Polka dot dress re-mix redux *disclaimer* pic heavy - YouLookFab Forum

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Polka dot dress re-mix redux disclaimer pic heavy

Meredith1953

Veteran

Hi lovelies!
Yesterday I posted some pictures of styling possibilities for my polka dot sleeveless dress. I got lots of great feedback. Well this am. I found a few more combos to throw together that I would like your opinion on. I was surprised to see that I quite like the black puffy sleeve blouse belted over it. Once I ran out of ideas for that dress I started in on my black sheath so I have also included pics of it styled various ways! Some of the outfits look the same but the footwear is different. A couple of the shots are un-styled because I wanted you to see the dress before it had anything added. I pretty much threw in the kitchen sink so I know some of the outfits look a little "goofy or unfinished" but I wanted to be open minded in the process.

Opinions and suggestions are most gratefully accepted.

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Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from Meredith1953

Suz

(website)

Veteran

My goodness, look at you having so much fun! These are fab combinations! And you look wonderful in those shoes. Did you size up for those, or not? I am sorely tempted by them...

My fave polka dot combos are 1,2,3, and 11, which is K-worthy! I also like it with the denim jacket but might like it better with your tall boots than the booties and tights; not really sure why.

As for the sheath, va va voom! My faves there are 13, 15, 19, 23, 25...oh forget it. I have too MANY favourites!! You look wonderful in this dress, period, and you have plenty in your closet to play it up. Gorgeous.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Pictures 1-5: I like all of them except maybe the dress with the green sweater. I mean, it's fine, but the bright colors are more flattering.

Pictures 6-14: I like 6 and 7, the pattern mixing scarf is cute in 7!. I can't tell the difference between 7 and 10. I'm not crzay about 8 & 9, the dark tights and booties look heavy for spring to me. I assume you're styling for spring, right?

Picture 11-15: 11 is like 7 only buttoned and belted. I like! Also 13-15 are 10s! That dress is so chic alone or with the cream or red jacket.

Pictures 16-20: More ultra fab looks with that dress! I prefer 20 to 19 if you're winterizing the black dress, the length of the green (?) jacket looks better with that red top to me.

Pictures 21-25: What a great LBD! It shows you can go summery (18) or dead of winter (21, 23, 24, 25).

Meredith1953

Veteran

@Suz,
I did size up! I wear a 9 1/2 normally (big feet) but I bought the 10's and boy am I glad. I wear between an A-B width and the fit perfectly! I am so glad that the black INC sheath works a lot of different ways. It is probably more flattering in it's cut than the polka dot dress but I'm trying to style them both. I'm glad that you like some of the ways the polka dot dress is styled. The little black puffy sleeve blouses works just like a jacket when I belt it. I do want to get some other belts though maybe in colors? I thought I was pretty tricky using that blouse and belting it over the two dresses and then popping the cream jacket over that! Thanks so much for taking the time to identify the ones you like the best!

@CocoLion,
I am so glad that you like some of the pairings. I was trying not to stifle any creative juices but some of them just work better and it is nice to get such detailed feedback. I need to go back and really re-read your comments, and Suz's too since you are both very specific about what you like! Yes I was trying to style predominantly with an eye to Spring and summer but threw in the occasional winter pairing since I still have some winter to deal with before spring arrives.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I assumed you were going for all kinds of looks and both dresses are truly cross-seaonal. I have a LBD that works that way for me...I wear it all times of year. And LOVE that I can do that with it. Your LBD is prettier.

Meredith1953

Veteran

Oh Suz!
You need to model your LBD!! I want to see it!! I always feel a little exposed in the decollete so I like to add something there. But I do like the shape of the sheath and it is very forgiving.

Beth Ann

Veteran

1-5: 2 is my favorite!
6-12: 7 and 11 (particularly 11) are amazing!
13-18: This sheath is marvelous on you! 13, 15 and 17 are my favs!
20, 23, 24 and 25 are stunning!

You are a remixing goddess! So glad to see you adding a couple more "formulas" to your excellent existing ones! You do the sexy (but tasteful) sheath beautifully!

jen

I'm so use to seeing you in jeans in posts, but gee girl you can wear a dress well! x

Anonymous

I love all of these Meredith! It just goes to prove how versatile a LBD or a LBdottyD can be!

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

HI Merideth. I really like the dress with the polka dot scarf. My opinion is that overall you need shorter layering pieces for this. My favorite is the denim jacket, but again I think if the jacket were cropped it would be cute.

The black dress is very lovely. I like all the combinations with jackets. I also like this with black opaque tights and black heels with bare arms.

I'm not sold on the layering of tops over the dress unless you are lacking a black pencil skirt. I'd prefer to see you layer a top UNDER the sheath dress.

