Confession: Angie's pick is one of my closet orphans! Updated Pic! - YouLookFab Forum

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Confession: Angie's pick is one of my closet orphans! Updated Pic!

Abie

Veteran

I was browsing Angie's Nordstrom picks and was shocked to come across my dress! My dress that I got at an unbelievable price , still has the tags on it and has been in my closet for 2 months! I should be in so much trouble for this =)

It's the Rachel Pally White Label Short Caftan in Peony.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/ra.....AtinYVO8Hw

Everything should be right for me about this dress but for some reason I have had a hard time with it. I blamed it on being a thin knit, but there is enough fabric I don't think that's the issue. It is pretty flowy and I usually wear a little more structure.

The shape I think is right for me. I think the color is right too. I guess I am just having a hard time styling it.

I'm posting this because I'm committing to rectifying this situation. I will try it on this weekend and take pics. Hopefully you can help me decide if it works well and how I should wear it.

Update: My husband cooperated and helped me take a pic. Sorry about the flash, the lighting is bad, and my makeup is long gone for the day =)

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Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from Vicki

celia

Veteran

Do it tomorrow. Sometimes things stay in our wardrobe unworned simply because we overthink it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I love hearing your confession, Abie! Perhaps we can see it on and help you un-orphan it?

You know, also, things can look spectacular, but just not be your style (your style that's in your heart). Perhaps this is one of those dresses?

bj1111

Veteran

abie...baby steps. this dress does not need much styling esp in the austin heat. add some sandals, a bangle or two, sunglasses ...then walk out the door!

report back when you come home from wearing it out!

Deborah

Veteran

Abie, I would love to see this on you. I image the color would be incredibly flattering. You may be overthinking the dress, but let's have a look

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Quite some time ago, I ended up buying an Angie recommended dress because it looked so fabulous on Kari. I loved that thing, and I ordered it as soon as I could. The colour I got wasn't the same as the colour Angie'd recommended but *was* the colour that Kari had tried and that looked so incredible on her.

Thing is? That dress sat in my closet for months and months. I was kind of worried that I'd made a bit of a mistake, but in the end - it was just a case of figuring out how I'd wear it, and with what boots/shoes/accessories, toppers etc. I eventually did figure out something and I'm very glad I ordered it and kept it. When I did finally get around to figuring out how I'd wear it - I loved it, and my husband loved it too.

I guess what I'm saying is that there's a chance that this dress you have is just as fab as you imagined it to be and just as fab as the person who recommended it - but when we get these things into our own closets, we sometimes have to find a way to work it into our own personal style, lifestyle, situation etc. The single piece isn't going to stand alone, and yet - when we ordered it - it was supposed to be so fab that it would just magically be amazing.

All by itself....

No, not necessarily.

I suspect that this dress you have is just as fab as you'd hoped it would be, and that you're like me - in that you got this thing home and it just sat there for awhile. When I finally got around to wearing the dress that I'd seen on an Angie-recommended 'picks' post and that I'd also seen on Kari - it was just as good as I thought it would be, but I needed to figure out how to wear it, and with what etc. It wasn't like I could just pop this thing on and voila - instant fab. No, I needed to come up with how to wear it in a way that suited me.

The dress sat there in my closet for long enough that I missed the the point of being able to return it. It was almost orphaned, but in a way - it really wasn't. It was just neglected. It was that I hadn't tried to figure out how to wear it and somehow expected that the dress would style itself. lol!

I'm betting that your dress is going to be just as fab as you'd imagined it would be, and that its just a matter of figuring out how you'd like to personalize it to work beautifully for you.

Time to pull out the dress and start trying things.

Abie

Veteran

Yay! Hubby took a pic, and my dogs wanted to be stylish too, they would not get out of the shot!

Beth Ann

Veteran

Oh, Abie! You look far better in this dress than the model in Angie's post (although she was quite lovely, too)! This is lovely in color and shape. I get that it's less structured than your usual, but it's beautiful on you!

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I bet you'd look amazing in it! Can we see a photo?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow, it looks gorgeous on you!!

So, how it looks isn't the issue; let's find out what IS.

Do you have the right footwear for it? That's key.

Does it feel too warm now where you live with the sleeves? No problem; we can help you figure how to wear it in its season.

I don't think you need much other than the right shoes and maybe one of your necklaces with this.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Suz is into something, re: the shoes. The dress looks beautiful on you and it's likely just a case of finding just the right things to wear with it.

