WIW 4/28: Green dress and leopard pumps - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW 4/28: Green dress and leopard pumps

MsMary

Veteran

I am usually the most dressed-up person at my very liberal church, but I like to take my Church Lady dresses out when I can!

Green dress: Suzi Chin
Leopard pumps: Jessica Simpson
Black tote: Coach
Multi pearls: made by me

I felt good in this outfit but I worry that I might seem unapproachable if I'm more dressed up than most of the ladies! What do you think?

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27 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Lovely outfit. (OF COURSE.)

But, interesting question, especially coming from someone like you.

My first reaction would be similar to the advice ramya was given a few days ago on the thread about changing jobs and consequent style direction: err on the side of caution in early days. If I'm right you're new in the Church PLUS you have noticed overall (lower/different than yours) style quotient and the fact you stand out PLUS the fact you're asking probably means you do want to be accepted or at least not rejected on the grounds of shoes, skirts and dresses... so perhaps tone it down a bit and once you have formed your circle of friends or whatever is needed to make feel like you fully belong in the new environment, then back to yourself... Does it make any sense?

Carole

Veteran

GORGeous! Love the style of this dress and the color.....swoon!

kellygirl

Veteran

Love this dress! You look approachable and pretty!

Kristin L

Veteran

Very lovely! I love the Coach purse. And the whole Church Lady comment makes me giggle because it makes me think of Dana Carvey.

I'm unfortunately not very helpful on giving advice about meeting people. I would say though to make sure you feel more at ease and comfortable. I think it easier to go up and talk to someone if I'm not fidgeting in something I don't normally wear or if I'm not happy with my outfit.

claracluck

i adore that dress .i'd wear that in aheart beat,and i would use that as an excuse to come over and talk to you IRL .

Day Vies

Veteran

I love green with animal print -- SO chic!

Lantana

Veteran

The woman inside the dress looks pretty darned approachable to me, even from the other side of the world.
I have been enjoying your Pinterest board MK, hence the nod to Y St L.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Love any shade of green with animal print. This dress is beautiful on you - I love the soft draping.

FWIW, you don't look unapproachable at all. You look put together and confident. Nothing wrong with that.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is a gorgeous dress and you look lovely in it. To me, you do not look unapproachable. And I think your warm and sunny personality probably shines through to the people at the church.

Jules

Veteran

Is is really the dress or the way you wear it?If you do decide to dress down, I think you can wear a dress like this, just with fewer/less fab accessories. But it seems like that would be toning yourself down and I don't think I like that idea!

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I think you look beautiful and your smiling face is very approachable. Having said that I know that among the theater mothers and even the director of the theater that they treated me differently because I wore every day dresses of outfits with boots, etc. Not a t'shirt and jean kind of mother as they all were. So if it is something you are concerned about you might want to tone it down until they know you and just realize this is you being yourself.. You might even mention the desire to dress up and see what reactions you receive.

Marley

Veteran

OMG! You look absolutely beautiful in the dress MaryK! The color is wonderful on you - and the pumps with those fabulous legs - I'm in love with this!
As for your question, I too go to a church where people dress unbelieveably casual - and in the beginning when I first started going there, I quickly realized that even though I thought I was dressing casually , I was quite overdressed compared to everyone else - so, I "casualized" my outfits until I got more comfortable and people knew me better. Now, everybody knows that I'm going to be "dressed up" more than most people and they actually LIKE that about me - and comment on it and think that its kind of cool and fun - and some of them are dressing a little bit less casually themselves.
You know, you could dress this outfit down a bit, by trading out the pumps for some nude/light colored ankle booties and a less structured purse?!

Beth Ann

Veteran

After more than 20 years with a husband in ministry --- I get this! I've been in Presbyterian churches where the women wore neat, close cropped hair, blazers and turtlenecks with wool skirts or L.L. Bean jeans. And lest you think I'm making fun, I loved these women. I've been in "Mary Kay" (not Mary K) churches, and in homeschool jumper settings, too!

