For Suntiger: US Geneva dress, L/S V-neck in Storm - YouLookFab Forum

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For Suntiger: US Geneva dress, L/S V-neck in Storm

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

For anyone else that may be interested, here are some photos of petite cusp me wearing the long sleeved V neckline version of the Universal Standard Geneva dress, in the colour Storm (a sort of deep teal blue):
https://www.universalstandard......ress-storm

Angie's post on asymmetry reminded me that I bought this dress a while back but am still unsure about it. I have been holding onto it because it was on deep discount, so I may have 'sale goggles' on. Be honest - is it time to let it go?

My first issue is with the length. At 5ft 3.5", I'm in that rather awkward limbo between regular & petite height. US don't seem to do the long sleeved version of this dress in petite, so I'm unsure of the length here - the left side hits just above the top of my knee & the right (ruched) side hits just past the knee. Is that still stumpifying on me?

Beyond that, what do you think of the rest of the fit? I ordered the 2XS based on my body measurements - I think it fits in the hips but what about the waist & shoulders? I've used my hands to cinch some of the material at my lower back in some of these photos (to give you an idea) but do you think it would look odd to alter it in that way? Would it interfere with the ruched side detailing?

Lastly, I like to keep myself fairly covered outside, but do you think my scarf & bottoms ruin this dress' silhouette?
A) Does this dress look strange with bottoms? (the wide legged pants in photo #1 create a fishtail because of the narrow opening at the hem - weird or 'avant garde'? And the straight legged trousers & leggings after that?)
B) How about with the scarf? Even with the addition of a bandeau, I still feel this V neckline is a bit too low for my personal comfort (bending over still exposes cleavage = classroom hazard!)

All in all, am I trying too hard with this dress, or do you think it could also learn to love me back lol?

(PS - My new FitFlop sandals make their outfit debut here! I tried the blush ones on for the first time this weekend & am happy to report they were generally comfy - the slope of the arch support felt different in my left foot at first, but I think that may be because the footbed of my previous sandals had already begun to deteriorate by the time I bought these... Oops, lol!)

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Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Zaeobi

Joy

Veteran

I am no help. A love a dress with an asymmetrical hem. The scarf color might be better if it tied in with something else like your sandals or leggings or a print with a bit of the blue of the dress.. the dress looks great on you.

catherine

Veteran

I love that dress. It looks so pretty on you.

slim cat

Veteran

I like the dress with straight legged trousers the best - black leggings just look slightly off to my eye ( maybe navy leggings would be working better ).
Wide legged trousers is interesting combinations with the dress - looks almost like a long skirt under the dress - could be fun look.
I echo @Joy suggestion of printed scarf as preferred accessory but the bright yellow might work if that color repeated somewhere else - like another accessory ( bracelet or small bag ).
The dress is pretty and the sandals are fab on you!

Anonymous

"All in all, am I trying too hard with this dress.."

Leaning towards yes because while I like the way it fits from the front, and I like the way you styled it, I think that's because you have a very good figure and great ideas.

Alteration seems like too much trouble for an uncertain result

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

@Catherine Wow, unexpected love for the dress here, but thanks! So you think the current loose waist is OK (no need to alter)?

@Joy I hear you on the scarf - it's tricky because I don't actually suit a lot of blue (teal is as far as I can go usually), so I'm having a hard time thinking what other colours would work... typical - teal is always a HEWI for me, but now that I have it I can't figure it out lol!

@slim cat Sorry for the awful lighting, but all of the bottoms are actually dark brown I don't wear much navy blue anymore (doesn't look great on me). Interesting to hear you actually like the wide leg trousers though! I think I'm just not used to more 'avant garde' silhouettes on me, but it did feel comfy...

@Phoebe Thank you for the compliment, making me blush lol. I agree that something seems to be off about the side view, but I can't put my finger on what exactly - is it the waist, or something else that you're seeing?

cat2

Veteran

I would embrace the straight shape rather than trying to alter it, and wear it over slim leggings. Do you have a tank with a higher neck?

