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Trying a dress ETA: and another better one

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Early in the search (I have 9 months!) for a wedding guest dress/outfit for my niece’s London wedding...

The kimono dress didn’t work at all — way too low in the neckline and not great on a short-waisted busty person. Plus the background color didn’t do much for me.

Here is the Tahari dress. Good news: it fits nearly perfectly. I’m just not sure about the print. The way it’s pieced together seems to chop me up. Or are you seeing what I’m seeing there? I have my highly critical eyes on with dresses, but I don’t want to rule out something that fits as well as this, especially since it has a little stretch and is comfortable too. There is even a little extra allowance in the hem, in case I want to let it down for an extra inch of length.

Thoughts?

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DRA | Anthropologie Avian Kimono Midi Dress

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T Tahari Cold Shoulder Sheath Dress

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81 replies

Latest reply was from Bijou

Liz A.

Veteran

I think it looks just right!

Sara L.

Veteran

I think it looks fantastic. I don't have any problems with the print.

Anonymous

This was one of my earlier favorites.

I still adore the print. It is less blue than I expected and more purple. Will that work for you? I remember something about the theme being blue.

I see what you mean about the pieces chopping you up. I don't think it is a problem though (i.e., I think only you see it). However, I don't think the "sleeve" is flattering on you especially in the first photograph. It looks "heavy" and draws the eye away from you to the sleeve cut out.

I still love it. I just want you to wear the perfect dress for you.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

The dress certainly looks very different from the stock photo, doesn't it? I actually like the idea of the sleeve (hides some of my upper arms, and balances out my hips a bit), but something about the way the print is pieced at the waist seems to widen me in that area, at least to my eye. I think the print may be a *little* too much for me. But I was thinking I'd hang on to it for a while and see how I feel after the initial try on.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

How about ordering another one, and see if the print is placed differently?

Anonymous

I would definitely hang on to it as you shop. Elizabeth has a good idea too.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

That's a good point, Elizabeth. I actually ordered this in two sizes and didn't even bother trying on the other size (sadly, the larger one fits) but I'll take it out and see if the print is placed similarly. If it looks like it varies a lot, perhaps I'll try another one.

Momo

Veteran

I think it is very pretty and looks great on you . The only thing is for some reason I see the dress and not you . Hmm.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

An aside: I'm so tired of stock photos with models who must be 6' tall and a size 2 with zero curves. It's impossible to get a sense of what will even come close to looking realistic on a more typical female body.

Anonymous

I know, right!

skylurker

Veteran

Looks good.
Do you have a topper for it? (London, you know...it rarely gets warm there)
Is your weight stable? (I couldn’t choose a dress 9 months in advance because my weight or shape could change)

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Skylurker, if anything, the weight will go down. I don't have huge swings, but I am a little up in weight/size right now. I will be getting more serious about diet and resuming more activity in the coming months, as I think my shoulder issues are doing better these days. Hubs is feeling a bit fluffy right now too, so we will be supporting each other in our efforts to get in better shape! I think this dress would be fine with a little weight loss.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ah, Momo, that's kind of what I'm wondering, I suppose. It's a lot of print. I don't mind a bolder print, but there's something about the scale of some of these flowers that seems maybe a bit much. Especially when placed on some parts of my figure.

LaPed

Veteran

Whoa, it looks SO different than in the stock photo -- I don't think I even would've realized it was the same dress. It seems much darker, and the flowers are less impressionistic, which is a shame. I liked the "watercolor" vibe of the one in the Find.

Also, the one in the Find has great diagonal lines, whereas the one you received seems to have more horizontal emphasis -- due to that seam at the waist, you're absolutely right.

And -- is the neckline actually asymmetrical as described? It looks like a standard v-neck to me. I think, for me, this would not be a keeper, because it's missing too many of the elements that make it appealing in the stock photo.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

IKR, La P?! I like that the neckline is a V, but there is no asymmetry like there is in the stock photo. Also, look at how high the cold-shoulder detail hits on the model, almost like a cap sleeve, vs. where it is on me. It really seems like a different dress. It's a little weird. The colors are darker too, although my photos came out dark because I took them in the evening under indoor lighting.

Jane

Veteran

It looks very good, but I was just wondering how long the cold shoulder fashion is going to last, and whether it might last to next summer?

It is very strange that the photo is so different to real life.

Great fit though!

Sal

Veteran

I am not sure - you look great and the fit is spot on. An inch longer might give you the vertical lines that you like.

Will be interesting to see what 3 and 4 look like.

Anonymous

I'm not in love with it - to be very honest. There's a lot going on with this dress in terms of the cut-out shoulder, seamed front, and overall pattern. I think it should be a bit longer, too. ( which I realize you can fix) . Janet you can look SO fantastic in a dress, that I really think you can do better.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I don't think it's exactly right and you have so much time still - I think I'd keep looking. Lisa p is right, you wear most of your dress choices so well, this one is just not quite up to your standard.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Yep, I love how it feels on -- a product of the fit and fabrication -- but I'm not in love with how it looks, and you all are helping confirm that. I will have to have faith that I can find better, since I have lots of time.

The Tracey Reese dress below arrived today and is a little too snug, so I'm really feeling meh about my body right now. Plus it would be hard to find a bra that would work with it, and again, the colors are a bit darker than in the stock photo. What's up with that?

Maybe I should lose weight before I try looking anymore.

Tracy Reese | Anthropologie Tracy Reese Asymmetrical Silk Dress

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Laurie

Veteran

I'm with Lisa P and group- you are way too fantastic in so many things to be figuring out why this one isn't working and trying to tweak it. I love the look of the Tracey Reese above! That seems more you....

Diana

Veteran

It's very pretty on you and fits well! However, I do kind of see what you mean about the print. Specifically, the break between dark and light at the waist (is it only on one side? I can't really tell.). I tend to avoid things with prominent waist seaming because it highlights my short waistedness and I think that color change is accentuating the seam even more.

I also worry that if you are going to be photographed a lot the pattern might do strange things in photographs.

jill58

Veteran

This isn't one of my favorites. I would keep looking. I don't think you need to lose weight -- I just think the dress is wrong.

DonnaF

Veteran

I much prefer the Tracy Reese colors on you. I feel like the Tahari is sapping energy away. With nine months to go, I'm sure you can do better.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

If it were me I'd likely wait a few months to be closer to the time of the actual event, but keep browsing casually maybe just in case something grabs your attention.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, texstyle, I totally get what you’re saying, but that did not go well for me last year when I had an August wedding to dress for. I can wear the same old dress again, I suppose.

Ugh, I know I’m sounding defeated already. I just realized that I’m starting to feel the weight of seasonal depression pushing me down — never a helpful thing. Sad anniversary coming up, always a trigger, especially with the shorter days and less sunlight.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I did spot this one and thought I'd share - you never know. Not sure on the length but I assume it would be longer on most of us than the model. And it has arm coverage and a pretty cool edgy lace pattern...

ETA: One other I found

David Meister V3 17 V9 17 3/4 SLV EMB MTLC

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La Petite Robe di Chiara Boni Emertiene 3/4-Sleeve Wrap-Style Cocktail Dress, Navy

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texstyle

(website)

Veteran

You won't have to wear the same dress if you don't want to (but it's always nice to know you have something) - I have a good feeling you will find something new & beautiful between now and then.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I think it fits very well. Not sure about the pattern, although it looks "Summer Wedding".

I WISH IT WAS LONGER, Janet. This style of dress simply looks more elegant and chic with a tad more length to my eye. And I know how hard that is to find.

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