Ask Angie- Summer Dresses - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Ask Angie- Summer Dresses

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Now that the heat has finally come out to play, I'm in need of summer dresses. Most of what I thought was going to work is just not, and although I have had a chance to go shopping a couple of times lately (Banana Republic, Lucky Brand, Urban Outfitters, H&M...) I can't find anything in the shops- locally and not so local. You know my style and body type, so I'm hoping that you can make a couple of specific recommendations. Ideally, I'm looking for very lightweight breathable (not polyester) woven casual sleeveless dresses that have a looser fit (sack style) and hit around 35 inches- give or take, offer bra strap coverage, and are under $50. (But at this point I am willing to negotiate since I can't find anything)

General

54 replies

Latest reply was from caojuan

Queen Mum

Veteran

Khris- I saw something a while ago and thought of you... can't remember what it was though for the life of me. I'll let you know when it comes back to me.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Thanks Kim!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Khris I can make several suggestions but they are nowhere near your price point. They are all in the $99 and $129 range, which is treble what you are after.

Have you shopped at Walmart, Macys, Khols, Mod Cloth Sale, Esprit Sale and JC Penny? And fit and flares in cotton are easier to find at the moment. It's not a cotton sack-season - sack dresses are often made of silk blends and poly rayons because they have to drape.

How about Ebay?

Traci

Veteran

Check out Ann Taylor Loft. Over the weekend they were running 40% off your entire purchase in stores. The email I received didn't have an end date. With the discount many of their dresses would be under $50.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I've looked all of those places, so suggest away.

Traci

Veteran

Have you looked at Jjill? They have some pieces in their sale section that sound like what you are looking for.

Like this:
http://www.jjill.com/jjillonli.....&sk=O
and this:
http://www.jjill.com/jjillonli.....&sk=O

Queen Mum

Veteran

Khris- I think it was when I found that floral print dress I showed in my last WIW (not the 50's one) I found it at Macy's and with my coupon I think I paid $28. I don't think it's a look that you gravitate toward though... but the fabric and cut is divine. It's a rayon/spandex blend just like my Karen Kane dress. It is such a lightweight cool fabric!
You might check out myshape for their Karen Kane dresses. I just looked and none are on sale, but I sure thought I had gotten a recent e-mail with a bunch of sale dresses.
Anyhow... I highly recommend anything in the rayon/spandex blend. It might sound sticky, but it is not at all. Perfect!
There is a cute Calvin Klein denim dress at myshape too. I have one in my cart but I don't think I'll be getting it. I think i'ts about $50.

Queen Mum

Veteran

okay, found the e-mail.. this link should take you to their $59 summer dresses.
http://www.myshape.com/selecte.....ail062510M

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Kim, we are on the same wavelength. I was *just* going to suggest Myshape. Kim linked to a great page. Try MK, CK and Karen Kane dresses on their site too.

How about some sun dresses? Rayon though - like a cool viscose. Easy to maintain and quite breathable. I wore a lot of viscose in Singapore which is on the equator. That's the hottest and most humid weather in the world:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/31.....0&P=2

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/31.....t-_-Manual

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/31.....0&P=2

Dashrashi

Veteran

Loft is doing 40% off online (code: fix40 ; not sure when it ends). I just bought this and adore it, although the waistband is not very stretchy and it's pull-on:

http://www.anntaylorloft.com/c.....pe=Regular

The beet-red color is insanely flattering.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I've spent quite a bit of time looking online today, and I have yet to find a single dress that I can say is perfect- in or outside my budget. Nothing from Loft works for me- they are completely sold out of many sizes and most of their dresses are knit. Nothing from My Shape works either. There were a few almosts, but I just can't see paying any price for a dress that I don't love.
Angie I really wanted your picks- regardless of price. Those sundresses that you linked to would not provide bra coverage.

