K/R: Helmut Lang-ish dress (ETA quick decision made @ bottom) - 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: Helmut Lang-ish dress (ETA quick decision made @ bottom)

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Today I had a couple of returns to make to my local thrift store from purchases made some time ago. The store I frequent does not provide refunds - it's exchange only. This can sometimes be frustrating when making a return, because what if there is nothing you want to exchange for???

Anyway, I had some luck today and found two items for my two returns. As you may know, I've been craving adding a couple of more "arty" (for lack of a better term) pieces to my fall/winter wardrobe. My recent Eileen Fisher cascading cardigan is one of those pieces.

The first item I found today is a dress that reminds me, at least in pattern, of the Helmut Lang dress I tried that didn't fit. It is a Jessica Simpson dress and has a black "under" dress and then over top this draped layer in an abstract pattern in black, army green, dark purple and white. It has a v-neck in front and back and a full length exposed zipper in the back. There are also these "faux" pockets in the front. The dress is beautiful in movement - soft, silky and light as a feather. I've shown it on its own with black pumps (possible date night outfit?), belted (which I think works but maybe not with this particular belt), and with a blazer and my Doc Marcie boots. I can also see it with my black leather blazer, tights and knee high boots for winter. I do realize it is a completely waist surrendering dress although a jacket does provide waist definition.

Then I found this interesting graphic clutch that is made up of some type of hard resin with the image of a magazine cover imprinted on it. It has a grey suede snap clasp in front and the inside is in orange silk. I thought this would be a really fun piece for nights out.

So give it to me straight ladies - do I Keep or Return the dress and/or clutch?

Pic #4 is rather unflattering as I see my hands have pulled the fabric out of place a bit. Sorry 'bout that.

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.

Shopping

27 replies

Latest reply was from rae

Anonymous

I quite like it with a topper, Shannon. How does it look over skinnies or tights and boots?

The magazine clutch is fun!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I like the clutch. I like the pattern of the dress. But I don't like the dress on you.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Shannon, my dear. I love the colours and pattern. I love the neckline, front and back. I love the zip in the back. And I suspect it looks better IRL, in motion. But I must be honest -- at least as photographed, this is not my favourite dress on you. I think it hides your increasingly fit shape (except for your fab legs) and does not do your figure justice.

Having said that, I realize that sometimes figure flattery is not the goal. And sometimes photos don't tell the whole story.

The clutch is fun, and yes, I can see it working into a going out capsule. It's a conversation piece!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Ceit - I haven't had a chance to try with tights and boots yet but will definitely see how that works.

Anna - dress too shapeless for me?

ETA: Just saw your comments Suz. Thank you for your honesty. I do agree it is a piece that does look better IRL but having said that, photos do tell some truths don't they?

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I like the dress - the pattern looks fab on you. What about a wider belt & a shorter more shaped jacket. Do you have a white jacket to try? I also like your idea of black tights & leather jacket for winter.

I have poison eye for these types of bags so I'll leave that to someone more rational about them

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Yes far too shapeless. It looks marginally better when you have your hands in the pockets, but you aren't going to do that all day.

Anonymous

Yes, alone it hides your figure. A topper adds a bit of structure and shape back.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I definitely see that my body is completely hidden when the dress is on its own.

Is it worth considering if worn with a jacket?

Echo

Veteran

While I like the pattern and the IDEA of the dress, IRL I don't think it works. Part of the issue is the droop on the sides so it looks like the hem is higher in the middle. So in practice, it not only hides your figure, but it looks "off" - maybe slightly disheveled? I just don't think it does you any justice, even with a belt or topper.

I think the clutch is cute. A definite conversation piece!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Aaahhhhh...thank you ladies! It's clear the dress isn't for me so back it will go. I'm also kind of considering returning the clutch too...it is cute, but will I really use it? Maybe it's too young for me?

Maybe I'll exchange these items for coffee mugs - seriously!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think the dress is really interesting! I actually don't dislike it on you and can see the appeal. I have a feeling that this is definitely one of those pieces thats better IRL. There is a lot of volume there, but I love the hemline. I'm actually wondering if something can be done with it to rein in a bit of the volume (Wonder Woman?).

