Shopping in NYC this morning... - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Shopping in NYC this morning...

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Two thoughts:

It looks like Coachella threw up on all the retailers. I like a little boho, but there's just an overload out there.

Dress shopping may have just supplanted swimsuit shopping as the bane of my existence. Let's just say that I'm glad I have a fallback dress in my closet for my stepson's wedding. I know I've gained weight in the last couple of years, but really? All the fabrics seem clingy and would need shapewear underneath (not gonna happen in the mid-Atlantic summer), or the fits are bad, or the styles are either too young, too frumpy, or too mother-of-the-bride. and everything is SHORT. Unless it's one of the aforementioned, with too much lace or too much cha-cha or something. I felt Iike I needed a drink after that. Why is it I can find 17 jackets that look amazing on me but not one wedding-appropriate dress? At least I am thankful I found some good casual summer dresses this season.

I did find a cool pair of earrings.

Shopping

47 replies

Latest reply was from Beth Ann

Meredith

Veteran

I also spent some time today looking for a dress to wear to a wedding. The selection was rough. I was debating whether to try my luck online or drive to better shopping. But you might have just saved me six hours in the car. If you weren't impressed by NY, I doubt the Midwest has much better to offer.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Earrings are good I bought a tube of Nars lipstick to console myself after a fruitless shopping expedition recently.

Seriously, I find dress shopping difficult too. Those breezy comments on how easy it is to put on a dress and head out the door never applies to me.

bj1111

Veteran

Separates are your friend

Anonymous

Actually bj1111 makes a good point: why does it have to be a dress?

p.s. I hate dress shopping too. Went through this performance for my brother's wedding a year ago or so - and nearly didn't go. I HATED what I wore.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Having flashbacks to finding a maid of honor dress for my friend's wedding last summer.

catgirl

Veteran

Honestly I have given up on dresses - the ones I have will just have to do. It's not you at all.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

There is great consignment shopping in NYC !

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Well, I'm back home now, and hugging my closet. Consignment shopping sounds even more daunting, actually. I'll find something amazing on the rack, and it will be a size 4, and only a size 4. I'll make do with what I have and probably be happier for it. Let's just say that the potential dress budget got spent on jackets instead.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I thought about separates but not sure if that's really any easier: find a dressy skirt AND some sort of matching top. For a wedding in the height of summer heat, too. A dress, in theory, does seem simpler. The color scheme limits me too -- not much out there that doesn't feel like it would clash or be overwhelming.

Bijou

Veteran

I am sure that you will get much more wear from the fabulous jackets than the elusive wedding dress.

BrieN

Veteran

You got me laughing with this one: too much cha-cha. Oh, absolutely. And the comment about Coachella... You definitely win the humor award of the day from me.

Runcarla

Veteran

Thanks for validating my thoughts on the boho overload! It started in the fall, and I thought it was just a seasonal thing, but now it has taken over just about every retailer.

Actually, I stand corrected...BR just changed up their window display from a green silk maxi to...work separates? (Maybe for all the new grads on the job hunt?) Ann Taylor is pretty good right now too and there is a nice lace skirt...

rachylou

Veteran

Lol re. Coachella. I don't understand how they managed to sell any tickets this year. That is so OUT.

I'm sorry about your no-dress pain

catgirl

Veteran

I just saw Coachella x H&M. Meh.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Yeah. I can embrace boho-lite or refined boho. But spaghetti straps, bare midriffs, shorty-shorts, hippie-style maxi skirts, etc. just hold no appeal or use for me.

Even shops like Club Monaco were underwhelming. A SA in there actually tried to talk me into trying on a midriff-baring seersucker top (very much like a bikini top with a little more coverage), explaining how you can button a cardigan up a bit to cover most of it. Um, even if I wore cardigans anymore, not happening on this lumpy menopausal bod.

Anonymous

The current trends have been a lifesaver for sticking to my strict pre-layoff budget!

FWIW, I love the 'backup dress' you showcased on the forum a while back. I liked it more than many of the new items you were trying. My friend had a terrible time finding a dress for her daughter's wedding a couple of years ago. She finally found 'the one' a couple of weeks beforehand and had it altered. The weekend before the wedding she happened to see a dress on eBay, drove more than 100 miles to look at it (despite it being listed as a size too small) , and wouldn't you know it was the most perfect dress ever. So if you feel happy with what you have and stop looking, maybe a dress will find you!

