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The Chevron dress one more time - better styled

Raisin

Veteran

Alright, so I do agree that the chevron dress may not be the best dress for ME. I'm not trying to get anyone to completely change their opinion here. Alas, there is just something I love about this dress, and I can't do better than the comfort and ease of it. And for now, that works for me!

So, did I at least make it better styled here? My hair is as it should be, haha!I added a cobalt skinny belt and I do want to try a wider one once I get one. Also changed up the shoes.

Now for toppers I do not have anything particularly "Springy" like a jean jacket. It is chilly this morning though, so I tried by olive knit jacket and my grey leather jacket. I like the leather, though it may only work for a few more weeks.

Lol, I made a sort of awkward pose in pic 2 because right at the last minute DS said to me "it looks like your holding your weenie"! Haha, don't want that, do we?

Marginally better? Or just send it back and give up!? HA!

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Dressing

36 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Anonymous

Rae, it looks good -- I like it better how you have styled it here but I still don't love it. If you love it though and find it comfortable then keep it!

Archer

Veteran

Ditto Ceit but if really want to keep it buy or SYW for a shorter jacket perhaps.

Deborah

Veteran

Ok, I like it with the skinny belt and I think I have worked out what wasn't working for me:). The footwear. This is just me, but this dress is calling out for some edgy high vamp sandals or booties IMHO. Love the loafers, but just not with this dress.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I think the dress looks really cute on you and I think you want to keep it. Rae, you are very cute and everything looks good on you. The only concern I have about the dress is that the way the pattern is placed, it seems to give the illusion of a longer torso and the proportions look just a bit off. I do think a shorter jacket as suggested by Archer would fix this though.

Agnes

I didn't see it before but I like it. Shows off your good legs too.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

How about a wide white or black belt, a white or distressed denim jacket, and a pair of cagey sandals? (I think I just lumped everyone's suggestions into one, lol!). I really like the chevron pattern on you, I'm just not sure about the fit on top.

Raisin

Veteran

I can't win you over with this one, can I? Haha! I'm kidding though, I appreciate the honest replies more.

I am beginning to think I am lazy and settle too easily. I guess the thought of returning it (although it IS free) and starting the search for a new one is too much for me. Lazy, lazy. I wonder how often I end up settling on things?

Kristin L

Veteran

I agree about the shorter jacket and the shoes. I like it with the belt, though.

Jules

Veteran

I do the lazy thing too. I also buy things because they are cheap and I like the colour/pattern, when they don't actually fit me that well. Oh and I wait forever to get things altered/repaired...
I like the dress but I am also seeing the slightly off proportions. And I think that you are gorgeous and deserve a perfect dress, one that will not require (much) styling, since amazing pieces worn simply seem like a big part of your style. But I "settle" all the time and I'm ok with that too.... we have busy lives and other things to do with them. I just try to "settle" at a higher level than I used to.

Sarah A

Veteran

I really like it as you have it in #3. I think the proportion of the top of the dress to the skirt part of the dress is what is throwing this askew when worn without the long topper the dress seems to bisect a strange spot proportionwise.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I'm afraid I have to agree with the majority here as well... like, but not love. And for much the same reasons, so won't repeat. I do like it better here than in your original post.

One thing that bothers me is that the pattern isn't placed symmetrically on the dress, so it looks like the top is a bit twisted. This type of thing drives me nuts

Raisin

Veteran

You know what, I see what you guys mean now by the top. And the problem is not the dress its me. I guess I have a long torso. You know how they say the smallest part is right under your bust? Well I've always had issues with this and belting there because my smallest part is way lower, like at the bottom of my rib cage. So any belting I do just automatically slips down to this part. It's actually frustratingly small because even the smallest belts don't fit my true waist. This belt is not even tight. And the dress has an elastic band at the centre so it naturally goes to my smallest portion which is very low, where you see it here on the pic. Ah I guess I am the one who is off! But this makes a lot of sense. Belting my waist never works for me it always looks too low. I guess that's why I buy shapeless shift dresses most of the time and leave them unbelted.

Sarah A

Veteran

It is never our bodies that are wrong... it is always the clothes! This one just has a waist that isnt working. It is never you who doesnt work... as you have said you work in shift dresses A $10 leather hole punch from the craft store has been my savior to make belts work at more various lengths....

Raisin

Veteran

Omg I've just had an epiphany about a whole host of clothes that don't work for me. Yes not because my body is wrong but I've been trying to make styles work that don't work on long torso/short legs. Aghhhh! I will have to make a better post on this later but a lightbulb just went off in my head! So yes this dress will probably never work well. I am destined for high waisted items and short tops. I've been wrongly dropping my tops down to my low waist when really the pants need to come up!

Sara L.

Veteran

I'm going to be the outlier here because I don't see what the problem is. I really like this dress on you. The blue belt is fun with the neutral colors in the dress. I do think you need a shorter jacket or cardigan to wear over it though. Of the two jackets you have shown, I prefer the grey one.

