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For cocktail/awards banquet in AZ in June? Ideas needed.

christieanne

Veteran

It just occurred to me that I am supposed to go to Mesa, AZ in a few weeks (mid June) to a convention and I think I am covered for day wear but the last evening is a banquet of sorts with awards and dancing.
It's not formal - think dressed up cocktail party not formal gowns - but it is Arizona so my typical Bay Area choices (i.e; black) may not be right. Then again, the entire event is in a hotel with AC so not sure how uncovered I would want to go.

At last convention with same group I wore wide leg black pants, satin tux blazer and cobalt blue tank with silver sandals, fun jewelry and felt great. You kind of get all sorts of outfits.

Any ideas - I will start rooting around closet tomorrow but shopping for trip on Sunday (mostly for my mom - she;s going with) so I can hunt then.

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from christieanne

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Approximately what kind of size range(s) are you looking at, if you feel like sharing or giving a general idea? The reason I ask is because I've somehow become overly familiar with Nordstrom's offerings of late (preparing to place a big order) and have come across some really nice dresses on for some amazingly good prices. What colours do you like and also - what kind of 'comfort requirements' do you have? (ie. for me, I'd prefer things that aren't too low-cut, if it has sleeves, then I'm happier, not crazy about super-clingy jersey fabrics and so on).

Meanwhile, your outfit from last year sounds fab!

ETA: here's one of the dresses I came across yesterday while stressing over my Nordstrom order, and as soon as I saw it, I thought of Mo...unfortunately it looks like it's sold out already in the regular sizes, but I believe there's a 'petite medium' left:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/t-.....n=category

Not sure if this is appropriate for your particular occasion though - just liked the 'idea' of this dress.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

How about an Adrianna Papell or Todashi Shoji dress! You could haul it out again for the holidays.

christieanne

Veteran

I knew you all were going to suggest popping on a cute dress and going that way. I have a hard hard time fitting dresses.
42 G bust, apple tummy (anywhere from 12 to 16 depending on the brand) and short waist which looks shorter with the bust, fairly slim arms and legs though so if I fit the bust and then the middle, the arms and bottom are usually huge. I can never find empire or fitted bust styles that don't look ridiculous or like maternity dresses.

I really do better in skirts and tops but is that boring? I was thinking of looking for a cotton lace pencil skirt that I could dress up or a hi lo midi skirt (tired on a Vince Camuto a while back and loved it but it was black). If I could dress up the top somehow or just go simple and do big accessory I could live with that.

christieanne

Veteran

I searched for a few lace pencils but stumbled on this vivid floral. Maybe or not dressy enough?

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velvetychocolate

Veteran

A fancy skirt and top is not boring at all! I think it's just that as soon as we hear "event" we think, "dress."

In terms of the two options you're mulling over, I kind of like the lace skirt idea. But, having said that - if you've found a fab Vince Camuto hi-lo midi skirt that you've already tried and loved - this might be ideal. I don't think there's anything wrong with black. Just that you'll have to pair it with something that is more summery - and I'm not sure what to suggest in this vein. Here's hoping more YLF'ers will chime in with suggestions on what you could pair with the VC black hi-lo skirt for a summer event.

Did you see some of the fab lace skirts that Angie blogged about recently? Something like this could work for this event AND also go through fall and into the winter party season as well.

I wonder if there's a way to work Angie's "ball skirt plus amazing crisp white shirt" formula into a hi-lo skirt ensemble? And because the skirt's hem-line is so interesting, I wonder if some really fancy/fab sandals/shoes might amp up the whole thing?

Looking forward to hearing what other YLF'ers have to say

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

The floral skirt looks nice, but more for day than eve.

Are you plus size? How about any of these?
1. http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/su.....tback=2231
2. http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/vi.....tback=2791
3. http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/mi.....tback=3223
4. http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/mi.....0243-0-1-1
(this one looks a lot like my J Crew origami dress!)
5. http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/ad.....tback=5207

As for skirts, that's a little tougher. How about these:
6. http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ke.....tback=1808
(you could glam it up with a gold sparkly top)
7. http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/vi.....tback=4800
(black or bright red top)
8. http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/dk.....ltback=768
(white or black blouse)

Any of these your style?

