Time for the Tickle Trunk Updated (again) with (final) styling photos - YouLookFab Forum

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Time for the Tickle Trunk Updated (again) with (final) styling photos

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

(The Canadians (of a certain age) will get the title :))

I am going to an afternoon wedding at a winery in Kelowna, BC in two weeks. It occurs at the end of a two week family camping trip. (And I said camping, not glamping!) That said, camping is really a way for us to save money on accomodation--we don't do a lot of hiking and such anymore. But, packing space is limited.

When I bought this dress a few months ago, I was about twenty pounds lighter. It was a bit risque when I bought it--but today, when I tried it on to show you, I was shocked at how low it is.

So,
1) Can I wear the dress in public?
2.) If I do, I have been imagining a great clunky necklace with it, low on my chest. Problem: everything clunky enough sits a bit too high. And if so, what colour? I have been imagining cobalt or kelly green.
3) any other ideas, styling tips?
Help!
Pictures:
1. Dress
2. Dress with topper.
3. Dress with "necklace" made with microsoft Paint. Please don't mind my lack of computer skills, lol!

Oh--and if you don't think it's appropriate for a wedding, let me know, though I'd have to wear pants or my black skirt or something. There's just no time to shop.

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Dressing

53 replies

Latest reply was from Alana in Canada

MuseumGal

Veteran

I don't think it's too low cut for a wedding. You've seen my wedding attire, so you know I'd throw a scarf over it for coverage - a sheer black (or white, or possibly a shade of pink/fuchsia) chiffon number would be lovely. I'd forgo a necklace and wear impressive earrings and/or a nice chunky bracelet.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I like the idea of impressive earrings too!!!

PS: I love Mr Dress up!

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Lyn, I was just thinking today about how kids forever more will never know about the Tickle Trunk. It made me kind of sad.

Anyway--no necklace? Really? All that skin? Why?
(I've no problems with chunky earrings. Just decolletage.)

Anonymous

I second the idea of a scarf as Museum Gal suggests. It would give you more coverage than a necklace.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

A scarf? I loved the way Museum gal used hers, but I have no idea how to do it myself. Woah.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I assure you my children will know Mr. Dress-up. Even if I have to make them watch VHS.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Good for you, Lyn*!

Adelfa

Veteran

I don't think it's low at all! No cleavage visible! Also have you run across the bit of style wisdom that a lower neckline makes your bust look smaller? I would just leave it. It's a pretty look! Second the idea of earrings and bracelet!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Not too low! References to Tickle Trunk and Mr. Dress-Up totally going over my head…

missvee

Veteran

I don't think it's too low either, but just to reassure yourself, pull up a chair in front of the mirror so you can see how it looks when you're sitting down. Sometimes contents shift if you know what I mean :-).

Glory

Veteran

I think it is fine the way it is - not too low. It looks very nice with the sandals!

Momo

Veteran

I think it looks lovely! Not too low at all. I prefer it on its own it without the topper or necklace. If you do wear the necklace can it be shortened a tiny bit?

spoff

Alana I think this dress is beautiful on you . It certainly doesn't look low cut in the pictures you posted. I would probably go with earrings and a cuff braclet for jewlery. No need to cover up you look great .

Archer

Veteran

Not sure how hot it it there but a shawl like scarf would work- any colour/ pattern good- edgy. Soon not to low. You've got the winning smile anyway.

Day Vies

Veteran

As others have said I don't think the neckline on this dress is too low at all. I think if you're self-conscious you should choose another outfit. I however think you have nothing to blush about.

I do think the proportion of the black sweater is too long. If you want to break up the space between your neck and your decollete, I think you should try a shorter chunkier statement necklace. I really liked where you were going with the cobalt blue, but that necklace is too long.

If you want a sweater to cover your arms try something in a solid pastel or vivid hue, however given the length of the dress, your sweater should stop around your hip area -- any longer and it begins to drag the look down. I like the idea of a scarf but I think it should be a solid bold color and you should iron it out so that there aren't any creases. If you choose a scarf or wrap/ then leave off a necklace and go with statement earrings and a great clutch.

