with cropped leggings and sandals. I'm glad your blouse successfully survived your sleevectomy as well.</p> <p>Steph: I have really admired your posts on Suz's style and your wardrobe/sewing philosophy on your blog, so thank you so much for chiming in. White denim with #12 and #13 is a good idea. I had considered narrowing the sleeves for #5 and #6 and wearing them as tunics but you just gave me a new idea. Suppose I narrow them and shorten them to 3/4 length? That way I can scrunch them or roll them so I don't feel overwhelmed by too much fabric. My only concern is that since the sleeves are loose at the top, it would be weird to make them loose at the bottom.</p> <p>Thank you all for your support and insightful comments.</p> <p>#1 and #2 have to go. They're just not me anymore and they're not filling any wardrobe holes. I will see if I can use my Nordstrom alterations budget to take care of fixing the sleeves for #5 and #6. Plus, if I start using #5 and #6 as tunics, that means I can purge one of my old, ratty tunics that I've been holding on to. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/more-handholding-please-as-try-to-purge-or-make-use-of-my-dresses#post-726543 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:56:54 +0000 mrseccentric 726543@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>whew, Sylvie, good work! and amazing job on the 'sleevectomy' (great word, Claire:) i agree with dressing down the silks - denim jacket or vest (if hotter), ankle or capri leggings, ballet flats, knee or ankle boots, casual heeled sandal and casual bag. 11-15 will all look great with denim: because of the blues in the prints, and sparkly black looks hot with denim. Coose different denim washes for variety and to get more casual. Distressed/bleached will be more casual and edgier than a 'clean' dark wash, and 12, 13 &amp; 15 would be so pretty with white denim. a straw or raffia bag would be pretty with these three dresses as well.</p> <p>i really like both 5 &amp; 6 on you a lot! what do you think about wearing them with black capri leggings and a second base cami?<br /> <a href="http://www.shopsecondbase.com/demi/" rel="nofollow">http://www.shopsecondbase.com/demi/</a><br /> You can take the sleeves in to be fitted or add some elastic down the sleeve seams for a ruched look.</p> <p>as far as #1 - i've been looking for a dress like that!! i esp. love the fabric, if you do too you could cut it up into a casual scarf. .</p> <p>Keep it up Sylvie - you are very inspirational!! and you've got some truly killer frocks steph </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/more-handholding-please-as-try-to-purge-or-make-use-of-my-dresses#post-726451 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:46:49 +0000 Anonymous 726451@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good call again Sylvie. Don't throw them away, but donate them, that way the dresses will bless somebody who needs to up their style and doesn't have a lot of money. That always makes me feel a bit better about *throwing money away*. </p> <p>Your silk dresses are gorgeous. If you don't mind dry cleaning them because you're wearing them for casual, I'll suggest the same formula that Shiny suggested to me: leggings, ballet flats, denim jacket, cross-body bag: done. </p> <p>BTW you inspired me with your original sleeve-ectomy. I'm glad to see that dress is still going strong! I was able to save a puffy sleeved blouse because you gave me the idea. Thanks! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/more-handholding-please-as-try-to-purge-or-make-use-of-my-dresses#post-726296 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:22:32 +0000 Makrame 726296@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really like the orange dress (it does not look overly dressy to me but perhaps its because we don't see the fabric or texture in the photos). I also like the dresses in 5-6 but I know what you mean about the length - I cannot wear dresses that feel too short, either. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/more-handholding-please-as-try-to-purge-or-make-use-of-my-dresses#post-726289 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:00:16 +0000 LizL 726289@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think you are spot on with your assessment of #1. 2-4 are adorable on you, maybe give one of them a reprive, they look pretty versatile. It seems you don't like too much about 5&amp;6, if you are uncomfortable with them purge, (even though they look good on you).</p> <p>I definitely think you should get rid of #12 by sending it directly to me! :)</p> <p>Really depends what your definition of dress down is, but maybe a slouchy blazer with rolled sleeves and flat boots or booties? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/more-handholding-please-as-try-to-purge-or-make-use-of-my-dresses#post-726266 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:42:32 +0000 ramya 726266@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I loooove 2 and would buy it from you if we were in same city :)...