WIW: Staid FestiveWear gets a little 70s slink -- but how much will I dare to bare? - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW: Staid FestiveWear gets a little 70s slink -- but how much will I dare to bare?

Vix

Veteran

Hi all --

Just adding another entry in the holiday/special events vein....

Generally, I don't need -- or don't think I need -- anything too fancy for winter events. For years sheer willpower has kept me from buying Fancy Stuff for my fantasy life and I've gotten by with a black satin rouched pencil skirt +/- a dressy scarf.

However, I totally admit that wearing a floor-length Sparkle Barbie dress and shiny accessories for a recent wedding whetted my appetite for more more more glitz. Despite a few pre-event misgivings about dressing so boldly, I had a blast wearing the dress.

So this year I am sucking it up and wearing the same winter basics so I can spend some money on frivolous items. The black is a bit unimaginative, but....

Exhibit A, Mid-life Crisis Division: 70s-esque, boxy black tank style sequin mini dress with chiffon overlay. Definitely a love it or hate it style! The overlay goes about 3/4 down and split in the back; I like that it tones down the sequins.

Exhibit B, Safely Staid: Classic black velvet trousers

How I feel in these items:

Mini + velvet trousers + metallic sandals = Most sophisticated

Mini + coated skinny jeans + patent booties = Most modern

Mini + metallic sandals + eeeeek = Most Hi Sailor, but then I'm normally such a stick in the mud with skirt lengths (mine, not others)
Mini + leggings + knee-high boots (not shown, looks pretty much like coated jeans version): Most trying to have my cake and eat it too

Velvet trousers + wool sweater = Most comfort-zone'd, most likely to blend in

Surely I'm not the only craving a swap from "ho hum" to "hmmmmmm?" these days? Stories/photos welcome!

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19 replies

Latest reply was from Vix

Neel

Veteran

You crack me up Vix!! You look stunning in all your renditions! But the "eeeek" version is my favorite!!! You look better than the model! Great legs by the way! I am sure I have said that before

Sharon

Veteran

You look gorgeous in the mini, just spectacular. You could definitely rock that on it's own if you felt comfortable with the length. I think because the rest of the dress is modest (high neck, boxy style) you can get away with a bit more leg exposure than you might with a clingy or low cut dress.

Of the other combinations, I like the mini with the velvet trousers the best - I like the way the flare of the trousers balances the wide shoulder. But honestly, you look great in all of them. You could wear any of these and look completely stunning.

MuseumGal

Veteran

These are all amazing, but the mini on its own is spectacular. Rock it!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Girl, if I had your legs I would wear that mini in a heartbeat. Go for it! It's covered up enough otherwise to show some leg without looking too sexy.

(As someone with less-than-fab legs, I always have to celebrate others' ability to show off a great set of stems. Alas, all I got was some decent cleavage, which is harder to show off without looking like I'm trying to hard, especially as I age.)

Vix

Veteran

Hi Neel, Sharon, MuseumGal, and Janet --

Uh-oh, I feel like the teen who asked to do something crazy and just got the thumbs up instead of hearing, "Now let's talk..." ha!

Thanks much for the compliments and thanks (I think) for the encouragement to wear the mini as-is. Funny thing is ~ knee length or this eeeek length is best with my leg shape; would that the middle ground was a prettier spot to land!

Sharon -- glad you share my love for the smothered in velvet version. I agree about the small flare balancing the shoulder line/fluttery sleeves...I'm such a Rectangle it's easy to go IT or Triangle with various silhouettes but gravitate to creating more even-steven proportions.

Neel -- Thanks much. My legs do a pretty good job of carrying me around, but they aren't "natural" -- without the exercise I reluctantly do for mental and physical health reasons, the ye olde cellulite : muscle tone ratio switches dramatically. I have to admit this is the best they've looked in a long time -- if I learn how to sit in this dress without flashing maybe I should get 'em out there while I can!

Janet, l always think of you as having great long-n-strong legs *plus* the great cleavage. But I hear you (see above). Maybe it's time to experiment?

MGal -- We may be heading for family in warmer climes and perhaps I could try the bare-legged version as a date night look there. Where no one knows me and I won't freeze my sequined behind off.