Jules

Veteran

I actually think having a teeny waist is the ideal! The "smallest part under the breast thing" I always took as a reminder for those of us with less than ideal bodies, that we might be looking for our waists/sweet spot a little higher up. And it does work for me - as a guideline. If it doesn't work for you forget about it! Work with your real, tiny waist!
I feel like this dress would work better a few inches longer. But I believe you have dresses this length than look fab. So it's probably the pattern. And the proportions thing I am seeing is honestly very minor. If you love the dress, it is not a big deal IMHO.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I like this dress on you! You look cute and sporty, yet dressy. You could run errands or chase your runaway dog through the park, or you could enjoy a sit-down dinner at a very nice restaurant in the ATL in this dress. I don't see the proportions 'problems' that people are talking about. I see a really cute girl with a figure I would kill for (or at least, think about killing for ) and some great legs.

If you feel great in this dress - a 9.5/10 or better, keep it. If you don't feel like a 9.5 in it, then I vote move on, because there will always be '10' dresses for you, out there waiting to be discovered

DonnaF

Veteran

This dress is okay, but you deserve better. With your coloring, I would prefer more of a greige instead of gray, or maybe olive; something slightly warm or even blush-y. As mentioned by others, the non-centering of the pattern drives me nuts, and the proportions seem slightly off.

I am a Petite with a long but smallish waist. Sometimes slightly high-waisted Petite stuff gives me better (faux) proportions; other times I need to go to Regular sizes. Have you ever tried Tall dresses and then hemmed them up if needed?

Glory

Veteran

Another outlier here. I love this dress for pattern, colour, fit and lifestyle. I like how it fits and the many options you have for wearing it. I think it can be a go to dress for kids appts, school affairs and maybe dinners out with DH. I vote keep.

rachylou

Veteran

#3 with the grey jacket is outstanding. I like the blue belt, I like the idea of a skinny belt period. It's polished. I feel a little conflict is happening between the belt and white shoes, tho. Which would be fine, except I think you have a more polished style normally. A white, grey or black belt may be more modern with the shoes. I'd leave off the belt when wearing the "mixed-media" jacket, because the overall look is more relaxed.

I like this dress on you. I think the key words for styling it are "polished" and "simple".

Inge

(website)

I didn't get a chance to chime in on your previous thread, but I actually really like the dress on you Rae (the way you've styled it here, and in the first photos too). I don't think the pattern overwhelms you, it's playful and a little retro, but made very modern by the way you are wearing it. Love the blouson style too. I vote keep:-)

unfrumped

Veteran

The waist is at the "right" place. I think this is an issue of dresses that are fairly short that have a true waistline--the dress end up being exactly half top and half bottom.. That is not my preferred proportion, which is why I even think "young" ladies wear a lot of dresses too short to my eye--it's not about being immodest, it's the proportion of skirt is too little for the amount of top. Whereas empire waist would have more bottom, and dropped waist would have more top.

So, I would like this dress a bit longer, ideally, for the proportion reason. And I actually like the pattern, but it emphasizes the horizontal bisection thing going on.

However, if it ticks a lot of other boxes for you, then you just have to decide.

I've posted outfits in which I was wearing one of my favorite tops that make me feel like I have superpowers or something, and people said, oh great outfit as long as you trade for another top that has more of this and less of that. So it was good to know (maybe), but my "eye" just was still set on that top and so I just had to do my thing.

Is it only a summer dress, or would you wear it in the fall with tights and low-contrast footwear?

catgirl

Veteran

Wow, unfrumped just set off a lightbulb in my head with the half-waist concept!

I actually like this dress on you a lot, Rae. I think it's more pattern than we're used to on you, but I have a Missoni for Target sweater just like this and LOVE the pattern - it's just a matter of attitude!

Raisin

Veteran

Yes Unfrumped set off a lightbulb for me too. I think you are right, it would look a lot better and the proportions would be better if the skirt were longer. The waist is always going to hit me there, so a longer bottom would probably make for a more flattering fit.

I realize it's not a perfect 10 and I actually gained a lot of knowledge from this thread! I suddenly realize a lot about my proportions and now I want to go out and find things that work for them! All that aside, I think I am still keeping the dress. I do actually quite like it, and I am really tired and don't feel like looking around for another summer dress. It's hot now and I want to be comfortable, *somewhat* stylish (depending on who we ask, haha), and have easy to wear pieces.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You don't look long waisted to me. You look very well proportioned. But I guess you could measure to be 100% sure. Imogen over at Inside Out style has a proportions exercise you can do. It is a bit confusing, but I found it helpful anyway.

The smallest part of me is not my under my bust, either -- and I have a short waist (with a long rise) .The smallest part of me is between bottom of rib cage and belly button. Isn't that typical for people who are not apple shaped? I thought that was the ordinary thing.

Raisin

Veteran

Maybe you are right Suz. I only got that from What Not to Wear, that's what Stacy and Clinton are always telling the girls. But yah, mine is the same spot as yours. Well I got myself a very plain but wide black belt today. Looks good with the dress! The skinny belt keeps getting covered up by the excess material draping over it. Maybe if you guys are not sick of seeing this dress yet, I shall show it to you later.

Suz, I feel like I'm long waisted but maybe I have it all wrong. I should go figure it out.

Deborah

Veteran

Raisin, I am glad you are keeping the dress because I do think it is lovely. I would love to see you post it with the new belt and do you think you might try alternate footwear?

Raisin

Veteran

Deborah I like it with my silver ballet flats and it would probably go well with my black booties too. I also have black ballet flats. My shoe options are limited unfortunately.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I do like it the way you've styled it Rae and you obviously love it so keep, wear and enjoy

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