Why is Dress Shopping SO Difficult? - YouLookFab Forum

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Why is Dress Shopping SO Difficult?

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I know that for summer dresses, I have certain parameters due to my climate (flowy fit, lightweight breathable fabric), but even when I find dresses that will theoretically be good for me, I still have such a hard time finding ones that work. The other night I tried on 30 dresses, and only one worked for me. Is that just the way that it goes with dress shopping?

General

23 replies

Latest reply was from garmenta

Queen Mum

Veteran

I hear you. Pour a glass of wine while I commiserate with you The one thing I'm noticing is how heavy many dresses I pick up off the rack are... like serioulsy, the dress probably weighs 5 lbs!
I find that most of the truly summerweight dresses are spaghetti straps which knocks all of those out right away. I just keep telling myself to be patient and as summer gets closer, the selection will improve
I know you try to keep your prices down, but I saw a really cute summer dress ATL the other day. I didn't try it on, but it seemed long enough, light weight and bra-wearable... I think this is it...
http://www.anntaylorloft.com/c.....pe=Regular

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

ATL is frustrating me right now. They have several dresses that seem to be a good length, and lightweight enough, but the fabrications won't work for me. Anything but cotton is out- it's just too hot in 105 plus heat.

Queen Mum

Veteran

really? that one is modal and spandex.... would that be too hot?

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Yes- modal is too hot, as is rayon or tencel or any of those other manmade/natural fabric.

Dusty

(website)

Oh boy, do I agree there! Finding a dress that fits properly is hard enough, let alone if you have any other parameters. Bah! I think I'm mostly just going to make them and leave the rest up to a chance meeting at Goodwill.

marianna

Veteran

I feel you! Dress shopping is torture for me as well... nothing ever looks good. I have no idea why.

Maya

Veteran

Hmm, perhaps it's just too early in the season? Summer collections should be rolling out soon, so you might see more cottons, linens, and silks then.

cciele

Veteran

Hm, why were the 29 dresses not working for you? Was it cut? Length? Fabrication?

Mellllls

Veteran

I find dress shopping to be the easiest thing to shop for (except wedding dresses...that was impossible). They are one of the only things I don't need to ever get altered. Love the one you linked to Queenie. ATL always has a great selection, though I don't pay close attention to the fabrication.

shana

Veteran

Other than the fabric, what is not working in terms of the fit?

I agree that it's probably just too early in the season. Many dresses that I have seen are in more late winter/spring fabrications too. I remember getting all crazy about finding dresses last year in early spring and buying a few that were really just so so. Then all of a sudden, June hit and there was a dress explosion in the stores which made me regret some of my summer fever purchases!

ATL has really become my favorite place for dresses. For years, I was buying dresses at AT and they never fit my body quite right (seem to work better for rectangle/pears) and then Shiny came along and suggested ATL instead and it has been a godsend!

Queen Mum

Veteran

Shana- thanks for being a voice of reason here... I have been panicking too

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My dear, Khris. Wait a little while. It's still early days for very Summery dresses. Stores need to catch up. Have you tried modcolth for 100% cotton dresses ?

I have to say that other than an issue with length, because dresses are still quite short, I have not had problems finding dresses for clients. Granted, they do not need to be cotton for Seattle.

taylor

Veteran

Also, you are dressing a brand new body for this summer...:)

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Angie I ran into the problem last of summer of waiting until later in the season and still not being able to find enough dresses that worked for me. I wear dresses about 80-90% of the time for 6 months of the year, so I really can't have enough. If i wait to start looking they will pass me by, and I will be stuck wearing the same handful of dresses again. Also- it will be hot (in the 80's) in about 6-8 weeks here, and I will be ready to wear them. Next week we should be back to warm enough weather for dresses with leggings.
Modcloth's sizes are way too small for me still.

Cathy- of those dresses, all were ones that might have worked for me- fabrication, and stylewise, but when I got them on they didn't fit. Either they were too small, too big, too short, or didn't provide bra coverage- that's a big one, because when it's really hot here a cami is not an option.
So it's not that I am not finding dresses- they just aren't working for me.

cciele

Veteran

Hm, that sucks Khris! How frustrating. I feel that way about pants.

Have you looked around Etsy? Maybe you can get a reasonably priced, custom-fit dress. This is an interesting option -- it's a skirt that can be worn as a halter dress:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listi.....B%5D=title

or maybe:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listi.....B%5D=title

Maybe it's a matter of finding a brand that works with your body? I'm sure you will find something for this summer since you are starting earlier this year!

chellebrate

Khris, I totally understand. It seems like it should be easier than making a few separate pieces fit properly. It doesn't work that way for me. I think I may have to rely on getting them altered. Either that or I need Angie to help me shop!

Do skirts work for you? I tend to wear a lot of skirts May - September when we're in 115 degree weather.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Hmmmmm. I hear you. I have a feeling collections will change in a fortnight or so. Keep your eyes peeled then. The first Spring sales are about to start which means that there's room for new stuff on shop floors.

Karianne

(website)

Hi Khris - wow, 30 dresses! I would probably have given up half way, trying on clothes is such an effort sometimes! I don't know if you have an H&M store where you live, but I found these two - pure cotton, good bra coverage and sizes up to 16. I don't know about the length, though - the dresses are about 35 inches long, so it depends on how tall you are. From what I've seen, your body shape is similar to mine, and I find that H&M dresses fit me quite well.

Dress no 1 comes in khaki, light coral, dark lavender and black in addition to the raspberry red in the picture. Dress no 2 is also available in a dusky rose colour and taupe.

I don't know if this is any help at all, but I wish you good luck on finding your perfect summer dresses!

Karianne

(website)

Ooops I forgot the pictures - sorry! Here are the links:

Dress 1: http://picasaweb.google.com/ka.....9153639026

Dress 2: http://picasaweb.google.com/ka.....3065019202

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Velvet is a brand that makes 100% cotton dresses in a million styles. http://www.tobi.com carries loads.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Thanks Angie- I will keep my eyes peeled. I did see some new possibilities on the Kohl's website the other day (one of my few local shops), so they are coming. I'm waiting to see the Liberty of London line at Target, too. I just have to keep watching and trying and snag then as I see them. In this economy, so many things get ordered once, and when they are gone they are gone.

Nanne- thanks for posting those. My closest H&M is about an hour away, but I do occasionally make it there, so I will keep that in mind.

Laura- thanks for the site.

bitsofpieces

(website)

I'd just like to commiserate because I hate dress shopping too. I'm big on top, smaller on bottom, short, with a stomach pooch. It's almost impossible to find a dress that will fit right with minimum tailoring.

garmenta

Dresses are hard because they have to fit in so many places! If your shape is different from the shape that the dress manufacturer considers "standard" (and we all are--who has a pattern model's shape?) you will have to try on a lot of dresses to find the ones that fit you everywhere.

The happy thing is that once you find the manufacturer whose pattern measurements match yours, it's a good bet that more than one dress from that label will work for you.