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Dresses - need opinons

shiny

Veteran

Whole album is here (pw ylf2008):
http://s386.photobucket.com/al.....3/dresses/

Everything is labeled accordingly.

1. Striped BR dress
I like this when I look from the front, but from the side, I think I look really dumpy. I'm also not keen on the tie, but that could easily be removed. However, I think DD14 looks much, much better in it - her waist is so much tinier than mine. So I'm of the mind to give this one to her, and she is in agreement on that.... but I told her we'd put it to a YLF vote.

2. ATL Shirt dress
This is the one I was thinking about wearing with leggings. I have pics worn as a dress - is this too short or can I pull it off? And pics with it over the UO skinnies. Does this work, or should I take it up a few inches?

DD14 liked it best over white COH Amber bootcuts, but we didn't have a chance to take pics because I had to fly out to pick up other DD. DD14 doesn't like this shirt dress - she thought it was weird. But, it's growing on me and *I* like it. I like the ruffled neckline. I think it's fun. What do you think?

I am secretly hoping you will tell me it's fine worn as a dress... and not too short. Because I'm imagining this would be nice and cool on a hot summer night. Not so sure if adding jeans - during summer, at least - makes sense. But, if I can wear it either way, that's even better (and yes, it does look cute with a cropped cardi, but left unbuttoned).

3. ATL Sheath dress.
Okay, I'm hoping you all say this one rocks, because I feel fab in it. I saw it and instantly knew it would work with my green cardi. I'm thinking, if the weather permits, I will wear this to the reunion. There's actually no red in the pattern but do you think the red shoes and clutch complement it? (Excuse the straps on the shoes - I was too lazy to buckle them all the way).

What about the length? Can I still get away with this length?

4. BCBG dress
This is a few years old. I actually have the same exact dress, in two different prints, because I liked it so much, and both got tons of use in the past. I have sentimental memories attached with both of them. As you can see, it has an asymetrical hem that's supposed to hit mid-calfish. Can I pull this length off? Is it really that horrible??? Should I attempt to shorten it somehow? Or leave as is (for that 1930s glamour?) I hate to let these two dresses go... but am I fooling myself for sentimental reasons?

General

21 replies

Latest reply was from Vani

LoP

Veteran

I love them all. Great dresses and your daughter is cute. I have posted a sale alert for the ATL dress a while back 'cause I loved it so much and had to see it on someone here. Looks great on you. The length seems fine to me.

Maya

Veteran

Sorry Shiny but I have to give the striped dress to DD. She looks really cute in it!

I kind of prefer the shirt dress as a dress. It is a little short, but you're petite so I think you can get away with it. Is this a petite? Would a regular length work better? The neckline is sweet and the shape is spot on.

The sheath is perfect, length and all. It looks really super with the cardi and super on you in general. Keep it and wear red shoes for sure! I think dresses that hit just above the knee are generally best on petites.

To that point, the BCBG dress does look long to me. Is it horrible? No. Could it be better? Yes.

shiny

Veteran

Thanks LoP! Now you can see why it's so hard for me to resist buying new clothes... I have two lovely daughters who will happily snap up anything I get bored of, or isn't quite right. DD14 in particular is very similar to my shape, except her waist is much more tiny and she's 3 inches taller!

Maya - they did not have a regular length, at least in the store. Also I was afraid the regular length would hit too low for the waist?

And yeah, that's what I guess I'm wondering: it seems to me that if a dress (especially sheath) hits just above the knee (not too high) the proportions are better for me. But I worry because I don't know if my knees are all that attractive these days? It's one thing to wear tights... I dunno.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Give the girl the dress LOL (It's cute on you, too, but let the teenager wear the stripes)
I like the shirt dress better as a dress than with the skinnies, too. But I think that it would also work with white cropped leggings.
I think your knees look great, and that porportion seems to work well for you. As long as you don't go higher than right above your knees I think you are ok.
The last dress is just ok, and if you want to keep I would shorten it.

