WIW or How I turned a bold 80s dress into a 'Jackie O outfit'

I don't know how this happened. I changed the size in photo #1 for a larger one because it was too tight accross the bust.. Then added a red belt to enhance a surrendered waist. Added black sheer tights, shooties with laces and a bit of a high heel, and a -sort of straightened- bob.

I go to work and two people say 'you look like Jackie O' today. She had a great sense of style, no doubt, but that was so not what I was not going for. I'm a bit upset.

Also, mom said 'ditch the belt' and 'stick to the shooties' (no riding boots). What do you guys think? It's hard to say without seeing it on me, but mom claims the dress and the riding boots just don't go together, not that they look bad on me.

I'll try shrink the dress a bit in the drier and maybe it will get to the right size for me. I'm not sure about the wrinkling on my stomach and the small of my back, and I have to admit the belt felt really uncomfortable during the entire journey.

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13 years ago

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I think the dress and riding boots would be perfect together. Id need to see it but it sounds great. Please don't shrink it. It will go from classy to tarty if it is too tight.

Irene

I don't to look tarty, just a bit less tight than in #1. Right now it's like there's too much fabric on my tummy!

Do you think #1 looks tarty?

bj1111

the bob reads jackie o...

much prefer the version in #1 with the ridding boots and the piled on hair. try a messy bun.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

I don't think #1 looks tarty at all!

K. Period.

So funny because I don't see Jackie O in this at all. Maybe a bit of a mod rock star, with a strong touch of the gamine, especially with the riding boots. I really like it!

catgirl

None of it looks tarty - it's all great - but in the last shot the dress looks fitted and I don't know that is should be any more fitted than that. So fab with the dots!

Transcona Shannon

I really like the way you're wearing it in #1 - not even close to tarty!

rachylou

Well, you look good as Jackie O! But I think you can de-Jackie by doing your hair differently.

I see no problem either with the dress and riding boots. Or shooties. All great ways to style the same dress.

biscuitsmom

I totally agree wth the others!

Parsley

I wouldn't shrink it!
Why don't you just take it in a little bit at the waist? It wouldn't be a difficult alteration.

You look cute as can be, and I think the dress is adorable on you!

Vildy

Graduated high school in '66. The Jackie reference is to the bob and the dots are a little bit British youthquake (mary quant). Without the bob, no one would think about the 60's - though Jackie should only have looked so good as you.

Karie

I love anything with polka dots (such a fun print, don't you think?), and I love this dress with the tall boots! I wouldn't try to shrink #2, I would alter it/have it altered. If you take it somewhere, make sure they do not cut the fabric until you have approved the final fit!

Aida

I LOVE #1, I think the riding boots look awesome with this dress. I think the bob+mod style of the dress may have made people think 60s, but I don't really get a Jackie O vibe from this. I also wouldn't shrink the dress, it really looks fab especially without the belt. Do you skew 70s with your style at all? This dress could look fun over some flared jeans with heels, too.

KathyL

I really like the dress with the boots in the first pics. I agree with the others, it's the black and white polka dots with the bob that make people get a 60s vibe.

Kristin L

I think it looks great with the boots as well. I think it would look great with a cardi as well. And I think with the bob you get a cool '60s look. And I don't see anything tarty.

Day Vies

This is a perfect example of how to modernize vintage pieces. I like the dress both ways -- the boots gives this "sweet" polka dot dress some attitude and edge. My preference is with the red belt (I am a sucker for color) but if it's uncomfortable there are other red accessories you can try that will do the same thing.

Asingh

Irene, the dress looks great on you and the skinny belt adds a pop of colour.

Anonymous

Please don't shrink that dress. It's not a surrendered waist at all, it looks great on you.

Jenava

Jackie O? I don't think these people know what they're talking about. I googled and could not find any image of the lady wearing polka dots. Stripes, yes, polka dots, no way. Jackie wasn't a polka dot kinda gal.

Girls, it is not waist surrendering in #1 because that's a size 38. It IS waist surrendering in #2, which is a 40. You cannot see that because of the belt, but there's definitely extra fabric around the waist, which makes me look a bit bloated and somehow enlarges even more my bust. It is funny because I went for the 40 in case I got bloated (the 38 would show it a lot more) but I look bloated 24/7 in the 40 so that's worse.

I think the Jackie O reference might have been for the bob & and the strange cut of the dress on me? I think the dress is fun and cheeky on its own yet maybe classy and lady-like with the belt? (and def. not what I was going for since I already have too many dresses with that vibe).

Since I cannot return the 40, I want to try convert it into a 38ish. Maybe I'll succeed? I think the dress is too cheap and not very good quality to invest in taking it in and I wouldn't know how to do that myself.

Scarlet

I don't think anyone ever says you look like Jackie-O and means anything but a big compliment. I am having trouble envisioning that dress with riding boots. I like the ones you show in 1 and I like the pairing with the belt and shooties.

I know they meant it as a compliment

Those are (I think) riding boots. Well, or the only pair of black tall boots I have, anyways lol

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