Received the Free People dress ETA better picture - YouLookFab Forum

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Received the Free People dress ETA better picture

Christina F.

Veteran

I was about 75% sure this would either not fit or look awful on me, but Macy’s has it on super saw this past weekend. It just arrived.

Well, it certainly fits. I don’t think it looks awful, though it emphasizes my curves more than I expected, and my bathroom mirror tends to emphasize that. That’s okay-curves are good. But I don’t think I love it, and for a statement like this I would need to really love it to keep it. Still, I am interested in your opinions.

The one thing I will say is that I like the length a lot. This long swishy midi length is a favorite of mine. I don’t think it overwhelms me, or at least I don’t worry about stuff like that. Maybe the way it emphasizes how short my waist is gives me pause.

Bonus picture of my cat, Sir Ian McKellen, who wanted to know what I was doing

ETA - has husband take a new picture. I also tried a better mirror in my lobby. feel better about the print today but still feel like I have no torso. It feels just on the wrong side of JFE to me I kind of wish I could have it as a skirt...

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35 replies

Latest reply was from Christina F.

SarahD8

Veteran

I like the length, and I like the curves. The cut looks really nice on you.

The print seems a little less...Fun?...than some of the other prints I have seen you wear. There is nothing wrong with it! But I wonder if it's a near-miss for your style?

If you loved it, I would say keep it, but since you don't...

I vote keep Sir Ian, though.

Christina F.

Veteran

My uncharitable thought about me in the dress is that I look like a boho watermelon, Sarah. :p.

That is to say you may be right about the print being not quite right.

Sir Ian is an excellent cat - definitely a keeper.

Sal

Veteran

I think it is an almost - but not quite...

I like the length and fit - but my overall impression is that the dress is wearing you more than you wearing the dress.

Cute cat!!

Christina F.

Veteran

Sal - sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint why something doesn’t work. Ah well, I had to try it.

I kind of wish I could have tied the color way that Jane got. It’s on eBay but would be harder to return if I don’t like that either. Ah well.

Alicewonderland

Veteran

I think it looks better on you than the model, but it’s just a really hard to wear dress. I feel like free people dresses are often like that.

Gigi

Veteran

I'm glad you tried it! I almost tried it but was sure it wouldn't fit me due to my short waist. So it's interesting to see that it works for you.

I think the dress looks nice, but it is quite dramatic and a lot of strong pattern to carry off (which is another reason I didn't order it). Since you're not as happy with it as you have been with your other purchases, I vote return.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's a great dress, for sure, but since you are not in love with it, I'd wait to see what Boden offers. It may indeed be the pattern.

Sir Ian is killer, though!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

"Boho watermelon"! I don't think that's accurate (watermelons don't have curves), but it is funny.

I love the way this fits you, but the print is just too much.

rachylou

Veteran

I don’t think it emphasizes your curves too much nor do I think the pattern is overwhelming. It’s really very pretty on you. But I do feel it hides the fact that you have a torso...

Christina F.

Veteran

Alicewonderland - thank you! But yeah it’s a bit much. It looks even better on Angie, which is why she is keeping hers. The sour brights she loves probably aren’t so much my thing.

Gigi - it does fit perfectly, which surprised me. I like a lot of pattern but it’s a bit much even for me.

Suz - indeed, I have my eye on this one, which would be more the kind of thing I’d wear at work anyway. It’s also very in keeping with my current style. I see you marked it too, of course!

FI - oh yes the fit is surprisingly excellent. Almost like it was tailored to me. I don’t really think I look like a watermelon...

Rachylou- yeah, I was afraid of that. My torso, while short, does exist!

Thanks everyone - I am still battling a cold and was afraid my lack of enthusiasm was just down to that. But it appears it’s undedstandable that I want to return it.

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lyn67

Veteran

Thedress fits you great but think the pattern will work better on a taller figure.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I understand your lack of enthusiasm. It’s a great dress (I was momentarily tempted too), but I think any time you’re wearing THAT much print — it covers your whole torso, arms and a lot of leg — you need to really love and embrace the print. Even on Jane’s version, which I prefer, i suggested she try it with sleeves rolled or scrunched to lessen the overall impact of the print.

Christina F.

Veteran

lyn67 - Yes, that’s why Angie can wear it.