Star

Veteran

I like pic #2 best. With the slim leg trousers and where you are cinching in the waist. The length looks great to me. Other colours I like with teal are rust and some purples.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like it!

Ideally, I think you may have needed a size up for it to drape a little better, and fit more loosely on the shoulder.

That said, I much prefer this size worn straight and not defined at the waist.

Fab with the black leggings, and how about a black camisole and black sandals to match?

Pretty with the scarf too!

Brooklyn

Veteran

Looks great! I like it best with the straight trousers or leggings. Scarf looks good too. A patterned scarf that picks up the dress colour would be lovely too.

Anonymous

Thanks! Yes to a cami under, it could be the same shade as the dress too. Not crazy about the scarf with it, but maybe a lower contrast scarf would be ok. I like it more with the skinny pants, but do you wear it with tights and boots too?

Tanya

Veteran

It is a great dress, and it fits you well. I like it with leggings and straight pants.

Anonymous

I should have clarified that I like the way it fits from the front when you're pulling the material from the back. In photo 1 there's no waist definition and the weight of the dress is below your hip in the ruched fabric. When you pull it we see your hourglass shape and you're lifting the hem a little too. I am not convinced it would be worth altering or that it would even be improved overall.

Disclaimer, this is a completely non-fashion opinion and prompted by seeing what.a pretty figure you have. I can't help but think you could do better.

I really questioned my opinion when I saw all the enthusiasm from so many great dressers and I still do!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

The color is gorgeous and I have always liked dresses that drape like that. It is more a question of how you feel about it because it looks beautiful on you.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Hmm you guys have given me food for thought - I honestly thought it would be a straight 'no' from everyone, haha!

@cat2 I do but not in this exact shade - let me play around a bit & get back to you on this. Maybe a black one & sandals, as @Angie suggests?

@star Good shout - let me try a more autumnal scarf colour instead. Or a patterned one as @Brooklyn suggests - I have a chartreuse & teal leaf one?

@Suntiger Tights & boots work well yes (because of the knee length), but I'll have to wait for winter to do that again Then again, this is a mid- to heavy jersey, so maybe I shouldn't be trying to wear it in summer anyway lol? Maybe just with slimmer bottoms, as @Tanya suggests.

@Angie You think a size up instead of down? Interesting - I thought the shoulder 'nipples' were happening because it was too loose lol!

@Phoebe I can see what you mean. Waist definition is my FFBO formula, so like @Shevia says, it's a matter of how I feel without it. I see the appeal in summer to not have anything clinging to my midsection lol, but I think I might have to play around with proportions & adding structure elsewhere to offset the volume. Maybe with scrunched sleeves?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

HAH @ shoulder nipples!

They are happening because the fabric is tight and pulling

Deborah

Veteran

I love the dress! Personally I would have sized up because I think this style looks best slightly oversized with lots of drape.

Love the leggings under the dress but would prefer a more edgy black sandal. And maybe a statement necklace rather than a scarf. I feel the scarf distracts from the dress and the dress is a statement in itself.

Toban

Veteran

I agree with Deborah that it is a size too small. I have the short sleeve version of this. The magic is in the movement and drape. Waist definition comes in from the drape and how it falls against the body, which you’d see in a larger size, it seems like there isn’t enough fabric to give you that drape.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, thank you for the wisdom @Angie & @Toban. I usually worry about sizing up too much because I don't have well-defined shoulders - so if the seam ends up in the wrong place, it tends to look sloppy on me instead of oversized.

I think in this case, it would be best if I pass on this dress. @suntiger Let me know if you're interested Otherwise into the donate pile it goes!

PS - @Deborah I need to work on my statement necklace collection. Not quite on your level yet, so I'm experimenting with smaller necklaces layered over floaty scarves until I can find what works with me - often the statement necklaces I see here are very geometric with harsh lines (I think I need something softer & more fluid). Wish me luck