Ideas on how to dress this down, please.

Lili

Hello all,

I have been lurking for a while and have to say that I LOVE this blog and forum! Angie is a sweetie and you ladies are all so stylish - I have been learning and improving my sense of style exponentially!

Back to the post: I bought this dress in the end of Summer and did not find the right occasion to wear it, since it looks too "fancy" to me.

http://picasaweb.google.ca/eri.....6277370962

Now that is cold around here and that my head is full of ideas, I thought I'd make it work for Fall, by dressing it down and layering warm pieces, either underneath or over it. I tried it on with a turtleneck underneath and did not like at all...

I thought I'd also wear it with black tights and black suede slouch boots... but how about the arms? Also, what to do with the belt that fits at an empire waist length?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

16 years ago

Body Type

10 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

garmenta

Active Member

Lovely dress! Does the waist tie come off or come untied? You might try wearing it wrapped and pinned rather than tied, and put a draped cardigan over the dress (the volume would look good with the narrowness of the skirt). Reds or purples would be especially nice with that color, which looks like a shimmery brown. You might go a bit casual with boots--a riding-inspired boot, perhaps.

16 years ago

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

That's a lovely dress; that color is so rich.

It is a dressy dress; for me, I would probably wear it as such. Maybe a cropped bolero would work with it? Nude fishnets and a nude heel, a red clutch and you are good to go.

16 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

This is so timely because I just wore a similarly dressy cocktail dress in a casual way yesterday! I wore mine with a denim jacket, ballet flats and a cuff bracelet (it's very warm here still). My dress is a little more plain in that it doesn't have a bow on it, but it's a very similar shape and made of satin. Is the bow removable? It may make layering difficult. I love Garmenta's suggestion of wearing a draped cardigan over the dress, and riding boots. I think the key is to wear flats of some sort with the dress--wether they be boots or flat shoes, like ballet flats. You could layer a chunky sweater over it too, if you found one that is a good skirt length. What about:

Denim jacket + scarf + textured hose + flat knee high boots (to use Angie's "formula" outfit suggestions)? You could probably wear a heavier coat over a denim jacket for outdoors.

Kristen's "dressy" suggestion is good too, for more formal occasions. I like the idea of a bolero and a red clutch.

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

That is a gorgeous dress! I have no suggestions, because I've never done this before. I will be very interested in seeing what you come up with. And Ana, I am awaiting your daily blog today!

16 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

What about a tweed blazer and boots?

16 years ago

Lori

Veteran

If the belt can be removed or wrapped and tucked neatly around the back, you could put a cardigan over it, belt it, wear tights and boots, then it becomes more of a skirt.

16 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Beautiful dress i'd never have thought to dress it down. Do post piccies of what you come up with x

16 years ago

rute

Veteran

Fabulous dress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love the color and love the way it fits your lovely figure! Chic and stylish!

16 years ago

Lili

Active Member

Thank you all for the ideas and compliments - I'm flattered!

Kristen, I LOVED the outfit you suggested! The red clutch is now on my wishlist.
But now I am confident I can dress my shimmery gray sheath down. Garmenta, Ana and Lori, the waist tie can be removed, which, I agree, makes matters easier for me.
I am definitely trying Ana's formula (you look amazing on your cocktail dress! I wish I could still do ballet flats here...) with a denim jacket, scarf, textured hose and boots. The only problem is that I don't own a pair of riding boots in a color that goes well with this dress. I will have to go with the suede slouch that has a 2 inches heel, since the other pair is more of a rain boot.

I also loved the idea of playing with cardigans and jackets, belted or not, over the dress and I will be sure to post pics soon!

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Welcome to the forum Erica, and thank you for your kind words.

What a pretty frock! I’d undo the bow, tie a knot and stick a casual tweed flower pin over it. Add slouchy flat boots, denim jacket and a cross body bag. Voila!

16 years ago

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