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Help me find a fit-and-flare dress?

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Of all the items on Angie's must-have spring list, a fit-and-flare dress probably rates the highest among my own personal wants. I can't think of a silhouette that would work better for my curvy hourglass figure. Low and behold, when I opened my email this morning, there sat a note from Nordstrom featuring that very style...they had thoughtfully compiled about 72 fit-and-flare dresses onto one page, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that plus-sizes were actually represented.
So I went through their list of options in my size and eliminated all that were either meant for evening or black and white. I already have two black and white frocks, and I'm after a colourful day dress for this season.

This leaves me with four options,and I'm hoping you ladies can help me out. I'd love some descriptions of the prints and colours involved in these four. Do any of them look like they'd work for me? If they're unspeakably awful, please just say so and I'll drop them from consideration at once.

Calvin Klein sleeveless print dress: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ca.....tback=2556

Taylor sleeveless floral dress: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ta.....tback=2918

Taylor sleeveless print belted dress: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ta.....tback=3180

Donna Ricco embellished sleeveless dress (possibly a little too twee?): http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/do.....tback=4671

Many thanks for your help! I'll be doing this again soon with cream and white handbags.

Shopping

27 replies

Latest reply was from Jonesy

marianna

Veteran

Hmm I think any of these might work, actually (except the last Donna Ricco -- I don't think that's what you're after!)

My favorite is the Taylor sleeveless floral dress. Really pretty! Is it long enough?

These are all dry clean only though -- are you okay with that?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Michelle, my favorite of the four is the first one -- the Calvin Klein. A nice green and white print that isn't too busy, and a clean scoop neckline. It looks like the most universally flattering and versatile to me, and it seems like it would dress up or down nicely. It would look great with a cardigan or jacket, flats or heels or sandals, pearls or something more funky. I could even see this with a denim jacket.

I have two Calvin Klein dresses (one of which is a turquoise fit-and-flare style), and my experience has been that their dresses hold up well.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

@Janet: thank you for the great description of the Calvin Klein...Can you tell me more about the shade of green involved? And the type of print?

@Marianna: I was hoping you'd weigh in. Have you seen the first three in person? And can you describe the print on the two Taylor dresses, please? And I don't have any problem with dry-clean only...there's a dry-cleaner dropoff/pickup in the basement of my building!

Diana

Veteran

Michelle, I also like the first one (the Calvin Klein) in green the best. The neckline is more scooped (but not too low) which I think would be most flattering, and the skirt is a little fuller than the two Taylor dresses. The neckline on both of the Taylor dresses is more like a boat neck, and is straighter and higher. I think you are right about the last dress - it's definitely quite frilly and twee, probably not what you are going for.

I also agree with Janet that Calvin Klein dresses tend to be well made and hold up very well.

kellygirl

Veteran

Michelle, I would call the green of the CK dress a grass green. It's a lovely, fresh green--without yellow undertones. It looks particularly fresh against the white. The print is reminds me of overlapping bamboo bangles. It's hard to determine the print without looking closely--but the overall pattern is harmonious and even. I do like this one as a day dress--it's very simple and cute!

I also really like the Taylor print belted dress. It is a smudgy black/grey /chartreuse/white print. The dominant colors are black, grey and white. The lines are kind of zebra like but much softer and travel vertically up the dress. It's quite striking. It is sleeveless and the neck is not too wide. I could see this one dressed up or down. I quite like this one.

I don't care for the other two dresses. The floral Taylor has big, watercolor cabbage roses in soft blues with green. Not my cuppa. It looks very Easter.

Scarlet

Veteran

Michelle, the only one I would stay away from is the Donna Rico. It has a frou-frou vibe that I sense is not your thing. Of the three, for you, I am leaning toward the 3rd one--Taylor belted. It has a classic shape but a very modern abstract print that has me saying oh yes! The first two are a little more retro-looking because the prints are pretty retro as well. The Calvin Klein print is quite small and busy, so between the first two I would lean toward the Taylor sleeveless floral. True it is a cabbage-rose print, but with a modern twist, and the belt is a black and white abstract batik print that makes it punchy. Still, I say number 4.

ETA: I am not describing the prints because I am sure someone else will do it better.

Inge

(website)

My favourite is number 3 actually (with number 2 as the second option). Dress 1 is nice, and has a good neckline, but the smaller print makes it look less modern in my book. The colours of the Taylor sleeveless printed dress are beautiful (Kellygirl described it really well) and it has a modern urban vibe to it that I really like and that I think would look fab on you. It is also slightly longer than the Taylor floral dress (which might be important because you are tall). Both Taylor dresses do have a higher neckline, I'm not sure if that will be a problem, but I'd certainly be tempted to try them both on if you can.