Dawn

(website)

I love the stripy dress! It looks good on both you and your daughter. The shirt dress and the sheath dress both suit your figure so well. I'd love to see the shirt dress with leggings. Your knees are fine and sure, it's not like many people would be staring at them anyway when you're wearing such a beautiful dress.

JewelryGirl

Shiny, you always look great! Here are my comments:

Stripes - give it to DD. Love it from the front, completely agree with you on the side shot!

ATL shirt dress with ruffled collar - KEEP!! I don't think it's too short & I LOVE LOVE LOVE it with that necklace! KILLER NECKLACE, I've been meaning to tell you that from other posts. VERY COOL!!

ATL Sheath Dress - Too Funny! I tried this one on as well & almost bought for Easter. I just wanted something lighter color at the time! LOVE it, keep!!

BCBG Dress - LOVE IT, Keep! I would do different shoes though. Maybe it's just me & my fat ankles but I don't like the strap around the ankle....I think it breaks the sleek line down the leg. Can you try with a different shoe? Or, it might just be me!

You wear dresses so well!!

Maya

Veteran

Oh no, we're not down to criticizing our KNEES are we?! Angie told me this yesterday and I'm going to pass it on to you: don't overanalyze! No one is going to be looking at your knees!

I really think the shirt dress is fine the way it is. I was going to say that if there was a regular in the store that you could try on, it wouldn't hurt as a "just in case" precaution, but if it's not available then it probably isn't worth the effort to hunt it down.

Maybe JG has a point about the shoes.

shiny

Veteran

LOL, Maya... Go to my facebook page and view my elbow video ... and then consider that knees are basically just like elbows!

Seriously, I think there will come a day when I can't bare my knees. Not quite sure I'm there ... yet. But that day will come eventually. Then I will probably live in pants.

I'm glad you like the shirt dress as a dress. I think it will be fun to wear this summer. But the more I look at the pic with the UO skinnies, the more that look is *also* growing on me..... hmmmmm....

As for the shoes, I definitely want to wear those shoes to the reunion, because they are uber-comfy and perfect for walking on grass. Do you think they work okay with the sheath?

So, I just kept them on while changing for the photo session. I have never worn them with that BCBG dress. Those shoes have a '30s flair to them though, don't you think? And the dress actually has hints of red in it (probably can't see it in the photo - it's very subtle - little red dots).

tarzy

Veteran

You look great in the wrap dress! I tried it on and I can't remember now why I passed. I think I was worried the ruffles were a bit much for me. I think I didn't give it enough of a chance. (Regretting it now.)

It's great on you, both with bare legs and with pants.

Maya

Veteran

Shiny, the shoes look fine with the sheath--retro and pretty, and you have the ankles for them too. The longer dress isn't an ideal length for you, which is why I think you need to give your legs as much length as possible to make it work. Make sense?

medusa

Veteran

Shiny,

I agree about the striped dress, it looks great on your daughter.

I'm with the others that the shirt dress looks great as a dress. I think it really suits you.

The sheath dress looks good, I quite like it with those shoes.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the print and style of the BCBG dress. It might look better on you shortened, I'm not sure. I'm curious to hear what Angie thinks about the length.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

KILLER black wrap dress/tunic!!! I have to say that THAT is an Angie outfit – right down to the little sliver flats. I love it worn both as a dress and a tunic. FABULOUS. And I REALLY want that necklace.

Love the navy foral dress too! Very pretty. KILLER shoes. I thought you did not like ankle straps? Must be mixing you up with someone else.

Striped dress is PERFECT on DD :0)

BCBG dress is pretty and I like it with the shoes, but I MUCH prefer you in a shorter dress.

Bless you Maya for putting the brakes on “knee analysis”. We are not going there!

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Agree with all of the above. LOVE the floral sheath on you; I tried it on last month and almost bought it but I was between sizes. It's a KILLER dress.

The ruffled wrap is so pretty on you!