The hot pink colour is amazing on you! You didn't make a mistake and the only reason this thing's an orphan is because it's new and it'll take a few tweaks to make it just right for you.

In the meantime - too cute about the doggies hanging around for the fashion show

Abie

Veteran

Thank you! I think the shoes are probably wrong. I have these black strappy ones in the pic below.

Would flats work well?

I have these Yellow Scarpe Diam flats that are on there way and should be here Friday. I wanted to add some bright colored shoes.

http://www.amazon.com/Scarpe-D.....B002VLYHGY

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kellygirl

Veteran

OMG, that dress is divine on you! I love it. Gorgeousness What about some metallic sandals?

Beth Ann

Veteran

Abie: Love the yellow flats, and they might make the outfit feel like "you." The lighter black sandals you posted would work better than the ones you have on with the dress, I think, and I also like Kelly's idea of metallic.

marija

I think the black sandals are a bit heavy and metallic would be just the ticket. I agree that it is very pretty on you!

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I am no expert, but I think a strappier sandal as you've shown in your most recent post might look better with this dress. It *is* a fab dress and it looks really pretty on you. Like I said, I suspect the only real reason it's an 'orphan' is because it's "new" and it may take some figuring out when it comes to deciding what to wear with it.

I love the idea of the yellow too - but like I said, I'm no expert, and I am not sure if flats would work with this type of dress. I'm hoping some more experienced/more stylish YLF'ers will chime in on the flats question.

The yellow would make a really gorgeous colour combination though, and I can't see why you couldn't wear flats with this beautiful dress.

Abie

Veteran

Thank you so much for the great ideas! I think I will try it on again this weekend with a few pairs of shoes when I can take more pictures.

Besides the one's I mentioned before, I have a pair of Chocolate brown metallic wedge sandals, and a pair of cream metallic sandals.

The cream ones I am unsure about in general because I'm not sure they work with my skin.

sarah

Veteran

Wow, this dress is aMAzing on you! GORGEOUS!

Midwest Girl

It's a beautiful dress. I look forward to seeing some more pictures of you with it styled.

rute

Veteran

I LOVE it! So pretty! Love the color!

Vix

Veteran

Hi Abie --

I hope you figure out why this gorgeous fit-and-color on you dress is still tagged as IMO it deserves to come out and play!

Agree with all the suggestions above re different shoes. To me it seems pretty versatile -- do a lower heel/classic "nice sandal-thong" for more casual styling or go with something dressier if you're in the mood.

From your other dress post it seems you're comfortable in this type of womanly, somewhat retro style so please don't hold back -- bust this baby out.

The only thing I wonder about a *tiny* bit is the sleeve width -- could it be bugging you? Personally I like the drama the shape brings, think you carry the style off well, and note they seem to collapse back nicely. But if there's any chance you are thinking "ack, too much sleeve" then I'd look into getting them slimmed a bit.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

You look stunning in this dress! Please wear often!

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

I think it looks amazing on you! I like the idea of yellow or metallic with it.

I adore Rachel Pally. Thank god I live in LA and can hit her sample sales. I wish she did more tops because dresses tend to be orphans for me, I just don't wear them enough. I have the mini caftan in a blue and white print that I wear as a tunic .

Tanya

Veteran

This dress was made for you Abie, you look so beautiful in it! Please wear it.

Isis

Veteran

Beautiful color! I know you like flats: would look really great with gold or silver gladiators!

Shu

Beautiful!

Anonymous

The dress is a lovely color on you and fits great! I vote for a heeled, strappy metallic sandal with it.

christieanne

Veteran

Love the color and the retro vibe of the dress - it fits you really well. I would like with a sleeker shoe (metallic, black, chocolate brown and your new yellow sound good) and ready to go. You don't need much else with this vibrant color.
Any wedding invitations or special events in your future? This would be perfect!

Anonymous

It is not really about how you look but how you feel. If you don't feel fab I would really consider returning it. If you bought it from Nordstrom, you can still return it. They don't have a time limit on returns.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Abie, I love your heartfelt story, the dress and your furry ones! You are not alone and I think we've all done something like this. That's why I tend to be on Team Wear and get right in there and wear it, even if it still needs some additional styling. VC eloquently stated this process and it's time to show some love to this neglected beauty and add some of the elements that please you. I do like the idea of metallic sandals or flats and some pretty necklace or bracelet.