Thinking of HEWIs - ETA BR white eyelet dress - YouLookFab Forum

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Thinking of HEWIs - ETA BR white eyelet dress

Aurore

Veteran

This morning, a precious package was delivered to my home - the package containing the white version of the BR eyelet dress Angie recently posted about.
I have to wait a couple of hours before opening it an trying the dress, and I feel very impatient. It the dress fits, I will have found something I've been looking for for years : a long, white summer dress suitable for both casual and dressy occasions.
Such a white dress is (was? fingers crossed!) a HEWI for me.

This situation makes me realise I don't have a clear vision of what my HEWI are, which probably does not help finding them.
I usually understand something was an HEWI when, like for the BR dress, I randomly stumble upon it and realise it fills a years-old hole.

How about you? Do you have a clear list of your HEWI? Do you have specific HEWI shopping strategies?

ETA : I love the dress! The quality and tailoring are up to my expectations after having read Angie's positive review, and I think it fits me well. HEWI found! What do you think?

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30 replies

Latest reply was from Aurore

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I do have HEWI s but they are changing all the time and I m a really perverse shopper,I ll spend years hankering after an item of clothing but then when I eventually find it I ll decide that I ve waited so long i ve gone off the idea!At the moment it’s tan knee length equestrian style boots.black chunky lace up boots with a block heel and some sort of flat close toed shoe for the summer.I really hope that your dress suits you and that you are happy with it.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I hope the dress works out for you, Aurore!

It's only possible to have a very clear sense of our HEWIs when we have a very clear sense of our personal style -- and, as Angie has said, this takes time.

It can also shift -- so, for example, if you changed jobs or moved to another part of the world with a different climate, it would take time to identify the wardrobe holes. Those you had trouble filling might become HEWIs.

A HEWI is often, but not always, an essential -- and those are probably the first HEWIs we identify.

It can also be a completer -- we can identify those quite quickly, too. As in...Oh, this outfit would be perfect if I just had the right lace shell top...and that top would also work so well with this other outfit, and that one... When you find yourself saying stuff like that, it indicates a potential HEWI.

Sara L.

Veteran

I'm like Cardiff girl and tend to have a vision of an HEWI until I actually find it and then I don't want it. Right now, it's light tan knee high boots. I've been looked for years, but when (if?) I find them, I'll probably decide I don't want them anymore.

Aurore

Veteran

Cardiff Girl and Sara L., that's an interesting situation!

Suz, thank you very much for your insight and very clear explanations. Your tips on how to identify a potential HEWI will be so helpful!

Sisi

Veteran

It's a beautiful dress! I hope it will fit you well. To answer your question, yes, I have a very clear list of my HEWIs but unfortunately no particular shopping strategies. I just keep my eyes open wherever I go in the perennial hunt of: the perfect Summer dress, the pretty-comfortable-nice colour-woolen pullover, the white trench that can be tossed into the washing machine, the perfectly fitting white jeans, the comfortable-but-dressy shoes ... As a funny, popular song of some years ago said "it's a difficult life" ...

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I'm not sure I have many HEWIs left - I found a navy belt after 2 years of searching and it's good but maybe not perfect. Oh, maybe one HEWI is really great shorts that have a little structure, wash well and are available in tan or taupe (but don't look like camp shorts lol). I also tend to lose interest after some time looking and sometimes I don't want it once I find it.

cindysmith

Veteran

I hope your dress works for you!

My personal unicorn (hewi) is a moto/biker style leather jacket that is somewhat fitted, and doesn't constrict my arms/shoulders or squish my chest. I've quit looking, because my lifestyle has changed to something that really has no use for jackets. I did find a scuba-type material model that fills the whole adequately enough and has stretch to accommodate the parts of me that usually feel constricted in jackets.

My other 2 unicorns were a knee high equestrian style boot, and a combat style boot. I FINALLY found them when I quit searching fashiony brands and checked into work wear brands. Now, I don't have to baby them, because they take the abuse I dish out, and they are staples for the brands I bought.

Beyond that, my lifestyle doesn't allow for wardrobe investments. I destroy clothes at an alarming rate, so I've quit spending major money on any one piece (except footwear, handbag, and a warm winter coat); irrespective of cost, I just ruin clothes. When I buy them thrifted/consignment/deep discount, I'm not too upset when another one bites the dust. I'm actually a bit envious of your white dress, because white in my world... yeah, it never stays white. Good luck with it, I truly hope you found your hewi!