The clutch is awesome.

MsMary

Veteran

I think you made the right call on the dress. In addition to joining in the others' comments about how it doesn't get your lovely figure, I am super over exposed zippers.

I love the clutch, though!

donnat

Veteran

Shannon, I see what you like about this dress, I like this on you, especially with the boots. I think it has an edgy look to it, but it is not figure flattering.
Reading the other comments, I agree with them, but I would still wear this dress. It's cool looking.

shedev

Veteran

I like it with the belt or topper. Might at least be worth a consult with wonder woman.
None of the thrift stores here even do exchanges, you're so lucky.

Sona

Veteran

Shannon: if you remember the helmut lang dress u liked but did not look good I bought on final sale. it was very form fitting and made me very preggers but looked good with a topper. I recently consigned it without wearing it even once because in order for an item to be be versatile I think one needs to consider it as a stand alone as well. This by no means Is an absolute. We all have items in our wardrobe that we wear only a certain way. But this does nothing for you with or without a topper. I think since many of us have agreed to give 'real' feedback without being afraid to hurt feelings I say: back it goes!!!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Janet - I had a look at the dress in more detail last night and I'm not sure if Wonder Woman could do too much to fix the volume issue. The way the over layer is constructed and attached to the under dress would make it difficult and probably pricier than would be worth on a thrifted item.

Sona - you are very right. An item has to earn its keep in our closets, whether it be pricey or thrifted. If I can only wear it with a topper then it isn't worth keeping. Mind you, I will only wear my B44 dress with a topper because it is unflattering from the side view.

I will say that the interesting hemline is one of the things that attracted me to the dress - I like how the side draping comes lower than the front hem and creates the uneven shaping.

This experiment, along with the full cobalt patterned skirt re-do by Wonder Woman, is making me realize that volume is not the friend of a petite apple. I prefer my skirts and dresses to have a more fitted (not body con mind you) style from the waist on down.

Thanks for the honest replies all. The dress is back in the bag for exchange.

Sylvie

Veteran

I agree with everyone else. Love the clutch, but not so much the dress. You could obviously make it work by styling but you have other dresses that are just so much more fab on you.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I missed this thread!

Yea to the experiment! I love the way you go after evolving your style. An experimenter, you know, always listens to the data and is never quite sure what the results will be, so she must stay flexible!

I think you made the right call -- on the basis of flattery. It will take some searching to find the right "Langish" dress that will do its job for you.

The clutch is quite fun!

DonnaF

Veteran

Shannon;

I'm wondering if that dress is actually too big for you on top and would have been more flattering on you in a smaller size or two? There seems to be a lot of fabric on top. I can really see its appeal, though. But I think returning it was a good choice since it didn't do your figure justice.

Also, I'm wondering if you bought the Bailey 44 when you were less trim? The side view now (or when the weather becomes cooler!) may be better than you think such that you can wear it with confidence without a topper.

Thistle

Veteran

Late to the party, but I think you made the right move. It is hard when we think we have such a find, but sometimes it isn't worth "making" something work. It is a hard, hard lesson. One I still need to remind myself of from time to time.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Shannon, I had no time to comment before. Good decision. It did not look promising to me form the thumbnails alone. And I honestly believe that returning the items we are so drawn to is very good for polishing our style and shopping preferences. Sometimes we like just the idea of wearing something, and that's OK, but letting the nice idea take up the precious wardrobe (hanger) and mind (how do make that work for me?) space is just not worth it.

On to something more delicious and workable.

Marley

Veteran

I know that I am very late here - but I love this dress on you - sans the jacket and belt! I think it is arty, drapey, yes - full of volume, but absolutely a beautiful piece and you can carry this off without a hitch. Just look at you in that first picture! Your smile and your confident attitude shine through and you look FAB! So what if its not figure-flattering! Neither are a lot of things that we wear - BF jeans, "track" pants, etc. LOVE the dress on you!

