Wardrobe Clearout- Feedback on Dresses, Part 1 - YouLookFab Forum

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Wardrobe Clearout- Feedback on Dresses, Part 1

Dawn

(website)

Hi everyone,

I'm having a bit of a wardrobe clear-out for the new season and to clear out my pre-weight loss clothes as well.

I've started going through my skirts and dresses- have removed any which are too big or worn out, and have photographed some of the remaining dresses which are suitable for Autumn/ Winter.

I'd love your feedback on whether I should keep or donate them as it's been over a year since I had a wardrobe clearout.

My style preferences are retro/ vintage, bombshell, preppy, trendy, and maybe a little tomboy.

Dress 1- My sister eventually returned this dress to me 2 years after she borrowed it. I used to wear it loads when I first bought it but now, I don't know. It's obviously very practical for A/W as it has sleeves. Maybe my style preference have changed from being so girly.

Dress 2- I bought this on sale two years ago, wore it once before I moved to Dubai and just dug it out of storage yesterday. Keep/ donate?

Dress 3&4- I love this dress as it fits my vintage and bombshell goals but the bodice has these pleats which crumple if I stand less than perfectly upright. I think the problem is that I'm petite and the dress is not cut for a petite torso. Could it be altered?

Dress 5- Olive green dress- I love this dress in person but having photographed it, it really doesn't seem that flattering.

Dress 6- Bodycon olive green dress- It fits, the shape flatters (I think) but is the colour okay on my skin tone?

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Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from unfrumped

Anonymous

Ooh, the bodycon one is gorgeous on you!

I like the olive one too. The red one does look a little long in the torso but it is a great colour on you!

I am not a fan of the stripes on you, but I think that is a poison eye of mine talking, as the shape of the dress looks nice.

I like 1 on you too, but I would take the bells off the sleeves.

Deborah

Veteran

I think 2 and 3/4 look great. 1 and 5 I don't think do you justice and 6 is gorgeous on you fit wise but I am not sure I find the colour the most flattering.

rute

Veteran

You are gorgeous! I'm not a big help, I love all of them except 3/4!

chadya

Veteran

If it hasn't been worn in 2 years out it goes,
that's my rule.

6 is the best

ManidipaM

Veteran

I really like the stripes as well as the last dress. I think it may be possible to adjust the red dress by lifting the bodice at shoulder or if there is a seam at the side of the neckline at armhole level, there. Or my adding a dart under the arm. The flare should be possible to remove from the purple, which is a great colour for you.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

What Ceit said!

AnnieMouse

Veteran

Oh, that red dress is incredible on you! I agree that I'd try to have that altered - the cut and colour are both really great, and in keeping with the retro/ vintage + bombsells, as you noted. Definitely try to keep that in the rotation.

I really like seeing your cute figure in 6 - and I think the colour is quite nice, really.

The only one that truly makes me wrinkle my nose in thought is the stripes - I like the IDEA of it, but it feels too stiff, somehow, around the waist. 3& 4 feel drapey, but 2 feels as though it stands out from your waist a bit, instead of skimming?

Anonymous

It depends on how much you wear and need dresses. If you like #1 other than the sleeves, that looks like it could be an easy fix.
I like #6 the best. Do you wear scarves? A scarf in a flattering color would be a quick fix for the color.
#2 might work great with a topper to break up the stripes. As it is, I see them and not you.
The color of 3/4 is great on you, and it may be worth finding out what it would take to get the fit you want.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I really like all of these!

#1 You could make #1 less girly, with a different shoe. Maybe a pointier-toe pump or flat? And maybe the hair pulled back or styled more severely. That's if you really love the dress. If you've really moved on, give it back to your sister.

