Birthday dressing with nowhere to go - YouLookFab Forum

Category

What I Wore

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

Birthday dressing with nowhere to go

Liesbeth

Veteran

So I can't go out to dinner with hubs, or go see the new James Bond, but I can put on a pretty dress and nail polish :).

(Not so) funny story: I got this dress four years ago with a wedding and a formal company event on the horizon but both were cancelled/postponed indefinitely. Then I got pregnant. Then there were no formal events at all. I HAVE NOT WORN THIS DRESS EVER!

So I decided to wear it now, with leggings and house shoes :). And then in the cold morning a blush cashmere sweater on top.

Sadly the dress now pulls at my hips when I move, as they have broadened permanently, so it will never see a party like it was meant to. But now I'm thinking maybe I can have it turned to a blouse?

Anyway, later today I'm ordering sushi and mixing myself a strawberry margerita :). And I'm lucky to be in lockdown with my two favorite people so things could be way way worse.

Anyone else have a birthday during the coronapocolyps?

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

26 replies

Latest reply was from karen13

Sisi

Veteran

Happy Birthday! It is a very pretty dress - would it be possible to alter it in the hips? Three friends of mine have had their birthdays in this period - and of course have remained trapped at home ....

April

Veteran

Hi Liesbeth -- yes, my birthday is the same as YLF's, so it was earlier in this Coronapocalypse. It was a little easier two weeks ago to get through more of the day without weeping or mourning for anything, wasn't it. Now I'm finding it harder but we still have things to celebrate (we have had one more birthday among our Corona group since mine, and one more yet to come next month - I assume our New Yorkers will still be with us.)

I loved your story about making the best of your birthday and dress situation.

Bijou

Veteran

Happy Birthday!

Dinner sounds yummy! Sunday was a close friend’s birthday, she celebrated with no cooking or dishes, cake and champagne and a party with DH and her children. Lockdown is not fun, but you look fab in the dress and so good that you finally got to wear it. I have a dress like this in my wardrobe. Similar situation, I must make sure I wear it once weather and covid lockdown permit.

Liesbeth

Veteran

Thanks for the suggestion sisi. I fear there's not enough seam allowance to let this dress out but I kind of am getting enthusiastic about the idea of a blouse - easier to dress down!
April, everyone seems to react differently, I myself am much more relaxed than when it just began (though still often nerve wrecked). A late happy b-day to you ;).
Bijou, I cannot imagine you not wearing a dress! Do show it sometime!

Helena

Veteran

Terrific Liesbeth, and happy birthday!

anne

Veteran

Happy Birthday LiesBeth. Nice that you finally got to wear the dress. It works quite well with the leggings etc. And yes, I can see it in a shortened form as a blouse.
As for birthdays, mine was just before Easter. My DD made a cake and we got takeaway. The whole family dressed up.

Inge

(website)

Happy birthday, Liesbeth!! Hope you'll have a wonderful day and enjoy that sushi and margarita!-)

Love it that you are dressing up, and your party dress is getting its first outing on your birthday;-) I also love the idea of turning it into a blouse as it sounds you'll get more wear out of it that way.

rachylou

Veteran

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Your plans sound yum. A top sounds nifty!

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Happy birthday!!

What a story about the dress. You might indeed be able to repurpose it somehow, though, and why not? Seems like a good idea!

Becky

Veteran

Happy birthday! I love the idea of reworking this dress into a blouse so it would be practical for you. Another idea: It looks like there is a side panel/stripe of a different color and/or fabric on the side? Maybe it could be widened at the hips by changing out that panel for something similar that is a bit wider?

slim cat

Veteran

Happy birthday! I like the idea of the blouse or almost tunic with seams a bit undone for movement ( that neckline is really pretty on you ).
Your plans for celebration sound great. I'll have my birthday next month and probably will do sushi as well.

Anonymous

Happy birthday, Liesbeth. Enjoy your day.

Joyce B

Veteran

Happy Birthday Liesbeth!

Anonymous

Happy birthday! And yes to release the side seams and wear as a tunic.
Mine is upcoming. Normally I go to the beach for the day, but don't foresee that happening Hopefully it'll be warm enough to SUP at least.

Liesbeth

Veteran

Thanks everyone for your wishes, advice and stories!
Suntiger: what is SUP?

MsMaven

Veteran

Your dress looks great with leggings, and I like it with the top over it as well. Looks like a good stay-at-home dress or top.

Happy birthday!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Happy birthday, Liesbeth! I loved your dress story - and laughed a lot

I vote hack into a blouse...

Anonymous

Stand up paddleboard We're not allowed recreational boating, but canoe/kayak/paddleboard is allowed cause it's exercise! If the weather ever cooperates...

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Happy Birthday!Its good to dress up and make it special as this is the one birthday that you won’t forget in a hurry.My DH has just had his birthday.We all got out of our lounge wear and put on proper clothes ,the DD and I put up fairy lights in our summer house and we all went and sat in there before dinner with a bottle of champagne and gave him his presents.Then I cooked a Chinese,we had birthday cake and watched a film on DVD.DD said that she enjoyed it more than regular birthdays as we had made more of an effort than going to a restaurant requires.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Happy birthday! Definitely chop the dress - it is a great memory but not very useful otherwise as is.

Liesbeth

Veteran

Thanks for more birthday wishes everyone!
Angie, Shevia, I'll check about the hack with my mom, who's a decent seamstress.
Suntiger, celebrating on the water sounds good too!
Cardiffgirl: I ended up feeling like your daughter too. My husband, family and friends actually went to more trouble to make this special for me, even with something small like sending flowers or surprising me with a 'happy birthday' song over zoom, and that really touched me.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Happy birthday Liesbeth!

nemosmom

Veteran

Happy birthday, Liesbeth! Love your story and commitment to wear the dress for your special day! If you think it will be worn more often as a blouse, I say, chop it! My 5yo turned 6 last week and since he's in kindergarten, it was going to be his first year to have a birthday party with friends. He was upset to miss his milestone, but we tried to make it special anyway.

Hope you had a great day! xx

abby

I sang this to my sister, whose sixty-third birthday was last Saturday. I do not know how old you are but your photo looks like twenty something. Please take this in good fun. Happy Birthday!

No birthday for you.
We sing the virus blues.
Your birthday’s been cancelled.
You’ll stay twenty-two.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Happy Birthday! I'm thirding the idea of a split hem tunic - a shirt sounds nice too but I like the idea of keeping the length. You could even turn it into a collarless long shacket (shirt + jacket) if you just cut it down the middle front. Would make it into a versatile topper over leggings or trousers, if you like!

karen13

Veteran

I like the dress a lot - vote for the split hem tunic. Or if you are ambitions, could you add a contrast stripe and eke out a bit of room? It doesn't look like you need much.

Happy belated birthday! We had planned to celebrate my late Feb birthday in March when DD was home for spring break . . . Maybe next month.