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Dresses are still my fave but...

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

...they limit my mix and match possibilities.

Further to Angie's comment in lyn's post about working capsules (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....e-capsules) I have to totally agree. I love my frocks and wear them often and with different toppers and footwear BUT separates give me so many more options.

I think part of the reason I have so many blazers is because I NEED them to go with my dresses and give me the ability to change things up with those dresses. I've purchased a few skirts and blouses in the last couple of months and am rediscovering the mixing and matching with separates. And I'm loving it! In fact I felt so good the other day in my espresso Esprit trousers and in today's navy trousers, that I may become more of a separates girl than I had anticipated. I also like the "freedom" (for lack of a better word) of being able to go without a blazer and just have the simplicity of trousers or skirt and a blouse.

Lyn - trousers are NOT the enemy and I strongly recommend giving them a try!

Dressing

28 replies

Latest reply was from Jaime

Diana

Veteran

I like to wear dresses OVER pants too! In fact, I think I prefer skinny pants to leggings under things like shift dresses... it's an edgier look.

rae

(website)

Veteran

To continue Diana's train of thought, I also love to wear my dresses UNDER tops. This is why I've bought more dresses - they end up being skirts as well. More versatile for me than actual skirts, since for whatever reason I don't like to wear skirts casually.

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Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Although I love both your looks Diana and Rae with the pants under a dress and a sweater over a dress, these don't work for me. When you're suffering from the hot flashes of menopause, I need to be able to take that blazer of PDQ before I melt! And tights with boots are about as much as I can layer under a dress for the same reason. In fact, I think I'm getting a hot flash just thinking about it... (lol!)

catgirl

Veteran

So funny. I was just thinking how dresses work better for me than separates because they are so much simpler for me! I have SO many skirts still sitting around because I struggle with finding the right tops for them.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Oh dresses are definitely easier/simpler but I think they are more limiting.

catgirl

Veteran

True - but I think I NEED limits to survive my own travails!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Ha - too funny Una! You may be on to something!

Irene

Veteran

I prefer dresses, they fit me better!! Skirts never fit properly and move up and around!!!

jayne

Veteran

I am joining this team, all dresses, limit the skirts. I also found out recently that skirts are not making me happy and they are now banned to the 'thinking about it' space because I could nt find a way to wear them (not all but many). And RAE is right, dresses fit me better for some reason and I would rather layer over them than wear a skirt. Why is that? Anyway, I am jumping on the slacks bandwagon a while until I am willing to try skirts again.

Jonesy

Veteran

So interesting...I have almost no dresses and can never really find ones that I like and that flatter me (and aren't body-con, which I can't tolerate). Lots of times if I put on a dress, I take it off because it just looks too plain or boring or something to my eye, to have the same thing going on from shoulders to knees :). I admire the YLFers who can rock dresses all of the time and look awesome. OTOH, I have lots of skirts and love them! I love to mix and match and come up with different combos.

Astrid

Veteran

I've had more luck with skirts, because it's hard to find dresses that fit. But I like the idea of just putting a dress over tights and boots and being good to go, so I'm always looking for ones. I'd also love to find a great summer dress that doesn't need layering for really hot days.

Echo

Veteran

I am with Una on this one. I own almost no skirts at all because dresses are just so much easier. And with a plain dress, I can accessorize with a blazer or cardi or other topper and jewelry and be done. Almost everything matches when I limit myself to dresses and toppers! And as far as simplicity goes, nothing beats a dress, IMO.

With your creative style, Shannon, I can definitely see how separates would work better for you, though. I am just not nearly as creative.

cciele

Veteran

Interesting how people are divided on this! I always thought most people wore both dresses and skirts and I was odd for not liking skirts. I'm a dress girl all the way because they fit and are no-brainers. I have picked up a few skirts to experiment with though...

rachylou

Veteran

Hmm. I do the mix and match thing with trousers and tops mostly because I'm so cold. Dresses and skirts let the breeze in, lol. But as short-waisted person, I think dresses are easiest to do style-wise. You get one long column of pattern and/or color, and don't have to worry so much about visual truncation.

On the other hand, it's hard to find a dress with the waist in the right the spot.

Diana

Veteran

I prefer dresses for comfort, ease, and style, but skirts are just easier for me to fit so I have more of them. I am different sizes on the top and bottom, plus very short waisted. Makes finding a dress that fits really difficult...

I have to say though that the rotating, riding-up skirt is the bane of my existence.

Ariadne

Veteran

I basically don't wear skirts at all. I have one denim pencil skirt and a couple of tops to go with it that are part of my "church" capsule, and that's it. I find them too constricting for my lifestyle. They always shift around on my body. I like how Diana drescribed it--"rotating, riding-up skirt". Yep! Plus, I don't have any casual skirt length tops. If I had an office job I'd probably wear them more.

