Keep or return? Michael Kors zip dress (no, not that one!)

I was at Nordstrom Rack and found a fab knit MIchael Kors sheath dress with zipper detail, and it actually fit. The only thing I'm worried about is whether it's too short and too young. I'd like to be able to wear it to work so I fooled around with some styling ideas. What do you all think?

1. Here it is by itself.
2. Side view. Are my arms too hideous for this too work? Be honest!
3. Here it is with an awesome knit Tahari moto jacket I also picked up today. Closed...
4. ...and open
5. Thought some tall boots might mitigate the "too much leg" issue, but I think it just makes me look like a biker chick.
6. Maybe some short boots would help. Nah, too Nancy Sinatra.
7. Short boots again, sans jacket and with a fab necklace I found at the consignment store today.
8. Here's a work look that might work: Blue trapeze jacket and matching pumps.
9. Side view of that.
10. Or maybe a pinstriped jacket, with some different bling.
11. Here's the same look with sleeves rolled, boyfriend-style.

Whaddya think? Can I make this work for work? If not, is it fab enough to keep for going out? Any other styling ideas?

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15 years ago

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Veteran

I like #11 best but I think it may be an 'almost' dress. Just a teensy eensy too short probably. But if you're comfortable with some leg, maybe not! God knows, I wear my own skirts shorter than a lot of people might think I should. I don't think the moto jacket works - a little too much of the sam looking material together maybe?? Just my thoughts - I'm a newbie as we all know and still figuring out a lot on my end of things!!

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

I'd like to see it with something more textural. I like the dress itself, but as Mo said, with the moto jacket it seems like too much of the same. Not that I am anyone to talk!

Kyle

I like the dress. It's simple and yet interesting and modern. My gut is that it's just a little too short for work, even though you have great legs. It feels more night-time, going out, rocker-ish than office wear.

Reneeb

I also like the dress but maybe too short for work. Have you tried it with textured tights/hose. The jacket looks good you will be able to use it with other pieces. I think I saw that jacket on Nordstroms website. Maybe we can see it with something other than black to see the fit. Love the necklace.

bella

You have a very conservative work environment, right? In that case, I think it would be too short for work.

marianna

You have a gorgeous figure and stunning legs, but in my honest opinion, it's a bit short.

MsMary

Well, thanks for the feedback, ladies. I guess it is too short. Back it goes tomorrow!

The good news is I went on the Nordstrom Rack web site and they had the same dress in Misses' sizes (the one I bought was a Petite), so I ordered one. The total length of the Misses' dress is two inches longer, so hopefully that will do it without the rest of the dress swimming on me.

Debbie

To me the dress is too short. I"d like to see the jacket with something else.
You have a great figure.

Marley

Wowza! Great rocker chick dress! I think its too short for work - no matter what your job is. Did you consider putting some black opaque tights with it - or some black skinnies - maybe you could wear it as a tunic?

Scarlet

Oh, that is great you can get the dress a bit longer because I was going to say it is too short for work. I like it styled with the boyfriend jacket. I really like the necklace in 7 too. Would you consider wearing the teal shoes with a black outfit? Those shoes are gorgeous! I am not too sure about the pin stripes and I agree with other that the moto jacket and boots veer into biker-chick territory.

Aida

If the Misses version is long enough you should definitely give it a go with the pinstripe blazer, it looks so awesome, so modern mobster. Love it!

rute

It's lovely! To wear at a conservative work it's a bit short..
But you can wear it with black opaque tights to other places. I find that opaque tights solve many problems with short dresses!

April

I'm not saying anything new: it's a little short, and I like it with the blazer (#10) to tone down the edge factor for work, but feel that with leather plus boots plus zippers things are getting a bit costume-y.

chewyspaghetti

I think it's a little short, too. Is there a hem that could be let out? I had to do that with one of my MK dresses this summer and I got enough extra length from that. I wonder if his stuff just runs short?

Queen Mum

It looks great on you... I'll bet the misses size will be the perfect solution to the length problem

Laura

Ooh, fun to see this on you!

My infamous MK sheath is short on me too, but was intended only for evening wear. Mine is actually a regular, not a petite, and I still thought it ran short. I hope the misses' size works for you! Isn't it nice to have the new Rack website?

Debora

Hi MK! That's a beautiful sheath and you have a killer figure, but I think I have to agree with the others that it's a tad too short for the office. I think zippered sheaths are really big right now, and if you hold out you may be able to find one that you would feel more comfortable in length-wise. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that the misses size works!

I don't think it is too young. I'm also in my fifties and I have had good luck with Calvin Klein. Here is one, similar to the Michael Kors one, that I ended up keeping:

http://i658.photobucket.com/al.....h003-1.jpg

And here is another CK sheath with an exposed zipper that I returned because it was a little too snug for my bootie:

http://i658.photobucket.com/al.....kdress.jpg

For office wear, here are a few examples of ones that look like they might hit right around the knee:

http://www.bluefly.com/Marc-Ne....._553894776

http://www.myshape.com/shop/st.....ductSearch

http://www.calvinklein.com/pro.....d=10801368 (I love this one, but one zipper dress is enough for me!)

I love the ways you styled the dress, btw. You have wonderful style!

celia

I agree that it's a bit short for work but you look wonderful on it. Hope the misses size is better.

LeahJanes

Active Member

I love it - you got such nice gams lady! You should show them off. It's definitely awesome enough for keeping for going out. I also think it could work with some heavy weight leggings or opaque tights underneath for work but I've never worked in an office so my opinion is less informed on that side of things.

Lisa

Ok you have great legs. That aside, did this dress pass the sit test? It looks too short, by maybe an inch. If you love it can the hem be taken down an inch? The arms look fine, no issues there that I see. I'm not a fan of any of these jacket pairings. The moto jacket neckline competes too much with the dress. The blue one is really boxy and the pinstripe is too long. A dress such as this I think looks best as a stand alone piece, to showoff the zippers. If you had to use a cover up a fur looking shrug would fit in best with the rocker vibe. I'm sorry but I don't think this dress is ok for your work environment (based on your other posts I've seen).

*headdesk* Good grief! I didn't even think to try the sit test! But I am quite sure the dress would have failed it, so good thing it's going back! LOL

Kari

That's great that you have the option to order it in the misses size! I hope that the length will work better, because I love the style of the dress on you.
I agree with Rute that with a slightly longer dress - just a couple inches - you might be able to get away with it for work with dark hose. I like fine patterned or microfishnet black hose myself!

catgirl

You look amazing but I agree, not a work dress... Hope the regular size length makes it all better!

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