Perplexed: How to make a wrap dress look modern?

Blog

Forum

Finds

Perplexed: How to make a wrap dress look modern?

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

I've been wondering about something for some time now and I can't seem to come up with any solutions.

How do you make a wrap dress look fresh and modern and not matronly? I always think it's so fabulously cool when dark-haired ladies wear tights and booties and make their dresses look so good, but with my blond hair, it just seems to drag things down when I add dark tights to a dress.

I'm perplexed on how to dress the "bottom of my dress" IYKWIM. Thanks for offering any suggestions that seem to work for you.

11 years ago

Dressing

10 replies

Latest reply was from April

abc

Veteran

Could you bookend with light booties or is the issue that you need tights bc of the climate?

11 years ago

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

It's not the climate, abc, and I like your idea of the booties, but the light booties I have are really flat and I'd need to find a bootie with a bit of heel (all of those are black). Thanks and maybe I'll play around with the flat ones to get a "visual" and see if that even works.

11 years ago

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I'm a blonde too. I didn't really wear my wrap dresses this winter, not liking the footwear options I have, which were black boots and black heels. I'd like a pair of grey or light brown boots to try with them sometime. A hat, long coat, tights, boots and dress works, but it's not the same effect as book ending with your hair.

11 years ago

abc

Veteran

Ingunn was just posting about nude patent pumps, could that work? I know as a blonde it really does help to bookend (I learned that thanks to Angie) - or are you looking for something more edgy than that? A visual would go a long way to help me imagine the struggle you're feeling...

11 years ago

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Vicki, I think a pair of booties with a little heel would solve this for you. Last year I bought a pair in suede with heels, and they are really versatile with skirts and dresses. I also love wrap dresses with tall boots, flat or with heels, and you would look killer in all of this.

11 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yup. Black boots and opaques are harder to pull off when you are blonde (but not impossible). The black haired ladies - like Diana and Ornella - make that combo work effortlessly well.

Stick to wearing wrap dresses in warmer weather - and wear with ankle strap pumps or pointy toe loafers.

Vicki, you were looking for light cut-out booties I think. Here are some options:

http://www.zara.com/us/en/woma.....012p166952

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/je.....wordsearch

I was missing you. Nice to see you post again. xo

11 years ago

abc

Veteran

I think Ingunn is on the right track!

11 years ago

Emily

Veteran

Interesting point. I never thought about it too much, but I guess dark hair does naturally bookend black shoes and tights. I've always thought light hair looked really striking with dark coloured outfits. Might it help to think of your hair as an accent colour, so to speak? With some eye-catching accessories in lighter colours or metals near your face to draw the eye up?

11 years ago

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Angie, it feels good to be back and posting again! You have one awesome memory bank. Yes, I was looking for these cut-outs and I love the style of these two links.

You and Columbine are right that wearing it seasonally is a wise option, and why didn't I think of that! That makes it so much easier with ankle-strap pumps and I can really see myself sporting the pointy-toed loafers which would give me the more casual edge I'm seeking here.

Ingunn, abc and Emily, keeping things light with neutral boots (tall or short) and accessories will definitely help.

11 years ago

April

Veteran

What about wrap dress plus moto jacket in a color that bookends the booties?
Love the moto-and-dress combination as a de-frumpifyer.

11 years ago

Category