Knot front dresses for summer (UK) - YouLookFab Forum

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Knot front dresses for summer (UK)

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

The ones I can find seem to be in dark colours like this one that I've tried:

http://www.monsoon.co.uk/Day-D.....artdresses

Or in prints that I'm not keen on:

http://www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/W.....Dress.html

I can see me trying one of those prints but they are 'very Boden' and as I already have a Boden print dress, I don't want to be type cast! The plain colours are again dark (black and purple).

How could I make the first black one feel summery? Or has anyone in the UK seen anything like this (I'd really like viscose as per Angie's recommendation) in more summery colours/prints? It can't be deep blue/navy either. Most things in my wardrobe are blue/navy - I've got to get something else!
Thanks!

Shopping

15 replies

Latest reply was from Inge

crazyone

Veteran

thunalata, this is a full sleeve dress, but how about this?

http://www.esprit.co.uk/index_.....US&wS

And a short sleeve patterned one...

http://www.esprit.co.uk/index_.....US&wS

Though these probably aren't available in your size online...maybe worth trying an Esprit store.

Alecia

Veteran

With the dark dresses, the accessories will make all the difference in making it look summery. For example, I could see the dress you posted with white beads and bright purse (yellow, red, green, orange) and some strappy sandals.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

What about the ones in the YLF store?

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

I know what you mean about it being very Boden

Where about do you live in the UK - are you a Londoner? I think that I might have seen one in Jeager at lunch time. I would also be tempted to have a look at Hobbs.

When would you want to wear this dress? I think that you could make it more summery by your shoe type and colour (wedge sandals in a metallic or another fun summer colour), the choice of a bright colour cardigan or bag and your jewellery.

Anonymous

How about pairing the black dress with colors similar to the ones Laura put with her black swim suit in today's blog (white, turquoise and a pop of yellow) for a summery look? You could do something similar with coral and fushia with and black, adding white.
I use white with my LBD and nude, tan or metallic sandals to help it look fit for summer. The white is usually a cropped white cardi and/or lots of white beads. Inspired by Laura, I plan to try turquoise and black and white accessories with maybe a yellow bangle.

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

crazyone - thanks for the links but they seem to go straight to a home page. I've had a look through the dresses (although not sure which ones you meant) and think they're a bit short for me (it's taken me months of reading Angie's blog before I've tried a 'just below the knee' length and not sure I can go shorter yet!

chewy - I'm in the UK so don't think I could get those, and they're also a bit short for conservative me at the moment...

londonkiwi - great ideas Jaegar and Hobbs but they're a bit out of my price range! Had to laugh as I looked at the websites and Jaegar has some dresses £100 off and they're *still* too much, but one day definitely... Sadly I live near to a Hobbs and have to go past it quite frequently and wish...

I'd love to make the dress work as a MOTG AND a business casual dress ideally and your ideas, together with Alecia's and Joy's are making me think I could make the dress work with a bit of thought.

Thanks all!
Polly

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Hi Polly,

A couple of other suggestions - M&S always have a nice selection of dresses at reasonable prices. Also try House of Fraser - they have good prices in their clearance section.

Fi

Louise

Veteran

Wallis have this style
http://www.wallis.co.uk/webapp.....;langId=-1 in loads of colours and prints if you go to the top of the page and click on all dresses then scroll through x

Inge

(website)

I really like the suggestions that have been made to make your black dress (beautiful!) more summery.

Here are a few more options:
http://www.dorothyperkins.com/.....tegory_rn=

Same one in pink
http://www.dorothyperkins.com/.....tegory_rn=

http://www.coast-stores.com/KA.....inkbuilder

http://www.kew-online.com/fcp/.....paign=SP09

http://www.jigsaw-online.com/f.....cell-dress

Expensive, but lovely
http://www.jigsaw-online.com/f.....rint-dress

http://www.johnlewis.com/86974.....urce=46387

P.S. How tall are you Polly, you look so statuesque in all your pictures.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great suggestions from the gals!

I wear black dresses in Summer no problem, Polly. I'll match them with bright or white accessories and a bright handbag. Bright toe nail polish helps too. So does a white denim jacket.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

What do you think of this one Polly, it has a small bow rather than the knot but it functions in the same way
http://www.greatplains.co.uk/p.....+Dress.htm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Clever, Julie. That's a really pretty dress! And very Julie - floral pattern and all. How say you Polly?

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Julie has picked out a very pretty dress (does Julie ever pick out anything that isn't pretty?)

It was at Julie's suggestion that I looked on Great Plains for a dress for my sister's wedding and I can vouch for their customer service and quality of their product.

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

Wow - all these amazing ideas makes me think that I've been walking round with my eyes shut! Thanks Julie, Fi, Inge and Louise for all of those wonderful links. I've ordered some things from M&S to try and will go to a shop nearby that stocks Great Plains and hope they have that dress - it looks perfect! I have a Wallis and a Dorothy Perkins and a Jigsaw too (yes Inge, that's just the sort of thing, but I was in there today and still didn't spot it, sigh. Oh and yes, far too expensive! Oh - and I'm 5'6" - not really statuesque at all!) so I'll be checking those out properly too.

Meanwhile I'll start looking for accessories and will be back with pics when I've sorted things a bit more!

Inge

(website)

Don't feel too bad Polly, it happens to me all the time: I spot something online and then for the life of me can't find it in the brick-and-mortar shop;-)

Good luck with the dress hunt and accessories, looking forward to more pics of you (and I still think you look wonderfully statuesque;-)