Can this be dressed down? - YouLookFab Forum

Since I edited my dress capsule with your help I've been on the hunt for my perfect LBD. One of my criteria has been an open neck, and that really excluded 95% of the black dresses out there. My second criteria was that I wanted something that could be dressed down for day to day wear. The outfit I envisioned was a boyfriend cardigan and chunky penny loafers. I'd also like to be able to wear the dress with a button up shirt layered underneath, or with a blazer on top.

Is this my dress? It's so hard to tell online if something will look too business-y or refined in person to dress down.

I ordered it in a 14P, and that may be a mistake that I keep making over and over. I just definitely don't want tight around my middle if I want it to become a go to dress. However, the last few times I've resisted sizing down I was wrong. It's such a great price, maybe I should have grabbed the 12P too?

Eta: I got the find wrong. This is the proper link to the dress. https://www.nordstromrack.com/.....olor=BLACK

Nordstrom

Classiques Entier Italian Ponte Double V-Neck Sheath Dress (Regular & Petite)

$228.00 $91.20

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

8 years ago

RobinF

Veteran

I don't see a link Traci. Is there supposed to be one?

Traci

*facepalm* I added the find. Thanks, Robin.

Mochi

I would think it's easy to dress down by throwing on a denim jacket, for example. This dress is cut well and open to all sorts of stylings.

viva

This is very much like the Reiss dress I bought last year, and I have not yet successfully dressed it down, but that is my own fault for lack of trying.

I think it's possible, as you've described it. Also with a long cardigan and short booties? Adding something that has less structure is important, in my view, and a slouchy cardigan with scrunched sleeves might just do the trick. And a slouchy bag? I probably need to think about adding one if I want to wear my dress this way. My denim jacket may actually be too short and structured.

Ack! I'm so annoyed with myself that I got caught up in the "1 left" and bought too fast. My total wasn't high enough for free shipping, so I just went with paying shipping. Now I'm thinking I should just order the 12P also to compare, but I'll have to pay shipping again. I have the hardest time paying shipping. It's a mental block. I don't know if I can pay it twice. Then I fall down the rabbit hole of needing to find just one more item to get my free shipping. I mean, I already have to make one return if I buy both dresses, right?

eta: Ha! I got it wrong in both directions today. Bought the 14 too quick and regretted it. Tried to think through the 12 and now it's gone. C'est la vie!

carter

Active Member

Why do you have to pay shipping? Did Nordstrom do away with free shipping??

It's from the Rack, so shipping isn't free until $100.

In a possible twist, I went back to look at the dress and noticed although it says 12P is sold out, the 12P was still sitting in my cart. So now I'm waiting to see if that order processes. Maybe I was the one holding the 12P all along? I'm starting to think I need a shopping intervention.

Suz

(website)

Can you call them to combine shipping?

In answer to your question, yes this is a dress that can easily be dressed down, but only if in the right fabric/ fit for that. For me, that's as much a part of it as anything else. And you can't tell until you feel it on.

I'm with you on paying shipping, hate to do it so I find myself adding to get the minimum. It's one reason I avoid buying online.

Janet

I agree with Suz about the fit/fabric making the difference for a dress being "dress-downable" -- I pay really close attention to that now, after making some poor decisions in the past with dresses that just don't capture the vibe I want. Good luck, and let us know how it works out when it arrives! I find LBD's so difficult. And yes, why does everything have to have a high crew neck?? Throw us a V every once in a while!

Inge

Moderator

The dress looks very promising (especially since it seems to be a ponte knit fabric), Traci, and I hope that the 12P will be processed too so that you can compare sizes.

For dressing down, I like your idea with the boyfriend cardigan and loafers. Maxi cardigan and short booties, like Viv suggested will look fab too. Or maxi cardigan + sneakers, oxfords or casual flat knee-high boots.
And as Nancy mentioned, definitely with a denim jacket.

A few more ideas:
- Add a leather jacket + a fun bootie
- Fun kimono as a topper
- Layer it over a lightweight long-sleeved turtleneck top (like the ones below)
- Wear it with a poncho sweater or flowy batwing sleeve top (like pictures below) so that only the bottom part of the dress is showing and it can function as a skirt.

Anthropologie

Sleeping On Snow Midland Pullover

$138.00 $69.95

Plenty By Tracy Reese Waffled Turtleneck Tunic

$148.00 $79.95

UNIQLO

Women Supima Cotton Modal Striped Polo Neck T-shirt

Halogen Long Sleeve Turtleneck (Regular & Petite)

$39.00

BlondeAmbition

I love it. It's amazing what a jean jacket and a pair of converse can do to an outfit. Dress it down and jazz it up all at the same time!

Joy

The reviews say the dress runs small and tight, so you were wise to size up. It looks like it will lend itself to both dressy and more casual styling.. Besides denim, I like to use brown accessories to dress down a black dress. Olive would work well too. A utility belt, suede booties or sandals, hobo bag, and distressed leather or utility jacket should do the trick.
The long cardi and chunky loafers should work. I'm not sure how a button down would look with the cut-in sleeve but it's worth trying.

Anonymous

Do you think this might be something that can be altered along the side seams?

Agreeing with Suz to try and combine shipping.

Great news, Joy! I didn't see the reviews. Fingers crossed it works.

Thanks for all they styling ideas, everyone. I think this will be a fun base to play with for fall and winter.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Denim jacket and flats = easy.

Whew! I finally snagged the 12, shipping costs be damned. This dress is such a deal that if one of them works I'll not feel bad at all about the extra shipping I paid to get it right.

As further evidence of what a hectic mess I am, this is the proper link for the dress I just bought. I must have gotten spun around with my finds.

https://www.nordstromrack.com/.....olor=BLACK Very similar, but a little different in neckline and shoulders. I wondered how Joy saw reviews I couldn't find.

MomOfThree1980

I love the dress. I think it could be made casual with maybe a flat shoe and cardigan or a loose sweater over it but then you just really have a sweater and skirt.

Barbara Diane

I really like it, and think it has loads of possibilities. Here's hoping it looks great.

jill58

Great dress. Hope it works for you. It drives me crazy to pay shipping and I too do everything possible to avoid it!

Beth Ann

If it is a perfect dress, you won't mind having paid for shipping. Give it a whirl!

karen13

I love the dress and all the styling ideas here.

I know what you mean about free shipping. You have to ask yourself how much you love an item and how disappointed you will be if you can't get it. It puts it in perspective.

I recently purchased shoes from 6pm for the first time - I almost didn't because shoes are iffy and return shipping isn't free. But I was really wanting these shoes. So when I was thinking about for an hour before I could fall asleep, I realized for the price of 2 bunches of asparagus (our grocery store is expensive!) I could return them. My time was worth the $ risk.

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