Aida

Veteran

13-20, 22-25 look smashing!

christieanne

Veteran

Jenava suggested what I was thinking - did you try to layer a blouse under the sheath? You could cover the decollete and arms and get a whole new style going.

I love you in the dresses - nearly all of them work in some variation. I'm not a huge fan of short sleeve jackets (just purged two from my closet) but in hot weather I could understand.

kellygirl

Veteran

What a great exercise! I prefer the polka dot dress in 7-12. I think the cardigans are nice but a bit on the long side. They look polished but lack the edge that I've been seeing in your recent WIW's. You can do no wrong with the sheath. I love the cheeky blazer with the neckerchief and all of the jacket variations. You look amazing!

ManidipaM

Veteran

My goodness, what fun you're having, Meredith! And where --- and WHY?! --- have you been hiding that cute sheath. That's just perfection!

Ok, with the cardi + dotty dress combos, like Denise, I think the green cardi is a little less exciting --- but you might remedy that with a bright scarf! Something red or orange?

#7 and #8/9 have such different vibes, and both are very nice! I think without the jacket, you might want a longer necklace over the turtleneck, if you have one. With the jacket, the open panel in front *becomes* that long line. Nifty!

#10 and #11 are such delightful revelations, Meredith! Congratulations on that new style! I find it interesting that this blouse it the same length (buttoned up) as the turtleneck, but doesn't need that long line superimposed because of the more open neck and the shorter sleeves! A study in proportions at work.

With the white top in #12, I'm again tempted to suggest a more colourful skirt to go with the lighter look.

Now for your LBD...

#13 is just fantastic and #14 utterly adorable! Those two may be my favourite looks for it!

15-22 all work to my eye, with special love for 15, 16, 21 and 22! And 24 is lovely too, but I wonder again if a contrasting or more playful-patterned skirt would be nicer with 23 and 25 --- so dotty one with the last, or the new tie-dye in blue with either grey or camel jackets? I feel otherwise you end up with a brown or grey block the same size as the black bottom block, sitting one over the other, with not enough movement between the two. Am I raving? (I might be, am feverish.)

Meredith1953

Veteran

@Beth Ann,
11 is a particular favorite of mine for the dotty dress. I really like the little black top belted over it.I could as I did you #13 (for the sheath) even put the cream jacket over it. I hadn't thought of doing that at that point. #13 is also a favorite of mine because that same blouse works over the sheath belted AND I was able to pop the cream colored jacket over it! I also like #23-25# pretty well! I feel somewhat "overexposed" with the square neckline of the sheath and will continue to look for ways to cover that up a bit!

@Jen,
I almost NEVER wear dresses but Angie suggested I pursue this so before I buy any dresses I thought I better SYC and remix what I have. Thanks for liking how it looks!

@Claire,
I love the LBD but just wish the neckline was a tad higher. It was a struggle to find ways to wear it that wearn't really super "dressy" and I haven't found a shirt or blouse that I own that will work under the dress. The dotty dress might need to be hemmed slightly. Christieanne mentioned this and a few other people have also.

@Jeneva,
I agree that ideally shorter layering pieces would work best over the polka dot dress. It needs something shorter to contain the volume of the skirt possibly. Right now none of my toppers are that short and I am not buying anything till I am sure of the concept. Even the denim jacket isn't super cropped although I do like it. I wonder if "shrugs" or boleros would also work. Hmmm. If I ever get a much needed buttondown shirt maybe I could wear it over the dotty dress and belt it as a faux skirt. I layered OVER both dresses because I only own one skirt right now and it is a bit snug. I have been looking but haven't found any skirts I like. Possibly I should over one from Nordies (a Halogen seamed pencil skirt) to try.s

@Aida,
I'm glad you like most of the combos of the LBD. Thanks! I think the dotty dress really does need some shorter toppers.

@Christieanne,
Yes I did try a shirt underneath. I tried the white puffy shirt (I only own 4 shirts and it is the only white one) It unfortunately did not work. I might need to wear it to the store to try blouses on to accomplish this. I'm getting used to the puff sleeves and I do like them as jackets belted over the top. I think you mentioned I might look at shortening the dotty dress a tad (in a previous post) and I might do that!

@Kellygirl,
I agree that the cardis are a bit on the long side. The dress has some volume in the bottom and needs "reining in". And also is a bit "sweet" for my personality and needs to be countered with something touger or at leaST more modern and edgy. I may be 58 but I'm not a "little old lady"! At least I hope not! Thanks for the thumbs up on the LBD combos.

@ManidipaM,
Agreed about the green cardi! I have one long funky pendant. I can try that with the turtleneck in 7-9. I like the black blouse in 10 and 11 belted the best!
The white top with the black white doesn't work for me at all either but with a skirt...
I really like #13 also! I will definitely look at 23 and 25 I think you mean for different scarves right?