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

Heck, if I had your legs, I would be donning a mini every day.

merwoman

Veteran

When I consult my DD on similar matters, she crooks an eyebrow at me and says mom, you won't be able to wear this forever, go for it while you can still pull it off. And Vix, you can more than pull the look off - go for the eeek!

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Your commentary cracks me up I have the same reservation about my own hem lines, but the mini on you is drop-dead gorgeous.

unfrumped

Veteran

Those are beautiful outfits!
I will be a spanner and say that the mini gives me pause, not because you don't have great legs, which you do and are fab, but because of combination of mini + high heels + low back and scoop neck. Dress is heading toward the waist in 2 directions!
It's all according to what is your cup of tea and what you want to project. But I guess we all face it's now or never (or not forever) , so maybe, carpe diem.

carambola

Veteran

You look stunning and statuesque! And perfectly elegant - nothing that screams mid-life crisis

AviaMariah

Veteran

You could wear any of these but my favorite is with the velvet trousers. Have fun!!

E

Veteran

I love how your write: so funny and full of energy!

I think all of the combos work: did you try it with hose as well? I think the dress + hose + booties would do a great job of showing off your legs without making you feel 'eeek' inside. lol

Beth Ann

Veteran

Vix: What an amazing find!

There are certainly many places where a mini would not be appropriately, with any body at any age, but the holidays often give us more opportunities to shine (in more ways than one). The mini by itself is fabulous for New Year's Eve, or a holiday party. I say "go for it," and sit like a lady! Layer with pants for more casual or conservative events, and pull out the 5 when you're in a conservative work setting.

You would not be mistaken for a, well, "working" woman, in any state of dress -- the way you carry yourself it's too strong a communicator for anyone to get the wrong ideas. As for age, I think this dress would not be a natural choice for most young woean. You've got the youthful, but sophisticated, appearance to wear it best!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wear it and shine! You look spectacular in the mini (which is not EEEK by any standard, only above knee), and I love what Merwoman's daughter says. You have fabulous legs (I am seriously jealous...and can't believe you call them "short"!!) and I say, show them off!

The dress looks sophisticated, not at all ...er...tarty. But if you need to cover for warmth, I love it with the velvet flares.

Oh - and I love how you told us how you felt in all of these. What a great test for our own holiday outfits. Try on, ask ourselves how we FEEL as well as how we look -- and decide which outfit to wear to what occasion based on both. Great strategy.

JAileen

Veteran

I think the outfit with the sandals looks best. I agree with you that the mini with the low cut back of the top is not classy enough for you. You look gorgeous in all of them, though.

JulieJohn

Veteran

So funny, Vix. I like them all, so I'm no help. Thanks for sharing your delightful wisdom.

Vix

Veteran

Just a quick hi since I had to neglect the thread -- thanks to all for your opinions; I'm enjoying the lively range of responses. More later!

pil

Veteran

Who would have thought a fluttery, sparkly mini could be so versatile. You look spectacular in the "Vix"-enesque mini in #3. Truly! The others are all stunning as well, though I'm partial to the mini/velvet trousers and velvet trousers/black sweater combination. I'm so envious

Vix

Veteran

Unfrumped and JAileen --

Thanks for your candor! I know it can be tough to share a minority viewpoint. I'm mulling! While feeling a small urge to live up to my full name...Vixen.

E --

Thanks! A version with dark hose was suggested by my beloved (who is all "why is there a layer of fabric over the other stuff? why is it all boxy?") and it's on the list to check out! I agree it may help the eeeek factor without my going all the way to leggings.

Citygirldc, Merwoman, AviaMariah, JulieJohn, and Pil --

Thank you; you guys made me smile. Pil, I know, right -- surprisingly versatile to my eye, anyway. And works with regular undergarments, yea! I bought with the intent to (try to) wear it as a tunic to liven up some of my none-too-frequent nights out and I'm pretty excited it looks ok with jeans and velvet. You know how things can go very differently in reality than fantasy, ha.

Amy, Carambola, Beth Ann, Suz -- Finally, thanks for *your* input on the mid-life crisis angle and kind words. I for sure won't wear it as a mini dress unless I can (fake?) project poise and mature confidence. And Beth Ann, you're reminding me that stuff I often think is "too young" for me would be deemed "way ooooold" by the women I think would wear it. Funny how that works.

ps Merwoman, daughters are the best/worst critics, right? I should have borrowed my young adult niece at the holiday, ha.