K/R: A-line dress fit help, please - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

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

K/R: A-line dress fit help, please

Zibbets

Veteran

Hello! I'm a longtime member but I think this is my first WIW post! I wish I were making my debut with an ensemble I was totally confident about, but I could really use your help with deciding whether or not to keep this dress. I love the big floral, the colors and the length, but I'm not sure about the fit and the lack of waist definition. The brand is Chis McLaughlin and there's no smaller size available, so it's all or nothing, baby!

Maybe I'm just not an A-line girl and surrendering my waist isn't my happy place, or maybe the dress is "floaty" and will be cool and perfect for the crazy-hot, crazy-humid summer weather that's just around the corner.

I'd love to hear your reactions. Thanks for looking!

This post has 3 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.

Shopping

15 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

Gennifyr

It looks like it's too big around your waist. Maybe tailoring would help?

harmonica

Veteran

Welcome and congrats on your first WIW! You know, the responses to the WIW posts give much insight and we're all here to help you! And I love the dress on you!! The A-line is waist surrendering, but fitted around the upper part. I think it looks great, nice length and breezy. It's hinting at your nice figure in a good way. Lets hear what the others say

Thistle

Veteran

This is a waist surrendering style. A bit like a shift.

The pattern reminds me a bit of mod, which I think makes it work.

However, if you are not happy surrendering your waist, I vote return it. It will most likely sit in your closet unworn. (At least, it would in mine if I am not happy with something!)

abc

Veteran

I think this could be highlighting a fit issue around the upper back (hard to tell) and waist (for sure). If I recall I think maybe Diana (?) talked about it in a recent thread and Diane gave info on what the actual issue is (she is a star seamstress) as well as suggestions on how to deal with it.

You could try belting it, I could see a cognac leather working with this.

Good luck and welcome to WIW!

K. Period.

Veteran

Welcome to WIWs! This is a hard one to start out with. I can't tell what your underlying shape is, so I can't tell very well if this is flattering or not.

Based on what I can see, it looks like you are likely pretty balanced, right? And you have lovely legs to show off. So....

I like it very much. It looks like a shift style dress to me too. Is it meant to be fitted on the waist? It seems perfectly natural as a loose waist, loose hips style. It's shape is visually anchored by your shoulders. This style is actually a great style for ITs. I'm looking for one myself. It might not be such a good style if you are a curvy hourglass and are hiding a tiny waist.

I vote yes, if you can find a happy place in surrendering your waist!

carter

Veteran

What a cute dress! I like the loose, flowy thing for heat and humidity, but you could have the side seams taken in a bit if it feels too big. I'd do it from the waist down so the whole silhouette is slimmer.

retailgirl

Veteran

Very cute and it looks good on you. It fits well through the bust and it looks like it has some movement. You may have surrendered your waist but you still have a shape. It reminds me of things I wore in the 60's!

Zibbets

Veteran

Thank you all for your kind replies!

Harmonica and Gennifyr, I think it's sound advice to take it to my tailor and see what she says about taking it in.

Thistle and retail, I like that it strikes a mod/60s note with you. Those are plusses in my book.

abc, I think you may be right about upper back fit issues. Maybe it's a no-go.

K, I'm not sure what my body type is. Maybe hourglass? I'll have another look at Angie's guidelines. Good thinking that I should find out!

Carter, I like the idea of slimming the whole silhouette. It may even need it above the waist as the armholes seem too big. I've never had a dress altered that much, so we'll see what's possible.

unfrumped

Veteran

Hi ho.
It IS a pretty, summery mod-type print. I will be a bit of a spanner though and say I think it's a bit short. Not "indecent" short, but more a proportion thing for me and reads more young. But, people usually either like their dresses short, or not. It can be a problem for A-line styles because too long can be bad, due to the floaty cut--so I guess there is this perfect happy length zone I wish a dress like this could achieve. So I suppose for the mod-60's look, the short length comes with the territory.
Not much help, huh?!

What footwear would you wear with this?

Dottie

I love that dress!! It looks great on you, but I think it would look even better if you had it taken in around the waist and below like Carter said. Those are your colors too!

Zibbets

Veteran

Thank you, unfrumped and Dottie!

Echo

Veteran

I think the pattern is very summery and the shape and pattern together do evoke a '60's feel for me. But the '60's look depends, in part, on a straighter, less body-con vibe than what many people are used to. This dress looks like it will move beautifully with your shape and will display your (great) figure in a more subtle but still unmistakable way.

I think we make a mistake in assuming that everything needs to be be body con or princess-seamed. The beauty of a dress like this is its movement and fluidity. A fluid fit is even more important with a shorter hemline. I think it looks fab on you just the way it is!

Zibbets

Veteran

Echo, you are so kind. Thank you.
I do think this is intended to be a much less body con shape than I'm used to. Maybe it's just right the way it is. I'll think about that.

jackiec

Veteran

I think it's cute! I like the first photo collage that really shows the swingy movement that it has. Would taking it in mean losing that nice swing? Seems like a nice piece to beat the heat, so I vote keep (as long as you're good with the loose vibe).

shiny

Veteran

I think you look absolutely adorable -- and I mean "adorable" in the best possible sense of that word.

You can totally pull off the waist surrendering and this shift is totally mod. The pink is very on trend as well.

My only nit with it, is the sleeves. I'd much prefer this dress on you if it was sleeveless.

If budget is no object, I vote KEEP and play with it this summer and see what happens. If budget is a big object, then maybe keep searching, but on the very same track.