Ask Angie: please help salvage a mistake? - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie: please help salvage a mistake?

pil

Veteran

While on a very fun girls weekend out of town last weekend, I was smitten with this dress. The fabric is sooo soft, it feels like pajamas. I like the neckline, sleeves are easily scrunchable, it is machine washable and even made in the USA. It also fills a bit of a wardrobe hole in that I don't have a casual-ish (for me) dress. So I bought it - with the encouragement of friends - envisioning many uses.

Which brings me to the hangover - the hemline! Now all I can see is what I think is a too wide hemline and I worry I look like I'm in a sack. A comfortable sack, but still a sack. The 15 day return window gives me until a week from tomorrow.

I've quickly styled it in picture #5 with a denim jacket, belt and booties. My nicer AE denim jacket is the one I left behind in the Miami airport, so this is an older one.

Do you have any styling suggestions for me?
Should have it tapered at the hem? Quick tapering imitation in Picture #4
Or just recognize it as a mistake and return?

Thanks a bunch!
Pil

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Dressing

27 replies

Latest reply was from catgirl

Anonymous

I don't think it looks like a sack at all! I think it looks pretty versatile, I like it belted and unbelted, and the back button detail is neat!

Sara L.

Veteran

I don't think it looks like a sack either. I like it with the belt and boots in #5 but think it looks good unbelted too. Bottom line though - if you don't feel good in it, then it should probably go back.

Diana

Veteran

I rather like it as is, in all its sacklike glory. I am not kidding. I love sack dresses and I think the drape is elegant. I would not do a belt. It makes this dress neither here nor there (it's not a sheath, and not voluminous enough to belt in a blousy way). I would wear this with a jacket, long printed scarf or long necklace, maybe some arm candy. Sandals or booties on the feet. Do you have gladiators?

pil

Veteran

I'm glad to hear this, Ceit! The flared hemline isn't bothersome to you?
I think a wider belt would look better, but I'm so short/minimally waisted I doubt it would look very good on me.

Diana

Veteran

PS - it reminds me of the EF lantern dress. Maybe look at how Joy and Debbie have styled theirs?

Kristin L

Veteran

I think it looks great the way you have it styled.

ClaraT

Veteran

I love this dress on you. It is a (comfortable, elegant) blank slate. Somehow to me, the dress is simple and refined. The styling is western-inspired (i.e. the color of the booties, which are great booties by the way, and the denim plus the hard wear on the belt give a western vibe). I'd suggest a colorful necklace and charcoal or black booties, maybe like Ingunn wears here in pic5: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....everything. That might be too dark...anyhow, the dress is really pretty to me.

pil

Veteran

Sara, it *feels* fabulous. Prior to YLF I would not have given the hemline a second thought. Maybe I'm over thinking?
Diana, thanks for the suggestions. I haven't tried it unbelted with a jacket. No gladiators, the closest sandal I have would be my pink Splendids which are probably too summery for the longer sleeved black? Good idea to look at Joy and Debbie's lantern dress stylings. Thanks.

pil

Veteran

Thanks, K!
Clara, I do feel the western vibe with this - it wasn't intentional! The belt is currently what I have that fits my waist and matches the boot color. I was thinking of a sheer black stocking too. This style of bootie with a dress is quite a departure for me as I'm self conscious of my legs. I have an ancient pair of black lace up booties, maybe I'll have to pull them out just for the heck of it.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

I think the fabric makes all the difference with this kind of dress. How does it drape? Does it move with you? If you feel great in it it's probably because the dress is good in motion - something that's difficult to capture in a photo.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I don't want to be a naysayer but I'm just going to say what I thought at first glance and that is I think you could do better. I mean maybe it can be styled to look okay and maybe tapering would make it feel better in it's shape, but overall that sounds like you would be working to make this dress work.

Adelfa

Veteran

I think it is really pretty on you as is. Seriously!

