Keep/Donate: summer Dress Lab - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Keep/Donate: summer Dress Lab

Roxanna

Veteran

Hours of audio conference calls today - decided to multitask and ask you wise Fabbers which of these dresses you would keep!

The white and sand linen dresses are ones I love and live in in hot weather. I love the quality of the linen, the cuts, the Drape and the details on these.

The pattern dress - a new thrift acquisition by my mum. I like the fabric and the pattern in theory - but I think it is too high contrast and too large a scale, and overpowers me?

The burgundy dress - I loved this for and flare dress a few years ago. I still like it and it’s comfortable, but does it make me look a bit lumpy and dumpy? Feel a bit matronly in this. What do you think?

Ditto with the yellow stripe. I just said I hate stripes, but I do think the stripes on this makes it more playful. But maybe still not as flattering?

What do you think? Which to keep? Which to lose?

This post has 13 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from nemosmom

Murph11

Veteran

Look at you multitasking! I agree with you on the pattern dress. The burgundy dress looks fine for fall/winter, so keep to reevaluate as you head into those seasons. I love stripes, and the yellow/cream looks nice, but maybe too playful for you. The linen dresses are lovely... especially the cut of the sand.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The white dress is my fave! SOOOO pretty and beachy, Roxanna! KILLER. I like it with the belt too.

I like the striped dress next - which cracks me up.

I find the fit of the sand dress slightly off. Bodice is bunching in an odd way, and looks like it's hanging too low. BUT, that could be just fine in person, and it's very breezy for a hot and humid day sans a/c. So there you go! I get its appeal.

#10 looks like a cold weather dress? Nice fit.

Patterned dress is not my favourite.

Sal

Veteran

The only one I am not so keen on is the patterned one. I like all the rest.

These stripes look fab on you - and the white is absolutely stunning!!

Runcarla

Veteran

There is something wonderfully Martha Graham going on with dresses #10-11, and #12-13. I really do love the silhouette on your body! Next is #1, loose (without the belt). Sorry! But mum doesn’t get a gold star for the print dress (though she has found other treasures for you.) The colour of #4,5+6 is soooo beautiful with your colouring, but something is off with the fit or the construction at the bottom of the button placket.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Joy

Veteran

Keep or work with what you love, but if you have bad feelings about a dress, it should go. Life is too short.

JAileen

Veteran

I love the white dress. I’m glad you do too. It looks like you should be in Hawaii.

I like the beige one too although it’s more low cut than I would feel comfortable in.

The pattern one is neither here nor there.

The burgundy dress makes your waist look tiny.

Yes to stripes!

Anonymous

More love for the white dress. The beige one is not a great colour , I feel, and agree that it's a low cut for every day wear. The red one /burgundy? is great but seems like a cold weather dress , or fall at the very least. I'm neither here nor there re the striped dress or patterned tunic.

Anonymous

I like the shape of the beige one the most on you and quite like the burgundy and the stripe. The white I'd like more without the horizontal near the bottom. Not crazy about the pattern one either. Seems it would suit a heavier bones higher contrast lady. Love the necklace though!

Anonymous

It's possible that your rather striking features are best supported by the more flowing and unusual styles.

I like the first three best and the white better without the belt that interrupts the slight 1920's influence of the shape.

Of the fitted dresses the striped looks easier to wear, the red might be better combined with something to break it up.

I like the patterned one on you!

Vildy

Veteran

That white linen dress is amazing on you. I really like the sand linen one, too. Probably what Angie is questioning about it is why I like it on you. It has a kind of breezy chaotic look. In comparison, I do agree that the burgundy dress is too staid for you. I think a good rule for patterned dresses is that the larger motifs shouldn't be threatening to be bigger than your face. And the striped dress is playful and great. Oh, the irony.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

LOVE the white dress. Fun either way-- belted or loose. And gorgeous on you.

The sand dress feels a bit "off." Colour less flattering. Fit not as good. I can see it as a beach cover up?

Striped dress is adorable on you! But I like stripes, so take that for what it is worth!

The patterned dress is a bit overpowering and also a bit shorter than might be ideal, somehow. Weirdly, I think it might work better, longer, although then there would be more pattern! But....can you shorten it a wee bit and wear as a tunic over white jeans or long white shorts????

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

You look like a goddess in the white dress! You should wear white more. Also kind of loving your hair! (Hair inspo!) Back to the dresses, the beige is ok but white is just a better color on you. Not crazy about the print dress. You do *not* look lumpy nor dumpy in the burgundy but seems more Fall. I can't be objective about the stripes but it fits beautifully and is begging for a water side deck for you to be lounging on in it.

slim cat

Veteran

I like two linen dresses the best - white dress is fresh both ways and sand dress is unusual in cut and drape ( neutral color allows many options of bright/colorful accessories in you fav earth tones ).
The burgundy dress is classic but maybe you are tired of it ( back to the holding zone until the fall? ).
I like the striped dress on you - softer contrast and warmer color.
The printed dress is cute however you do look more luminous in warmer colors.

rachylou

Veteran

The stripe is the best to me. I also like the white unbelted... I feel it’s a dress meant to be free... but sorta depends on what shoes you wore too. I feel the burgundy also depends on how you’d style it. I see it as too relaxed by itself...

