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Strange Attraction

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I find myself strangely attracted to the outfits below (found on Pinterest). I love the idea of winterizing a summer dress with tights, boots and topper. And now that I've fallen back in love with dresses and skirts, this seems like a no brainer formula for me.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this type of outfit - a bit more of a mature version though with no ditsy floral. Current or dated or timeless?

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Dressing

26 replies

Latest reply was from Firecracker (Sharan)

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

LOVE! FWIW, I think this look can go from dated to timeless, depending on what you pair with the dress.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(And you are going to like tomorrow's blog post). xo

These are lovely girly-cutesy looks. Not quite graphic and crisp enough for your usual style persona. But I can see #1 and #2 translate into a "Shannon-Look" with the addition of more polish and strictness. Fab inspiration that makes sense. You have been a skirt and dress gal for as long as I can remember. That's how you came onto this forum - with lots of Retro Spunk. xo

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Which dress do you have in mind to do it with, Shannon?

I wonder if the retro/girly side of your style is peeking through again?

Anonymous

I could see this look translate with an EF type dress or an All Saints type dress with unusual prints, and a slightly arty cardigan. The potential to be fab!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Yes Angie - I am indeed a skirt and dress girl. I love dabbling with other silhouettes but always come back to my first love.

Suz - I'm thinking of trying it out with my short sleeved EF dresses - depending on how they behave with tights of course. I also picked up a fab black/white sleeveless Cleo petite dress at thrift the other day that it could work with.

Hmmm picture this...sleeveless black/white dress with dark red EF asymmetrical cardigan, black tights and either black Doc boots or red ankle boots. Something like that?

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Would this be warm enough? That would be my worry for you.

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

Ohhhhh. This is dangerous waters for me! These are the exact looks that I love most and have been trying to grow out of (meaning mature the look). I will be following with interest, because watching you do it, may show me how to translate it into my current direction. This also makes me want to pull out a a dress that I just put a way because I couldn't figure out how to "grow it up". But our weather is about to get a bit cooler this week... I'm interested in seeing what Angie has for us tomorrow! And I love your description of how you would work it with your black, white, red combo! This gives me such hope!

Anonymous

More toned-down versions of this look like #1 and #2 pretty much are my winter wardrobe. So this definitely gets a yay from me! I like the sound of the outfit you're thinking of and hope it works out.

deb

Veteran

You could do this with your wardrobe. Play around and post some pics, please.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sure -- that would work well, I think. As long as you would be warm enough.

I used to layer a sleeveless dress over a tissue tee and then top with a cardi or a denim jacket. The tissue tee did a lot to insulate. It works if you know you'll never take the cardigan off, or if the dress looks okay as a jumper. One of my dresses did look okay that way.

shedev

Veteran

I can't wait to see how you interpret this look.

Diana

Veteran

I have always loved this type of look, especially when the boots are of the tough and stompy persuasion. I do agree that the look can skew a bit young, but I try to counteract it these days with things like moody florals and a foundation of dark neutrals. Allsaints dresses are great for this.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I see your attraction to these looks, and I think they're adaptable to a more grown-up look --- it'll just take a little trial and error.

I've been wearing slip shorts in summer for modesty and no-chafing, but I also wear them in winter to:
1. Keep tights from slipping down
2. Keep my skirt from sticking to my tights.

Link below!

Jockey Skimmies Anti-Static Slip Shorts 2121

View Info

Top Pick

3

unfrumped

Veteran

I think the key issue is "winterizing summer". Summer dresses tend to look, well, summery, so tend to look more flimsy and I think that reads "young" and also reads more, I have only a few dresses to wear so I'm wearing my gingham with my tights and boots. I mean, at one extreme. And it can look very seasonally confused, depending on how fabrics and colors are combined. I don't have a poison eye for it as a fun look for some, but just think it doesn't translate well to work or to what I see as your style.

So, for the more sophisticated look I think you can work with dresses that do not scream summer, but might in fact not be as warm as a "winter" dress. So more substantial knits and good quality fabrics, more neutral colors and good design.

Traci

Veteran

This is my current go to silhouette. Mine is a little grown up with more solids and less patterns in the dress, and a little more structure into the toppers. I think this appeals to my grunge teenager from the 90's side.

Anonymous

I'll be interested to see what you do with this idea , Shannon. I'm not a fan personally, as it reads a little too twee for my tastes (or too junior) but I know it's a been a popular way to stretch the seasonal lifespan of a dress . Granted, these pictures are all of very young women wearing short printed dresses....and I could be misinterpreting your intent.

Elly

Veteran

I want to see you Shannon-ize this and bring your signature edge to it.

Deborah

Veteran

Shannon I could see you wearing a grown up version of these looks. More structure, more graphic, stronger looks IYKWIM.

I have to be honest and say that this look seems to have been around for SO long that I am quite over it and it can skew young as opposed to sophisticated which I prefer. BUT keeping it simple and working with neutrals it can look amazing. It's just a variation on the leggings/tights and tunics look really?

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Thank you so much for your input ladies

Firstly, please do not worry about me being warm enough. I run extremely wam (how handy is that when you live in a cold climate?) plus I basically go from my house to my car to my overly warm office.

Now you are quite right that these outfits skew young and cute and it dawned on me that it's not really these outfits in particular I want to copy. Instead, it's desire to return to my original fave style of dress, booties and topper - sometimes with edge and sometimes with a hint of retro.

So I will take the inspiration but wear the look MY way - make sense?

Anonymous

Indeed! Again, look forward to seeing what you do with this.

Deborah

Veteran

That's exactly what I expected Shannon. Looking forward to it.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm, I'm not so sure (and now I'm looking forward to Angie's blog post tomorrow morning). I would be too cold, but then I get cold easily. Most of the outfits you posted do look a bit cutsey, and that doesn't seem to be your style. I do like outfit #3 though. I am curious to see how you make this look your own.

Anonymous

Last night we went to the symphony but also saw the group going to the Nutcracker. This group had lots of younger people all dressed up. There were an amazing number of young women in summer frocks with black tights. On most it didn't really work, especially when the dress is white or pastel with the heaviness of black legs and often tall boots. I think it could be done and would love to see what you have in mind, but don't think it will be easy. Oh, and several had on furry long coats, probably for warmth.
I'm looking forward to Angie's post as I have very few winter dresses and fall back on skirts in November - February.

MsMary

Veteran

I love the dress+boot(ies)+topper formula. Don't so much love the dress being a summer dress. To me it always just looks like you don't have any weather-appropriate dresses...

Thistle

Veteran

I can see them working for you style wise with a bit more sass added and a touch more polish. But, I wonder if you will be warm enough. They make me cold just looking at them!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I look forward to seeing how you adapt this idea, Shannon. I have an Eileen Fisher dress that is definitely summery and I've tried to winterize it. Have worn it beyond summer once or twice, but that's it. So maybe I can learn from you!