Dress: Keep or Toss - YouLookFab Forum

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Dress: Keep or Toss

kellygirl

Veteran

This dress is several years old and has never been worn. (I bought it for a wedding and ended up wearing something else because the sleeves were difficult to wear under a sweater.) I realize many of you have a poison eye for banding at the hem so I'm sure it's not going to get much love. I have a couple of Confirmations to attend this spring and thought it would be seasonally appropriate and modest but is it just too hideous? I go back and forth on liking/disliking this dress. Please help me decide once and for all. Honesty appreciated.

Yay, keep : It gets the job done and not embarrassingly so.
Na, toss : it's dated and should be passed on.

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Urgent

24 replies

Latest reply was from Beth Ann

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Can you put a jacket over it to hide the underboob thing?

How about your Thakoon dress? It's 1000x fabber and it would be spring semi-formal appropriate with the right footwear.

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....which-shoe

Carole

Veteran

Kelly, I can see why you like the dress, I like the color and pattern. It does not look dated to me, but I'm not an expert. I'm thinking maybe a lighter shoe with a heel, a cute sandal ,maybe in red, could look great.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

May we see the Thakoon dress?

Meredith1953

Veteran

A cropped short jacket over the dress (pretty much any color) and cute colorful footwear will rescue this orphan! I am not crazy about the band under the bustline but a topper of jacket or short cardi could conceal it. I love the print!

marianna

Veteran

I don't think it's bad or dated, but it's just a very *typical* jersey dress, you know? Your style seems more unique and interesting to me.

kellygirl

Veteran

The sleeves are problematic, Rita. It's hard to get anything over them. The Thakoon dress is a great idea--the print always makes me think it's casual so I hadn't considered that one. It does seem more my style now that I think about it. Is this dress just too twee? Perhaps that is what seems off to me.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

I do not love this dress qua dress - it does look dated or something to me - but it is flattering and totally appropriate. If you toss this dress, will you need to buy something else?

Anonymous

I don't think it looks bad or dated, but I do see how it would be difficult (if not impossible) to wear any type of jacket or shrug over it. My qualm with this type of dress is that while it looks good from the front, it probably makes you look pregnant from the side view. I know that's what happens whenever I try to wear a dress like this. I've gotten very picky lately about how my outfits look from all angles, not just from the front.

I do love the print and think it really suits you.

MNsara

Veteran

It looks pretty good on you and I do love a strong black & white pattern. . .

. . . but I'm slowly adopting the idea that if I've glossed over an item more than a few times, then I should probably let it go and continue to pick the things I prefer. (As opposed to making myself wear something out of guilt and not getting to use up the stuff I really like more).

I went back and reviewed your Thakoon dress, and if you can wear the shorter Thakoon to these events, I'd probably vote 'Thakoon'.
This is the Thakoon dress, right?
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....which-shoe

Jonesy

Veteran

The dress is not hideous, but I think you are too FAB for this dress!

Anonymous

It may not look really current, but I'd keep it because I think the cut is quite flattering

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It is not a bad dress. In fact, it looks very nice on you. But if the sleeves are difficult, and you have other options, maybe it needs a new owner.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

This dress isn't bad Kelly, but I'm not loving the sleeves and the fit they give you in the chest as a result.

christieanne

Veteran

I glanced at the Thakoon dress link - that is amazing on you! And could be worn with a great little sandal for your events.
This one is okay but I think you have so many fabulous options that this one isn't as fab as we normally see you. I could see this as a casual summer "sundress" kind of option if the fabric allows for that.

kellygirl

Veteran

Thank you so much. I've been waffling about this dress for quite awhile and now I feel like I have permission to give it the heave ho! I like the dress enough but it never really felt quite "me" and that's why I never end up wearing it. It was guilt that made me keep trying--you are so right, Sara! Thanks again!

HelenInCanada

Veteran

I'll be honest (and I usually LOVE your outfits, kellygirl!), but I don't think this dress is great. Sure, it can "get the job done" for conservative occasions (lol!), but I think you can definitely do much better! Something about the print is reading dowdy to me (I don't mind the banding at all). I DO think a fitted blazer may save it if you MUST wear it. And non-black shoes to make it more spring-y. Experiment. It's a sideways vote for me, but leaning more toward Nay.

Edited to say I just realized you mentioned that wearing a jacket with it will not work because of the problematic sleeves. Okay, toss then!

Kristin L

Veteran

I think the dress is cute, but I don't think it suits you. If you've had it this long and still find something else to wear over the dress, I think it's time for the dress to go, no matter how many people say it looks cute on you.

Kari

Veteran

I'm in agreement with most of the others. If this you'd only option it would do, but it doesn't really stand out as a special dress like many of your other items. I think you'll have plenty other options of you let this one go.

Anna

If the sleeves are the problem, do you love it enough to have a tailor change them? Maybe make it look sleeveless and then it's just timeless. I think it's a nice dress and it looks good on you. It would be great in my office with a red (or other bright) blazer. I just bought a bright purple shrunken blazer with 3/4 sleeves that would look totally modern with that dress!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I do like the fit on you but the print is what makes me hesitate. It's not exactly dated but it reminds me of the sea of things you see at mid-level department stores, targeted towards women who are not fashion-saavy. Since you are in the saavy category, it might just not be "you."

Then I waffle, and think, it might look great with neon or bright accessories to modernize it. So I totally understand your indecision. In which case, I tell myself, when it doubt, then the answer is probably no.

catgirl

Veteran

This dress does not say Kelly to me. Nothing wrong with it, I just don't find it to be all that "you". Maybe with a jacket and some boots?

kellygirl

Veteran

LOL! It's off the hanger and working its way to the donate pile. I'm going to try one more time and see if it will fit under a jacket. If not, it is out of here.
@Denise: I'm cracking up at your waffling. That's exactly what goes through my head.
@Una: Should I try with combat boots? LOL! Dunno, it may just have to find a new home!

amyreh

(website)

Veteran

I think you made the right decision, if you don't love it and haven't worn it in years then time to let it go.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Kelly: If it doesn't make you feel fab, then let it go, absolutely. I have a similar, problematic dress that's on probation. I will say, however, that if you can fully embrace the idea of a pretty dress, this could be styled with a retro vibe -- like a MGM starlet on a press junket in 1948. It is true that the Thakoon dress is more "Kelly style." I think it could be styled well for confirmations.