I agree with the other ladies, dress 4 is a bit to twee for your style.

Inge

(website)

I also saw this dress on the Macy's website, Michelle.
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....6spc%3D281

It's a floral print, but somewhat abstract with medium sizes flowers in three shades of blue, with white and a little bit of, I think, grey and black running through them. It has a thin black belt and the draped neckline forms a smallish V that still sits quite high. I bet these blues would look beautiful on you as well.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm, looks like I may be out of luck...high necklines really don't work well for my extremely busty frame. Thank you so much to all those that pointed it out!
Interesting that there's no strong consensus as to which one would look best. Perhaps a sign that I should keep looking?

SW Ann

Veteran

HI! Michelle, I love that Calvin Klein dress. It's very spring/ summer-y and I think could be dressed up or down easily. The print is many ovals in grassy green, on a white field. I think it would be quite versatile and look terrific on you. I like the wider scoop neckline because it's open for a pretty necklace, and its defined waist could be belted in different colors/types of belts. A colorful cardigan would look great over it. Cute with heels, or with flat sandals.....

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

All black

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com.....;ev19=1:24

I like this one for you it's a purple and black floral:

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com.....;ev19=2:14

Or this a red and black floral with a v neck

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com.....;ev19=2:13

Dark grey but it's a jacquard so interesting and I love the big belt and buckle at the waist. Also on sale!

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com.....;ev19=4:13

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for those links, Anna. I didn't know Sachs shipped to Canada now! Interesting that you zeroed i non Melissa Masse -- I just ordered one of her dresses in purple. The ones you showed have sleeves, which isn't ideal for summer, but they sound lovely!

I just saw this dress on the Nordy's site...what's it like? What is an ikat print?
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/el.....ltback=328

kellygirl

Veteran

Yes, very similar in black and white. Very bold and striking with a v-neck. This is my fave so far!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

An Ikat is a African print. Generally predominately black and white but can have color. The patterns have fuzzy edges such that the pattern looked smeared.
This particular ikat is a large Ikat with the repeating pattern several inches in size. I really like this dress and think it would look good on you.
Didn't know you were looking for sleeveless.

Anonymous

Michelle, I could see you wearing the ikat print dress for summer. The print is a large sort of tribal, sort of ink blot, design in black and greys on white. The line between the dark and light parts of the design is blurred, not distinct. It's an ethnic type of weave in which either weft or warp is sort of tie dyed.
The neckline is a V but not so low that you'd need a cami. I don't know how the pleated waist would work on you. The side sections of the bodice, from shoulder down the front, look like they have four pleats on each side sewn down to about 5 or 6 inches below the waist, then the fabric left to flare out a bit. It may depend on how soft and drapey the fabric is. The dress is for daytime and could be worn casually. I can see it with a black, denim or white jacket or cropped cardi. The red belt is a narrow one. Red cardi or shoes would be good with this dress, as would any color that could be put with black and white. I hope this makes sense. Please ask more questions about what is still puzzling.
Is 40 inches long enough for you?

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

More great descriptions from everyone! Thank you... But ugh, why must it be in clack and white!! I'll have to pass on it for that reason.
Joy, what's your take on the ones posted initially?

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I like the two Taylor dresses best. I have slight preference for the second Taylor dress but the pattern is predominately black and white shot through with chartuese.

Anonymous

I could see you wearing either of the Taylor sleeveless dresses for your style, but the third dress has an almost crew neck neckline. The second dress (Taylor floral) has a wide scoop neckline. The rose pattern seems modern. It's not like a botanical print, but more abstract. The black and white print of the belt looks like the ikat fabric and is sort of horizontally pleated. It looks like that belt is about four inches wide from the waist to about half way up to the bottom of the model's bust. The front middle part of the dress's skirt is flat with a bit of pleating just off sides for fullness. I like it but it may still be too high necked and maybe too short for you.
The first dress you posted, the Calvin Klein, I think would be the best neckline of the three. It's a lower scoop. It's also a good length. The flare of the skirt part is formed by large box pleats that are not sewn down like the ikat dress. It has a self fabric tie belt that probably could be replaced by a belt of your choice. The color (med. green on white) is not what I'm used to seeing on you but does look like summer, very fresh. The print is geometrical of a medium size. When I hadn't looked at it up close, it looked like a marblized green and white. Up close it's interlocking circles, as if someone had taken a big rubber stamp and green ink and stamped them over-lapping each other all over the fabric. This may be a good compromise for the white dress you want. I could see you wearing it with a denim jacket or navy, white, blue, yellow, fushia, purple, rose, or even red as there isn't so much green to be Christmasy.
Edit: The print on the second Taylor dress (sleeveless printed belted) looks the most Michelle-like. The bodice is fitted with seams. The skirt part is also large, untacked down box pleats all around. There is a very narrow black fabric belt that draws the eye to the waist. The model pairs the dress with black sandals.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*spanner* I like the last Ellen Tracy ikat print frock best for our Michelle, who rocks a lower neckline.

