Battle of Black Summer Dresses - YouLookFab Forum

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Battle of Black Summer Dresses

Joy

Veteran

I promised this dress battle. I have several black summer dresses a d do not need this many. At least two others did not make the move. All are pretty much wrinkle free and sleeveless shifts without any zippers or fasteners. All were thrifted and are machine washable. First up (1/2) is an Express dress, the tightest and shortest, making it the most summery and it fits well under other pieces.
2nd is a JJill dress (3-5) . It is a bit longer and fuller.
Last (6-8) is a Talbots, a heavy knit. It hangs well and shows no lumps or bumps. It is the longest dress and can be worn year round with the right toppers.
All were thrifted and all were under $3. I like them all. Which do you like best? Least? If you could keep just one, which would it be? Would you keep more than one? I have a wide variety of toppers that I will show with your choice of dress on another post.

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Dressing

28 replies

Latest reply was from Joy

merwoman

Veteran

Joy you look amazing in both dresses, but the first one made me gasp in delight. Wowza!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I prefer the second one so #3 to #5 - longer and fuller. KILLER GORGEOUS on you! Anna Wintour is proud

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I only see two here and both look great but I would go with the second one, which seems more comfortable to wear.

Joy

Veteran

Thank you for your comments. I will try to sort the photos. The last dress is very much like the other two but a bit longer and less volume. I think it is sorted out now.

Kathie

Veteran

If you keep one, I’d go for the Talbots. It seems to fit slightly better through the bust, and, would be more useful if it can be worn year round. If you keep two, then I’d add the Express, to have one that’s shorter and summery.

Joy

Veteran

Thank you Kathy. Those were wise words. The Talbots dress does work best with boots, now that I think of it, but the others are ok with tights and short shafted booties. #2 does have the swish factor, hmmm.

rachylou

Veteran

The first and last… the lack of waist definition with #2 does take it down a notch for me.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

They are all really similar and I can’t believe the prices! What gifts!
I like the middle one and then the first one and then the longest one last. I wouldn’t keep 3 myself but it partly depends on storage. For me, I think about my #30 wears aim so if you keep all 3 it’s trying for #90 wears of black dresses!

Star

Veteran

All are fabulous, cannot pick one.

Glory

Veteran

That is some amazing thrifting. These are all terrific on you. I would definitely keep all.

Anonymous

They all look great- hard to see differences on my phone screen!

ChristelJ

Veteran

I actually like the last one best, but all look good on you.

Joy

Veteran

No definite decision yet. I have missed the black cotton shirt dress in this group that was a victim of the move. All of these dresses have been worn a lot by me to all sorts of occasions, Christmas parties to funerals. They get lots of late summer,and fall wear and have travelled lots too.
Thank you all for looking and commenting. You have helped more than you know. This is a great distraction from my DSILs funeral this week. I miss her terribly. She was a thrifting genius.

cat2

Veteran

I am on Team Keep, and would keep them all. It can be hard to find a simple black dress when you need one.

Elle

Veteran

I like the second one (J Jill) the best since the length and flow of it seem very elegant. A close second is the third one - the Talbots dress. I think the longer lengths of these two dresses look great on you.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

It's a hard decision, if you're actually trying to edit them. They all look good, and they have their differences. When you say you don't need all of them, what does that mean to you? Which one(s) duplicate other, non-black dresses in your wardrobe? Or which one(s) have you not been reaching for? If you wear black dresses a lot, it might not be problematic to have three of them.

I can see why Angie picked #2; it looks elegant, refined, and seems able to fulfill the functions of #1 and #3.

JAileen

Veteran

Can’t you keep them all? I personally would keep the less form fitting one, but that’s just me.

Joy

Veteran

Firecracker, those are good questions. I do not have anything like most of them except a couple of EF dresses. (plain navy cap sleeve and sapphire blue lantern dress. Either are fitted and either would be ok for a funeral, especially the navy blue. The more form fitting dresses work better under toppers or even as pencil skirts worn with a pullover over the top. I have been wearing all of them, the first more casually the 2nd most dressed up. I have a variety of toppers for all seasons that look ok with all and best with the more form fitting, plus a variety of flats for different occasions.

Joy

Veteran

Thank you all for your thoughts. Yes I could keep all but none look worn out yet. They are each plain enough not to be memorable either.

Katerina

Veteran

I like them all and think one cannot have too many classic great black dresses… so not very useful I know…
If I would have to choose, I would keep one and three. One because I think the neckline is very pretty on you and the slimmer shorter style suits you beautifully. Three because it is a bit heavier material and provides a change from the first one.

slim cat

Veteran

All good for different use/look/occasion - glad you are keeping all of them ( the first one is super on your slim figure ).

Brooklyn

Veteran

They all look great Joy. I like the last one the best. My next preference would be the first one. I think the higher neckline is more elegant than the neckline in the second dress. Although I like the looseness of the second dress (especially for summer), the neckline gives it more of a casual look, not as elegant as 1 and 3.

I’d definitely keep 1 and 3, as they serve different purposes. Or keep them all!

Joy

Veteran

For now I think I will keep them all and see what I wear fir August and into Fall when I am bored with my pastels and brights most days. It will also depend on whether or not we can get out. Thank you for all the helpful comments.

Sally

Veteran

Oh they are fabulous. Keep them and try different accessories. That style really suits you too. You remind me of Audrey Hepburn. YOu could make it quite casual with a denim jacket but then with the right shoes, it could be cocktail formal.
I"m on the hunt for black dresses now. Its my next challenge.....wearing the black dress as many ways as I can. I'm going thrift shopping with friends this week and will also look around in stores. I am so regretful I gave away my calvin klein black dress because I thought I would never fit it again.

Rosie

Try wearing each of them out for the day and see which one ends up being your favorite....I would keep all until you have worn each one at least 1-2x , you might be surprised which one you end up liking the best.

judy

Veteran

Under $3...? What? That's amazing. Coffee costs more

Just wanted to say I think you look great...the black dress and the shoes, and the sunglasses. Very dramatic and chic!

Yes, agree with the wear and see method. How do you feel in it all day?

Also, this sounds a bit obsessive, but if you haven't already tried it, maybe try doing a video with your phone for yourself of how each dress looks/moves on you? Set the phone up with the camera turned toward you, (window sills are helpful position and a good light source in daytime) press record, walk away, turn and walk back, press stop. I've found this helpful with jeans, especially (how does this look from behind? ) . Just gives more of a 3d kind of info if you are into it.

Good luck!

cat2

Veteran

Ah, it sounds like you are still locked down? I didn’t get rid of anything while in lockdown. Now that we are out and about, I am really glad I kept (almost) everything. The jury is still out on my highest heels.

Joy

Veteran

Thank you, ladies for your wonderful ideas and comments. Sally, there are so many styles of black dresses. I hope that you find one that you can wear many ways. I was inspired by a blog series that Angie did years ago taking one dress (black) and wearing it three ways for different travel destinations. The most casual was Israel in which she wore it with casual sandals and a web belt, maybe a sun hat.

I am so flattered that I remind you of Audrey Hepburn!

Rosy and Judy, I like your ideas. I know that the second dress has the best swish factor. I think the Good will dresses may have all been on sale for 99 cents. That is partly why I have so many.
cat2 yes, we are still rather locked down because of a shortage of dependable workers and the presence of the variants. Many shops still want people to wear masks.