How formal is this dress? -- EDIT: Decision made

I tried on this black ruffle sheath dress at Loft last week, and it fit me absolutely perfectly. However, I'm looking for dresses right now that can be worn for business meetings of the formality level where men wear a button down and black pants, but no tie or jacket. Is this too formal/fancy, especially with the ruffle?

http://www.anntaylorloft.com/c.....pe=Petite#

Are there any easy ways of dressing it down to the appropriate level (if you think it's not there already)? Maybe a cardigan?

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Alright, I just got back from Loft, where I went to try it on again. The "too sexy" crowd was right -- it really is a very sexy dress. II tried layering a cardigan over it -- the ruffles made it look like my right shoulder was huge. I tried layering a thin long-sleeve T under it -- it was too bulky. I would be wearing it sometimes to meetings in high schools, and my BF told me that it was inappropriate for that, and that if someone came in to a meeting wearing it, he would find it distracting.

I tried convincing myself that I needed another LBD, but I just bought one two months ago, and I have almost no occasions to wear it to, so it's just been sitting in my closet, and I really don't need another one, especially with my loooooooooong list of closet gaps. I'll pass on it for now, and if it goes on super-sale later in the season maybe I'll snatch it up then. The saleslady told me that it's unlikely it will, though, since they're selling it extraordinarily fast. So I guess I'll just recommend it to anyone here who is looking for an LBD -- it's great.

15 years ago

Scarlet

Veteran

Actually, I think it is a little sexy for that kind of meeting. I am curious what others say though.

MsMary

It looks a little sexy to me, too. A cardigan or jacket would help cover you up, but would that interfere with the ruffle action?

Jonesy

Hmm...it doesn't look particularly sexy to me--it's a basic black sheath dress with a ruffle. I guess if it revealed a lot of cleavage, or you wore it very tight and short, then it might read sexy, but a black dress to the knee seems pretty versatile to me.

annagybe

(website)

If the shoulders were wider it could work but as is I would say no.

It's the bareness on top that makes it a little to sexy for work to me. But I'm in law, so YMMV.

MaryK, you mean the scoop neck or the sleeveless-ness, or both?

I mean both together. I think the combination is what puts it over the sexiness top for me.

bella

What color are you thinking of? the gray one seems very business-appropriate to me.

greenglove

I think you could dress that down with a short collarless jacket or cardigan and simple pumps. I think it is great but I would not take off the jacket until after work.

Marley

I love this dress - but I think it shows too much skin for the office. I'd wear it with a cardigan or blazer for work though - unless that ruffle gets in the way?

Jenava

My co-workers and I wear stuff like this ALL THE TIME to work, and I work in a pretty casual office where I can also wear jeans any time I want. So I would say go for it, without a doubt. I especially like th flannel gray color.

If it were me, I'd put either a long or cropped cardi or a fitted or cropped jacket over it. I have a cropped denim jacket with some "decronstruction" that would def. dress it down! Or, I have a long green cardi that I'm wear today that would be fab, maybe with a skinny belt over everything.

I would do this dress with black tights and either heeled boots or a pump.

BlondeAmbition

Active Member

Since when did sleeveless come to mean too sexy? Are we talking about the U.S. or Iran? This is a perfectly modest dress that would be appropriate in various office environments. Throw a cardi on for a pop of color and you're set girl. It's a great dress.

I'm just giving my perspective. That dress (sans jacket or cardi) would be considered highly inappropriate, for example, to appear in court. It's not the fact that it's sleeveless, it's the combination of the sleevelessness and the scoop neck -- that is a LOT of skin showing and it in a very conservative business environment it would be out of place. In a more casual environment, obviously it would be fine.

Goldie

OK, I think I'll skip it. I love it, and it would probably be fine with a cardigan, and I'm not going anywhere that's super conservative (certainly not a courtroom), but I'd rather error on the side of caution. I don't want the attention to be on what I'm wearing or how much skin I'm showing, and enough people indicate that they think it's crossing a line that I'll hold out and keep looking. For this sort of thing, I'd rather get a dress that everyone thinks is fine and is less exciting than a dress that some people think is great and others think is inappropriate.

Thanks so much. I really do appreciate this.

Steph

Goldie, if you love this dress, I want to encourage you to purchase it. I do not think that it shows too much skin, and I come from the highly conservative world of high-end law firms. I don't think that the scoop neck is particularly low--it isn't even showing any cleavage on the model. I think the dress would look great in a business environment, and if you were in any way concerned about its appropriateness, putting on a cardigan would more than solve any coverage issues. I think even the women who do think it shows too much skin think that it would be totally fine with a cardigan, if I am reading their posts correctly.

If it fits you well and you love it, I think you should go for it.

Srujana

I understand both sides, but I think its a truly versatile, timeless piece. And if a cardigan would interfere with the ruffle, try layering under the dress. that would cover up your arms and give a bit of color to the ensemble. You know your work environment the best, don't let any of us scare you off of a dress that you like and can carry off I don't think its too formal, since the fabric isn't shiny or anything, and I think with the right accessories you could play up the serious business vibe, then change it up and wear it out at night...

Yes, Srujana is right - I layer white button downs or very thin knits under my dresses a lot in Winter.

Thanks all, see edit! Darn it. I hate passing on something that perfect, but that's just how it is.

rute

This is not a formal dress this is a love dress for work, you can wear it with red flats and you're on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In fact I want one for me.. so gorgeous!

Patience

The dress looks fine to me, but maybe on you it looks different. What about layering a blouse underneath?

Mellllls

Goldie,
I'm a lawyer so I dress on the conservative side. I would probably feel fine wearing this on a regular day to work but probably not to a day with a business meeting. I would like to be more covered in those situations vs. days when i am mostly sitting in my office. Do you have days like that?

There are so many pretty LBD out there. I know you will find another one even though it is hard to pass this one up.

Anonymous

I am waiting for this same dress to arrive. I'll be interesting to see if I reach the same conclusion!

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