My go-to outfit for summer - YouLookFab Forum

I cannot exactly call this a formula because I only have 2 dresses like the one I am wearing, but this dress plus a cardi or denim jacket has been a favorite since I picked up this dress 3 years ago at (say it with me!) Old Navy. The cardi is from the ON as well. I am also wearing red lace ballet flats.

I almost did not buy this dress and it's twin in black because they have spaghetti straps. There are plenty of admonitions out there warning busty women not to wear dresses with spaghetti straps -- but I ignored that when I saw how this dress fit. Why should I leave behind a perfectly pretty dress simply because of a thin strip of cloth that no one has to see? I also love the drawstring which helps define a waist and the ruffles down the front. Sounds like a lot going on when you throw in the print, but it works.

I usually wear this dress with a regular bra because strapless bras give me a strange profile and don't really lift and separate. So when I wear this dress with or without a topper I wear a bra with coordinating straps. I don't generally encourage women to wear a regular bra with spaghetti straps because I have seen it done badly so many times. How do you all feel about that?

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10 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I like your formula! The dress is lovely on you, so light and airy for summer. The cardi works well!
I'm getting a little less uptight about bra straps showing. I'm thinking your idea is fine. I did it yesterday, in fact: I wore a spaghetti strap cami with a regular bra, under a cardigan. I figured I could take the cardi off and still be ok. The bra straps were very close to the color of my skin and were almost entirely covered up with the spaghetti straps.

Day Vies

Yeah -- that's just the scenario I was imagining Firecracker when I decided to buy spaghetti strap tops & dresses anyway. My bra straps are kind of thick -- yet decorative (lace and such) so the straps tend to look like part of the dress because they coordinate.

Diana

This is a perfect summer dress! I actually like when summer dresses have a bit more going on because you're generally wearing them when it's too hot for anything else (jackets, jewelry, scarves, etc) so the dress has to do all the work.

I don't mind bra straps with spaghetti strap tops at all, so long as the bra is pretty and/or matching/coordinating with the top. I have one black bra that has skinny straps that look exactly like camisole straps; that's always a good fallback option (unless I happen to be wearing white, which is rare). What I don't like is when people wear halter or strapless tops with regular bras.

Deborah

DV you look fabulous in this dress. The colours are just delicious:) And the fit is lovely on you. I want to to the other one now

Eliza

Wow. Every time you post, I find myself wanting to say the same thing: "those are your colors!" Apparently, they all are. YLF!

Suz

(website)

You look absolutely beautiful in these colours! (Hey, those are "my" colours, too!) And this dress is sensational on you. Pretty, feminine, polished, and oh-so-right.

I really like your idea of coordinating your bra straps to the dress. Normally I'm not in favour of showing bra straps, but I think it if it is done intentionally, it could be a very pretty and subtly sexy look that would still permit the advantages of a proper bra.

CocoLion

Great dress on you, I think it's a flattering silhouette showing off your pretty toned legs. So I am glad you opted for the dress, spaghetti strap and all. (Would never, ever guess Old Navy, it looks like Anthropologie.) I think wearing a bra with spaghetti straps is no problem if the bra straps coordinate and are not too far apart from the dress straps. In fact I think it can look quite pretty.

hedgiehog

I love the formula you've got going on here, DV. The dress is very pretty on you and shows off your legs. I so understand what you mean about strapless bras. I can't really wear unless its got industrial strength lift. However, I have worn a cami with a regular bra IF the bra is the same colour as the cami or my skin. YLF!

Joy

Very pretty and perfect for a hot summer day. The color of your cardi is stunning on you, and your shoes bookend it well.

rachylou

Cute, but not little girl. Super look!

Beth Ann

Yeah for formulas! You have lots of great lightweight toppers which you use beautifully. The dress is light in weight, but wonderfully saturated in color. Love it!

Asingh

Perfect summer attire, DV!

catherine

Beautiful. Since you have two, can we see the other one soon?

Absolutely Catherine -- I'm trying to figure out which topper I want to wear with it.

Lisa

I would have never known there were thing straps hiding underneath that cardigan. I have a pet peeve about thin straps. I don't like to see bra straps, and I am lazy, I also don't want to purchase a "special bra" for just one outfit. So I generally stay away from thin straps. I always look for straps that are think enough to let me wear a regular bra. Having a coverup is a clever idea!

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