<br /> 4 is fantastic please don't purge... Wear it with ballet flats and denim jacket... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/more-handholding-please-as-try-to-purge-or-make-use-of-my-dresses#post-726263 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:30:19 +0000 Saretta 726263@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, nice to know I'm not the only one with a closetful of dress doubts! :-)</p> <p>I think no.4 is fantastic on you, perhaps you could dress it down with a denim jacket and a more casual shoe? You could try the same technique with no.14, perhaps adding a colorful jacket or cardi and patterned shoes.</p> <p>IMO neither no.6 nor no.9 do much for you, they seem kind of formless on you as compared to others which make you look dynamite. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/more-handholding-please-as-try-to-purge-or-make-use-of-my-dresses#post-726240 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 06:31:02 +0000 Sylvie 726240@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@Deborah: I've known #1 and #2 need to go. I can't think of when I'd want to wear them. But it's so hard to throw out perfectly functional clothes! I hadn't noticed that #11-#17 had more sophisticated styling but I see what you're getting at. I'm not really sure where I'm going stylewise but you've given me something to think about.</p> <p>@k can shop: I rarely have the occasion to wear them but I love the Tahari dresses so much I can't imagine purging them until they really go out of style.</p> <p>@Caro: I don't wear #1, #2, #5 and #7 because they aren't 10's. I don't wear #4, #11-14 or #16 often because they are too dressy for my lifestyle - maybe 1x/year at best. Everything else gets worn regularly because they are knits and/or easy to layer over. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/more-handholding-please-as-try-to-purge-or-make-use-of-my-dresses#post-726232 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 06:15:04 +0000 Caro in Oz 726232@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hard to tell but in the photos but it looks like #7 &amp;#15 have some fit issues. Which ones do you always feel good in &amp; which ones don't you wear &amp; why? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/more-handholding-please-as-try-to-purge-or-make-use-of-my-dresses#post-726222 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 05:25:00 +0000 K. Period. 726222@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank goodness! I looked at your pictures before reading your post and I was about to argue with you about your Tahari dresses. They look fantastic, so I'm glad they are safe from the purge. I also really like your orange flounce dress. I'm definitely arguing in favor of saving that one. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/more-handholding-please-as-try-to-purge-or-make-use-of-my-dresses#post-726220 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 05:22:08 +0000 Deborah 726220@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have to say I LOVE 5 and 6! Possibly my favourites:)</p> <p>Particularly given how you feel I think you could purge 1 and 2. Keep 3 for loungewear, it looks nice and cool.</p> <p>11 thru 17 seem to be a more sophisticated styling to the earlier listed dresses. The look suits you and is very flattering. Do you think this is indicative of the direction you are going stylewise? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/more-handholding-please-as-try-to-purge-or-make-use-of-my-dresses#post-726208 Thu, 20 Sep 2012 05:05:24 +0000 Sylvie 726208@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't know how I ended up with 17 dresses. I should purge some of them. Or find ways to dress them down. Don't judge based on fit or condition as most of these are old photos.</p> <p>Candidates for purging:</p> <p>1) Plum print dress. Worn 7-8x. Tired of this. </p> <p>2) Black/white dress with teal sash. Worn 4x (maybe 5x). Tired of this too.</p> <p>3) Pink cotton dress. Demoted this to loungewear.</p> <p>4) Orange flouncy dress. Worn 6x. I still like this but it's hard to dress down.</p> <p>5)&amp;6) Black and red slash neck dresses (bought in December): I would like these better if the sleeves weren't belled, the necklines weren't so deep and the hems were longer.</p> <p>Safe from the purge:</p> <p>7) Grey workhorse dress thanks to sleeve removal.</p> <p>8) Black/white workhorse dress.</p> <p>9) Blue/white workhorse dress (great for travelling)</p> <p>10) Black "pinafore" workhorse dress</p> <p>11-14) My beautiful amazing Elie Tahari dresses, 3 of which are silk. If you can suggest ways to dress these down so I can wear and enjoy them, I'd love to hear them. </p> <p>15) Desigual dress</p> <p>16) Blue long sleeved dress. This is hard to wear as well. Any suggestions on how to dress it down?</p> <p>17) You haven't seen this one yet but I just received it yesterday and I love it. It's the eventual replacement for #3 and fills my "red/orange knit dress" hole, even though it is neither red nor orange.</p> <p>Your candid opinions are appreciated! </p>