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Certain body type for sweater dress?

Taffy

I've been wondering about this a lot lately....I love the look of sweater dresses, but everytime I try them on they seem to pronounce my bumps and lumps!
Do you need to be very slim to wear these successfully? Or are there some tricks to selection that I need to be aware of?
Thanks!

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from marianne

Nicole

Veteran

Funny you should ask this Taffy. I too loved the look of sweater dresses and envied all the thin young women who could wear them without worrying about their lumps and bumps. I resigned myself to just admiring them from afar.

Then I was in Target, scouring the clearance rack, and I saw the grey ombre sweater dress that I am wearing in my recent post of back to work outfits. I figured I had nothing to lose by trying it on. So I schlepped it into the dressing room, completely expecting it to be like all the others. I was shocked and giddy at how nicely it skimmed over my lumps and bumps. SO, to answer your question--I think there is a sweater dress out there for almost anyone who wants to wear one. It's just a matter of finding one that is the right cut. I also think the tighness of the knit will affect it's cling. SO don't give up and if you see one that catches your eye--try it on.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Hmm....it really depends on the dress. I try to stay away from very thinly knit sweater dresses, because I have the same problems as you--bumpy. The shape also plays a role. A form fitting sheath type sweater dress is a big no-no for me, I just look awful in those. I need it mimic a more traditional dress with an A-line skirt, or possibly an empire waist.

This one would probably be more of a sweater tunic on you, but I tried it on at J. Crew and had a lot of luck with it. I think I will pick it up when it goes on sale:

http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Brows...../97722.jsp

I'm kind of digging the heather acorn color with red and cream accessories.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Yes, when is that Dream Soho dress going on sale? I've been watching it too - dying to wear it over skinnies. Does your JCrew personal shopper have any idea, Ana?

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I haven't asked her about that dress in particular. My guess is that since they just came out with two new colors, and the purple color is completely sold out, it won't go on sale until either right before, or after Christmas.

My personal shopper has been really perplexed with J. Crew's sales lately. It used to be more regular, but now they are marking things down randomly. Sometimes, something will be marked down in the store, that hasn't even shown up in the catalog yet or just came out in the catalog, so people see it and it's already gone or on sale.

My strategy is just to check once a week or so (when I remember). But now that they've come out with the lighter camel color (instead of the black I was planning), I'm much more tempted to buy it with my student discount than wait for it to go on sale......I don't know, I'll have to see how things pan out.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm. The whole retail deal right now is hard to figure out. I am sure even they don't quite know what they're doing in this economy. My friend's sister just got laid off as district manager for Ann Taylor after 16 years - it's gonna be a mess after the holidays and the stores take stock of how the season went. Well, I'll be watching for deals along with you (and I had no idea the dress also came in camel - interesting option!)

Nicole

Veteran

I recently received an email about all the retail store closings (as a kind of consumer beware scare tactic). I don't know how much truth was in it, but the volume of stores that are under performing and slated to be close was alarming.

(sorry to hijack your thread, Taffy)

Tanya

Veteran

To go back to the original sweater dress question, I have also been very frustrated with them this season, I think I have tried on over 30 of them ( seriously) and so far only got one tunic length to wear over skinnies.

I have fairly curvy bottom half of my body and most of those dresses are cut straight and are pretty clingy. So I think those ( that are the majority of what's in the store) are for rectangles. For more curvy among us, we should look for A-line style or empire ( baby-doll) ones with slightly gathered fabric below, like the one Ana linked to.

shana

Veteran

I have yet to find a sweater dress that works for my body type (Inverted Triangle/Apple). I absolutely love them and try on nearly every one I come across but just can't find one I feel looks good. I can't do some of the higher neck tops because of the bust issue and I find that since my hips are slim, sweater dresses cling too much in the tummy area. I think some kind of shapewear, like spanx, can help to a degree. I really like that J Crew dress/tunic that Ana posted and could see how that could work without being too clingy.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I completely agree that the range of sweater dresses out there is not really satisfactory. Either you wind up in the juniors department looking at babydoll styles (not so great when you're a mom in your 40s) or you're staring at another too-clingy option in the BR dressing room mirror. Nothing works! Why can't one of the major retailers make tunic-length tops from woven material for grown-ups?

Taffy

Thanks for all the replies! I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one out there that has run across this.
Ana-- I liked that J.Crew one. That's probably the first one that I've really looked at that flared outward. I'll keep trying. Looking is half the fun right?
Nicole--I don't mind the hijack. I always learn something from the tangents anyway! Good job on the Target one..if only they had tall's. I've never quite been able to wrap my head around the longer tunic with skinnies look, but maybe some day!

Telly

My friend and I went to BR the other day and she bought this dress in gray: http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....pid=606652

It is sooo cute in person. She is going to wear it with a turtleneck (either black or white), black tights, and black knee-high boots.

Kyle

Veteran

Hoping to find one that fits/flatters AND is not wool or cashmere. Tall order!

Taffy

Thanks for the link Telly...unfortunately I need around a 42" length...then it hits at the top of my knee cap.

Kyle----that IS a tall order! I'll keep my eyes peeled

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

These ARE hard items to find, but when you find them they’re fab. They need to be thick enough, long enough and shaped just so. Not too clingy. A bit of volume in the right place is key.

Taffy, pretty pears look great in empire cut babydolls. But length will be a tallest challenge for your statuesque frame.

marianne

Taffy, you may have already seen it, but the last Boden catalog had several cute sweater dresses and they carry tall (or long) sizes.