Styling ideas for dress? - YouLookFab Forum

I bought this dress at Banana Republic Factory today. It's dark blue with faux leather black trim. It hits just above my knee. (I know it looks longer in the photos, due to the angle. It's not as short on me as it is on the model, as I'm a petite person wearing a regular size dress.)

I tried it on with a couple of my blazers and with a cardi. The blazer in pic 2 doesn't show well in this pic; it is seeksucker, with a dark gray stripe. What do you think looks best? Other ideas on how to style?

(I like how it looks without a topper, but that won't fly at work!)

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Banana Republic

Factory Faux-Leather Tipped Dress

$109.99 $40.98

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Banana Republic

Factory Linen/Cotton Blazer

$109.99 $54.98

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Custom Find

by rizamei

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Nordstrom

Cole Haan 'Milly' Wedge Pump

$168.00 $64.97

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8 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I prefer the blazer to the cardigan, I think both blazers work well. It is a lovely dress that really suits you.

Dee

I also prefer the blazers over the cardigan. I like the crisp contrast of the second blazer and the dress best, but the seersucker is fun too. If you had a cropped cardigan, that might be better length-wise.

always trying

I too prefer the blazers. The cardigan is too long. The dress is very nice. t would look really nice with a cropped jacket or cardigan that came to waist too.

Deborah

Lovely dress. I prefer it with the blazer:) Keeps it looking sharp and crisp. A cropped blazer would work really well too. Wondering if you can layer under it? A crisp white button down or even a crisp black button down could look amazing.

rizamei

Active Member

Thanks for the ideas!

I think I'm becoming aware of a wardrobe gap as none of my cardis or blazers are cropped, except for a denim jacket that's a bit boxy on me. I'll have to keep my eye out for something! But I think the blazers will work in the interim. I like them better too, especially the seersucker, but I didn't want to influence comments by saying so!

Helena

Bucking the trend ... I prefer the cardi very nice dress!!

Firecracker (Sharan)

That dress is amazing on you. I like both blazers with it. I like the suggestions of a cropped cardigan or jacket as an alternative, too. The dress looks great on its own. If it's warm enough to wear without a topper, you could try a statement bracelet; I'm picturing a cuff style, to stay with the crisp lines of the dress. A black leather cuff could be cool, to echo the leather trim on the dress.
I like it with your pumps and flats shown here. You could also wear it with dressy black sandals.
I also like the idea of layering under it with a blouse or turtleneck, and pairing it with boots for cooler weather.

kkards

i like the cardigan for a more casual look….and i think i'd like to see this with a darker blazer, maybe black to pick up the trim color.

jackiec

I really like the dress on you! My fav is #2, if you have to wear a topper. It looks fab on its own too.

Aubergine

Really like the dress and totally love the burgundy accents from the necklace and those cute flats! FWIW I think the cardigan look works (I like the blazers too).

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Some have suggested layers under this, but most seem aimed at cooler weather. In the 90s (decade, not temperature...), I used to layer short-sleeve crop tops under sleeveless dresses to change things up, and I'm doing that again now as crop tops have proliferated this year. This way, many color/pattern combos can really extend your options.

unfrumped

Great dress find! I like both blazers. Is that the BR seersucker from a couple of years ago? If so, I'm your seersucker twin.
I think a cardi would work fine for more options--I would try ( as in, wear your dress shopping and try some things out) a chunkier cardi, shorter and maybe textured, because from the photo the dress looks like it is more substantial fabric than the thin cardi.
Also try colored jackets depending on your color palette--coral for example, with navy is fab.
I think this will be a great basic with lots of styling options, perhaps mostly color accessorizing but also different jacket styles.

tulle

Wonderful fit & silhouette on that dress; it should be a real workhorse for you. I like it best with the one-button jacket which seems to echo the lines of the dress, but I think a cardigan could work. too, if it were a bit shorter and a less drapey knit than the one pictured. A bright color, or even a pattern, in a cropped, stable knit would give you a completely different look. Are you thinking of wearing it alone for non-work occasions? Looks like it's got dress-up potential!

rachylou

Extremely flattering fit!

Gigi

Nice dress! I think all the renditions are great, although I prefer the cardi. I think I like it best because of the "soft" vibe it gives the outfit.

Summer

I love the dress and all the styling options. My favourite is 2. but the other blazer works very well, also.

Thanks for ideas, everyone!

To answer a couple questions, I suspect I will mostly wear this to work, since I don't have many dressy occasions outside of work. My social life is pretty casual! A lot of my other dresses have been donated/consigned because they're too loose, and a couple of the ones I've kept for now only look good with toppers because they're getting loose around the arms. So it's nice to have an option that I know fits super well.

I do think this will be a year round piece for me, and it will work especially well with my fall/winter clothes. I have a couple black blazers, one of which would probably work well with this (it's a shorter one), but they're both too warm for mid-summer here. I'm trying not to spend more on summer clothes at this point. I feel like I have a couple options that will make this work for now, and I also know a couple things I might want to get when I start shopping again (cropped, non-sheer cardis, one neutral and one bright).

unfrumped - The seersucker blazer is a recent BR factory purchase. Along with my dress, it was pretty much my last splurge until I start buying for fall (assuming I don't have an emergency need to replace something in the interim). I got it in the store, and can't find it on the website, so it might be a holdover from past BR seasons? I really like that it has only one button, and that the fabric has some structure without being too warm. It's pretty much perfect for my work situation (arctic a/c, casual dress code with more formal expectations for management). I can look a little dressed up without being too corporate with it.

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