Can you wear a lace dress to work?

Julia

I had a debat with my sister recently. She bought a lace dress from New York & Co. It looks like this one but it's sleeveless:

http://bp1.blogger.com/_B6J6nG.....+nymag.jpg

She wanted to tone it down with jacket or other more formal pieces and wear it to work. I don't think you can do anything to it to make it work appropriate. A little background, she works at a Canadian bank in their IT department.

What do you think?

16 years ago

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Tanya

Veteran

Hmm, I am also inclined to say no, but it will depend on the particular dress.

16 years ago

Anonymous

The only way I can see wearing it in a work environment is to wear a black or denim skirt over it so that the top part of the dress is fuctioning as a shell. Then layer a jacket or cardi over that.

16 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

I disagree. I think you can tone that kind of dress down with some opaque tights, a cardigan or jacket that isn't sexy or evening attire, and shoes that are not too high heeled, or maybe even boots.

Unless the dress is more than "just above" the knee or shows cleavage, I think the right accessories and approach would work well.

16 years ago

Alecia

Veteran

I think I'm with Nicole on this. BUT, I think it's definitely dangerous territory because done incorrectly, it will look inappropriate.

16 years ago

Kyle

Veteran

A lot of it depends on the type of work and work environment. In a conservative corporate setting, unfortunately, it will stand out as inappropriate. In a creative setting, toned down, it will probably be fine.

16 years ago

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

I agree with Kyle. It could appear inappropriate quickly with conservative groups.
The last thing you would want was the whole underwear as outerwear look. Remember that? But in a creative field with accessories that Nicole suggested it might be fab!

16 years ago

Julia

Active Member

I would not say my sister's work environment is creative in any aspect. It's a typical corporate environment with business casual dress code. I'm interested in what Angie thinks.

To me, lace dresses are related to nightwear, even though they became popular this season and can be worn during daytime, they are too sexy to fit in the business casual environment.

Joy, the way you described is interesting. I have never thought about wearing it that way. I wonder what type of skirt you'd wear over the dress and how comfortable it would feel.

16 years ago

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I work in IT in a hospital, and I can't imagine wearing a dress like that there, no matter how much I tried to dress it down. But it's a gorgeous dress so I can understand the temptation!

16 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I was wondering about this too Julia. I saw a dress that had a lace inset detail around the shoulders, so it wasn't quite as lacy as the one you linked too, but even so I felt it wasn't appropriate--and I DO work in a very casual and creative environment. I don't think anyone would say anything to me about it, but I would not be comfortable in it because in all honesty it would just be my way of taking advantage of their lack of enforcing the dress code. I don't think it's really a matter of dressing it down. I just think black lace is, as you say, a very evening and sexy look.

However, the dress I saw also came in cream. I wonder if that would have been more acceptable.

16 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Hmm....I personally think a lace dress *could* work in certain fields. BUT, the dress would have to be a very demure and classic shape (like a high necked sheath dress) and be FULLY lined, no skin peeking through anywhere. I wouldn't wear a jacket over it (might look too evening), I'd wear a cardigan belted over the top and flats or kitten heels.

It sounds like maybe your sisters work environment might not be the ideal place to wear the dress, but she could always wear it weekends or out to dinner.

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I love a challenge

So, in my profession, this dress with a denim jacket and black 20 eyelet Docs would go down well and would absolutely be dressed down appropriately. As a fashion buyer I could have worn an ensemble like that too. BUT, work environments differ. I hope that makes sense.

16 years ago

Julia

Active Member

Maya, a cream lace dress sounds elegant! Ana, the dress my sister bought is a fully lined sheath that hits right above her knees, I can see it be worn during the daytime but was not sure about to work.

Angie, your explanation makes sense. I put together a visual for my sister, hope she's inspired:

http://www.polyvore.com/lace_dress/set?id=5664993

Thanks everyone for your help!

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

It is a pretty dress, so I understand the temptation of trying to talk oneself into the idea that it can be worn to work and get more use.

