Sack dress -- trying to make it casual: Edited with photos

Laura

Remember the white & silver sack dress I tried for that wedding? Well, I am trying to dress it down so I can wear it when I go out for sushi with the girls in the city this weekend. If it can't be dressed down, I will probably return it.

With Angie away, I am counting on you guys to tell me if this is working ... or not. So please be honest!

http://i380.photobucket.com/al.....009002.jpg

http://i380.photobucket.com/al.....009004.jpg

NEW photos with your suggestions:

Denim jacket, leggings, yellow hobo:
http://i380.photobucket.com/al.....ug8001.jpg

Moto vest, leggings, lemon yellow purse:
http://i380.photobucket.com/al.....ug8002.jpg

Bootcut jeans, turquoise purse on chain:
http://i380.photobucket.com/al.....ug8004.jpg

Black sweater, leggings, yellow hobo:
http://i380.photobucket.com/al.....ug8005.jpg

Black sweater, bootcuts, yellow hobo:
http://i380.photobucket.com/al.....ug8006.jpg

You all are so sweet to help me out with this!! I am grateful ...

16 years ago

Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Anonymous

Are you kidding me Laura? You look stunning to the max. Please wear this and feel wonderful. I would!

16 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

I can't see it very well in the pictures Laura: are you wearing very dark-wash jeans or black jeans/trousers?.
Not a bad look at all.

Personally I'd also try it with medium blue jeans (skinnies or a slight boot cut) and either the blue bag and a slightly less bright coloured shoe. Or the other way around: keep the red sandals and go with another bag (both the sandals and bag or gorgeous, mind you!-)

Or I would also try it with leggings (black or dark grey) and some kind of wedge heel shoe.

I could completely off of course, just experimenting with you from afar;-)

And sushi... se me hace la boca agua!

16 years ago

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Thank you San! And Inge, I'm wearing it with dark wash skinnies, although I wouldn't call them super dark wash. Plus red patent wedge sandals.

I could try keeping the red sandals and switching to a neutral bag. I have a pewter clutch but that seems like too much clashing metallic in one outfit. Maybe dove grey? I'd have to hunt one down though. Hmmm.

Like you, I too am salivating at the thought of sushi!

16 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

I've had another look at the pictures Laura. I think that the 'bunching' of the jeans is throwing me off a little. I'd prefer it if there was one straight line there (so maybe boot cuts that fall over the sandals more, or these skinnies with flats, so the skinnies hang completely straight down - I'm not saying this very eloquently).

And you're right, stick with the blue bag, the metallic on metallic would be too much. AND: it truly is an amazing dress!!

(and now I'm just nitpicking, but perhaps non-patent shoes would be better, since the dress has a bit of shimmer in it as is).

Just tell me to shut up any time;-)

16 years ago

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Inge, you are making me laugh!! It's hard being Angie, isn't it? She makes it look so easy

I agree with the point about the skinnies. Will try with bootcuts. Also that will cover the sandals a bit more ... less shiny patent on view.

16 years ago

Melody

Active Member

Love it! I think you look marvelous!

16 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

Wiping the sweat from my brow: VERY hard, I really don't know how Angie does it. I've given one piece of advice today and I think I need a trip to SA too;-)

16 years ago

marianne

Active Member

I like it a lot! Have you tried it with leggings and flats? And a denim jacket over it? Sorry, just throwing out ideas. Please keep the dress, it's lovely!

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Hmmm... I agree about changing out the purse and shoes. Make the sack dress the star (or "hero" as Imogen would say!), and play down the rest.

Because the dress is dressy, I'd tone everything else way down.

For example, choose a more casual bag - something other than a clutch. Clutch to me always seems more dressy. Do you have something like a hobo bag?

You could also wear simple flats or sandals?

Or that might dress it down too much... ?

16 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Wow, lots of great advice from the ladies. Laura, I love the dress on you! I agree with Shiny's suggestion, I'd love to see it with a hobo bag, maybe in a mustard or turquoise color if you had one, but white would work great, too.

16 years ago

Alecia

Veteran

I echo Shiny's advice. I like the look with the pants, but I think you need more of a day purse to make the look work.

16 years ago

cciele

Veteran

I don't mind the bunching on the skinnies -- the pants work for me! I like the idea of a straight, form-fitting bottom (skinny, straight, or leggings), since the bottom of the dress flares out a bit.

