Has Angie done it again and found me another great wardrobe item? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Has Angie done it again and found me another great wardrobe item?

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

A couple of months ago I announced my intention to find a fit and flare dress, in compliance with both my body type and this year's Spring trend must-have list. I scouted out a few options on my own, but then Angie stepped up and suggested a silk Donna Morgan number in what sounded like lovely Michelle-friendly colours. I ordered it, and it just came. Below are three pics of it (please forgive the goofy convenience store background, Corey isn't home and I had to prevail on the delightful man who runs the store in the basement of my building to take these pics).

I'm nearly 100% enamoured of the fit, bbut I do notice the crossover neckline can gape a bit and expose my bra. Is this an issue best addressed by a white lace-trimmed camisole or by a seamstress?
Secondly, if someone could attempt a detailed description of the pattern and colours, I'd be grateful.
Thirdly, you'll note that I've styled it with my dressiest sandals and an evening clutch. Does this dress lend itself to being dressed up in t his way, or shoule I stick to more casual pairings like denim jackets etc with this one?

And most importantly -- how does it look on me?

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Shopping

37 replies

Latest reply was from Michelle

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Love the colors on you. I think a cami will be fine. It reminds me not quite impressionist oil paintings of flowers.

Maya

Veteran

It looks so pretty on you Michelle! For the neckline issue, I'd get it altered. This looks like a nice summery dress and I don't know about you, but I'd rather skip the layers when it's hot. Totally works the way you have styled it too, and would work with a denim jacket and flats as well. It seems quite versatile.

MsMary

Veteran

FAB!! It looks FAB on you!!

The pattern is what I'd call a large-scale but beautifully subtle floral watercolor print in gorgeous colors of Tiffany blue, aqua, teal, turquoise, green, purple, and lavender. You can make out some flowers on the skirt but the bodice is just beautifully abstract.

LOVE!!!

sarah

Veteran

I think it would look fine with a cami, but you might check with a seamstress to see if he/she could sew the wrapped sections in place. It's beautiful, definitely a keeper. The pattern looks like someone painted the flowers with purple, turquoise, green, and teal watercolors, using a big paint brush, the sort you'd use to paint your house trim with.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Yes, she's done it again. I only had to look at the first photo to be totally and completely in love with that dress. Stunning!

Aida

Veteran

What the other ladies have said It really looks beautiful on you Michelle!

Kari

Veteran

Yes! I LOVE the colors, Michelle. This dress reminds me a lot of my favorite fit-and-flare dress (which is silk and is a cream, mossy green, and greenish-yellow floral pattern.) Like a few others ladies mentioned, I think the neckline is alterable. My own fit-and-flare dress has a similar crossover V-neckline that initially showed my bra. As I've been too lazy to take the dress to a seamstress or repair it myself, I have taken two tiny safety pins on the inside of the dress to pin the layers together. No one can see, and I feel much more secure.

I think you are right on the money with the outfit you are wearing the dress with, though I would love it in a casual outfit, too. For some reason, I have only worn my similar fit-and-flare dress in semiformal occasions. Perhaps this is the year where I should challenge myself to break it out for a casual outfit.

Misia

Veteran

IMHO I would like to see you in dresses with less volume, less tent like. I'm hoping Angie points out why she like these shapes of dresses on you, because I can see you in more tapered styles hugging your lower gorgeous full figure body.

MNsara

Veteran

Michelle - you look beautiful in this and it is a gorgeous dress!

For the cleavage issue, I usually resort to the safety pin trick like Kari, but they sometimes come unpinned (somehow), or flip sideways so they might show to someone up close. You may feel more secure having the overlap tacked down in its most perfect position.

Even though this dress isn't really 'casual', I can see it being dressed down just a bit with a *very* cropped white denim jacket - especially if the sleeves are scrunched up or turned back.

Reneeb

Veteran

I love this dress on you Michelle the colors are so pretty. I agree with the others about the neckline easy fix and it would not be a deal breaker. I like the way the dress fits and how you have styled it. Hope Angie approves.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*blushing* (thanks for entertaining my suggestion).

KILLER. It's just perfect in every way, Michelle. I'm thrilled!!! You are *on-trend*, girl friend.

Have the front altered a little so that you don't need to wear a camisole.

