Another Keep/Return: Pink Knit Swing Dress

I am so conflicted!

Pros: I LOVE the color. Beautiful rich rose pink! Incredibly hard to find. The fit is just right on the shoulders and arms. Long sleeves! The cut and inset of different knit patterns is really interesting. The knit is soft and light and warm.

Con: It is truly a swing style dress, flaring from the shoulders. For me, it hangs down from my bust. I always feel very shapeless in this style. The very similar green dress with ruffles is not fitted, but there is shaping at the sides; I feel cute in that one, but not this. All I see is a very wide body and narrow shoulders.

I know sometimes it's just getting accustomed to a new silhouette. But I just don't know about this!

Apologies for the house shoes! It has been a very long day. At least they match...

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ASOS

Knit Tunic Dress in Cashmere Mix

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8 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I like it! You can always layer a vest or cropped jacket for more structure.

Sal

I err on the no side - the colour is lovely, but I think a combination of the neckline, length and width make it challenging. I think with heels, a long necklace etc it could work, but I have seen you look so wonderful in other looks.

I think you could surrender the waist but with a different neckline.

Ginger

Good point, Chewy. I just don't want to HAVE to layer to feel fab, y'know.

I hadn't thought of the neckline, Kiwigal. And THAT's why the look doesn't work - it's the proportions of the apparent width to the length. The model is very slender, but also the length is significantly greater on her.

kellygirl

I'm with Khris, I really like this dress on you. I'm partial to this style because it skims and doesn't overly emphasize anything. I do exactly what Khris suggests and rein in some of the volume with a vest or jacket when I want more conventional flattery or go without if I don;t. Color is lovely.

I have a dress a little bit like this

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-is-coming

Picture 4 in this thread...

It has a very open neckline and wide sleeves, somehow this balances it out on me.

I love the colour too, it is such a rich warm pink!!

crazyone

It is a lovely color on you, but the cut pales next to the green one.

harmonica

I'm with Sally. Lovely colour and «forgettably comfy». You could work around it with styling, but if you want a grab-and-go dress, this might not be the one. Especially when compared to the dark one.

Sisi

I can see it is not your style. I am afraid you will end up not wearing it. I am sorry to sound pitiless, but this is the type of mistake I have made so many times .... Something that I like only 50% is destined to become a wardrobe orphan.

Janet

(website)

I'm not loving it for you either. I feel like it kind of overwhelms you -- too much volume, too much length. The color is pretty.

Joy

I'd pass on this one. You have and will find more great dresses. If you really want it to work, could a seamstress take it in a little and change the neckline?

Avalon01

Active Member

To be honest i don't like the knit dress on you because of the high neck line and because of the lack of shape. Sorry!

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

I bat for Team Fitted. I feel like the dress is a size too big, starting at the bustline. Maybe try going one size down? I vote return, especially after seeing how beautifully the green dress fits you!

Elle

I love the color on you - very flattering - but feel this style is a bit overwhelming on you. It could work for you with heels and a topper but since you don't feel good in it, I would return.

LOVE the green dress on you.

Everyone, thank you SO MUCH. Color is my weakness and I've been very close to keeping this, even though I really knew I wouldn't like the fit. I really needed the counsel!

Kiwigal, thank you for that visual - it is very helpful. It's amazing how much the open neckline and slightly looser sleeves balance the volume of the dress itself.

Kellygirl, crazyone, Avalon01, and Elle, thank you for your thoughts! It's all very helpful.

harmonica, that's something I've been saying to myself. I want to be able to wear this out of the house and feel fab... and I'm just not. You're right, the green dress is a winner.

Sisi, THANK YOU. I need the honesty! I know this one isn't right, but the other half of my brain just goes Pink! Pretty!

Janet, I never thought of myself being overwhelmed by any garment. This is nothing compared to a quilted circle skirt, which is VOLUME. But you're actually right, that's exactly the effect.

LBD, funny you should mention that. My usual size in this dress was snug in the shoulders and slightly short in the sleeves, so this is the larger of the two sizes I ordered. The smaller one was uncomfortable and still quite voluminous everywhere else.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Super cute. Nice swingy change.

Sara L.

I have a tunic that was a birthday present. It has a similar shape to this and makes me feel wide when I wear it. It's okay and I wear it because it was a gift and it's different than my usual style, but I would have left in on the rack normally. Which is to say that, since it makes you feel wide, I would send this back.

Karie

The color is nice, but again I don't think it is as fab as the dresses I usually see you post.

If you really love the colour, how about getting it taken in a bit? Not sure if it is worth it based on what you paid, but is an option to make it more wearable as is. I've done that with a few too voluminous tops and it made all the difference.

DonnaF

I'm wondering if you are between sizes in this dress. Other than the sleeves, it looks too big on you, including across the chest.

Dottie

These are the type of situations where I have my "fails". I love something for the color but not the fit. Things like that seem to become orphans in my closet. Only keep it if you love it.

Sheila

I love the green one on you ! Super flattering... plays up your girlish self ! SO SO pretty !

Staysfit

The pink is a pretty color but it looks very casual and has less polish then I usually see you wear. Is this going to be a change in style direction for you? I like the way it looks, but it would be a departure what I have seen you post in the past.

Bijou

I liked it on you until I saw the green one! I find that when I have two items and one makes me feel fab, I always wear that one, so I would return the pink. There will be other dresses out there in this wonderful colour.

LJTaylor

I realize you posted a month ago, so you've already made your decision. But I just wanted to say that for me, it wasn't the color (great on you) or the fit (I thought it looked fine, though I liked the line of the green one better.) The real clincher for me - which is a lesson I've had to remind myself of in my own purchases - is something you said in the post: "I feel cute in that [green] one, but not this. All I see is a very wide body and narrow shoulders." I can tell you from unfortunate personal experience that it's always worth paying attention to how something makes you feel. But do keep an eye out for other things in that color -- it's very pretty!

7 years ago

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