However, for me, the hemline is just too short for any office environment. Then you add the lace on top of that... and I just have to say... nope.

Personally, for the office, I think skirts should hit at or around the knee. The photo you are showing - the skirt is just too short. Even for a creative environment it is pushing it, assuming you want to be taken seriously.

However, I could see someone in the fashion industry (even an office environment related to fashion industry) wearing this; I think the rules are a lot different in that case. But IT for a bank? Nope.

Now if the skirt is actually longer and hits at the knee, then that is a different story. Then I like the idea of putting a belted cardigan over it (perhaps a long boyfriend cardi), and wearing it with opaque tights and boots. It could possibly work.

I also like the idea of wearing a skirt over it. Another idea is to wear a longer skirt under it.

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh wow, Julia. You are clever. I’d personally wear that combo in a heartbeat, but I work in a creative environment. This is not an outfit for a conservative work setting, but could be fun after hours though.

16 years ago

Julia

Active Member

Absolutely Angie. If I were not clear, I didn't make the visual for Jane (my sis) to wear it to work, I meant it for fun.

16 years ago

Eva

Active Member

Thank you for clarifying that the dress comes to just above the knee. Otherwise I would say it would be too short for work.

January's issue of Glamour magazine has a great article about making a new wardrobe with what you have in your closet. One of the sections is 12 ways to work with a black sheath dress. Love the denim idea, but doc martins wouldn't work for my office.

I think the lace dress could work for work. Here are some ideas from the magazine. 1) She could wear a black turtleneck sweater over it so it looks like a lace skirt, tights and boots. 2) She could also wear a belted jacket over the dress with tights. 3) She could wear a white button down shirt belted over the dress. 4) She could wear a sweater over the white shirt (drop the belt).

16 years ago

NicNac

Active Member

I work in a very uptight, conservative environment so I have this challenge often. As long as it's a least knee length (hitting the middle of the knee) she can add a somewhat thick black belt with a cardigan. But make sure the dress is longer than the cardigan. Similar to these looks:

http://www.spiegel.com/shop/pr.....pss_id=300

http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....pid=620086

also like shiny mentioned, pair it with opaque hose & heels. After work she can ditch the hose and sweater add black eyeliner and it will be perfect for drinks. I hope it works.

16 years ago

Anonymous

The dress in question might be more acceptable in a work environment if it were lined in black to match the lace rather than the nude color, which makes it look like skin is showing through even if it isn't.

Julia, I sometimes wear an Ann Taylor black knit sheath dress with cowel neck with skirts that are slight A-lines over it because I like the neckline of the dress as a top. Of course the skirts are a bit longer than the dress. I've done this with denim a-line, wool plaid pencil skirt, and wool beaded a-line skirts. The bottom of the dress functions as a slip.

16 years ago

Julia

Active Member

Eva, I've seen the Jan issue of Glamour and know the outfits you mentioned. NicNac, those pictures you posted totally make sense. I love all those ways to wear a sheath, actually I'm inspired to wear my black sheath in those new ways. However, the lace fabric was my main concern.

I think that Joy made a good point here, if it's lined in black, it could work; the one my sis bought is lined in nude though.

16 years ago

Eva

Active Member

Julia, you are right, the nude does make a difference. I guess it depends on how casual her office is. I have seen other women wear tops that were black with nude under it. Good luck with your sheath makeovers. Don't forget to post pictures!

16 years ago

susan

Active Member

I loooooove the outfit you put together. We have a wedding this weekend and I am thinking now I will wear the dress I wore for my son's wedding replacing the little shrug/jacket I wore with my denim jacket and my black boots. That will certainly take away the mother of the groom look but give me a chance to lower the CPW! Thanks for the idea. Oh...wouldn't some black fishnets just finish the look? Or am I too old for that? (53)

16 years ago

Julia

Active Member

Susan, your plan sounds pretty good. I don't think fishnet has an age limit. Maybe you can post a picture so we can see how it turns out?

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nay Susan! Not to old! I have a 69 year client in a pair of classy micro fishnets. Go for it.

16 years ago

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