Closet cleaning: need opinions on these dresses - YouLookFab Forum

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Closet cleaning: need opinions on these dresses

catgirl

Veteran

I've held onto some dresses from my old work life and am not sure whether to keep them around. Help! My family is all gone for a week so I have time to sort.

1. Jones New York dress once worn for work. I'm finding it a bit frumpy here for some reason.

2. Cheap shift dress - good to throw on but again, boring?

3. Theory silk dress - is the neckline too high? Too boxy? This is where you can see my secondary rectangle shape.

4. Ted Baker dress - a big splurge a few years back, before I realized this neckline was not great for me. Again, boxy or unflattering? I still love the pattern, of course. Bonus brawling kittens in background.

5. Old black sheath dress. This was a work dress and probably could stay as part of a funeral/event capsule. It's boring but fits well. Dated?

Please ignore morning hair situation. All feedback welcome! TIA.

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Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from

shedev

Veteran

If you are going to keep one of the black ones, I like the one in 1 for the neckline. It could be the backdrop for fab boots and jacket. Can you get the Ted Baker one altered?

Anonymous

I love closet cleaning.

Number 1: You look fabulous. Absolutely gorgeous. I would keep it.

Number 2: Like it too. It suits what I know of your style. I would keep it.

Number 3: The fit is sublime. You look fabulous.

Number 4: Bright. This dress does not fit with what I know of your style.

Number 5: I prefer the neckline of number 1 (if you are going to keep one or the other).

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

Just going on sort of gut reactions here... But these are my two cents.

1 and 5 are similar enough to work for the same types of occasions and I am liking #5 much better on you. That shorter length takes out any frump factor and I also prefer the neckline and shape of arm holes better. The over all picture on you looks more chic in 5 than 1. I also really love #2. The shape and length are so perfect for your look. 3 and 4 have some similarities to me and as much as I want to love 3 (the silver in your hair is great with it) I just don't see it as perfectly "you" as #4 is. I LOVE 4! That shorter length and great print is just wonderful on you, and I am really liking the neckline too.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Keeping 1 or 5 would be useful for those LBD, funeral, etc. type occasions. Neckline of 1 is more interesting but 5 might be more appropriate...

4 doesn't seem to fit you that well, so if you don't love it maybe consign/resell? 2 and 3 I like well enough, but if you're not wearing it...

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

Do I hear an upcoming dress week challenge? Maybe wear them all to work once and see what you think at the end of the day/week?

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

I love Rambling Ann's idea!! That is the best way to find out how you really feel in something - see how you feel at the end of the work day!

kellygirl

Veteran

2,3 and 4 are my faves. I like 1 and 5 more or less equally for a business-y/funeral capsule. My read on 1 is the same as yours but I think u could freshen it up with some accessories or a jacket or cool shoes. Same goes for 5 but I think that neckline looks more current.

Vildy

Veteran

I alter the shape of my dress/top necklines all the time. Even do it with sweaters. In any case, I'm crazy about #1 on you because it shows off your shoulders in an eat-your-heart-out way.

Elle

Veteran

#1 and #5 seem to serve the same purpose - good for funerals/serious occasions. Of the two, I'd keep #5 because it fits better and you feel better about it. For the rest, it depends on how much you can see yourself wearing them in the future. FWIW, I like the print in #3 on you

Peri

Veteran

I agree that 1 and 5 are so similar that one of them could go if you are wanting to clean out. I have a very slight preference for #1, but I'd go with whichever feels best on. Something like this isn't exciting, but as we were all commiserating on Lisa's post, sometimes necessary and good to have on hand. I'm looking for one myself.

Of the others, I really like #3 on you. Keep that one!

unfrumped

Veteran

I like 3 best!

Which one (s) would you buy again? What type of dress do you wish you had, instead of these?
Do you have any other dresses that you roll always use in place of one or more of these?

catgirl

Veteran

Which one (s) would you buy again? What type of dress do you wish you had, instead of these?

Unfrumped, these are brilliant questions! I don't think I would buy any of them again, except the Ted Baker in a better style for me. I need to think of everything in my closet that way - would I buy this back from my closet?

