The Scream

rachylou

Munch not Picasso. But I just want to scream, *What a lot of ugly dresses out there!*

I've been looking around for dresses for summer and I don't want any of what I see. Well that's not quite true, but don't feel any of it would be on track for me. Also what a lot of synthetics. I feel sweaty and hot just looking at them.

Too soon I guess/hope?

Also, I don't wannabe a floaty faux gypsy that confuses teepees with caravans (looking at you UO, who was good to me last year).

11 years ago

Shopping

31 replies

Latest reply was from Thistle

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YES. Lets hope it's too soon for dresses, Rachy. Juuuuust at the start of mid-season.

I REALLY want to get some gorgeous tailored shirt dresses this year - since they are trending. And nada so far. And I don't want a black dress either.

And the two-piece dresses have been disappointing too. They are FINALLY gaining momentum in stores (brilliant concept) - yet the fits are skimpy and the fabric is flammable.

11 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

Do you like not-as-tailored shirt dresses? (As in the kind with no waist unless you create one). H & M had one in pale blue and one in white cotton that went down all the way to the knees. What would be the general vibe of dress you were looking for?

11 years ago

annabelle

Veteran

This isn't helping, necessarily, but I want to add a complaint about all the silk dresses, too. For me, I'm worried about ruining them, and they are as equally annabelle repellant as a synthetic fabric.

Have you looked yet at Ace and Jig? http://www.shopstyle.com/brows.....ce+and+jig xo

11 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I am hoping for more (non polyester!!!!!) dresses too. It's one of the only things I really want to buy this season. (That and another big zippered tote.)

I have been looking at shirt dresses lately actually. Here's some that I added to my finds recently. Prob not structured enough for Angie though!

Bloomingdale's

Karen Millen Dress - Fluid Collection Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

Bloomingdale's

Halston Heritage Dress - Overlay Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

Bloomingdale's

Diane von Furstenberg Shirt Dress - Taffy

View Info

Top Pick

11 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I'm laughing at your writing, Rachylou, but I do empathize and hope the season shapes up better dress-wise!
"Floaty faux gypsy that confuses teepees with caravans"--LOL. I totally get the image.

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Had to laugh, Angie. Skimpy and flammable. Ahaha. True and therefore funny. I cannot stand the draft. Two-piece dresses are the most brilliant idea in the world (for a diabetic anyways), but I've only had success with winter sweater dresses.

rabbit - I actually have a silky dress that's got a shirt collar and no waist and is light blue. It's me in that I like it, that kind of minimalist look, but it's not me in that it's got such clean lines. And while it doesn't cling (hate that in the heat), when it's really really hot - I want cotton. But I'm an impossible customer because I also don't want sweet. Although, I'd settle for Swedish Midsomer Tree Nymph, but that's off message. Totally leaves my dark and spooky Daphne Du Maurier to jump out of shadows at people. And I need some summer office wear too - short sleeve, but not no sleeve. I think a tailored shirtwaist dress would be perfect for the office, but everything I've seen is denim/chambray or heavy polyester knit.

Oh whinge moan whinge moan!

11 years ago

Marilyn

Veteran

I love dresses but it's so hard to find one that works. V-neck, fitted waist, in petite. Is that too much to ask for?! It seems like it is. :/

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Just for a slightly bitter bit of entertainment: The male of the species, Pseudomonas gypsii

http://golden-zephyr.com/what-.....ck-photos/

Can't wait for the look to take off for menswear.

11 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

I think my friend dated him. She definitely had the tribal belly dance look going, so it was meant to be.

11 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/.....d.html?dwv
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/.....Color=BLCK
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/.....172_Color=
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/.....tml?dwvar_
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/.....r_AX00173_

An extra 30% off, ending tonight
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/....._Color=BLU
I really like the sailboat one.

11 years ago

viva

Veteran

Wow, Anna, great find on those Brooks Brothers dresses. I'm actually shocked by those. I love the sailboats too. And, inexplicably, the pink.

11 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

Ooh I like the pink gingham too

11 years ago

Linda

Active Member

Love that Halston overlay shirtdress, just don't love either of the colors. Sigh!

11 years ago

Peri

Veteran

Dresses are incredibly difficult for me...I'm sure people hear me screaming every time I try to find one. I've been looking for a dress for years and haven't found one!

