What brand of dress? and, how a skirt fits

I have a few questions...

1. I would like to get a black sheath dress and would like some suggestions of where to start. I don't want it to be too costly (I don't want to spend over $100 but if I have to for a great dress, I will)... I love SOFT fabric. I don't like clothes that are scratchy. I have issues with clothes that fit really close, so something that if its meant to fit close that at least it will be comfortable and have some flex/give in it.

2. Regarding fit of a skirt - I wear size 8 pants. When I try on a size 10 skirt (I think its a pencil skirt), it fits very low on my hips and I think its too big. But, with a size 8, it feels funny. It tends to make a horizontal "wrinkle" in the very center of the skirt and I asked a sales lady. I said, if I wear this blouse OUT, the skirt looks fine. If I tuck the blouse IN, you can see where the skirt wrinkles or has some sort of pull... as if I am not positioning the skirt properly on my frame. I pull/tug it down, then if I sit down and stand up, have to start all over again.

Is it because its perhaps pulling from the largest part of my hips and I just need to get a size 10 altered? I'm not sure, does anyone else have this problem?

13 years ago

ManidipaM

Veteran

Sorry, no advice on the black dress as I don't live near the same stores as you. But I'm sure others will chime in. It might help them to know your preferences for lengths, necklines, sleeves etc if you have any; whether you want an all-season piece or a summery one; etc.

About the skirt, yes, I have that issue too --- it is either because the length is off for your own proportions, so that the hip is lying at the wrong place horizonally (how tall are you?), OR because the hip-waist difference in the cut doesn't match your proportions, so the waist is fine but the hip is snug, causing the hip to ride up and the skirt to wrinkle there. You would really do best to get the 10 and have the waistband taken in.

melindawoodard

Active Member

That's what I thought... But, was not certain. Thanks so much, that does help verify what I thought. The sales lady wasn't really convincing. I'm 5'4, 140 lbs however due to former obesity my proportions everywhere (while they look fine on the outside) are very tricky due to excess "junk in the trunk" AND inside the glove compartment, ashtray, door side compartments"!

As for dresses, I don't mind sleeveless. I can wear a cardigan as I get very cold most of the time and have to wear a sweater anyway... and it can be any sort of neckline but I don't like any type of openings around the neck like a keyhole, although I don't particularly mind that on the back (not sure if i own any dresses like that currently). I'm very conservative. Not too low cut but not turtle necks either... and due to my tummy being the problem area, not a big belt or something that will draw attention to that area.

Thanks so much

Inge

(website)

Moderator

Hi there,

Would any of these dresses work for you?
http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/p.....Color=6600

http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/p.....Color=6600

http://www1.macys.com/shop/pro.....aPDNJiDsgA

http://www1.bloomingdales.com/.....intnl=true

Traci

Ann Taylor was my first thought. inge has you pointed in the right direction. Do you live near many stores? I find that the thing with finding the perfect black dress is all about the perfect fit. I'd suggest hitting up all the brick and mortar stores in your area and trying on every single black dress available until you find your one, before starting the online shopping.

Diana

The skirt thing happens to me too with a lot of pencils. It has to do with the "rise" of the skirt being too long. In this case, rise refers to the distance between the waistband of the skirt and the widest point of your hips. If the length on you is shorter than on the skirt, it will probably either ride up or cause that weird pooch thing with the excess fabric. You might want to try a petite skirt as the rise will likely be shorter (but so will the skirt so make sure the total length is still OK).

For the dress, I just bought a lovely ponte knit sheath dress at Ann Taylor. Their dresses do not usually fit me (since they are more straight cut than I am) but this one, because it is stretchy, fits perfectly, and the fabric is thick enough that it doesn't show lumps. It's a rayon based ponte which is hard to find (they're usually poly, and I avoid poly knits when I can). I can't find it on the website right now but it was on major sale and there were a lot in my store. It's the one with the exposed back zip if you see it in a store.

Anna

I bought a lovely, classic knee-length black dress at White House Black Market last year. It was even on sale for $48. They had a nice selection!

DonnaF

I second trying petite sized skirts, esp. since your height straddles regular and petite sizes. Nordstrom's Halogen seamed pencil skirts might work for you since they have stretch. They run very big so you need to size down. Also, note that measurements for petite sizing run in-between regular sizing. For example, if a regular 10 is loose on you, the P10 might be just right since it will be narrower in addition to shorter.

Again, I would try both regular and petite size dresses for fit and comfort. I am only 5'1", but have a couple of regular size dresses that surprisingly seem to hit me right.

Wow everyone, thanks for your advice. I really like all 4 of the dresses; but, one thing that stood out to me was #4. It has that ruching (? correct word?) on the left side of the tummy. I wonder if that would really help me feel better about my body because, on that same left side I have a pocket or pooch or bulge... and shapewear, bless its heart helps a lot... but, there are just those times when I dont want to wear another stinking shapewear piece!!

I will try on the petite pencil skirt and see if that will help. I know everyone raves about how pencil skirts are for everyone, and that they are terrific... but with the problems I have encountered, I kept thinking OK THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY! I will give that a try.

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