I think the shoes are perfect and I also think you could do a clutch in a neutral, vivid or pastel color to complement a sweater if you choose to wear one. I don't think a sweater is absolutely necessary either unless you think you'll be cold.

Gaylene

Veteran

I vote for just earrings and a cuff as well--no necklace and topper only if you need protection from AC or in the evening. Very pretty look for a summer wedding.

And, for Denise and other non-Canadian fabbers, Mr. Dress-up was a Canadian children's series that was very popular in the 70s and 80s similar to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Mr. Dress-up, along with his two puppet friends, Casey, a small child, and Finnegan, his dog, used costumes stored in a magic Tickle Trunk for dressing up to play roles in their skits. If the Tickle Trunk wouldn't open, they would have to sing a song to "tickle" it so it would wake up and open. The trunk always held exactly the right costume for whatever skit they had dreamed up. The perfect closet, in other words!

Not that Angie

As a newb, I can't see your dress pics yet. But I did want to say that Mr. Dress Up's tickle trunk brings back great childhood memories.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Adelfa--is that style wisdom correct?

Cocolion--Mr. Dress-up was a children's show that ran on our public broadcaster (the CBC) for many, many years. He hosted it with Casey (an androgynous child puppet) Finnegan (a puppy puppet) and Rusty (a giraffe puppet.)

There was a segment of the show where he would open his "Tickle Trunk" and put on various hats and things and become different people in different roles. The actor, Ernie Coombs, died a few years ago. Apparently he had been friends with Fred Rogers for years. Mr. Dress-Up and Mr. Roger's as shows--had very similiar slow, gentle pacing and a home-like style.

Missvee--good idea. I don't want to have to stand to eat my dinner!

Glory--thank you.

Momo--shorter? OK. Actually, I don't have anything--this was just a mock up.

Spoff--thank you so much.

Archer--that makes it easier!

Day Vies--thank you so much for the specific advice. I really am at sea here, a bit. I had purchased a sloppy knitted black shrug from Target a few months back, but when I tried it on again last night it just looked sloppy so I promptly gave it to a friend of my daughters who was visiting. I should have taken closer note of its length, forst, because I think it was right for that. It was black, though, and I am glad it is gone. Solid colour scarf: got it.

Statement earrings--oh, do I love earrings--I was looking at a great bunch of chunky costume stuff at the Bay a few days ago (while on the Great White/Pewter Shoe Hunt) and so I will go back there and pick something out.
So exciting.
My Mom has a million purses and things--maybe she has a clutch I can borrow? (She also has a million scarves, though she recently realised she doesn't wear them and she is on a purging mission right now....)
Should the clutch and the scarf--
1) be the same colour
2) match
3) the purse be a neutral and the scarf a colour?

rachylou

Veteran

You look very pretty! But being a puritan, that *is* a lot of bare skin to me. I wouldn't nix the dress, tho, because I think it will be really nice for a winery wedding. I would like others fill the neckline with a necklace to *finish* the outfit. Something just a wee bit shorter than the one in #3.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Loving the Tickle Trunk reference. It does feel like dress up when you go straight from camping to a big night out!

The dress is really pretty on you. I like DV's advice on this to go shorter with your topper. As for the earrings vs. necklace, it's hard to say. I certainly don't mind the open neckline on you a bit. And I am all for a statement earring. The only issue about that is that with glasses and the length/ waviness of your hair, earrings might be difficult to see or, alternatively, too much/ too fussy. So it depends a bit how you'll be wearing your hair, I think.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Oh dear.
I went shopping this morning.
I bought a scarf for a wrap and "chunky" earrings. I also bought a "cuff" which for me had to translate into a nice big "elstic" bangle--and even some of those were too tight! But I do like it--and it is staying. I thought I'd add colour by matching the scarf and earrings.

