Is it love or just a crush: satin party dress

By now everyone knows that I made a random purchase of a cotton day dress. The whole reason I was at this store is because I've gotten friendly with the owner, and she was raving about some of the party frocks she had in stock. Since I needed to look for a wrap for something else anyway, I ventured into take a look. Rina promptly produced this dress and described it in a way that sounded very appealing. She didn't have my size, so what you're seeing here is the size down from what I would wear. Baring that in mind, what do we think of this dress?

Full disclosure: I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I left. And as of this week I have six, count 'em, SIX weddings to attend between now and the end of September. Some of them will be exceedingly casual, but still!
Anyway, be honest. And throw in your descriptions of the dress too, if you're so inclined!

P.S. If I owned this, I would totally lose the black sash.

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14 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

I think this totally has potential and worth trying to find in your size. I really love the colors and the print... would you be looking to wear this for more than one wedding?

Steph

Michelle, I think you're lucky to have Rina in your life. This looks like a great dress to me! It is a beautiful floral print that has a watercolor feel to it--kind of out-of-focus and painted on, as opposed to a more regimented pattern, if that makes sense to you at all. The colors are wonderful for you--cobalt blue, aqua, red (ranging from true red to a more orange red), a little bit of fuschia, and a small amount of black all exist in the dress. It has a v-neck and the length looks perfect. I think that in one size up it will be absolutely fantastic on you. I really, really love this--can she order it in your size so we can see how it looks?

san

Wow you are finding some perfect dresses. The fabric pattern reminds me a bit of an abstract design of red poppies under the blue sky. Mind you this is just the feeling I get from the pattern. The colors are gorgeous on you and the style, I just love on you. I can see you putting a denim or leather jacket over this dress to turn down the dressy factor to what ever you choose. A cute shrug or wrap could dress it up.

elpgal

This (and the cotton dress) both are very flattering. I love the V-neck; it is low but still modest. Definitely worth trying the next size up.

Katiepea

This really is a gorgeous dress. I sure wish Rina was my friend.

The colours remind me of a vibrant watercolour wash of reds and rich cobalt blues over a paler blue and pale purple background. The mostly red and secondary dark pink colours appear like large flowers, yet have an alluring, almost abstract quality about them. This stops the dress from appearing matronly. As mentioned, the background features a wash of a lighter, yet still bright and I would describe a pure pale blue and touches of pale purple, which lightens the look of the dress. Depth is added through darker nearly black highlights, surrounding the red flowers.

The v-neck of the dress is lovely - it shows your decolletage but still appears to be modest. The dress falls in gentle folds from just under your bust, but doesn't appear overpowering and adding bulk to your frame, like sometimes gathers can do. (Provided the sash isn't dreadful at the back with some sort of a horrible bow, from the front I kind of don't mind it! It is subtle and it picks up the black highlights as I mentioned above.)

Like others have said I would truly love to see you try this dress up in the next size. I would also say that because of the satin, you should try it wearing seam free, support underwear, to enable the soft drape of the skirt to flow gently over your body. I'm imagining strappy red, satin heels to set the look off completely.

Go on, get her to order it in....

modgrl

This is a beautiful dress. Others have described the print, but I want to add that it is very unique. I've never seen anything like it on anyone else. It is a flattering cut for you. I know someone suggested red shoes, but I would stick to the silver ferragamo's or something else that reads as a neutral. There's a lot going on with this dress already, I think it would be too many competing elements.

Laura

Yes, I think it has tons of potential. I like the neckline, the bodice and the colors on you.

Suz

Just chiming in to say I fully agree with what others have said; this dress is terrific for you and a lovely dress in itself! The pattern is beautiful, as others have remarked; not only does it feel slightly abstract but also slightly Asian-inspired, to me, at least...like cherry blossoms against the sky, except the blossoms are not pale pink, they are vibrant reds. So maybe more like crab-apple blossoms...but not quite that, either.

I don't mind the black sash in front, but of course if it is a bow in the back, you'd probably want to take it off.

I agree with Modgrl about shoes; I think silver would be great with this!

The cut of this dress is wonderful. It looks "wearable." Comfortable as well as elegant, is I guess what I'm saying. You wouldn't always need to be fussing with it to feel good in it.

Brava for Rina!

Debora

The dress looks beautiful on you, Michelle. Definitely see if she can get one for you in the next size up. You would be smart to snap it up with all the weddings you have this summer. Love it!

Anonymous

Wow, those colors are stunning on you. I think in the right size it'd be the perfect dress for weddings.

Ornella

If you need to hear from any more enablers, I'm here. The dress is just lovely, so feminine and flattering. It's quite bold, but in the best possible way - you have so many ways to style it that it can look new over and over again. Oh, how I love when I feel this - let's call it - positive envy.

cheryle (Dianthus)

the print is beautiful. It reminds me of an impressionist painting with its swirling colors and varying intensity. I think the next size up would look very very nice on you. Good find.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Another beautiful dress on beautiful, Michelle. And I adore the front sash.

Scarlet

I would definitely pursue the size up. I love the print, and it is a very flattering cut. The print is floral, I suppose, but it reminds me of red coral in the ocean.

Vix

Seems *very* promising -- definitely try the other size.

Granted I am a sucker for abstracted florals and love to see them out and about, but between the colors and cut on you plus your many upcoming weddings, it's pretty easy to enable you guilt-free, ha. Hope this turns out to be a winner for you!

lynn

This is a perfect dress for attending weddings! And it is beautiful on you!

greenglove

Another vote for the dress- what you wear as a jacket or cardigan will be very important.
It is your colors- vibrant and very painterly!

Maya

I am very confident that this will look amazing once you get the size right. I think it might be one of the most flattering things I have seen on you. The colors, the neckline, the silhouette...all perfect. It's just a wee bit snug now but you already know that. If you can get the next size up, definitely do so.

Kristine

I think it's beautiful on you. The print is gorgeous, vibrant and ladylike but modern.
I think one size up will be perfect.

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