That said, I think I do need one generic black dress just because I will need one someday.

Anonymous

Looks like I basically agree with a lot of people here. The prints on 3 and 4 are gorgeous and they both look great. If you don't like the necklines, could you try them with a jacket to change the silhouette? 2 looks nice and easy and seems to suit you. Between 1 and 5, I think I like 5 better to hang onto as a basic black dress.

Sal

Veteran

Okay here goes...
I really like 3 on you, I think it is flattering and fun. To my eye a great work dress or maybe even going out dress with the right ankle boots or caged sandals. I could see it with tights too for spring or autumn.

I also like 5, I think it is a useful piece to have in the closet for some days, it looks comfortable and classic.

You look good in a shorter length dress - I find 1 the wrong length, I would prefer it either shorter or preferably longer to give it a more modern feel.

I'm kind of on the fence with 2 and 4, they are okay, but if you are not wearing them?

deb

Veteran

I vote keep 1 & 2.

viva

Veteran

I would keep #3 - really love it on you. If you keep #1, maybe shorten a bit? That would get rid of the frump, I think.

Lyn D.

Veteran

#3 and #5 are my picks, with #2 a question mark just for a FFBO.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

And I like all of them on you. I do see that keeping 1 and 5 is a bit redundant, if they aren't part of your normal work attire anymore. My preference is the neckline of #1, but maybe shortened slightly.

Brooklyn

Veteran

My read is similar to Kiwigal's. Definitely prefer no 5 to no 1. No 1 looks dated to me. I really like no 3, but I see it more as a cool weather dress with tights and boots. No 2 is fine, but I have seen other dresses on you, in a similar silhouette, that are more interesting/funky. No 4 I am not sure about - in terms of it being your style. But my first reaction was good. I don't see any issue with the neckline. I think I am just not used to seeing so much colour on you!

Anonymous

I would let go of 2 and 4, keep 3 and 5, and hold unto 1 as a just in case because depending on how you accessorize it, it might still work.
I'm finding that as I get older many classic, so called timeless, styles, can look a little drab without the counter balancing freshness of youthful sex appeal.

Anonymous

I'm no help. I like these dresses on you. Could you put them in a holding area? But get rid of any that you don't feel you want to wear again. There are always more dresses

catgirl

Veteran

Thanks everyone! I realized I have yet another black dress (an edgier Allsaints one) as well as the long sleeved shift I got for my friends event last year, so I may be ditching all three of these. The Theory dress will stay for now, and I am still agonizing about the Ted Baker dress - tailor said it would be a hard alteration to change the neckline.

Helena

Veteran

I like the black ones on you ... I would keep the one you rather out of 1 & 5, as well as 2. The others are not really up my alley but seem to fit your well!

donnat

Veteran

As if you need any more opinions.... between 1 and 4.. 1 is more flattering because of the v neck. 2 is nice, but generic, you don't love it, so pass.
the Ted Baker seems to be the only one that brings out any love. Alter it, or keep as is, the print is beautiful, I see why you like it. I forgot 3, but again, there doesn't seem to be any love there either. Send them off to where they will be loved.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Keep #4 the Ted Baker. Maybe the neckline is not ideal but as a whole I love it on you.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I like #5 better than #1 or #2, and I like both #3 and #4 on you.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I like #3 a lot. I'd keep that dress. The for doesn't seem wrong to me from this angle.

I love the neckline of #1 but it's too long for you. #2 is easier to just throw on for the weekend. I love the print and colors on #4 - it's great for traveling too when you need to pack few pieces and still look pretty and pulled together. It'll look good with a nicely cut moto and booties.

I later read you have more black dresses. Do you even want to keep any of these blacks? If so - #5 fits the best but #2 would be the best layering piece.

lyn67

Veteran

Love 3,4,5! Pls. keep!:-)

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I think I like #3 the most of these - and I actually do like the style of #2 - but maybe an updated version - and the pattern and colors on #4 is great on you too, the style maybe just not perfect, but what about adding a sheer topper or something?

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