WIW – Winterizing a Spring Dress

I have really enjoyed experimenting with dresses, but one of my new criteria is a dress has to be winterized. We usually have snow 5-6 months out of the year, and it can be as many as 7 months. As such, most dresses I keep need to be able to stretch though the winter months.

Here is my attempt at winterizing my green Maggy London dress. I always feel like outfits looks better in the mirror than in pictures, but maybe it is just my eyes playing tricks on me. After seeing the photo, I am wondering if I should add a black belt to emphasize my waist.

Let me know your honest thoughts. Does this look flattering? Stylish? Did winterizing this work? If not, how can I make it work? Or is this just a spring dress? Should I add a belt at the waist or this that a faux pas with a wrap dress?

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13 years ago

Anonymous

You look cute and the winterizing works because it appears there's a bit of black in the print. I'd skip the belt, though. The wrap already cinches the waistline. A belt would be too much, in my opinion.

The only thing I'd change is using a scoop-neck top for layering instead of the v-neck. The V on the shirt competes with the dress's neckline a bit.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I feel like this dress needs a white cami, not black. the black feels very harsh on top. I agree with stacey that a scoopneck might be nice.

cjh

Looks great as is, IMO. I like the vneck, black cami - I think the v does not compete and reiterates the dress vneck - which is good for elongating as we all know. The black bookends your black tights and boots. For more wintery weather, if you need a topper, perhaps a cropped black knit jacket? or for warmth without too much visual heaviness, something with an open weave, airy or lacy knit? But it would have to be fairly structured or close fitting because you don't want to go "bathrobe" over office clothes route.

rute

you look gorgeous! Love this dress!

Sara L.

I think you look good! The dress looks fine winterized. I think because the print isn't too spring-y. Prints that scream "spring" don't winterize well, but this one with the green and black seems appropriate for winter as well as summer.

I do consider this type of dress an all season dress. I think you have done a great job here. You can also experiment with layering over the dress. I wear blazers over this kind of dress and the look is very flattering, plus I feel a bit more protected, you know?

I am not opposed to black on top, because the bottom half is quite dark. You could experiment with other cami colors once we FINALLY get to dish the hose.

You look very pretty!

ETA: Thank you for mentioning fleece lined hose. I finally got to find me a pair and gosh, where have these been for my entire life! I am so warm and cozy I could shed a tear!

Transcona Shannon

This is the perfect type of dress, both in style and colour, to be seasonless. For your coldest weather, you can wear tights and boots and pop a blazer or cropped denim jacket on top and then in the warmer spring months, wear bare legged with sandals and scrunch the sleeves. Love this dress on you!

Kalli

Active Member

Thistle you look great!. The only thing that screams winter more is if you add a chunky scarf!

I think this dress is ideal to winterise. I like the idea of a blazer topper or a scarf.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

KILLER

Great job bookending and Winterizing. You look professional, pulled together and gorgeous - and I just want to hug you!

lyn67

Thistle, jo look gorgeous! Good job on winterizing the spring dress, I also suggest a thin black turtleneck under it-and a full slip, when freezing.This will also beekend well the black bottom half, no need a black belt. Black, cami, tee or turtleneck peaking out is just enough! You can also ad a black cardi, balck denim jacket or vest, or a black longer length gillet, too. Then you can use a white cami under. I do these all the time, for winterizing my skirts and dresses:-).

Bree

I think.the black v neck is too much v as well. I agree with going with a white scoop neck.The boots and leggings look great though! Are u a warm compexion.? It appears so, although maybe that's the yellow green in the dress that's throwing me off. If u are, I would go withmaybre a cream scoop or green yellow underneath. I think the black is too harsh for your complexion. The rest of the look is great, and u did a superb job winterizing the dress!

Ornella

Love! The black tank on top did the trick.

Btw, you have such warm and captivating smile and your WIWs always cheer me up because you instantly make me smile too.

Thistle

Thanks for the feedback!

Zap - Aren't fleece lined tights amazing! They make dresses and skirts in the winter doable for me!

Jules

Agree with all the comments (even the conflicting cami suggestions because I am a fence sitter, lol). Have you tried your green denim jacket over this? Looks like it might work with the darker green in the pattern.

Beth Ann

Gorgeous, Thistle. I second a scoop necked cami, athough the one you're wearing is fine. I also agree you could layer a jacket over all if you're still needing more warmth. I like the "all season" dress mindset. You only need to "winterize" this if you're actually cold, I think.

Tina.b

This is one on my favourite of your new dresses Thistle, so glad you kept it. I really like it with the black myself, but I fall back on black for everything. It will also pair beautifully with other colours in spring.

You're inspiring me to consider wearing dresses more often in winter. I do find it difficult in the bad weather.

qfbrenda

I'd prefer a scoopneck cami underneath, but I definitely like the bookending effect of the black. It helps balance out the black tights and boots. Great job!

Tina.b - the two things in my arsenal to wear dresses even in bad weather is fleece lined tights, and my waterproof skeepskin lined Uggs. Tights keep me warm, and the Uggs (yes, I know, but these look like dress boots, really!) keep me warm and dry.

I have been looking for a pair of La Canadienne's, but the one I bought had a really small calf. These won't be as warm as the Uggs, but they can take the slush and muck. Aquatalias would be another good choice, but I have not yet found a pair of those either.

CocoLion

I like this! No need to change anything, except maybe straighten the cami, it looks a little crooked. LOL I'm your picky Mom.

Caro in Oz

Looks great imo. I'd also like to see it with dark green tights & a lighter cami.

Vicki

You look great with this winterized Spring dress and your post is a reminder to me to bring out some of my seldom-worn dresses and have fun with them. No belt is needed IMHO.

Aida

Very pretty! I like the shape of the camisole, it makes the neckline quite interesting.

pil

You are quite the dress goddess : ) What about trying a blouse like Ingunn did in her dress thread? I see there is a bit of collar on the dress but maybe the blouse would cover it so they don't fight each other?

Suz

Well, I am too late to say anything except YOU ROCK!!!

Kiwichik

I think you've done a great job adapting the dress for winter. I think you've have styled it just right - no changes required.

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