Shopping at Ann Taylor; Need help finding a dress

I had a very up-and-down shopping experience at Ann Taylor this weekend. I was so excited while entering the store - the fabrics! The colors! The patterns! I mean, these dresses? Totally made my stomach flip:

http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/p.....Color=5842
http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/p.....Color=6600
http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/p.....Color=6600

And yet after about 45 minutes of trying on armfuls of clothing that had made my heart pitter-patter, I walked away totally empty handed. The fit of all of the garments was just... off. Too tight in the bust or hips and baggy elsewhere, clingy around the midsection, or the waist on the garment did not hit anywhere near my actual waist. Maybe it's that I no longer have an ideal AT physique. So disappointing.

So... with the above dresses as a starting point for what I'm currently lusting after, I'm looking for suggestions for dresses to try for a wedding I'm attending at the end of the month.
In terms of formality, it's an evening wedding in Seattle at a yacht club, but I don't think it's all-out formal either - the bridesmaids are wearing cocktail length dresses and the bride is wearing (hopefully dressy) flip flops with her gown. I don't have anything currently that feels or fits right, so I'm on the prowl for something new.
And it's in Seattle, so while the end of July may be blazing hot in your neck of the woods, our unpredictable and cold weather has made me wonder if it might still be chilly and raining by then.

Oh, and I am very much Team Store, but I'm willing to purchase online if need be from stores that have a generous return policy and quick shipping times.
Help?

14 years ago

Anonymous

Fun! I love having an excuse to shop for a new dress Anthropologie has a lot of really cute ones right now. I especially like these ones:

http://www.anthropologie.com/a.....lateType=D

Kari

Veteran

Oh, Sammi, that strapless dress is right up my alley - if only it had bra-covering straps! (I'm not confident of my ability to find a decent strapless in my size in the next few weeks, otherwise I would try it in a heartbeat.)
I'll try to make it over to Anthropologie this weekend to see what they have. Thank you!

catgirl

I was going to suggest Anthro too! And that AT jungle print dress is DIVINE; so sorry none of them worked out for you. I have had fit issues at AT and ATL for some reason.

modgrl

(website)

I tried on some of those dresses and they were total failures for me too. I'm surprised I'm recommending this but right now Jones NY has alot of those kind of dresses in more flattering cuts. Here are few that I liked. My store had more nice options too.

http://www.jny.com/Matte-Jerse.....temNum=131

http://www.jny.com/Mosaic-Prin.....temNum=120

http://www.jny.com/Floral-Blac.....itemNum=20

Thanks, Modgrl! I am really liking that first dress especially. I don't have JNY store nearby (I think) but I'll see if perhaps Macys or Nordstrom carry any of the dresses that you mentioned. Appreciate the recommendations!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Sorry about your frustrating experience, Kari. It's not a dress season so it hasn't been easy at all finding fab dresses.

I had a quick look at Nordies dresses - all on sale:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/js.....sultback=0

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/su.....tback=1800

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/el.....tback=7648

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/ka.....tback=6510

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/su.....tback=7052

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/el.....tback=5538

The Calvin Klein dresses at Macys are also worth a look, as are the Tahari frocks on Zappos.

Angie, I'm late responding, but a *huge* thanks to you for your help. I wasn't able to try on these dresses in person but placed an order for a bunch of Nordstrom dresses to try on. The wedding is at the end of the month, so I should have time to try out the dresses well in advance even though they are coming through the mail.

I discovered that the Macy's store nearest to me actually does not have a dress section, but I'll try to get myself to a larger store to see if they have some of the cute CK dresses available.

Thank you!

(And I'll report back later with my options once I have tried on the dresses in person.)

Jjsloane

My best stores I find for dresses are Lord and Taylor and Nordstrom Rack (my Rack has a better selection than my regular Nordstrom) Worth a try if you have either nearby. FWIW I find I size down in AT bottoms and up in tops (they don't realize women have breasts) and avoid dresses there for that reason. Also I will undoubtedly run into someone at work in the exact same dress.

Thanks, Jsloane! My Nordstrom Rack is hit or miss, but I guess I should give it a go. No Lord & Taylor, unfortunately.

In the past I had great luck with the cut of dresses from AT, but in recent years I've been stumped on shopping trips there. I guess I just don't match the cut of their current fit models, and you're right - they don't seem to be cut for busty women lately.

Lisa

I am no help for dresses, I was in AT myself this weekend and loved some of the colors and outfits. Yet the fit was all wrong for me too. Even the XS and size 0 were too big on me in this top which sent me into the store and this dress I thought was a sure fire winner I was so disappointed.

Kyle

Kari: I notice most or all of your choices are prints, so this may not tickle your fancy. However, it's something I love (but fear it will be too short) so perhaps I am hoping someone else will enjoy it. I thought of you because I think this color would be amazingly stunning with your skin and hair.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ma.....tback=1801

Lisa, I had the exact same issues with both of the tops you linked to. What a bummer!

Kyle, I saw that dress as one of Angie's picks and *almost* ordered it. I'm in love with the color. My hesitation is due to the very high neckline - that is incredibly tricky for me to pull off without looking like I'm all chest. Also, it looks like the neckline is quite wide and as I don't have a specialty/strapless bra, I'm wary.

But it is an absolutely lovely dress and I'm keeping it on "reserve" to try out in case my initial orders are unsuccessful. I appreciate you reminding me of it, and I hope that someone on the forum ends up ordering it and showing us how lovely it is in person.

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