New dress - styling? opinions? Warning: pic heavy! - YouLookFab Forum

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New dress - styling? opinions? Warning: pic heavy!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think I really like this, but tags are still on in case you all see something I don't!

This dress is a Ralph Lauren I found in Marshall's a few days ago -- I love that it's 1) neutral navy blue, 2) should easily span 3 seasons but most importantly, it's wearable for hot summer weather and requires no shapewear or special bras, 3) midi length with an asymmetrical hem. It's classic but a little interesting too.

Tried it on this morning with the JC Produce booties just to get some ideas for styling. It came with the brown belt with gold hardware. Not crazy about the gold, but I do like the way that belt sits a little lower on my short waist. I tried on a couple of other belts too.

Also tried some jackets. Too bad my printed bomber has no blue in it -- the silhouette is not bad but the colors don't go. An aside: I included pics of it with my old orphan Theory metallic leather jacket (7-9). Is this jacket wrong on me? Should I be passing it on?

I'd love to know your thoughts! Keeper? Which jackets/belts work best to your eye?

Pardon no makeup yet.

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Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from Jaime

ironkurtin

Veteran

Love it! Do not understand the belt with front shirring detail, but IMO dress is a keeper.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Beautiful dress and I don't mind the belts but think the belts work better when you are wearing it with a jacket. I also prefer the jackets open due to the draping of the skirt. A fabulous very versatile dress!

I love the Theory Jacket!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, I'm wondering if it needs a belt at all. I cut those little belt loops off dresses all the time. I think it helps disguise my short torso to leave the belt off. I can wear a necklace instead.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

The dress is a keeper. I like the last 2 jackets the best, but prefer it with no jacket at all.

missvee

Veteran

I think you're right to remove the belt loops. The dress has such nice detail and I think a belt just competes with the interesting seams.
I really like the your jacket choices too.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I also think the dress is a keeper! It looks great with the jackets but I would leave off the belt.
Necklace would be great with the neckline of this dress.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Since you often mention the hips, I do think the draping emphasizes that area a tiny bit. Although if you hadn't trained me to think about that, I don't know if I would have noticed.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Alrighty then! You guys are confirming my instincts! I think this is going to be a Team Wear moment and I'll debut it tonight. I going to a reunion of my college radio station colleagues. Thirty years, can't believe it.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Rae, I notice that in the photos a bit too -- but more in the photos than IRL. I wonder if that's a product of not seeing it in motion.

MovingFashionForward

Actually I love the 7-8 jacket on you, and also the 15 jacket looks amazing too.

Sarah

LoriFLA

I like it without a jacket. The best jacket in my opinion is the faded denim, open. It's an attractive dress.

harmonica

Veteran

Lovely dress! Keep, wear and have fun tonight!

catgirl

Veteran

I don't mean to be a spanner, but I feel like it's a little more boho than your usual looks. It's a great piece to dress up and down, but I feel like most of your faves have built-in interest. I prefer without the belts.

You have an amazing side view!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Una, thanks! If only I could walk around presenting myself sideways... I am so eliptical! From the side you'd think I was an IT. Hehe.

It's interesting that you see boho. I really didn't see that (especially in the navy color, and the fabric is not t-shirt but a slightly silky jersey). I actually don't mind a touch of boho coming into my summer dressing. Something I can dress up (or more likely down) with an item or two like a statement necklace, cuff, hat, flat or heeled sandals, etc., works well for me to go from a meeting with a client to a concert in the park while still staying cool.

Of course, I'm still keeping an eye out for more interesting summer dresses too! Something in a color or pattern, with an interesting cut, but it's so rare to find that in a dress cut below the knee that I fear I'll be looking for a long while.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think it looks really versatile. I prefer it unbelted but being able to belt for a change won't be a bad thing. I like it best with the light wash denim jacket and the mixed media denim (maybe for early fall with different footwear). And I like it with the Theory metallic jacket also.

I do see what Una means about "boho" but I think it will read a lot less that way without the brown belt. It looks a little more Eileen Fisher-like eclectic than boho per se.

Gigi

Veteran

Very nice! :^)

I like it best unbelted, as I see others have commented. As far as toppers go, I like the denim jackets best, especially the blue ones. I don't care for the motos with this dress, because the motos have that asymmetric flap stuff going on, and I think that competes with the asymmetric hem and shirring/draping on the dress.

As far as topper vs. no topper, I think that either is good. But I do think that wearing a topper plus belting the dress leads to a lot of stuff going on in the waist region that is distracting to me.

You mentioned avoiding belts because of the short torso (that is me too!). If you want to distract the eye from your short torso, one of the things you could do it add a necklace (if you wear jewelry). That will draw the eye up and away from the waist.

Have fun at the reunion!

catgirl

Veteran

Yes it may be the belt throwing me off. Take what I say with a huge grain of salt!

And your arms are fantastic. Is there such thing as a side-IT?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Good grief.

You launched me into orbit with this dress, Janet. WOW. WOW. WOW. Soooo elegant. That's what midis do. I vote no belt. xo

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thank you, Angie! I'm breathing a sigh of relief. I really like it but was starting to second-guess myself. I test wore it with flat sandals and a statement necklace this afternoon (it hit 70 degrees here) and really enjoyed wearing it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

All sorted pretty lady. It's a different look for you - and very, very chic.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I prefer it with no belt at all, and I like it best with the blue denim jackets. You look gorgeous in it!

LACeleste

Veteran

You are so beautiful Janet! Great dress for summer! Hooray for Marshall's!

crutcher

Veteran

Lovely dress..I like it with the jacket (and the belt) or without the jacket and belt...This is truly an elegant dress and one you will enjoy...Your friends from your thirtieth reunion will be impressed...You wear this one well...

JulieJohn

Veteran

Just chiming in to echo that it looks great on you, best without belt I agree. But it's cute in all the incarnations, I really like it with the taupe leather jacket. Good find.

Echo

Veteran

This dress was made for you. The belt does lend it a more boho feel, and I vote no belt. It reads as black in almost all the photos, but the colour doesn't matter when the style looks this great! What a fabulous find!

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Oh, I love this on you! And so versitile!

My preference is unbelted, but it is nice to have that as an option. I also think it's better with the non-moto jackets, as they detract from the waist detailing.

Anonymous

Love it on you! And there's nothing better than a good summer dress that works with a normal bra.

In terms of the ways you styled it, I really like it with the metallic belt and with the chain(?) belt in #12 and with the open jackets. With the closed jackets, it's still nice, but it seems like it's a shame to cover up all that detail around the waist.

Debbie

Veteran

Love this dress. Perfect on you with no belt. Love the way you have styled it and looks like you can wear it any where,

jackiec

Veteran

What a versatile dress! I love that you can make millions of fab combinations with and without the belt. You look amazing.

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