Anonymous

Pil, for me the fittedness (is that a word?) of the dress through the shoulders and top keeps it from being a sack. It does remind me of the EF a tern dress. So far I find drapey cardigans, both cropped and long, to be the easiest toppers. I also think it works both belted and unbelted. The fabric looks substantial enough not to cling. Yours looks like it could be styled any number of ways. Below are a few views of the lantern dress.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

The thing about the lantern dress is that the hem comes in...like a lantern. So it controls the volume a bit and updates the general silhouette a bit. I wonder if that would be a possible fix. Not to make it like a sheath....to make it MORE like the lantern dress. But the lantern dress seems to fall in sort of natural pleats almost.

What I like about your dress is that I can see how easy it would be to throw on and forget about. Comfortable, forgiving, yet dressier than pants. I think it could work with careful styling. Without careful styling it risks looking a bit frumpy.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh good heavens, I love this frock on you, Pil. WOW. Killer for sure. It's an 11 out of 10. I like it best un-belted. Modern and fluid. But it's fab with the cognac booties and belt too. I can just imagine your gorgeous new red specs in the mix too. Loving the new 'do.

No more cognitive dissonance needed. xo

DonnaF

Veteran

I see no sack whatsoever! I see a dress that fits beautifully through the shoulders and bust and has a nice neckline for you as shown in pic #2. I prefer it without a belt, but maybe if you want to accessorize pop on a necklace or scarf? The dress looks like a great solution if you have to look nice after a long car or plane ride.

FlorenceFearne

I'l agree that I don't think this is sack-like at all. But if you prefer a more fitted shape, how about a nice vest? I really like the feminine ones with the low scooped neckline that almost act like a corset.

unfrumped

Veteran

I think it looks easy and fluid. It IS kind of a blank slate, so wearing the warm-colored boots, or patterned tights, or a chunky necklace or cuff works well with this kind of simple style, I think. I agree with the focus on fabric--if it drapes and moves well, that is what it's about.

pil

Veteran

Thanks for talking me down everyone - this is an example of my overthinking things.

Angie, thanks for taking a look at this. I *want* it to work but started second guessing. I feel much better about it now

Cinnamonfern, the fabric is really nice. Kind of a midweight, but it does drape and move quite nicely. It also has kind of a floral pattern that doesn't show up in the pictures.
Texstyle, thanks for weighing in. I always look forward to your comments
Adelfa, thanks!
Joy, thank you for those pictures, you look gorgeous as usual. I do have a lightweight navy waterfall cardigan that may work.
Suz, your comments about the dress being comfortable, forgiving and dressier than pants are some of the reasons I bought it.
DonnaF, thankyou. With my short neck, the this neckline is better than many others. I definitely see it with a scarf!
Florencefearne, the vest is an excellent idea, thanks for that suggestion.
Unfrumped, blank slate is a good description. I envisioned it to be quite versatile - with the appropriate styling.

Anonymous

I love this dress on you. This style is so comfortable. Looks great with waterfall cardis, necklaces, and scarves to show off the long flowing line.

Susie

Veteran

Gosh I love it just as is. It is elegant in its simplicity. I don't see sack at all.

donnat

Veteran

This dress fits you beautifully, I love it belted or unbelted, love the button detail. This is nothing like a sack.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I love it! There are days when a modern, un-girlish dresh that flows is the perfect choice. As others have said, it's volume is contained with a good cut through the shoulders.

Deborah

Veteran

Yay for Angie! I am with her this is an 11. Feel free to send it to me pil lol. It's a fabulous dress. Fit looks great and I prefer it unbelted. Looks great with ankle boots, I would add long pendant to dress it up. A soft flowy scarf draped long ways or wrapped and tied could work. Layer a long drapey cardigan over it. Add tall boots. This dress is a styling dream. You must keep and wear, and enjoy it.

pil

Veteran

Not bumping to fish for more comments - I just want to thank Gillian, Susie, DonnaT, BethAnn for chiming in. And Deborah Queen of Draping for the styling suggestions

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well, I am glad you are going to keep it. I think you will find that you wear it a a lot, far more than you might expect. It will be perfect for those days when you want to meet a friend for lunch or something similar, while at the same time you need to do some grocery shopping or other errands. Easy to move in, easy to layer warm silk undies beneath, just easy altogether. And good with boots.

catgirl

Veteran

I LOVE this on you! I had a similar dress from Garnet Hill that I wore until it fell apart, seen here:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....asicstaple