Deborah

Veteran

Wow Shannon, I couldn't have resisted that dress either, but like you I suspect it would have gone back too! I have been away for the weekend so I have only just seen your thread but I wanted to encourage you that I think you are on the right track even though this one doesn't work so well. The draping at the hip area is just not the most flattering location for drape and while I totally get that it probably looks better in motion, I think there are better options out there. This experience just helps you to hone your your understanding of what avant garde elements work best for you.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Good point, Deborah.

Remember my "mistakes were made" thread from about a year ago, Shannon? Where I got all excited about moving in an avant garde direction and went out to the sales where I promptly bought two items that looked ridiculous on me?

Not saying this looks ridiculous on you, but you know what I mean.

Well, okay -- I salvaged them in a way. I gifted one to Mo which made my heart feel good. And I wore the teal tunic thing to a couple of events and at least the colour of that one was super flattering, so that was something. But you know. It was bad. I blew a couple of hundred dollars that day, and for what? Let's not even get into the CPW of those items!

But I did learn some stuff. The things I picked were too "soft" and too "poofed out" for me. I need my avant garde to have some sharpness, some angularity, and perhaps some crispness -- that's not necessarily the case (I can imagine an asymmetrical hemmed sweater or T working really well for me, or for you, for that matter) but too much "poofiness" or draping in the wrong places just looks....saggy or shapeless on me.

Not saying you are the same, just saying that Debs has a really great point here. Each experiment like this is a learning opportunity. We know you look awesome in these colours and this type of pattern. So it's a question of finding elements like that in the right shapes.

Give that your new angular bangs look so good, and we both look great in that angle-cut Danier jacket, I wonder if there might be a similar lesson for you.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Sylvie and Beth Ann - thank you for your comments.

DonnaF - I would normally agree about the dress being too big on top but I actually think that is the design. And I'm certainly hoping the side view of the B44 dress is better this fall

Thistle - just ask Una - previously I would be like a dog with a bone to try and make something work. Even when deep down I knew it didn't. I'm getting much better at letting things go that aren't right.

Ornella - the polishing continues!

Marley - well I'll be darned! Love it you say? I did return it but you make a very interesting point. You are right in that BF jeans are not conventionally flattering and yet we wear them, along with voluminous tops, etc. I often find myself arguing with the little voice in my head about whether or not figure flattery always needs to be the top priority. You've given me some food for thought - thank you.

Deborah - I actually think that the way you wearing draping so beautifully is a bit of an influence on me these days

Suz - I do remember that thread and your insights. The items you bought I thought looked great on you but they were indeed very much out of your normal style range. I think you and I both crave a certain amount of structure in our clothing and when we step outside of that into the soft and drapey world, it just doesn't feel like us. I'm enjoying the experimentation of that style and honestly don't know if I will actually venture in that direction - I kind of doubt it. But it sure is fun to step outside of ourselves once in a while, isn't it? And I don't see this return as any sort of defeat. In fact, quite the opposite. With the wisdom here I realized it was not for me and back it went sans disappointment. A definite step in the right direction:)

I think the EF cardigan works because I can pair it with a structured piece like my BR sheath dress and boots. This way there's a bit of drape and "pouf" but not too much. And because the sleeves of the cardigan are slim fitting and it has that nip in at the waist in the back, the cardigan itself has a wee bit of shape and structure.

My experimentations with this JS dress and my full skirt from Wonder Woman and even the citron full skirt I purchased earlier in the summer is helping to continue to hone my style. I don't mind some volume, but it must be limited and my outfits must have at least one element of structure to it. This is a good realization in my books.

Thank you ladies!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yup. It's all learning, right? You have a great attitude, Shannon, and the other thing is, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Unless we try it out, how the heck would we know?

rae

(website)

Veteran

Interesting thread here. I actually like the dress a lot - but I do find it a bit too OTT avant garde to get much use out of it in daily life. Unless you have a string of edgy gallery openings/fashion galas to attend that you have not told us about. I can totally see why you brought it home, though!