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I feel your pain. Dresses are so difficult. I love the idea of a shirt dress, but something with a bit of a twist, not TOO classic, gently fitted, and for cripes sake, longer than mid-thigh. Apparently, this is way too much to ask. I love that HH one, but it's short, and I suspect those wrap panels would emphasize the hips.

11 years ago

nancylee

Veteran

As always, Rachy, you make me laugh! I am with you on the dearth of decent dresses...and I'm laughing at Angie's "skimpy and flammable" description. I would also add TOO SHORT!

I love a good dress/frock. Let's hope we get some better options soon!

11 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

I gave up on dresses years ago. Petite sizing is the only option, and have you looked at the petites sections in department stores? My grandma wouldn't have worn most of those frumptastic dresses.

11 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Janet and I are on the same wavelength about our shirt dress needs. I don't want a black, denim or blue shirt dress - I have plenty of blue, and they must be different to the blue dresses I bought last year. I also don't want shirt fabric - it must be a substantial dress - structured with enough length - and under $500.

See. I'm picky. That's why I can't find a shirt dress. (I actually found a PERFECT shirt dress at Boss last year - but it was September so with no time to wear it in Seattle).

Rachy, we can't give up yet. Give it 3 to 4 more months.

11 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Hee hee my phone cover is a copy of The Scream as that is pretty much how I feel when I hear it.

11 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Rachy, don't get me started on synthetics. I stopped wearing synthetics (except for rayon) several years ago, and I was much happier (not sweaty!). But due to the lack of fashion-forward offerings, I made a couple of exceptions within the past year. Both items were a fiber mix, with one item having about 20% nylon and the other about 40% poly. I am disappointed with both items. The nylon top wasn't too sweaty (it was mixed with rayon), but it pills and looks worn after one season. The other (cotton-poly jeans) feels scratchy and makes me sweat. So if the sweating doesn't get you, the pilling will! I am back on the no-synthetics bandwagon (except for rayon). Stay strong and don't cave!

11 years ago

Neel

Veteran

I am hoping to buy a linen (or linen blend) shirt dress .... A two piece dress will be a dream come true in my neck of woods (my budget never exceeds $50 per item and... that's on the higher side lol). My MOTG lifestyle demands only so much.

I am kind of losing hope after your post :-/

P.S - I am ok with polyster as long as it doesn't *look* cheap and I am not wearing it to a day picnic in the park I did manage to find decent stuff last summer

11 years ago

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Oh, Rachylou, you are priceless! Love your humor and the way you describe things....
I would LOVE to see some awesome 2 piece dresses back! I actually have one from the 80's (yikes) that is gorgeous.....but I'm too fat to fit it and cant bear to give it up

11 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

HAHAHAHAH, Shevia cracks me up.

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I've got a totally unwearable suit like that biscuitsmom! I call it my stewardess suit, because it makes me look like a Japanese stewdardess (that is, it did when I could wear it).

I think it's glamorous, lol.

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Thanks for the links, Anna! I like the sailor too. I never think about the possibility of Brooks. Used to.

11 years ago

Debora

Veteran

Fun post! I'm screaming along with you, Rachy. Good grief, is it too much to ask for a nonflammable, unshort (ok, I made that word up), fluid, sleeved dress??? Apparently so.

11 years ago

Veteran

Hah! The lack of dresses is why I'm taking up sewing. I know exactly what kind of dress I want, and have known for several years, but have been unable to find it. After *years* of searching! A couple of times I've come close, but then it's lined in polyster. Gross. So now I have to try to master sewing (or more specifically, *fitting* and then convincing the sewing machine to work) just to have a dress. Hmph.

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

convincing the sewing machine to work

This is a reason why my sewing has not progressed beyond costumes. 15 minutes of sewing on the clothes, 3.75 hours of fiddling on the machine. Needles, tension, feet...

11 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

What a marvelous discussion you've started, Rachy! I'm afraid I've given up on dresses for this season. You see, my hormones are on fire, and, in a mad grab for every bit of estrogen, my fat cells have formed a search party round my formerly curvy waist. I need a seam there, for a bit of structure, and perhaps a belt. What's the problem, you might ask? Yes, there are lots of dresses with defined waists --- with cute cheerleader skirts that flounce and hems that end a scant few inches below my midlife booty. You get the picture.

11 years ago

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