Sharon

Veteran

So pretty!
Mary K has described it well, and I agree with the description of the print as being slightly impressionistic.
I agree that a little stitch would secure the neckline.
I think this could be dressed up or down, although I don't think you could make it casual-casual.
I vote a great big YAY.

celia

Veteran

Michelle this is out of this world. It looks like it was made for you. I would take it to the seamstress because the neckline is very feminine and it would be a shame to visually alter it with a cami underneath.
Angie did it again.

rosee

Veteran

Very pretty Michelle, congratulations! Very versatile, dress up (nice stylings!!) or dressed down a little (like Maya said). I would get it altered so that it fits perfectly -- why bother with a cami, a perfect-fitting dress is much better.
Nice work, Angie!

kellygirl

Veteran

Goodness, it's fab! I love it. What a perfect spring frock. It's amazing on you!

Alecia

Veteran

Love it! I think the way you styled it is very nice. I could also see it dressed down. I predict it will be a workhorse.

Kyle

Veteran

Soooooooo pretty! Gorgeous palette. Fresh and modern. Yum.

Vani

Veteran

SO, so gorgeous!!! You look beautiful Michelle. I love how everything about this dress - cut, color and fabric - is so versatile.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I also meant to add that you have a midi!

To Renata's point, you look fabulous in straight sheath dresses too! Good thing you have those already. Now it's time to rock another trend - which you are, first class

Anonymous

LOVE the colors, LOVE the style. You look amazing in this dress!

marianna

Veteran

Gorgeous!!! We have that dress at my Nordies so I've seen it in person too. It is stunning and even more stunning on beautiful you!

Misia

Veteran

When I shop for clothes I look at the shape of the clothing and see if it will flatter my figure first, I don't do trends just because that's the going thing!
And that's how I give my honest opinions that are based on that first, I see I'm in minority here.
Here are a couple of dresses that I LOVE on you:

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Arya

(website)

Michelle, you look wonderful in this dress! Here's my detailed description of the pattern and colors:

It looks like an impressionist watercolor painting with a floral theme. No specific petals, per se. Instead it looks like big, broad brushstrokes placed to evoke the shape of a flower. It has undefined lines. As for color, there are purples in the shades of my lilac bush (light to dark), blue-greens (ranging from paler than sky blue to a deep teal) and a smaller amount of light green strokes throughout, which evoke leaves. It is densely packed, so there doesn't seem to be a background color. From what I can tell the lightest color is the light blue, but mostly the dress is the other colors/shades listed above. The overall effect makes me feel like I'm floating while looking through a waterfall at some sort of beautiful, flowering tree. Stunning!

Steph

Veteran

Michelle, I think that this dress is beautiful on you! (I also love the dresses that Renata posted--your cobalt blue dress and your black and white polka dot dress, but I think you are fantastic in this style as well.)

I also agree that the alteration should be really easy. Looking at the photos, I actually wonder if the seamstress would just be able to take up the shoulder straps slightly--it looked like the top might have enough room to allow for that. If not, it should be simple to just close up the neckline slightly. Another idea--do you have any bras that don't come up quite as high in the center? Only the tiniest part of your bra is showing, so a bra that is just a little lower cut, you should be able to wear the dress without a problem.

Scarlet

Veteran

The dress looks perfect to me--once you get the minor gaping sorted out. I think how much you can dress it up or down depends on the material, but fit and colorwise it looks great with these accessories.

chouette22

Veteran

I love this dress - it is one of my favorites on you.

Patty

Veteran

Yes she done did it again!!!
And the descriptions are bang on---fantastic dress for you Michelle!
How nice of the store owner to take your pic!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Thank you so much for all the great descriptions and feedback, ladies! I will run to my seamstress tomorrow morning and beg for a quick alteration -- there's an optional industry function next week, and with this dress in hand I just might go now. Thank you Angie!!

Renata: for the record, I wanted a fit and flare dress not because it's trendy but because I've always liked the style. Dresses with more ease through the skirt tend to feel better on me, and while this skirt is flared more than some I own, I'm quite alright with that. I very much enjoy having a variety of silhouettes at my disposal, and the two dresses you linked to are definite favourites (great memory, btw)! Angie is the number one proponent of dressing for your body type and style rather than dressing to please the trendsetters, so I have complete confidence in her choice. That said, I appreciate your honesty on this question and thank you for being so detailed.

anna

Everyone else have already said it so well but I just wanted to chime in and say I love the color combination on you.

12