Good morning all --
Thanks much for the candid feedback, including but not limited to the lovely compliments! Diane and her crew call this raspberry leopard print but I'm glad it reads more abstract than animal to others, too.
The mixed opinions on "how much black can this dress handle?" definitely mirror my own.
It doesn't help that out-of-season outfits always feel wrong to me so I'm trying things on in broiling heat and feeling stupid.
For the more or less ok-with chunks of black, thanks to:
Jeneva, who wins for most hilarious rave. I think I used up all my "check me ouuuuuut" tokens when I posted my NAS dress alteration photos, ha. Beth Ann, Deborah, Ornella, Caro, Jjsloane, Parsley, TraceyLiz...thanks for your analysis as well.
For the I couldn't tell where they fell on the black issue but I appreciate the input:
Thanks Mochi, Vibgyor (extra thank you re hat/outfits), Alicat, and Ceit!
For the do not love with dark legs/jacket, thanks to:
Thanks for the honesty, Coco, Suz, Ingunn, and MNSara. You are the ones on my other shoulder.
I'm wearing/melting in black micronets in the photos, and as some guessed they do read more of a matte black there. But I would definitely want to wear this with:
- tall black boots in Fall/Early Winter and again in Late Spring
- my new patent booties* and the 'nets/sheer black hose
- a dark jacket/cardigan if needed
I have charcoal and deep espresso boots, and I can drag them out and at least assess, but most of my non-black jackets/cardigans seem to hit at the wrong spot. Downside of a smaller-ish closet.
ETA Since Suz snuck in with more info and I did take a couple of micro/net boot shots before ripping them off so I wouldn't get the dress all sweaty. Apparently I deleted the front-facing one so #2 is what's available.
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Gut instinct when I first tried it on (tired, after work etc) was: I like this...at last, a printed wrap that looks pretty good on me! Print *does* look like the studio shot [#1]...fact that it looks more muted from a distance gives me greater comfort re work.
Analytical side when I retried it with with colder-weather clothing: All of the above doubts about flattery, versatility with color pairing in my closet, etc.
* First flat sandals, then booties, now a traditional wrap...the last few months have certainly seen me trying to conquer items that have defeated me in the past