Anonymous

You look great in all of the dresses. You look great in dresses period. You should wear them and enjoy them often. I love them all and love the shoes. I think the last one pictured should be shortened a little. I liked the striped one on you as well as on your daughter. Maybe you can share it.

anne

Veteran

Shiny - I like the stripy one better on your DD. I loved the others on you. I like a 30's vibe too!

planetamy

(website)

1. I like it on you! I don't think you look dumpy at all. I love the horizontal stripes right at your waist.
2. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the shirt dress. You look Killer in it!
3. Sheath dress is Awesome. I love the red bag and shoes, they "don't match but they go" (as Stacy and Clinton say ). I also had the thought that you could maybe try leggings with this one? It's a little less structured than the shirt dress, so maybe they would work.
4. I'm not a huge fan of the piping around the chest, nor the pattern, but that could be just me. I don't mind the asymmetrical hem.

Amy

Christie

1. You're right about it looking GREAT from the front and not-so-stellar from the side.
2. The shirt dress is amazing. Is that new this year? It looks like it works on its own and with pants.
3. The sheath dress is a great one on you.
4. I do really like the vibe of this dress and you look happy and confident in it!

shiny

Veteran

Woo-hoo, an Angie outfit! That was what I was going for.

I was dubious about this shirt dress over skinnies look, but I liked your black shirt dress so much, I have been on the hunt for a long while now. Ultimately most of the shirt dresses that had sleeves of any sort, just did not work on me. I don't know why - I guess made me look too broad shouldered. Or in many cases, just didn't feel comfortable, all that stiff fabric around my arms, or it was just too much black. I had a couple of "almost" encounters at AT outlet. I even tried Club Monaco - gorgeous shirt dress with beautiful detailing and fabric - but the length was all wrong for petite me. (Highly recommend for any of you taller people).

But then when I found this sleeveless one, I was so happy! I think I need bare arms (or ability to put a cardi over without added bulkiness) to break up the black. And the ruffles are icing on the cake!

You aren't confused Angie - I do not like shoes with ankle straps. But I do like *this* particular pair, which are so comfy all over I can look past the straps. These are wide-width Aerosoles I bought at clearance at DSW a few years ago and they are cushy and easy to walk in. Because they are wide width, they would not stay on my feet without the straps. I'm glad they work with the sheath dress, since I can stand for hours in these. They are 8-hour shoes.

I'm still planning to get some leggings when I get the chance.

I guess I will store away the BCBG dresses for now - maybe they'll come back in style. I'm not ready to give them up yet, but I do have other choices. I'm going to have fun with my shorter, knee-baring dresses while I still can.

Striped dress is in DD's closet now!

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Shiny I don't have much constructive to add here that hasn't already been said. I do love the AT dress with and without the jeans though. Sometimes I find longer dresses tunic work with jeans but no so well with leggings. Def. give it a go though!!!

Looks like you are set for the reunion outfit - the entire outfit you have put together is divine!!!

The BCBG dress doesn't look bad, but is just nowhere near as flattering as the other styles on you I'm afraid. You also have set your own bar very very high!!!!

HannahC

Shiny,

You look fab as always! Yes, the striped dress looks killer on your lovely daughter. Isn't it fun? I am looking forward to giving stuff to my daughter (she is 10), though I have a feeling this won't happen because she is going to have a very different figure from mine (and I also hope she will be at least 3 inches taller than me).

Hey, you are wearing my dress (the second one - ATL wrap dress with ruffles, only that you keep calling it a shirt dress for some reason)! I just posted it yesterday, you can still dig out the thread (god, the forum moves so fast!). I am wearing a regular length, which comes about on the same spot as the petite length on you. So this might give you an idea where the regular length will hit you. I love this dress and definitely plan wearing it as a dress, not as a tunic. You should too although it does look fab as a tunic as well.

I love the other dresses too. I guess I am in a minority, but I really love the BCBG dress on you. It got a very cool retro vibe.

Vani

Veteran

shiny, I don't really have much to add to what others have said but that ATL shirt dress looks fantastic on you With or without the skinnies. And you have a beautiful daughter. My mother, sister and still share and swap clothes all the time, and I love to be able to do that