Outdoors Housedress 'Style' - YouLookFab Forum

I mentioned on @UmmLila's thread that I recently had success thrifting a cotton housedress:
https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....ress-style
I said it would be a good choice to wear in high summer here because of how breathable it is (I originally thought it may be a viscose blend, because of the way it hangs, but it actually wears more like 100% cotton). I also said I might try it belted to make it a little more flattering to wear outside. Haha @ me!

It was 30C (86 degrees Fahrenheit) with 90%+ humidity when I went for my walk this afternoon (please excuse the uneven sleeves - my husband took these photos, so he didn't think it pertinent to tell me lol). So let's be honest - my waist currently has a restraining order against *all* of my belts, my hair fights against even *touching* my neck, my face mask wants nothing to do with earrings & my forearms are like a Slip N Slide for bracelets or rings in this heat. If you had asked me last year, I would have told you that I don't think this outfit really constitutes as 'stylish' for me. But the truth is, the current situation has made me revaluate my style goals - I feel like gold mirrored aviator sunglasses, khaki buckled Birkenstocks & painted toenails add just enough 'structure' to this loose dress for me at the current time. Dressing for work is going to be interesting, though (I'm still teaching online, since many of our students fled Hong Kong during the protests, but staff want to start holding meetings in-person now).

Moral of the story - I'm *very* glad I trusted my instincts & waited until *actual* summer to buy warm weather clothing this year. I think my mind has still been stuck in my UK shopping habits until now, since I usually do the bulk of my shopping online during the winter sales (e.g. Boxing Day (after Christmas), my January birthday & Lunar New Year). It was very tempting, but this year I mostly stuck to buying other basics (like underwear & shoes) during the sales. It looks like Hong Kong's secondhand market has improved compared to when I first arrived (in 2015), so let's hope I can continue to win big this summer!

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5 years ago

Minaminu

Veteran

What a keeper! It's a fab dress and suits you beautifully! Love the patterns!

Liesbeth

Never mind your accessories limitations, this dress wows on its own! You look fab!

Bijou

I think it is beautiful and very flattering too. The pattern gives this dress structure with its slimming dark slide panels. The colours are gorgeous on you and a great match for your sunglasses. When in very hot weather, body skimming dresses in breathable fabrics are a very stylish and comfortable solution.

Star (Lise)

As you know from the previous thread I love this dress. Those sunnies and sandals are the perfect accessories! YLF!

unfrumped

Lookin’ good— agree that this dress doesn’t need much else and the sunglasses and slides are perfect.
We are now into our 90+ degree days with high humidity and hmm, belts, high waists, tucking— not so much!

nemosmom

Love this!

Kate

It’s a beautiful dress, and you look great in it. Your accessorizing is spot on.

Zaeobi

(website)

Thank you for your feedback, nemosmom! I suppose Comfy can still be Chic!

Minaminu & Bijou I agree about the pattern - I feel that 'typical' maxi housedresses usually overwhelm my petite height with too much pattern AND fabric, but this strikes a good balance. I also like how the back is printed too - I've noticed that modern clothing often just focuses on the front.

Liesbeth, Star & Kate Thank you for complimenting my accessories!

Haha Unfrumped I feel you - problem is that I usually rely on all 3 of those methods for creating figure flattering proportions on me. I tolerated it in high summer back when I was still regularly commuting to work, but now I'm worried my body is going to try & fight it when I have to return to campus for good. Even wearing closed toe shoes feel like a stretch on my feet after living in slippers for months, despite my shoe size not changing! Any tips on pulling this off but still looking 'unfrumpy'?

Suz

That is stunning on you and so, so practical for the crazy heat! You don't need to wear another thing with this dress -- perfect as is! I really love how the back is different from the front and the print is just enough and not overwhelming. The colour scheme of the dress is terrific on you.

slim cat

Great dress - the colors and print are perfect on you! Your gorgeous hair and fab sunnies add to the look!

Anonymous

Well I think you look GREAT ! Which is no small feat in weather like that. The dress , and your style, are really wonderful

Angie

Fashion Stylist

KILLER FABULOUS.

LOVE! You wear this look beautifully. Your hair is so pretty too.

Zaeobi, this reminds me VERY much of my half Indonesian Mama and how she dressed in the '70s on a hot day to the beach, pool, or doing errands in Central. In Hong Kong! I grew up there. Mama loved batik.

Good job on following through on the refined and evolved shopping strategy too.

Roxanna

Gosh I adore this dress!! I’ll have to keep my eye out when I’m thrifting now

rachylou

Whoa. Stunning!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Super cool look, in both senses of the word! I love this very boho dress with your hip avaiator shades and tousled up-do. Your description of the circumstances is so funny--I enjoy your writing. That dress is a terrific find.

Thanks @Suz - the back is so fun & unexpected, isn't it? Just had to 'spread my wings' in that second photo so you could all get a good look at it!

@slim cat & @Angie thank you for your kind comments on my hair, but they actually crack me up because of the story behind it: I only started clipping my hair up like this because I was getting fed up of going through so many hair elastics, only to have them repeatedly snap & cause a hair avalanche in the middle of the day. If my now-signature laziness can make me look as chic as Mama Cox though, then I'll take it the compliment!

@Rachylou & @Roxanna Thanks Wish I could tell you who made this dress, but the label is so faded that I can't even make out the fabric content Good luck with finding something similar, though!

@lisa p I'll take the 'cool' compliments, thank you Haha @Firecracker glad I could make you smile - we could definitely do with more of that these days!

Brooklyn

The dress looks fabulous on you. I’m amazed you got it thrifting.

Preppy Pear

Your hair, the dress, just gorgeous! Major housedress envy!

nuancedream

What an amazing dress!! The print is spectacular and you look so chic, which is no small feat in oppressive heat and humidity. I love how you styled the dress with your soft updo and aviator sunnies.

@Brooklyn I'm amazed too - so glad HK has diversified its secondhand market beyond the Urban Outfitters aesthetic. Nothing wrong with that, but I don't think such a housedress would have classified as 'hipster' enough to be sold under the old system here!

Thanks @Preppy Pear and @nuancedream - it's only going to keep getting hotter around here!

kellygirl

Wow! This is like a work of art. Stunning dress and you wear it so well. I love it!

Thanks, @kellygirl - they don't make them like they used to anymore!

Great print! And I know that weather well

Haha it's infamous yet inevitable, isn't it?

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