I agree with shiny -- let the dress be the hero and pick some neutral accessories. Perhaps leggings, wedges, and a jean jacket?

16 years ago

Debora

Veteran

Oh, Laura, I hope you don't return that beautiful dress! You can do so much with it and didn't you get a great deal on it when you bought it?

I like the outfit with the denim jacket and leggings. Love how you paired it with the yellow purse. I also like your first look with the turquoise purse but would like to see how it looks with leggings instead of the jeans. I love that bag and I think the leggings would shift the main focus on to the dress.

I hope you decide to keep it. Even if you decide not to dress it down, you'll still have a KILLER dress ready and waiting for the next big dressy occasion. You look amazing in it!

16 years ago

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Wow Laura, I love the outfit you have put together, but I also love all the other ideas too! Have you tried it with leggings as well? Its a really versatile dress!!!

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Yes! I love the yellow bag with this (either one). The leggings look great but I also think the skinnies looked fine too. This dress is so versatile - you must keep!

Otherwise, I'm partial to the jean jacket OR the moto jacket. For sushi with the girls, I vote 8001 or 8002! I think it depends on your girlfriends and/or your mood. The jean jacket is a little more sweet and laid back, while the moto is more edgy and fashionista. I think it depends on your girlfriends and which direction you want to go....

Assuming you are like me and for occasions like this you dress for your girlfriends not just yourself.

16 years ago

cciele

Veteran

Thanks for posting all the different combos, Laura! It's fun to see how you style the dress.

My least favorite is the black sweater. I think it's too much volume over an already voluminous dress.

My favs are the same as shiny's: the denim jacket and the moto vest. I like the yellow handbag. Still undecided about the red wedges though (too many competing points of interest). Do you have a neutral sandal to try?

16 years ago

anne

Veteran

I like image 8001 best. I think you could be Angie in that pic!

16 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Without reading any other comments, I think you need ballet flats or flat sandals. I think leggings or a slightly lighter wash on the jeans would help, and I can't help but feel like the dress needs to be partially covered. It's gorgeous but it's also shiny and really stands out. A denim jacket (if you wear leggings and not jeans) would be fab. A moto jacket would also be pretty killer and add some edge. The ruffle clutch is too dressy to me. Normally it would be fine but to dress this down I think you need to go VERY casual everywhere else. The hobo is working much better.

16 years ago

marianne

Active Member

Both denim jacket and moto vest look great! I think the black sweater would work if you try belting it over. I like it better with leggings. The yellow hobo is my favorite option.

16 years ago

Louise

Veteran

I agree with what the girls say about making the dress the star. I also feel the black jumper is swamping the dress x

16 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I like the look with the black moto vest and leggings. I think I would change the wedges to the fab black boots with the buckles you wear and keep the yellow hobo. I love that this looks plays with both the hard and soft elements in your wardrobe.

16 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

Oh yezzz, now we're talking!!!

- dress + denim jacket, yellow hobo bag, leggings and red sandals: perfect!!
- idem but moto vest instead of denim jacket and lemon purse: extremely yum
- bootcut jeans, blue bag and red sandals: super too, go for it!

Contrary to what others have said I even love it with the long black sweater (leggings and jeans both). It adds a nonchalant touch while still staying sassy because of that gorgeous dress.

Well Laura, you've got yourself at least 5 different outfits with this dress, so I do NOT want to hear you are returning it. Can't wait to hear which version you are going to wear for sushi night, but please do wear the other outfits very soon too. You look fantastic!!

16 years ago

Laura

(website)

Veteran

You girls are the best!! Thank you for bearing with me through my 5,000 outfit changes. So far I'm leaning toward the denim jacket/leggings combo, although I might go for the moto vest. But the weather has to cooperate. There's nothing like 90 degrees and humid to make your black leather vest stick to the back of your neck! Yuck!

16 years ago

medusa

Veteran

Laura - I'm late to the thread, but my favorites are the looks with the biker vest and the long black sweater/jeans. I know others didn't like the sweater, but I think it's a fun slouchy look and the contrast of the dress with the slouchy layers is fun.

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Laura! I hope you kept the silver muumuu. I LOVE the way it was dressed down, especially with the denim jacket and hobo bag. You look stunning! That would be a normal daily outfit for me :0)

16 years ago

Category