Outfit lab: a very difficult dress - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

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

Outfit lab: a very difficult dress

Katerina

Veteran

Dear Fabbers,
I have this silk dress and I have never worn it. I struggle with it because it is very voluminous, it has cold shoulder cutouts and the colour is not my best. Why did I buy it you wonder? Good question.
It is of lovely quality, interesting cut and I want to give it a chance. I tried to style it for winter/cold spring with trousers and with a little nod to the nineties.
I tried with:
1-3, a black asymmetrical sweater, large glass necklace, bootcut elastic trousers, silver shoes, unstructured bag
4-7, same as above, but with a small silk scarf and a wool jacket, two different bags
8-9, thin red trench coat, silk scarves, white loafers, thrifted clip earrings and vintage handbag, this is a retro attempt,
10-11, large silk scarf, thrifted clip earrings, white vintage bag, white loafers.

Grateful for your opinion, does any of these work? Any ideas how to style would be much appreciated.

This post has 11 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.

Dressing

38 replies

Latest reply was from Katerina

kellygirl

Veteran

What doesn’t work? These are gorgeous and I hope you get this dress into rotation STAT! LOVE these. Purple is so pretty with the black especially! I wish I had these kinds of problems making dresses work!

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I think that it works much better when you give some shape to the dress by what you put over it.For example I think that 1-3 and 4-7 work well .l am less keen on10-11 as I feel the dress looks like it’s swamping you .Imaginative styling though ,you show that dress who’s boss!

Sara L.

Veteran

Wow, that necklace in the first outfit is gorgeous! I think you've done a good job with all of these. I like it over with trousers and think it fits well with your style. Do you have any slim fit pants you could try it over as well?

sheldon85

They all look fab but my favourite is the first 3

Katerina

Veteran

Kellygirl, thank you, you are very kind. I think the dress is too voluminous and not enough structured, difficult to combine.

Cardiffgirl, thank you. This dress is bossing me around indeed. There is too much fabric. I agree about the last outfit, there is simply too much of the dress. I feel no 1-3 is the one I would wear.

Sara L., thank you. Yes, I have some black and some white slim fit ankle pants. I will definitely try those as well.

Sheldon85, thank you. No 1-3 is the one I like too.

delurked

Veteran

I’m with Cardiff girl on this one. 4-7 being my favorite, followed by 1-3.

Katerina

Veteran

Thank you delurked. The jacket in 4-7 gives most structure - the way to go...

Mainelady

Veteran

That dress is such a pretty color and I really like the glass necklace with it. I like the structure in 4-7. I think a slim leg pant would look really nice with the dress.

Katerina

Veteran

Mainelady, 4-7 with a slim leg black pants sounds like a good plan. Thank you for the styling tips.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I like the first and last looks best. On the last one, I would remove the scarf, or go with a small scarf tied right up at the neck as in 9. To me, the big flowing scarf look is a little distracting from the lovely lines of the dress. And I would scrunch or roll up the sleeves to show some arm and add a little structure. I feel this dress needs to say free-floating; I'm less fond of layering over it with a more fitted piece.

I love the proportion in 1 & 2, too, and the funky platforms and unstructured bag play up the artful design elements.

Another option would be an even shorter top layer similar to what you are wearing in look 1, if you had one. But really, I do like what you've done here.

The color looks beautiful on you, and it's a luxurious dress, so it does work with your style. It's just a lot less structured than what I've seen you wear, so I can see how it is a challenge to style. It can be a beautiful and fun wild card in your wardrobe!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Everything works in a fashion forward 2019 way, Katerina. You have excellent styling skills.

My faves are #8 and #11.

Katerina

Veteran

Firecracker, thank you very much for the analysis and advice. Personally, 1-3 felt the best when I was trying these. I will play with different scarves. I used the large one in the last outfit to cover the cold shoulder cutouts - I liked the idea of them when I bought the dress a couple of years ago and now they drive me crazy. Maybe a taylor could close them somehow and shorten the sleeves a bit...