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velvetychocolate

Veteran

I was looking at the exact same dress as shown in #5 in GP's post! It's also available in black/white in regular women's sizes too (up to 16 I think, and I notice that the 12 is not listed, so probably sold out - lots of other sizes though).This one jumped out at me...and I come back and see that it jumped at Goldenpig too

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ad.....ltback=350

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christieanne

Veteran

That's the thing with dresses - I need plus size for bust but I am not really plus size so the all over body part looks just huge. I do like the pink skirt and patterned flowy skirt - and the other patterned skirt.
I agree that there is nothing wrong with black - I did a little VC style closet research tonight and I have like 15 black skirts (no hi lo though) so was think a skirt in non black would be useful later as well.

I appreciate the input - going to sleep on this Thank you Natalie and VC!

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Pretty in black and white too VC! Oops, is Christieanne not plus sized? I couldn't tell from what she said. Argh, sorry...ignore me then! (or check for them in regular sizes).

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Skirts and tops aren't boring at all.

I am a step ahead of you with your frock apprehension, Christieanne - which is why I mentioned those very specific brands :). Go have some fun in the dressing room of Nordies on Sunday!

Meredith1953

Veteran

There are some great recommendations here. I hope you find exactly what you want. I wouldn't rule out a dressy skirt either.

Anonymous

Christie, I think you would be way too hot in long black pants and a black blazer! Even though your event will be air conditioned, it won't feel cold at all to you, coming from the Bay Area! My first summer here, I never needed a sweater indoors because my blood hadn't thinned out yet.

I vote for something in light shades or brights mixed with white, whether you find a dress or skirt/top, I would definitely go for sleeveless or short sleeved with a strappy sandal. Pumps will feel claustrophobic by June, and it's not uncommon to experience some foot swelling. Have fun shopping! I'm heading out to do the same.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Also wanted to add some "oomph" to Angie's suggestion to try Adrianna Papell and Tadashi Shoji dresses. I don't have any right now, but I can tell you for *sure* that these are some of the most flattering dresses around.

This is one that I really liked:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/ad.....sultback=0

Looking at the size chart for Adrianna Papell dresses on Nordstrom - the 16 is a perfect fit for bust (says 42 bust corresponds to the women's size 16 - and looking at the other measurements, it appears that AP dresses are great for curves). Because of the otherwise close-fitting nature of this dress, it might not even need to be taken in down the sides.

Pros to this type of dress? The lace is magically obscuring. Better than rusching (imo), it's not a clingy jersey-ish fabric. You don't need much jewellery (if any). I also notice that the neckline of this one, although a v-neck, is cut in a way that it's not going to be overly revealing/low-cut. I like the wider straps at the shoulders/arms. This type of dress isn't going to require any shape-wear either! You'd be able to wear a regular bra. You can even throw on a jacket on top if the AC's too cold or for a winter party.

Ok - I'll stop! Just wanted to encourage you to try some of the Adrianna Papell and Tadashi Shoji dresses while you're out looking around. It can't hurt, and you might be in for a very pleasant dress-shopping surprise.

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Vix

Veteran

I am better at weighing in on options than starting from scratch, but just wanted to say it sounds as if yep, you don't need anymore black skirts in your closet right now.

The suggestions upthread are great to explore; since you're shopping I might take the most appropriate of your black skirts and keep your eyes open for an amazing textured and/or metallic top, too. You never know.

christieanne

Veteran

Thank you again for chiming in!
@Angie - I will look for those brands and promise to try on. I searched the nordstrom site and found stores locally that have some good instocks. I am lucky to have 5 Nordstrom's within driving distance

@VC - love the blue you picked! I will look for it.

@Meredith - thank you for your vote of confidence.

@GP - appreciate the pictures. I still love the skirts you picked.

@Vix - wise to suggest bringing a skirt along. I am not against black in warm weather and maybe my Tahari midi modal fabric would be a good choice paired with breezy colorful top. It sounds so easy (right!).

@Claire - my Arizona pal! I needed that bit of common sense from you. Plus, it will help me advise my mom to remember the foot swelling thing. We may need to get her some looser sandals for her own outfit. I think she will find some nice dress up options at Chico's (she is not into clothes and 75 and not likely to change now) but shoes I had not thought of.
I will look for lighter fabrics for sure.