Tim and I are in a new church, for the first time NOT in full-time ministry, and I spend a lot of time staring in my closet on Saturday night with the same questions you're asking. I like to dress up for worship -- it suits me and I feel upbeat and ready for the most important morning of my week. I'd encourage you to be yourself and not hide your light, or your color, under a bushel. You never project a "I dress better than you do" vibe, just a love of beauty. After a few more weeks, they'll learn to accept your dresses a part of "you" and come to love them and you along the way.

This one is amazing, BTW. Love the drape and color! Must run to see if I can find it online...........

Gaylene

Veteran

Well, I don't see how anyone wouldn't want to be around that fabulous smile. You certainly don't look overdressed or unapproachable to me.

This might sound crazy, but have you thought that the issue might not be your clothes as much as the total package? If you've glanced in a mirror lately, MaryK, you must have seen that incredibly attractive woman you've become reflected back at you. When you combine that exterior with your formidable intelligence, your combination of beauty and brains could be mightily intimidating to many people until they get to know you and experience your warm and generous spirit. That might explain their hanging back more than any outfit. I'd say dress in a way that makes you happy, flash that smile, and start talking. I'll bet as soon as those members get to know you as a person instead of an image, they'll fall in love with you just like we have on YLF.

Isis

Veteran

I don't have any good advice on how you should dress in your new church....but must say that you look smashing! I think you look approachable too, and you have a great smile that invites people in!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

All these experiences and advice are fascinating and sensible at the same time. I do think it depends a lot on the person - if you are extroverted your personality will quickly overcome your clothes. If you are waiting to be noticed than the clothes are what will be noticed first. You look terrific any which way though!

Parsley

Veteran

You look absolutely gorgeous in that outfit. I love the combination of the emerald green and the leopard pumps!
I find you completely approachable looking, and I recommend just being yourself.

sarah

Veteran

It's hard to imagine you as being unapproachable, no matter what you're wearing! This dress is really lovely on you.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I look fantastic in this dress and I love those shoes! I would approach you to ask you where you get your clothes!

Deborah

Veteran

I would absolutely wear this to church. I think your warmth is evident and that makes you very approachable. Stunning dress!

Vix

Veteran

Hi Mary K --

That green is such a beautiful color on you I think people would be drawn like moths to a flame. [Er, bad analogy?]

I do think Tracey and Marley have some good advice if you want to start out a little closer in match to the environmental norms, though I agree a warm smile and caring heart generally go a long way to making folks seem approachable.

Given that you have a demonstrated ability to do casual and dress casual well, and also have a side that isn't super-polished, maybe there's opportunity to hit that middle ground until you're more of a known quantity and others know dressier = "oh that's just Mary K" vs trying to communicate something about status, values, etc.

Jamie

Beautiful. I think "approachable" is in the facial expression. We used to attend a very casual beach-y church on an island. This lady started coming and wore a different St. John suit every week!. (I stopped counting after 15) She was a very extroverted person who smiled a lot and took time to meet people. I never felt her clothes made her unapproachable.
Your face is very warm and inviting, don't give it a second thought.

Anonymous

I love this! Your smile is so warm that you will always be approachable. I would have to come up to you and compliment your shoes!

Thistle

Veteran

You look terrific! Your hair is super you cute, your smile bright, and the dress is gorgeous on you!

I am a naturally shy person by nature, so I can't really offer you any advice on your new church. But you look super!

Gaylene might be on to something.

lyn67

Veteran

I don't think you are unaproachable in a dress like that, Mary. I say keep your style true to yourself but be the first to start a conversation...That's all:-)
I like that dress a lot, and am a dress girl, too.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

What a great outfit! Love the green dress and leopard pumps. Your question made me think of when I was trying to fit in with the school moms and one of them dressed in yoga pants told me that I looked snazzy and that "snazzy is overrated". That still makes me laugh. I don't remember who said that to me, but I have made several friends there and feel very comfortable with the group now (and there are moms there who are even more dressed up than me, designer duds, coiffed hair and lots of makeup etc).

I don't think you will have any trouble making friends--your smile is so warm and you are so friendly and approachable that people will be drawn to you no matter what you wear! I think it helps when you're extroverted as well (I'm much more shy). Keep on being your sunny and stylish self!

rachylou

Veteran

Whoa, outstanding!

But you are sooo turning punk, MaryK.