...I don’t love the others. The patterned one, the cut bothers me. The sand seems out of place...

Minaminu

Veteran

I like the white dress and would reccommend to keep it as It can be used in a variety of occasions (beach, barbecue with family, errands, holidays...).

The same applies for the yellow stripes dress and burgundy, thought burgundy is a colour that I assicciate more to the cold seasons.

The other 2 dresses can be passed on .

Liesbeth

Veteran

I would keep the first and last dress, provided you still like their vibe (the first a bit more boho and the last a bit more playful than prototypical you). The others seem a tad off with regard to fit or proportions.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I agree with Angie 100%.

lyn67

Veteran

Big love for the white one! And a smile as I do have a dress in the same fabric and color like yours(the sand)-and despite it isn't the most flatering color it's so breey and a keeper, for me! Love the yellow stripes-and the patterned one-it's one of a kind, and a gift from DM-but am so sentimental, don't listen if feels of for you!
But have to ask about that fab unregular pendant-is it a symbol or a stone, only?

Sisi

Veteran

You look good in all of them but the first 3 ones are my favorites. The white dress is stunning, may I ask the brand? And I like a lot the patterned one on you.

Roxanna

Veteran

Thanks so much all! Wow - I really appreciate all your honest and thoughtful feedback.

Patterned dress and navy blue version of the fit and flare now in the donate bin

Surprised by all the love for the white dress! I love it but thought it looked a bit nightgowny - but didn't really care The while and the sand are thrifted linen dresses, made in Italy (thrifted by Mom.). They are a surprise to me - i didn't know that linen dresses from Italy are of such beautiful cuts and good quality linen, and I love them. The sand one actually fits really well - you can't tell from the photo, but it has a kind of bias cut skirt, and the waist is seamed in an interesting way that makes it flow. I contemplated taking it up from the shoulders, but I think I'll just wear a cami inside. I agree that the colour is not the best for me (too close to skin colour with a grey tone that washes me out), but I generally wear it with a floaty scarf in a flattering colour.

Burgundy dress gets one more seaosn to see if I wear it in the eraly spring or fall. I still like the stripey dress though it does feel too playful for me. It may be perfect for quarantine and then I say goodbye to it after then.

Pendant is from a little boutique here in Toronto that I love

Hair has gone from shaved on one side to an asymmetrical bob, and still growing. but I think I like it...

Anonymous

Could you dye the sand one? Anything that's natural fabric can be dyed easily- as far as I know.

Bijou

Veteran

Love the white dress on you and 100% agree with Angie on the others. Red dress is lovely on you not frumpy or unflattering at all.

SarahD8

Veteran

Roxana, re: the burgundy dress, it is very plain and in my mind that stops it from being “luxe.” For me luxe = details, or VERY elevated material. BUT, I think this could be a great canvas for some of your other pieces to achieve a luxe look overall. Maybe try that in cold season?

I’m glad you’re keeping the sand colored dress. I know that one was controversial but I’m firmly on the side of Yay. Somewhat intrigued by suntiger’s suggestion of dyeing it though!

cindysmith

Veteran

Loving the white and the stripe ones. The rest, I'm kind of meh about

Star

Veteran

I love the white one (particularly without the belt). All the others look good to me, but not so keen on the burgundy one. I like the naturalness of the sand color (from someone who loves color - go figure!) Yes, Italian linen clothing is brilliant - I have thrifted quite a few pieces and totally love the quality of the material and the cuts - the Italians sure know how to make figure flattering clothing!

brooklynsparrow

Love the white dress! Sand I like the style/fit a lot, color is ok. Maybe look into dyeing, as Suntiger suggested? I would pass on the patterned dress, one of those where the pattern leaps out and pushes the (beautiful) wearer into the background. Not crazy about the length of the striped & especially the maroon dress, maybe pin a few inches shorter and see if proportion is better? The other ladies here are much more knowledgeable than me, so take my words with a big grain of salt! You are very lovely

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Loving the belted white & the burgundy dress looks very sleek! Yellow striped is almost there but looks a *smidge* too long on you - could just be the camera angle? I feel like the printed dress could have worked better if it was in a different colourway.

Helena

Veteran

Ok, well I personally LOVE the patterned one on you I didn't think it overwhelmed you at all - but, if it's not making you happy, then NEXT as Angie would say!

I actually think all of these look great! Re: the more clingy ones though, I am the same with that fabric; it makes me conscious of any lump or bump. So I vote go with what feels comfortable for you.

The linen-y dresses are spectacular on you!

nemosmom

Veteran

More love for the white dress! I will have to defer to others on fit, but I understand what you mean about feeling frumpy or matronly. I think they LOOK good, but if you FEEL yuck, I would let them go.