It's not working for me.
1. Purchased this morning. I think the earrings are not visible enough--and the patterns are fighting one another. Love the colour, though.

2. I already owned this scarf (forgot I had it until a minute ago) I like the shape and length of it better--but I can't tell about the pattern! Again, I think the earrings don't work (but in this case it is because they are too casual.)

Suz--thank you. This is a family wedding, so it may be important to cover up some of that skin. I think I'll have to go back for a necklace and a different scarf.

argh.

ETA: I am going back in about 20 minutes. I just have to get this settled.

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Sal

Veteran

Hi, I think the scarf is the right look, but I think a plain unpatterned one would be better. Either white, black or a clear colour- orange would be great or pink or turquoise?

I have similar length hair now and I find earrings also hard....they are more obvious in person than in a photo.

Have a fun camping holiday and enjoy the wedding!

Marley

Veteran

Hey Alana - the dress is gorgeous on you! Not too low at all! And, I like that first scarf - the giraffe print one! And, I think the earrings are fine. Although I can't see the color of them in the photo - I can see them hanging down from your ears and I think its a really nice touch. I definitely would not wear a necklace with this dress. I think that either pattern mixing between the dress and the scarf - or, a bright colored scarf would be much more flattering than a necklace. If you went with the giraffe scarf, you could carry a lot of different colored purses with the outfit - yellow, green, blue, purple, etc. (not gray or brown or silver, etc.) - just keep it a bright or intense color.
(The second scarf does nothing for me.)
Also - no need to match your earrings with the dress, scarf, handbag, etc. - they only have to complement your outfit - not match it!

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Ok--so I see we're going to have a divide between team pattern and team plain--and also team necklace vs team earrings, lol!

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cjh

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Hi, just putting in my two cents. LOVE the dress, love the orange scarf/shawl and earrings. Very summery and nice and bright. Looks like you are "dressed up", by accessorizing with cute and current items, no frump or fuss involved. You will look great and appropriate for a summer wedding. (And I always try to remember that people will be looking at the bride anyway! I always love to compliment the mothers of bride and groom on how beautiful they look, and get lovely smiles in return.)

Not sure if you would feel less bare if you used a bit of powder to even out the skin color on your neck and chest? My eyes detect a smidge of sunburn? and then seeing the paler area that isn't sunned might make you feel more "exposed". I may be all wrong, of course.

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Have you taken back the new glasses yet? If not, put them on with this ensemble and see what you think.

Travelgal Nicole

Veteran

Yes, I like the dress with the orange scarf as well. The pattern on pattern is subtle but vibrant. And I like the earrings too.

Windchime

Veteran

Another vote for the lovely orange scarf from me. But you are the one who needs to feel comfortable with the cut of the dress. I have some very conservative inlaws, and I would not wear a lower-cut type of neckline if I was visiting them. With some of my other relatives, I would wear it in a heartbeat. So it depends on the situation.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

cjh--yes, that is a touch of sunburn. I am hoping it'll all even out by the wedding. But a little powder won't hurt at all.
I tried me new glasses with the ensemble below as you suggested--but one of the reasons I decided to return them was that I just don't feel pretty in them. I feel like a scolding school marm.

So, hey. Yay! I got it.Total style smile.

I realised that though this may not be too much skin for some, it was too much skin for me--especially at a wedding where my mother in law is the bride's grandmother! (That makes it my husband's niece who is getting married in case you are trying to figure it out.)

This time, I took my daughter with me (and we both thought that "Mother and daughter go shopping" would be a great "reality TV" show!)--she found the plain orangey-coral scarf within seconds. It is paler than the first one which is nice--more an orange sherbet. (I am blessed that she likes to go shopping with me)

Sorry I cut my feet off--same shoes as before. In fact, I apologise for the thoroughly crappy photo but the camera battery died just as I took this.

Thanks everyone--that was a ton of fun!

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