Katerina

Veteran

Angie, thank you very much. What a kind compliment. Fun you like the last two outfits, they are those I have been the least sure of.

rachylou

Veteran

The colour is amazing! I love the way you’ve styled it, esp with the red coat and waterfall necklace. I think the ‘extra’ fabric is a bit of a different look for you, but it’s great!

LaPed

Veteran

It looks SO good with the red topper and white shoes! The shoes and the little black bag are both so angular and geometric that the drape and movement of the dress is a welcome addition. My second fav is 4/5; again, I think the squareness of the bag helps offset the boho aspect of the dress. And I love that you have purple sunglasses to match the dress!

Katerina

Veteran

Rachylou and LaPed, thank you for looking and for the advice. More love for the red coat combo, how fun. It was a total experiment, I am so glad you like it.

Alicewonderland

Veteran

I think 1-2 works well. It’s my favorite. It really emphasizes the crisp collar and cuffs in contrast to the flowy hem. And it’s a bit Emily Strange with your hair in an awesome way. The necklace is stunning with it. Love. And the red lipstck.
4-5 is my least favorite. It’s a bit bunch.
8-9 looking stunning, love the red with lavender
10-11. Is nice, my 3rd favorite.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Love 1 and 2 - your jewelry rivals your scarves! but want to switch to the white shoes because I love them in 8-11. I like these two versions best because you did not try to tame the volume but embraced it. Gorgeous as usual!

Anonymous

Katerina, get busy and wear the dress for cold spring. I like all your stylings but 4-7 is my favorite. How does the dress look with boots in case you need them?

Bonnie

Veteran

double post

Bonnie

Veteran

My favorite is the first outfit. Maybe add a pop of red to it.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I love the first combo. And it seems you do have accessories to match the color. Would you consider wearing it with bare legs and with the cold shoulders showing? It might be a nice summer option.

Katerina

Veteran

Alicewonderland, thank you for the advise. Emily Strange in an awesome way - I like it The first outfit feels comfortable for me to wear.

Shevia, thank you for looking and for the idea. I will try the white shoes with the first one as well, why not?

Joy, thank you very much. My regular black semi patent Chelsea boots or cognac boots work with theses outfits too. Good point, It is cold and raining here this week, they will be handy.

Bonnie, thank you and thanks for the idea! I can try with red sneakers and bag.

Katerina

Veteran

Jessicams, thank you. I bought the dress as a summer dress to wear with bare legs and the cold shoulders showing. It is the cold shoulders that bother me now, they are with draw strings and never stay in one place. Otherwise the dress is good, I think I could handle the volume. I am thinking about having the cutouts closed by a tailor, it could be worth it.

What do you think?

Sisi

Veteran

My favourite is nr. 11 because I see the dress worn as a light overcoat. I agree that this dress is difficult - I also have difficulties with voluminous things and yet sometimes I buy them ..... You could consider to take it to a tailor and make a brand new dress out of it, or just keep it and continue experimenting!

Adriana

Veteran

If those shoulders drive you mad, try if they can be closed. But before that wear it like it is with nude stockings and short booties like in one of the outfit formulas.

Bijou

Veteran

These all look great, but I am particularly loving the dress when paired with your white shoes, #11 is my favourite.

April

Veteran

Whenever I go, "Why did I buy this?" the answer often has something to do with a great sale price.

I love the ways you've presented this dress, with the exception of pairing the stunning violet color with an orange-y red. I just can't appreciate that mix - completely personal.

lyn67

Veteran

Love nr 1- that is really great in regards proportions, silhouette, color combo, and feels the most current for me. Not keen on others for various (very personal) reasons (which can not apply to everybody) but if the dress has a button down front, could perhaps be worn open over a column of whites, for ex?
And WHY styling only for the colds, and NOT wearing it bare legs for Spring? Think will look great sans any scarf/pashmina, too- maybe with the sleeves turned up to elbows, 1-2 buttons undone on the neck, for showing some skin-and some tan or contrast color(whites included) flat slides?

12