WIW: Shopping With Mum - YouLookFab Forum

Hi Ladies,

Mum arrived on Thursday to spend Christmas with us and will be here for a week:). She arrived ready to shop so we are out and about again this morning and she is having some success:)

We are expecting another pretty warm day here today so I have dressed for the heat.

I'm wearing a black assymmetrical hem dress (that I don't really like, but I have so little for days like this that it remains in my closet). It has a touch of arty about it with the hem and layering so I added my colour block sandals, and neutral slouchy bag to bring in some modern classic, and then a touch if whimsy with my brass "Deer in the Wood" pendant. The goal was to make this dress look more "me" ...how did I do?

All feedback very much appreciated.

xxxDeborah

Ps...I am going to alter the bottom middle long bits so they are even with the front hem of the dress...it kind of looks weird:)

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13 years ago

Anonymous

O! those colorblock sandals are fabulous and will make any outfit look modern! The pendant seems just the right touch and the length looks ideal.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh Deborah, that necklace is SO nifty! I have not seen it before. Very interesting and original.

As for the dress, I can completely understand its allure in this heat, and also completely understand your slight discomfort with it. I'm so grateful to you for posting it. You usually look 100% YOU and it is so instructive to see that even someone whose style is as consistent and coherent as yours can sometimes be more or less forced into purchases that aren't 100% -- simply because of lack of available options, or perhaps in the hope of trying something, etc. Not that this dress is bad in any way. It's just that it doesn't feel completely *you."

But the sandals are every bit as great as I thought they would be. Are they comfy?

I hope you have a good visit with your mother!

cobaltblue

I love the sandals and the pendant! What about just hacking off that middle pendulous bit so that you'd just have one on either side? Then this dress would make me think of a butterfly (albeit a black one) with wings folded.

Sveta

Lovely pendant and fab sandals! As for the dress I think this may be a good idea to cut off the middle "hanging" bit. I have to confess that high - low dress hemline if not one of my favorite trends, I can count on one hands all dresses of this type which appealed to me. They just don't feel like me at all - maybe this is the case with you as well?
Have great time with your mom!

TraceyLiz65

I love the shoes and pendant and think this dress is not flattering for you. I see what you mean about hemming the part in the middle, it is a bit odd.

ManidipaM

Deb, I'm impressed at how well you can turn around a garment that's not really you with accessories. And oh, how I love your accessories! Both the necklace and the shoes are delightful.

Weirdly, while that's the sort of dress I'd love to be able to wear (I look lumpy in them, being too short and curvy I guess), I can understand your discomfort and doubts. The central taper definitely would bug me too. Leggings may help, but I bet it's too hot just now.

Caro in Oz

I think it's the length of the shorter bits that is bothering me but not sure how you fix that. I don't think it looks bad, just as you say not "you".
I can see this on you as more of a layering piece with slim pants, jacket & booties (did you get them?). That doesn't help in this weather though.

carolbee

I agree that it would look better with the middle bits cut off. What would look even better would be to buy a new dress for hot days and turn this into a tunic with high/low hem. But I know its not that easy to just conjure up a suitable dress, but you could have lots of fun looking.

Deborah

Ladies thanks for your honest and kind feedback.

Joy, the pendant is my latest favourite:). Whimsical is not a huge part of my style but every now and then I see something that just captures me like this.

Suz, thank you! I truly appreciate your comments. It would be so easy to just post outfits that I feel confident are fab but I find this whole process to be invaluable, and even though most of us only know one another online, I have such respect for the YLF community that I feel transparency and openness are really important hence my freedom to post less then perfect outfits:). I feel that my wardrobe is perhaps 95% "me and I can find something suitable for every occasion, BUT summer casual dressing would be the other 5%! And the sandals are comfy, they have a slight wedge heel, and mum had a great morning shopping:)

Cobalt Blue, that's actually how the dress is meant to be worn but I pinned the drape at the front:). Maybe I will unpin it and wear it as it was made to be worn lol.

Sveta, as per CB's comment, those bits are actually meant to drape at the side and blend into the side hem and you are right, this just doesn't have the structure that I like in a dress. It is cool though;)

TL65 thanks, it does look weird hey.

M, I agree leggings actually do seem to work quite well with this look but yes it is too hot today. Funny how we are often attracted to things that don't work for us.

Caro, you are quite brilliant! When I bought this dress I actually tried it on in the shop over skinny jeans and booties, it created a much more "cool" and "alternate" vibe ...I had actually forgotten that. My intention had been to wear it as a layering piece, maybe I need to revisit that:)

CarolBee great idea. My challenge is that I am not seeing any casual summer dresses that I like any better and I so don't want to add anything to my closet that I don't love. I do love the idea of the hi low hem as that would work well if I start to use this for layering again....hmmm food for thought.

Of course the thing I find most amusing is that while I was out today I was complimented a number of times on how great I looked, ...flattering but I think the "flatterers" were not quite as discerning as my YLF sisterhood.

Beth Ann

Deborah: My first thought was the same as Caro's, to layer over leggings or skinnies. You do "arty" so well. I so agree with not buying until you find something you love and learning to enjoy what you have --- to have something "good" and remix it to make it even better. It's always harder in the the heat ---- you seem to be keeping your "cool" beautifully.

Mona

Summer casual dressing is definitely one that needs a lot of effort for me. I am not a big fan of this kind of hem but sandals and the necklace definitely make it look attractive. Especially the necklace is so unique.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

How wonderful that Mum has arrived for Xmas! (My Papa arrives today).

This is just the frock to wear in high heat sans a/c, Debs. I think you look fab! The sandals kick things up a notch big time and break up the black.

Summer dressing is without a doubt the most difficult. It is just SO hard to find items that work in the heat and still look structured and crisp. I think you have done well here. Glad the sandals are working!

Amy

I actually like the dress, but your choice of footwear and the pretty pendant make it even more fab. Enjoy your time with mom!

Kiwichik

Bit late o the party & I see you have lreadyvrecived lots of excellent advise. I'm kind of neutral on the dress but love the accessories. I think the dress is probably sonething that needs to be seen in motion & I like the suggestions to use as a layering item.

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