Thistle

Veteran

My Hewi is dark navy blue low-heeled comfortable booties.

Been looking for years. Still haven't found them!

JAileen

Veteran

I hope the dress works for you.

My HEWI right now is a very warm and waterproof jacket for our Barrow trip this summer. I had ordered a Marmot parka that looked really great on paper, and on me. But given that we’re going on a birding trip, function is paramount, and it was too tight across my shoulders when I put my arms up.

Aurore

Veteran

Sisi, you seem to have a clear view of your HEWIs! And I love how you describe them.

texstyle, I really find it interesting that you, like previous commenters, may have grown tired of an HEWI once it's found. It raises interesting thoughts about how HEWIs relate to wardrobe holes.

cindysmith, I definitely understand your lifestyle point of view. I actually have a whole wardrobe capsule dedicated for those times spent in the country or in the mountains, when I need to not worry of the abuse my clothes may endure. Interestingly, the most expensive items I ever bought are all part of this mountainproof capsule - and are proving they were worth their price!

Thistle, it seems like comfortable (affordable) heeled shoee are a whole HEWI family!

JAileen, I often have similar issues with jackets - and can't stand an outdoor jacket that restricts movements. Have you tried men's ones? Despite my hourglass/pear shape, I have found that men's outdoor jackets sometimes fit me and offer more arm freedom of movement.
It's the case of the last winter jacket I purchased : it's not really a flattering shape on me, but I can do whatever I want when I wear it.

jussie

Veteran

My HEWI is a white lacy or Broderie bohemian style top or dress.... they’re common but I need to find one that looks good on me! Surprisingly tricky....

Anonymous

Ok Aurore: Double-check whether you need a slip with this dress! I found some show-through. The dress fit me very well and it seems to fit pear shaped people very well so I have high hopes for you!
(I did not buy it because I would have no place to wear it.)

I guess brown shoes or luggage-leather coloured shoes would be a HEWI.

Actually I don’t think those things are essentials for me: they’re completers because they go so nicely with blue denim (which IS an essential for me).

Aurore

Veteran

Indeed jussie, sometimes it seems like items we look for are everywhere, but none seem to really fit! I have a similar issue with black pumps...

Thank you for the tips smittie! I just tried the BR dress (and updated the post) and I find it GREAT! I definitely need skin-colored underwear with it.

LaPed

Veteran

Like Thistle, my greatest HEWI at the moment is ink/navy ankle boots, leather not suede, low-heeled, comfortable but polished-looking. I've shopped online and local, done a lot of try-ons, still haven't found what I want. Picky feet, picky eyes...

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

KILLER

LOVE IT

Waving to my dress twin. Isn't the dress sublime, Aurore?

anchie

Veteran

I really like this dress on you, I think it fits you very well. I was eyeing this dress myself. I prefer it in navy but unfortunately only white is available in Europe BR online shop.
My current HEWI is gray suede knee high boots. I have been looking for them since October and nothing even to try on so far.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

This dress looks amazing on you!!

Aurore

Veteran

Ah, La Pedestrienne, it seems like most of us have a hard time finding suitable shoes!

Thank you so much Angie! The dress is wonderful!

Aurore

Veteran

Thank you very much for your support, anchie and Jenava! And sorry for the cross-post.

anchie, grey suede boots sound great! I hope you'll be able to find them eventually.

jussie

Veteran

Love the dress on you. Can’t wait to see it with shoes :).

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Great dress! I was also interested in it in navy, but navy is not available in Canada. but I do already have a navy summer dress, so really... probably wouldn't, or shouldn't, have actually got it. It's lovely though.

My hewi is, believe it or not, a sweatshirt. A nice one. With something on it that I can live with... a suitable slogan, a pattern, not a brand name... you'd think it would be easy!

Aurore

Veteran

Thank you very much, jussie!

Elizabeth P, it seems like HEWI often are usual items with somewhat unusual properties...I hope you'll find that sweatshirt eventually!

Helena

Veteran

Aurore, the dress looks absolutely beautiful on you!! *heart eyes*

Aurore

Veteran

Thank you so much, torontogirl!!

Colette

Veteran

The dress looks beautiful on you! (I scooped it up in navy and can’t wait for the opportunity to wear it.)

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

It looks really romantic on you. Like you should have daisies in your hair.

Anonymous

It looks awesome! Nice to have somebody finding these Hewis for us, no?

Katerina

Veteran

What a sweet lovely dress and you look very beautiful in it!

Amy Isabella

Veteran

Just gorgeous!

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