Traci

Veteran

Still trying!
http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....=772349002

anne

Veteran

I have been checking this Aussie site for you and trying to work out a way we could get stuff to you - but I think it would all be too complex
Here's a few I found, anyway

http://www.ezibuy.com.au//Wome.....52492.shtm
http://www.ezibuy.com.au//Wome.....52980.shtm

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

That's so sweet of you Anne!
I had an email from My Shape this morning, and I actually ordered this Kenneth Cole dress (on sale, plus a coupon and free shipping- under $50)
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....s_(petite):295965&cm_ven=Froogle&mr:trackingCode=0288BF6E-1968-DF11-9DA0-002219319097&mr:referralID=NA
I could see myself wearing that three times a week in the summer, and then layering it come fall. Now if I can find a couple more.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

That's an interesting dress, Khris. I'm curious to see how those pockets will sit right under the bust.

Btw, sun dresses can cover bras actually. I have worn several sundresses in my day with ample bra coverage - put clients in them too. I guess it depends on the bra and the fit of the dress.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I guess we'll see. It should be here next week.
These are my current favorite bras:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....6&P=1
and
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/28.....6&P=1
so those particular sundresses I am pretty certain won't work for these bras.
I still would like to see what you would pick i the $99-$129 price range Angie.

Anonymous

Khris, you might try Angie's option of letting a pretty bra show. We were at a party this weekend where a lovely 30ish young woman from France had on a gorgeous low splitneck airy silk top in a pattern. Underneath she wore a beautiful chocolate colored bra that blended well with the earth tones of the top and was meant to show a bit. It was a cool chic look sitting out on a patio in hot humid temperatures. Her bra was not particularly lacy, but looked like it was made of or covered with silk. In no way did she look slutty or even like she was trying to be sexy. On the bottom she wore boyfriend jeans and flat sandals.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I don't care for the aesthetic of showing bra straps. I bought a couple of sundresses with the intention of wearing them this way, and I just haven't been able to make myself do it. More than that, though, it would require new bras that I am not even sure I could find. When I went to Nordstrom's, the only bras that fit me were soft cup underwires, which are not a style that can be worn to show in my opinion. Any money that I had for dresses would just go to bras and then I wouldn't have any money for dresses.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

All in good time. I have to get to all the threads first and work with a client today :0)

Jonesy

Veteran

I am a longtime lurker, and finally decided to officially join! Chewy, have you tried Target's Converse One Star line for inexpensive, cotton dresses? Here is a link to some of their offerings:

http://www.target.com/s/188-19.....ID=1038576|1287991011&searchPage=1

Also, I just checked out the Boden sale, and they have several loose, cotton dresses in the $50 range.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Hi Jonesy- thanks for de-lurking and welcome! I like the Converse line (a lot, actually), and I have tried several of them on, but for some reason they never fit me very well. They are always too big in one area, and too small in another. Boden is out of the sizes I would need in the styles I like. I guess that's pretty typical for a sale. Thanks for the suggestions.
Angie- what do you think of this one:
http://www.armaniexchange.com/.....5.4563.020

Jonesy

Veteran

Aah, too bad. Thanks for the welcome! That Armani Exchange dress is very cute.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Or this one:
http://www.calvinklein.com/pro.....ickid=cart
the back is iffy for a bra, though

Queen Mum

Veteran

that's a cute one Khris. Personally, I don't mind bra strap showing from the back nearly as much as from the front. And you could get one of those bra fasteners.

I'd be wary of the length of the AX one...

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I actually have some of those strapper things- and a T back bra. I guess I am hyper sensitive to bra showage. I'm quite a bit shorter than you are, Kim- if it's hitting a couple inches above the knee on the model, it will probably be right at my knee.

Lynne

Veteran

Hi, Khris, the style you are describing would be easy to make; do you have a machine? Or an new BFF with one :)? A cotton shift would be a good basic pattern to have on hand....and you could do your own adjustments as your weight changes. If this is an option I can recommend Vogue and Butterick patterns, they often include fitting instructions, OR for a larger bust, you can size up on the front pattern pieces only...eg cut a size 12 front and a size 10 back if that makes sense....Alternately, can you do a trade with a friend who sews...I love dressmaking but cannot knit to save myself! And if your husband wants to know who suggested a new sewing machine...... don't mention my name!!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I have a machine, and every time I pull it out I throw the timing off and spend $100 getting it fixed. My husband says I'm a Gremlin LOL I've been sewing a simple skirt by hand for the last month and it's not even halfway done.

Lynne

Veteran

Oh dear...I think it is the machine that is the problem? Mine is 21 years old (Janome) and in constant use...

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

No, I do this to every machine.

12