Solution: The white gilet pays its way

Discovered quite by accident! This drapey white gilet that I was having second thoughts about, has saved the day by rescuing a beloved orphan.

This marinière sweater dress was spotted by me in an online promo when Joe Fresh opened their first US store in New York. I prowled our local shops till it turned up. I was thrilled by its substantial weight and drape--not like the flimsy T shirt fabric versions.

However, I found it surprisingly hard to style, for someone who breathes Breton stripes. The weight makes it too hot for summer days, and the sleeves are both extra long, and narrow toward the ends, so impossible to push up. The boat neck is super wide, so bra straps invariably show, and it falls from the back of the neck in unflattering (and chilly) fashion. I've added pictures of the dress alone to demonstrate.

I've been meaning to start an outfit lab post for help styling it, but then with weight gain, its inverted triangle shape started to cling under my tummy and under my rear. Yet I couldn't bring myself to purge it (all stripes are us). I did try a version, inspired by Una, with my sleeveless black blazer, and although it helped the neckline issue, it only masked some of the cling, and I wasn't enthralled.

Preparing today's outfit, I was thinking sweater dress for a chilly fall day, and wondered if my recent weight loss had eased the worst of the cling. It had, but the neckline problems remain. Then I remembered the new gilet, and voilà! A new FFB is born. Even if I only ever wear these pieces together, I'm happy.

Worn today to church. We had a guest orchestra playing, and any Sunday I'm not singing or playing on the platform is an excuse to wear a hat. I chose burgundy for a hint of different colour (red shoes felt like too much).

How did I do? Can I stop trying, or do you have outfit lab suggestions?

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9 years ago

Anonymous

Yes. It's great. So much cuter with the gilet.

Bonnie

Veteran

I agree. The gilet looks really good with the striped dress.

deb

Perfect!

Mirjana

The gilet looks very nice with the striped dress. I have also the striped dress, so you gave me idea to style it.

Karie

(website)

I like the dress much better with the gillet! Great styling.

Sal

I love the combination, it really looks great. As you say even if you only wear these pieces together you still have a winning look!!

El Cee

The dress with the gillet is a great combo. You look fantastic!

tulle

That's a great bit of serendipity! The gilet adds a new dimension to the dress, for sure, and makes it a little more finished to my eye. As another lover of all things striped, though, I'd love it if you could wear the dress alone when you like, as is looks nice on you that way, too. I have a similar, heavier-weight cotton striped dress (from last year's Gap, I think,) and it's been a real workhorse. Your description made me realize that my dress works well because it has 3/4 sleeves, a not-too-wide neckline, and pockets. Not much you can do about adding pockets, probably, but sleeves can be easily shortened, and bra-keeps stitched into the shoulder seams would help with that problem. Just a thought--the gilet certainly makes the dress wearable as is.

Lucy

Love it! Perfect.

Momo

Love it with the dress!

Jules

Wow, amazing save! I think it's a great combo, very flattering, tones down the stripes a notch (don't get me wrong, I'm also a stripe addict) and somehow even calls attention to your shapely legs.
I have a lot of similar fit issues with Joe Fresh items. Something catches my eye because it seems great in so many ways but in the end it's just ok due to fit and/or design flaws. I'm often blinded by the great price. But there's always a few items every year that I do love so I can never quite quit shopping there. This past summer my navy rayon jumpsuit from them was a great fit and decent quality fabric (not the droopy wrinkled nightmare rayon can be). I wore it almost every time I went out on the town and felt fab.

shedev

Wow, what a difference the gilet makes.

anne

The gilet makes it into a great outfit!

Jaime

Brilliant! Love it, and the hat just makes it more fab. Yes, just repeat as is and all the pieces are earning their keep, although it looks good without the gilet as well.

Elizabeth P

Great save!
Have you tried it with a denim jacket?

Style Fan

I love the dress with the gilet and hat. I think you are right about using colour with your hat and not your shoes. Lovely.

Sally

Wow the gilet really defines the dress and shapes it somehow. As you said if you just wear these together it is a winning combo. Elizabeth made a great suggestion of trying with a denim jacket. I wear my striped t Shirt dress with a jacket quite often.

TraceyLiz65

I adore the completer pieces and how they can change an entire look and your vest (sorry gillet is so foreign to my vocabulary) certainly does the job! Like the hat too!

Staysfit

Yes, love the dress with the gilet, and the hat add the perfect dash of color.

RobinF

I love the dress with the gilet, it adds the perfect touch. I wonder if you would like the dress with a scarf and boots? It could give you another way to wear it.

Suz

Fabulous save!! It looks great with the white gilet.

Sara L.

I think the dress and vest look great together. The dress is fine as is, but the gilet really amps up the style factor.

The dress and gilet together with your accesories looks wonderful and worth repeating. I need to wear my white (EF bone) gilet more and with dresses. Thank you for the inspiration.

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