I wear a lot of casual dresses, though. A knit dress with leggings is the ultimate MOTG outfit for me. I call it "pajama clothes" because that's how it feels! It makes me laugh when I get "oh, you're dressed up!" comments.

Rae, I'm inspired by your dresses-as-skirts idea and I'm going to try that!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I wear dresses to the opera because they're so easy. I have small but good selection of skirts, but I just don't wear them.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I seriously can't do pants. I have a pair of slouchy jeans now (bought accidently from Zara; lol, I thought they were the slim style when I grabbed them off the pile), but that's about it for pants.

I think it's more of an emotional issue than a fit issue.

ETA: I also do dresses as skirts and dresses as tops too

JulieJohn

Veteran

I'm excited to try dresses as skirts this fall, when it is cool enough to pop something on top of one. Shannon, your freedom is of paramount importance. The freedom to create new looks for us to drool over! Carry on, and you can do no wrong!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You all make lots of sense! Skirts vs. dresses is a very personal style choice:

If you don't like to layer, it's harder to do dresses. If you have a minimal style, you don't like to create lots of layers (that would be me). You want to wear a dress and that's it. Maybe with a trench or denim jacket - but again that's it.

I love my dresses, but I don't want too many of them BECAUSE I do not like to layer over and under them. They must have sleeves in order for me to stay warm. No more sleeveless dresses pour moi unless I move to a hot climate.

I have fallen back in love with my skirts - but am not as into pencils as I used to be. I love my flared skirts, and flared skirts are the only way I want to add to my skirt capsule at the moment, (unless the perfect lace pencil skirt came along because THAT has been on my shopping list for years).

I find skirts very easy because I wear them with my wardobe essentials:

- button down shirt
- denim jacket
- fitted turtleneck

Flop proof!

So. I love skirts and dresses equally, but I want my wardrobe to reflect more skirts than dresses.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I have tons of skirts and dresses. I think I prefer dresses, actually. Less effort to think about what to match the skirt with--it's just grab and go which is great when I'm rushing out the door. I don't layer much either, but I don't mind wearing dresses alone. I have so many of them that I can just wear a dress alone and still have lots of variety. In fact, I just had a revelation--that's why I'm not good at mix and match capsules! I've got the dress capsule down pat though...I could do a 30 dresses for 30 days capsule, LOL!

I also prefer skirts and dresses to pants. I must be an older version of lyn* (although I do wear jeans)!

Bagaline

I love skirts but they don't love me.

They slide down my very round tummy ending longer in the front than in the back ! To avoid this awful look, I am constantly fussing with the skirt, pulling it up in the front, checking myself in every shop window to see if the darn thing is even front and back. Really too much work, give me pants anytime.

And even if skirts don't agree at all with my shape, would you believe that I still look at skirts when I shop? Is it a desperate case of pig headedness or what?

Lately I've bought a few summer dresses, the sort without a waist. They fit well and I like them a lot. Now all I need is a summer, tall order in Ireland . . .

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Such a variety of responses - I love it! I seem to be the only one falling back in love with trousers. But that's ok...I've always marched to my own drum anyway (lol)!

i do still love dresses and will always have a few in my wardrobe. I find them fairly easy to fit because I can get a column of colour or pattern with an open blazer, can be quite flattering and elongating.

But I'm also enjoying the possibility of more and different combinations with separates. It's all such fun, isn't it?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*Ahem*

BIG trouser gal here

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Whoops....pardon me....I just had a glass of red wine after a crazy day...not thinking straight...

jen

Confession I don't own any dresses or skirts

JR

Veteran

Ahem. I have no dresses. And two skirts. I will never stop loving pants. On a limited budget, you get more bang for your buck with separates. And it's so much fun to play with different combinations. AND in a Canadian winter, pants are so much more practical.

Having said that, I would love to have dresses. I love them. They do not love me. Like Diana, my top and bottom do not match, size-wise, and the dresses see me coming and sniff in disdain. It's unrequited love.

I will be looking into getting more skirts though. The column of colour with a skirt is a great substitute for a dress, with more versatility. Take that dresses! I can live without you, I can too! The two skirts I have love me very much, and - get this - there is a third one coming. So there. Jealous? Just a little? Please?

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Well I have a more than healthy selection of dresses and skirts for my holiday/weekend hosting/visiting capsule, which I never photograph (but mean to). I love the ease of a comfortable dress, but have found a lot of great skirts also. I think I just appreciate a good piece too much. Healthier than some addictions at least (she says trying to self justify).