Janet - If I were to keep it, I’d definitely scrunch the sleeves. I didn’t bother taking a photo of that last night because it didn’t change how I felt about the torso. I could probably wear this print in a blouse, come to think of it.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I quite like it on you....

Helena

Veteran

100% agree that, especially for a statement piece, if it's not a heck yes, it's a definite no.

That said - I love it. The print is amazing imo!

Christina F.

Veteran

Aquamarine and Torontogirl - thanks! It’s not bad on me at all! But my reservations would keep me from wearing it. My requirements for keeping things this year are very stringent. In another year I might have kept it for a while to see how I felt... I’m glad to be more decisive nowadays though. I need a slam dunk for something like this to earn a spot.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Good for you for being strict. Your wardrobe is in a great spot. It’s not like you have nothing to wear!

Christina F.

Veteran

No kidding, Aquamarine! Everything else I've added this year has been a slam dunk, so it was easy to compare my feelings about those to my feelings about this: not quite there.

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My first reaction was that I like it on you, Christina. (I own the dress and know how great it is to me in person - which also makes me biased).

I think the depth of the pics are making the pattern look overwhelming. It's a KILLER fit, from what I can see here. Very flattering silhouette. I scrunch the sleeves to break up the pattern, which helps.

What gives me pause is that YOU don't love it. I loved it right away, which made the decision easy.

Sara L.

Veteran

I really like the fit on you, but patterns can be tricky. You have to love the print or you run the risk of a wardrobe orphan.

Christina F.

Veteran

Fit is KILLER for sure, Angie. I couldn't go down to my lobby for pictures last night - too sick. My husband wasn't home either, and I'd like to show it to him before I return. I'll have him take a picture so folks can see it better though I doubt I'll change my mind. I did scrunch the sleeves, no picture though. I kind of wish I could get the colorway Jane got.... not willing to deal with an ebay order though, in case I want to return it.

karen13

Veteran

Fit is great and the color and print look good on you. But yay for being stringent. I’m with you in spirit - hold out for the ones you feel are 10s! And now you know to keep an eye out for this style in another color way. Feel better!

Jane

Veteran

Looks super, but I’m a convert to this dress. The colour is great. The style looks super on you.

With mine, I wasn’t sure at first. I did press mine when I tried it on the second time, got endorsement from YLF and that’s when I fell for it.

Sir Ian is very cute!

Christina F.

Veteran

Jane, I remember. I may like yours better. You can also layer over it, which helps - I have a lot of trouble layering over sleeved items. My arms are relatively chubby so most of my jackets don't allow for it (I'd have to size up, and then they'd be too large on the torso).

My other concerns are ones I already had before ordering - I am not great about things like keeping fabric pressed. If I wore this sometimes and took it to the dry cleaner once or twice a year, that'd be okay, I suppose.

Also, NYC is too humid for it to be a summer dress for me like it is for Angie. It would be fine at work, but a nightmare on the subway to and from work because the platforms are stifling by the end of summer. So it would be shoulder season only for me, which would be okay if I loved it. The fact that you can layers yours, Jane, makes it more usable.

I will still try it on again and get the husband to snap a pic. I am open to changing my mind but it doesn't seem very likely. New pics will help anyone who is considering it though.

Anonymous

I'd try it with a jean jacket on and see.

Christina F.

Veteran

smittie, if it's not in seasonal storage, I may. My jean jacket is a little oversized so there's a chance it would fit. If the jacket's in storage, it's not coming out till at least March...

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think you need to love the print. I don’t know about you, but any time I’ve tried to talk myself into a dress print (I.e., it’s ok if I put a jacket over it, etc), it’s ended up being an orphan. But as much as I love prints, I’m quite particular about them.

Christina F.

Veteran

It's unusual for me to have to talk myself into a print, Janet; I don't know if I ever have! But then it's also unusual for me to say that something I chose and bought has a print that turned out to be a bit much for me. No worries, I wouldn't keep it if I discovered I only like it under a jacket or something like that. I would like to see it in a better mirror but I don't think that will change my mind - you never know, though!

Anonymous

First of all awwww =^-^=
I do like the dress, and dont see watermelon-except the color. If you loved it I'd say Keep!
But, because you don't love it, keep hunting. Especially if youre comparing to the things that you do love.
I think print dresses are easier in sleeveless versions as a rule, and would have many more potential days per wear than a shoulder season only dress.

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