Love these too:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/do.....tback=2540

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ca.....tback=4857

Very opinionated Angie

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

I love everyone's input so much! And thank you for being opinionated, Angie.
I'm avoiding black and white because I already have two b/w frocks. One of them is also polka dotted, so I feel like the CK one Angie linked to may be repetitive in my wardrobe.
The Donna Morgan, however, is intriguing! Could someone explain the teal/green pattern? Could it function as a day dress, or does it look like occasionwear?

MNsara

Veteran

The Donna Morgan is a silk chiffon, so I think it might be a dressier dress and not necessarily an everyday summer dress (but maybe others know more). It has a crossover bodice that results in a v-neck (and slight Grecian Goddess vibe?). There is a self-fabric gathered, front knot band under the bust so that creates a slightly raised waistline. The skirt is quite full but the fabric seems to fall easily and gracefully.

The print has a whitish background with the pattern being large softly abstract flowers done in teal, purple, green, and blue (in their jewel tones). It seems that there is about a 50/50 balance of light background to colored flowers.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Wowza, the colours and pattern sound so so me!!! Thoughts?
Thanks for the great description, Sara.

Aida

Veteran

I think the Donna Morgan dress would really look LOVELY on you Michelle!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Michelle loves to look dressy. High five, dressy Michelle! We hold up the fort for Team Dressy.

Vix

Veteran

All these are so spring-y, ahhhh.

I really like #3 (the belted RT with the strong vertical element to the print), and if everything else but the neckline worked out for you I'd just get the neckline cut down. I've had that done on a few dresses and IME it's not a particularly pricey alteration.

With that particular print I think you could do a scoop or V, whichever you prefer.

celia

Veteran

Hi Michelle,

Since you don't want another black and white dress I would say the Donna Morgan one wold look very nice on you. It is a bit dressier because it the fabric is silk but you can dress it down even with the military jacket you wore today or a denim jacket.
The teal is the predominant color of some very stylish flowers with just a int of green and darkish pink.
The colors would look lovely on you.
I also like the Taylor flower dress but in that one the flowers are have a less flowy feeling to them.
(I'm sorry if my descriptions sound rather confusing)

Jonesy

Veteran

I love many of these dresses, but I agree that the latest, silk Donna Morgan is hitting most of your requirements. It is gorgeous--pretty but not girly in the slightest--very sophisticated IMO. Silk is so wonderful in the summer too--it breathes, repels odors, looks fabulous, etc. The background color of this dress is a light, cool, steel-gray-blue mixed with a cool cream, if that makes sense. The band just under the bust is a cummerbund-style, with an interesting twist in the middle. The v-neck is deep but the top portion of the dress is wide enough to assure bra strap coverage.

I think it would look fab with a denim jacket, black military jacket, taupe or light-gray jacket, even an olive one, etc. Footwear could be nude, gray, or black or even some shade of blue.

ETA: Okay, I hate to add another into the mix, but you know how Nordstrom.com always has a side-bar of additional choices once you open one? This dress popped up when I looked at the Donna Morgan. It's a Suzi Chin Maggy Boutique dress, also fit-and-flare. Its silhouette is very much like the Donna Morgan one. It has a pintucked, wide belt-like waistband detail, vs. the cummerbund-type thing the Donna Morgan one is sporting. It is also silk/lined, and the same price. The difference is the fabric: the Suzi one is a pattern of blues/purples in an abstract paisley pattern. It sounds sort of wild but it isn't, IMO. The other pattern is a bit more romantic, this one is a bit more boho. The dress seems a bit less dressy, though it could still be dressed up in the same way the other one could. Just thought I'd toss it out there!

Here's the link:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/su.....8504-0-0-2