#2 is so pretty and colorful, and you look beautiful in it, and yet, I can understand if you feel it somehow isn't you, because I have dresses I feel that way about. I say wear it out for a day, and if you find yourself twitching to change out of it within an hour, move on. (Re-visiting this, the colors are a little summery to my eye, which may also be why you are hesitating)

#3/4 I was going to make the suggestions Manidipa did. I also wonder if a seamstress can't separate the top from the skirt, pull it down tighter, bring in the waist a little, and re-sew it. Not enough to lower the neckline - just enough to get rid of the excess.

#5 is a good color on you - I have a feeling a more berry-red lipstick would make you love this dress on you

#6 WOW, this is a GREAT look for you!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

#6 is terrific. Joy makes a good point about the scarf if you are unsure of the colour.

The red is a lovely colour for you but it does need alteration. That could be done, but would be pricey as it means removing the waistband, etc. You could get a quote from a seamstress. But it might be smarter to look for a better fitting new dress in that style.

I think a sleeve alteration on #1 would be easy -- remove the ruffle.

Pawprints

Basic fit is good on all and you're so attractive and dresses are flattering on you so it's hard to say no to any of them. But since we're looking for fab, here's what I see with a close look:

1. Good color on you. Worth repeating. But I would let the dress go. More girly than your persona calls for now, especially the collar. If you still like the sleeves (your call whether or not it's adding too much to the girly effect), a seamstress might be able to remove the collar for you.

2. Though I like the striped dress as a garment, it may be too powerful for your stature, complexion and features. It's not a has-to-go, but I think it's less than fab because it wants to fight you for attention.

3/4. Killer color on you. Agree the bodice doesn't work. If the romance of the neckline cut and sleeves aren't too girly for you and you want to make it work, maybe (?) you could have an inset put in the bodice to bring things up a notch. If I were you I would see if the dress could be made into a skirt, and/or grab a swatch of the fabric and find something fab in that color. You need that color.

5 & 6. I see why you love 5. Practical, versatile, comfortable, nice cut, easy to wear. Looks good on you. I would really want to keep it. And 6 is a killer style on you. My favorite on you in style and cut.

I can't decide on the color, unfortunately. I think this olive is at the least a workable neutral for you though not a glowing color for you like the shades of red and purple in 1 and 3. I would need to see you in person to have a real opinion. It could be a color that's good on you and even better mixed with richer ones. Or it could be one that's just not bad but you could always do better. So hard to tell here.

Go by how you feel in the dress now that you've raised your own issue of color. Do you now feel a bit washed out in it? Or like you want to wear only colors as wonderful on you as the red?

If you're feeling less than 9-10 in either dress color-wise, or ready to be really picky about your truly great colors, either replace them now and plan to repeat the success of these cuts on you in future garments, or wear them as nice/not-bad options while you're continuing to settle into your new sizes.

But if you still feel pretty darn good in these olives when you wear them, then you know it's a good color for you whether or not it photographs well in that light.

Whatever you decide, I think you've hit on some important guiding info about colors, cuts and styles for your evolving self and new sizes. That's always so useful.

Kristin L

Veteran

I love #6 on you.

I think #1 would be worth keeping, but I think you should consider removing the sleeve ruffle.

I like #2, but how do you think you would style it?

I think #3 and 4 need to be altered, and that kind of alteration could be expensive.

I think #5 is a keeper as well. The color looks great on you.

Dawn

(website)

Okay, so 1, 5 & 6 are staying.

I think I need to spend some time doing my homework with no 2, I think a pair of black boots and a black topper would neutralise some of the attention grabbing stripes.

The red dress- I agree, it needs alterations and I'll bring it to my tailor soon to see what they suggest.

Thistle

Veteran

So glad 1,5 and 6 are staying!! I would purse 2 and 3, to be honest. The cost of a seamstress to fit #3 will be pricey. And, well, I don;t think #2 does you justice.

unfrumped

Veteran

#6, wowsers! Keep and duplicate. I think you are a wear-olive person with your coloring.

#1, you're right, probably time to let go.

Deep red dress, gorgeous color and is feminine but retro and not twee, I think, so you should keep it--style it for more dressy.