Perhaps you'll find something in Seattle? (Or is that trip post wedding?)

Thanks for the NYC shopping updates. I always love hearing what's out there.

Anonymous

I love the first sentence of your post.

Colette

Veteran

My style shifts a bit boho in the warm weather but there is just too much out there and I feel it's just too over done for me. And even though I love dress shopping, I have to agree with you that the dress selection this year isn't the best I've ever seen. I usually have several dresses that I have to decide between but that was not the case for me this year. I just don't understand why dresses are so short? It's really frustrating. Luckily you have a back up plan dress.

Gail

Veteran

Totally agree with everything you said Janet ! Having recently spent hours shopping to try and find a dress for a wedding I feel your pain. I wore something in my closet after finding nothing and was happy for it . Now I can spend that money on something else lol !
I am sure you will look great in whatever you decide .

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm sad that others have been experiencing similar frustration, but it's a little reassuring to know I'm not alone or a total freak of nature.

The color schemes out now (in dresses in particular) are not floating my boat either, especially anything that would "go" for the wedding. Everything seems either too garish or insipid, with little in between.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Janet, would you consider getting something made?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Elizabeth, I don't think it's really worth it, since I have something that will work. I'm not feeling pressure to buy something new for the occasion, I just thought I'd see if there was anything out there while I was in NYC.

I tried on things from Karen Millen and Reiss (at Bloomies), so not exactly cheap stuff. For the prices, I would have to feel amazing in one of those dresses, and instead they made me feel fat, lumpy and frumpy. Funny that the $60 dress from a couple of years ago makes me feel much more fab.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I agree that dresses are in no way "easy" to choose and wear. I think you are right in not stressing over having to have something "new" when you have something to wear in your closet. And more agreement on the boho overload.

Laurie

Veteran

Janet have you looked at the "wedding and parties" section on JCrew? Lots of pretty things with classic lines. I just got a JCrew summer fit and flare dress on eBay that I'm tickled with.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Try this dress:

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Ruched Cowl-Neck Sheath Dress, Iris

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2

JAileen

Veteran

Re boho, I had lunch a few weeks ago with two friends and both showed up in peasant blouses!

Anonymous

wowsers, now THAT is a dress, Angie! love the cut, needed that one two years ago! possible for you, Janet? I can see you in this one.

Chris987

Veteran

Janet you are definitely not alone.....dress shopping seems like such a crap shoot and you can never predict which store/brand will have ones that work for you and which will not. That's been true for me for a long time, not just this year. Go with that $60 one you have....if it makes you feel fab then nothing else matters!

And yes the boho thing does seem a bit overdone. I wore it the first time around, when it was called "hippie" but I wasn't paying a lot of attention to fashion back then so I'm not finding it to be that much of a repeat now. Seems like yet another thing the fashion industry is pushing that not everyone is buying into.

That blue dress is gorgeous Angie!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

That's a pretty dress, Angie -- I may try ordering it. I'm a little dress-fatigued at the moment after yesterday's experience. I'm not immediately drawn to the neckline and sleeves in the one you posted, as it feels a bit conservative to me, but I know I can alter the sleeves. I am also trying styles I otherwise would not choose, just in case something surprises me. I tried a very pretty periwinkle dress yesterday -- but it was fitted on the bottom and very blousy in the top, and it just didn't do anything for my shape. I think it was meant for someone less busty. Then there was a beautiful darker emerald lace dress (Reiss) that was obviously meant for someone with absolutely zero boobs -- I spilled out of it so badly all I could do was laugh. It just felt like everything that didn't seem typical middle-aged MOB was meant for a much straighter figure.

Laurie, I looked at JCrew right away because the bridesmaids dresses are from there, but nothing spoke to me. Plus the lengths are a bit short for my preferences and JCrew NEVER fits me properly.

I feel like I'm full of excuses why things aren't working and I apologize for that! I don't mean to seem so negative. I am just really demanding of a dress that I am going to be comfortable in summer heat that photographs well, and that I would actually want to wear again! On top of fit, flattery, and color/print requirements, it seems like a very tall order indeed.

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