Planning week #3 of dress challenge - dressing down the LBD

In my challenge, I have the LBD up for next week. This is a hard one for me. Supposedly, they are easy to dress up, dress down, change with accessories, etc. In reality - I have worn this twice in the year I've owned it. Once in South Beach for our Christmas vacation last year and at our 10th anniversary of our first date out to dinner in Tampa. Wearing this casually will be a big hurdle for me.
I purposefully bought a jersey construction LBD with the idea that it wouldn't be too overly fancy for my lifestyle. I'm thinking maybe sandals and a casual belt and/or my new fedora? Help me!

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13 years ago

Dressing

11 replies

Latest reply was from Deborah

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

What a beautiful figure you have and the neckline of this LBD is gorgeous. I saved a styling idea for the LBD from a Nordstrom link a few months ago and the woman posted that to get it in the casual category, she adds a wide belt, scarf and wedge shoes to relax the look. I don't know if this would help you here, but I would also add that playing with jewelry and shoes is the key.

OT, but her way to dress it up was to add leopard pumps and minimal but bold gold jewelry and a coral purse. A traditional take would be pearls and a nude heel. Hope this helps, Mo.

13 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Maybe I could go full on utility mode with it. Heather's J Crew belt (pic 1), my Rae twin cargo vest/jacket (left of pic 2) and my grommet flip flops (pic 1)?

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13 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

I was going to suggest the cargo jacket, too - in vest mode, so you don't get too warm. I also liked the linen(?) olive moto you wore with it before. I'm concerned that a belt would look odd with the rouching in front, but doesn't hurt to try it.

Then there is Angie's summer LBD post - wearing the black with earthy colors like brown feels very casual and summery to me.
http://youlookfab.com/2012/06/.....t-and-bag/

13 years ago

harmonica

Veteran

What about adding something in denim? Vest, jacket or shirt? I love the idea of adding utility!

13 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Too bad you're in FL right now Mo, a distressed denim jacket or tough moto and boots would be super fun with this! Hmm for warm weather? I like the idea of a utility vest of sorts, either in cotton or a thin leather, and then tough sandals; maybe your flat studded gladiators? It'll still be a dressy-casual look but I think you can dress it down enough to wear out.

13 years ago

Anonymous

LBDs are hard for me too! I think adding warm brown straw accessories or the olive vest is a great idea.

13 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

I have pretty conservative ideas for work wear so would tend to be more restrictive than in more fashion- forward offices and this is fairly bombshell for work, to my eye. I'd have to camo the neckline completely,with a buttoned up cardigan or vest or maybe just the right pulllover sweater--making it work more like a skirt and with an eye to more volume on top. Very akin to tactics for de- bombing the pencil skirt ( thank you , Angie!).
I love the look of the natural- toned leather and accessories to casualize black , but here I think you need to go a step further and change the silhouette.
Beautiful dress, by the way!

13 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I like the idea of earthy tones - khaki vest, olive sandals, and I'll play with the belts I have to see what might work with the ruched mesh overlay.
Unfrumped, just to be clear - I am not working this summer, but when I do, I'm a bartender and have to wear a uniform. This dress would never see work unless maybe on New Year's Eve

13 years ago

Echo

Veteran

A standard LBD may be easier to dress up or down, but the overlay on this dress automatically takes it up a notch, making it much harder to dress down. In other words, it is a gorgeous dress, and it looks fantastic on you, but to my eye, unless you completely cover the top portion, dressing it down is a losing battle. Some dresses can be dressed down and some can't; this fits into the latter category for me.

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Remember when you bought this, I mentioned that there are LB dresses and LB dresses? That is, there are the fairly staid but infinitely style-able ones, and then there are the ones that say WOW, NIGHT OUT!!

Yours is more of the second category. It's sexier than the usual, more movie star than office mate if you know what I mean. You look stunning in it, and even if you only wear it once or twice a year, it was a brilliant purchase. Every woman needs one of these in her closet. I own one (not as nice as this) and I haven't worn it in two years but I have no intention of purging. It looks fantastic when I do have occasion to wear it, and it's not going out of style any time soon.

Dressing down this item is going to be tough. But NOT impossible. The trick is that with that neckline it might take some layering and you are in hot florida!

I'd suggest the vest, as Rae did, or a light pullover sweater or even a T, possibly but not necessarily with a belt, and earthy sandals.

13 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

Such a stunning dress Mo:). I have nothing additional to offer but agree the sheer overlay will make it more challenging to dress down but not impossible. Can't wait to see it.

13 years ago

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